Digital Commons Network^™

Role Of Ribosomal Biogenesis In Axonal Morphogenesis., Nicholas Mcchesney Lynch

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Elongating axons require a host of macromolecules for outgrowth. The importance of lipid, protein, and general RNA synthesis for initial axonal growth has been previously investigated, but the role of rRNA synthesis and ribosome production in axonal morphogenesis remains unclear. Therefore, rat hippocampal neurons were cultured and transfected with shRNA against either TIF-IA (the activator of RNA polymerase I) or RPS6 (a small ribosomal subunit component) to determine the effects of impaired de novo ribosome synthesis on axonal development during the first three days after plating. Our data show that shRPS6 weakly inhibited total axon length, but not longest axon …

A New Approach To Measuring Poverty In The United States: A Household's Ability To Consume, David Ashelman

Applied Economics Theses

The definition of poverty is a social construct. As such, quantitatively measuring poverty is problematic, and creates ineffective poverty-alleviation policy. This thesis examines the historical measure of poverty in the United States, compares U.S. poverty measurements to Great Britain and Canada, and then proposes a new way to measure poverty. Instead of measuring income as the defining factor of poverty, the new poverty measurement suggested eliminates income factors and focuses on a household’s ability to consume in a non-comparative manner. When quantifying a household’s ability to consume, implications arise in economic policy for anti-poverty programs, defining the middle class, minimum …

Coping Mechanisms Of Children With Atopic Dermatitis, Whitney A. St. Mary

Honors Theses

This was a qualitative study that explored the lived experience of parents who had children with atopic dermatitis, otherwise known as eczema. The study had seven volunteer participants and the objective of this study was to determine any coping mechanisms used to overcome the negative aspects of atopic dermatitis. Volunteers were obtained from the Oak Grove Family Clinic. Phone interviews were then conducted and the participants were asked a series of eight questions. After the interviews concluded the researcher then transcribed the interviews and determined common themes from parents’ responses. All of the parents discussed how using unscented lotion, preventing …

The Relationship Between Academic Success And Elementary Students Who Practice Elements Of A “Healthy Lifestyle”, Bridget A. Page

Honors Theses

Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Mississippi is the leading state in obesity, and childhood obesity has tripled in the last thirty years (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). With schools under pressure to improve academically, coupled with the pressure to show that improvement through high-stakes testing, the amount of time that values the importance of physical activity in school has declined. However, research has shown a decrease in physical activity actually leads to a decrease in reading and math scores and an increase in absenteeism, tardiness, and difficulties in concentration (National Parent Teacher …

Alternative Material Nest Boxes And Impacts On Nestling Physiology And Adult Behavior In The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis), Jamie E. Jackson

Honors Theses

In the mid-nineteenth century, Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis, a native cavity nesting species) populations experienced serious declines because of a decrease in natural cavities and the introduction of non-native, competitive cavity nesting species. The creation of nest box programs led to an increase in bluebird populations and these programs continue to be of importance. In this study, a recycled metal ammunition can was used as a nest box to determine if this was a viable resource for bluebirds. This work investigated the effects of this alternate material nest box on nestling physiology and adult behavior with special emphasis …

The Missing Link: The Impact Of Nutrition Education And The School Lunch Program, Rachel E. Calhoun

Honors Theses

In the U.S., the weight status of overweight and obesity in children is increasing from recent decades (Carrol & Ogden, 2010). Research shows that the prevalence of children developing chronic diseases is influenced by obesity and overweight statuses, shown by existing risk factors (Freedman, Dietz, Srinivasan, & Berenson, 1999). Recent legislation of the National School Lunch Program has aimed to improve the nutritional value of school lunches in elementary schools by requiring fruit and vegetable meal components be provided on each lunch tray (Nutrition Standards, 2012). This quasi experimental study aimed to increase fourth graders nutrition knowledge and fruit and …

Effect Of Germination And Parboiling On Milling, Physicochemical, And Textural Properties Of Medium- And Long-Grain Rough Rice, Ashley Han

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Germinated brown rice is commonly consumed in Asia for its enhanced nutritional properties such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and softer cooked texture. However germination decreases milling yield and alters some physicochemical properties, and most germinated rice studies evaluated medium-grain and aromatic rice cultivars. This study compared the effects of germination duration and parboiling on milling, physicochemical, and textural properties of a medium- (Jupiter) and a long-grain (Wells) rice cultivars. Rough rice was soaked in water at 25°C for 12 hr, and then incubated at 30-34°C for varying germination durations, or combined with parboiling at 120°C for 20 min prior to …

The Reproductive Ecology Of The Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus Horridus, In Northwestern Arkansas: Interactions Between Environment, Steroid Hormones, And Life History, Craig Michael Lind

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation I examined the relationship between individual energetic status, hormone production, and life history trait expression in field-active Timber Rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus. In chapter one I reviewed what is known regarding these relationships in snakes and defined major research goals. In chapter two I described the seasonal profile of testosterone (T) and corticosterone (CORT) in relation to the breeding season and to individual energetic status in males. Results showed that the seasonal pattern of T production in C. horridus was different than other pit viper species with similar mating patterns. Testosterone was elevated in the months leading up …

Intestinal Inflammation Model Inducing Gut Leakage By Different Methods In Broiler Chickens Using Fitc-D As A Marker, Eduardo Vicuna

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) have been used in food animals to reduce enteric inflammation and maintain intestinal homeostasis, thus improving performance. Due to increasing restrictions regarding the use of AGP, precise and high throughput enteric inflammation models and markers to search for effective alternatives are urgently needed. Oral administration of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d) and its passage into blood can be used as a marker for tight junction permeability. FITC-d is a large molecule (3-5 kDa) which does not usually leak through the intact gastrointestinal tract barrier. However, when conditions disrupt the tight junctions between epithelial cells, the FITC-d …

Genetic Mapping Of Yield And Normalized Difference Vegetative Index In Soft Red Winter Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.), Christopher Keith Addison

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Wheat is the most widely cultivated cereal crop, being grown on 17% of the global crop land and as such must be adapted to an array of environmental stresses. In order to become a variety, wheat breeding lines must be tested across a range of environments for both high productivity and stability. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and indices are tools that can aid plant breeders in the selection of superior lines. Soft red winter wheat accounts for 20% of the total wheat production in the United States, being grown in the southeastern U.S. predominantly along the Mississippi River. However, …

The Effects Of Electrostatic Spraying With Organic Acids In The Disintegration Of Biofilms Formed By E.Coli O157:H7 And Salmonella Typhimurium On Spinach And Cantaloupe, Ahmad Almasoud

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Outbreaks from the consumption of fresh produce are a concern in the United States. The consumptions of fresh produce have increased recently which expose a large segment of society to such outbreaks. Spinach and cantaloupe are minimally heated or processed before consumption which makes them a possible source of foodborne illness. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of organic acids alone and in combination to reduce attached Salmonella Typhimurium (S.T) and Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E.coli) on spinach and cantaloupe, and to disintegrate biofilm formed by these pathogens by electrostatically spraying with two organic acids. To quantify …

Monitoring Abundance Of Ips Bark Beetles And Determining Related Tree Mortality In Arkansas And Texas, Chandler Stefan Barton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The abundance of the southern pine engraver beetles, Ips avulsus (Eichhoff), I. grandicollis (Eichhoff), and I. calligraphus (Germar), was monitored with pheromone-baited traps in 2012 and 2013 in Arkansas and eastern Texas. Additionally, vehicle-based and comprehensive ground-based surveys were used to estimate and confirm the amount of dead and fading trees in each trapping site. Pine engraver beetles have historically been recognized as secondary invaders of healthy trees, but observations of pine mortality in Texas and Arkansas appeared to correspond with high population densities of Ips spp. Forest sites exhibiting subjectively high or low incidence of Ips-associated mortality in Arkansas …

Improving Production Efficiency Of Beef Cow-Calf Operations, Amanda Jo Davis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Three studies were conducted to improve and incorporate reproductive management practices into beef cow-calf production. First study evaluated serial use of Estrotect estrous detection patches as a simple, cost-effective reproductive management tool to identify cyclic animals before breeding, distinguish between females conceiving to AI versus natural service, and determine seasonal pregnancy rate after bull removal. Also determined, was effectiveness of altered timing of GnRH treatment (1 d ± CIDR removal) in a modified 14-d CIDR-Select Synch protocol. When evaluated over a 4-wk period, estrous detection patches correctly (P < 0.01) identified 79% of cyclic and 86% of non-cyclic heifers. Patches were 96 and 98% accurate in identifying heifers and cows pregnant by AI, respectively, and were 76 and 87% accurate in identifying pregnant heifers and cows at the end of the breeding season (P < 0.01). Treatment with GnRH at CIDR removal reduced labor costs and animal handling without compromising estrous response (both ~63.0%) and AI pregnancy rates (~76 and 77%; P > 0.1). Second study determined if addition of PGF2alpha treatment on d 7 …

Effects Of Chemical And Enzymatic Modifications On The Starch-Inclusion Complex Formation, Emily Arijaje

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Starch-inclusion complexes have been proposed as delivery tools for bioactive molecules; however complexation yield is generally low with low solubility, which may limit the bioavailability of the included molecule. It was proposed that chemical (acetylation) and/or enzymatic (isoamylase and beta-amylase) modifications of starches prior to complex formation with fatty acids of different structures, including stearic, oleic and linoleic acid, may help increase complexation yield and solubility of the resulting starch complexes. Potato starch had a significantly higher complexation yield than common corn and high amylose (~70%) corn starches after debranching combined with a beta-amylase treatment. Debranched waxy maize starch and …

Rice Grain Yield And Nitrogen Uptake And Ammonia Volatilization From Urea As Affected By Urea Amendment And Simulated Rainfall, Randy Dempsey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The effect of rainfall between urea application and flood establishment on N loss and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) has not been studied. The first research objective was to compare the effects of simulated rainfall amounts and N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) urease inhibitor rate on NH3 volatilization and rice growth. Three field experiments were conducted and NH3 volatilization was measured in two experiments for 11 days after urea application (DAU) in semi-open chambers. Urea or NBPT-treated urea (NBPT-Urea) was subjected to six simulated rainfall amounts (0-25 mm) applied 5 to 15 h after urea application and flooded 7 …

Efficacy Of Beta-Resorcylic Acid To Reduce Campylobacter Jejuni In Pre-Harvest And Post-Harvest Poultry, Basanta Raj Wagle

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Campylobacteriosis is one of the leading foodborne illnesses in United States, and is associated with the consumption of poultry and poultry products. Reducing Campylobacter in these species will reduce the burden of this disease. Unfortunately, most strategies employed to reduce Campylobacter in poultry have either not been successful or produced inconsistent results. One potential control strategy is the use of β-resorcylic acid (BR), a phytophenolic compound classified by the US FDA as "Everything Added to Food in the United States" (EAF 3045) and is therefore deemed safe for consumption. This compounds has antibacterial activity against Salmonella, however, its efficacy to …

Dlipin-A Link Between Lipid Metabolism, Glucose Homeostasis And Growth In Drosophila Melanogaster, Sandra Schmitt

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lipins are a family of highly conserved proteins found from yeasts to humans. Lipins have dual functions, serving as phosphatidate phosphatase enzymes (PAP) in the synthesis of neutral fats (triacylglycerols, TAG) and as transcriptional co-regulators that affect the expression of genes involved in lipid and fatty acid metabolism. Thus, they play central roles in metabolic control. Disruption of Lipin function has been implicated in lipodystrophy, obesity and insulin resistance. Using dLipin, the Drosophila homolog of Lipin, as a model, I aimed to elucidate the relationship between the two biochemical functions of Lipin and metabolic homeostasis. I discovered there is a …

The Effect Of Physical Activity Levels On Hydration Markers In Non-Athletic Free-Living Individuals, Mikell Lucas Hammer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Higher levels of physical activity requires increased fluid intake due to increased water losses via sweating. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of physical activity on hydration status and water intake. METHODS: This study involved 8 visits to the Human Performance Laboratory over 22 days. Body weight and urine measurements were taken every visit. Physical activity was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), water intake by the Water Frequency Questionnaire (WFQ), and hydration status by urine osmolality (UOsm), urine specific gravity (USG), and urine color (UC). From the IPAQ subjects were classified as low, moderate and high physical activity …

Divergent Selection For Four-Day Relative Breast Yield And The Effect Of Thermal Manipulations On Growth Characteristics On Lines Selected For Different Processing Dates., James Grant Mason

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Genetic selections currently utilized in the poultry industry have been highly successful in promoting broiler growth rate and yield. However, these selections may have come at the expense of broiler physiology, as evidenced by an increase in physiological disorders. To address this experimentation was undergone to develop a novel method of selection to promote growth with minimal physiological impact and to assess how a new embryonic technique affects growth in broiler lines exhibiting different growth rates.

In the first experiment, a random bred control (RAN) broiler line was divergently selected for four-day relative breast yield (BY4) resulting in the high …

Hypohydration And Mood State In Free-Living Males And Females, Thomas Edward Vidal

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has shown that acute dehydration can result in changes in mood. These changes have been reported in less than a 1% loss in total body water. However, the effect of hypohydration (i.e., reflected through high urine concentration) on mood in free-living conditions has not been studied. PURPOSE: The present study was designed to determine if hydration status is associated with mood within the general population under free-living conditions. METHODS: A group of 103 apparently healthy subjects (49 male, 54 female, 41±14 y, 1.7±0.1 m, 76.1±16.9 kg) completed three visits separated by a week. Mood was assessed by the …

Application Of Essential Oil Compounds And Bacteriophage To Control Staphylococcus Aureus, Anisha Ghosh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important pathogens, causing various diseases in humans and animals. In addition, S. aureus is a common foodborne pathogen. As methicillin- resistant S. aureus (MRSA) becomes increasingly prevalent, controlling this pathogen in animals and humans with standard antibiotic treatment has become challenging. Combinations of different antimicrobial agents represent one of the most promising approaches for combating multidrug - resistant bacteria both for treatment of clinical disease as well as in food. Two such antimicrobials with potential application in the food industry include essential oils (EO) and host-specific bacteriophage (phage). The objectives of this study …

The Development Of Skeletal Muscle In Young Horses: An Ultrasonography And Satellite Cell Approach, Emma K. Lavigne

Honors Scholar Theses

Muscle growth in young horses is characterized by an increase in muscle cross-sectional area, which can be accomplished through the activation and differentiation of satellite cells. Satellite cells can be stimulated or inhibited in response to different cytokines and growth factors and are key mediators of muscle hypertrophy and regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the growth of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle in horses under 5 years of age and to obtain preliminary data on satellite cell behavior in foals. The area, width, height, and subcutaneous fat were measured using ultrasonography at 6-month increments over the …

2015-May-01-Wellness Committee Honors 'Health Heroes', University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

Security Or Sovereignty? Institutional And Critical Approaches To The Global Food Crisis, Anya Galli Robertson

Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Faculty Publications

Citation information for the books reviewed:

Andreé, Peter, Jeffrey Ayres, Michael J. Bosia, and Marie-Joseé Massicotte, eds. 2014. Globalization and Food Sovereignty: Global and Local Change in the New Politics of Food. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

Barrett, Christopher B., ed. 2013. Food Security and Sociopolitical Stability. New York: Oxford University Press.

Galt, Ryan E. 2014. Food Systems in an Unequal World: Pesticides, Vegetables, and Agrarian Capitalism in Costa Rica. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.

The Differential Effects Of Peer Influence And Advertisement On Healthy Food Choices, Lindsey M. Gordon

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The current study examined the differential effects of advertisement and peer pressure on the consumer choices of young adults.. Data were gathered from Fort Hays State University undergraduate participants enrolled in psychology courses. Participants were assigned to one of four experimental groups being comprised of two separate two-level independent variables. One independent variable, advertisement-type, appeared on a computer screen while the participants were completing a simple, yet arbitrary task. The next independent variable, peer choice, was manipulated by having confederates in the same experimental session choose either healthy or unhealthy foods prior to the participants as a reward for completing …

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Elastase Induces Restructuring Of Actin Cytoskeleton By Phosphorylation Of Rhoa Proteins, Bidisha Pal

Biology Theses

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes aggressive infection in patients with pre-existing disorders and recurrent pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa infections is multifactorial owing to numerous virulence factors. The focus of this thesis research was to investigate whether P. aeruginosa elastase (PE) causes remodeling of the cytoskeleton by increasing the phosphorylation of RhoA GTPase proteins. In addressing our hypothesis, we utilized Small GTPase Immuno-sorbent Activation assays (G-LISA) and Enzyme linked Immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) to quantitate changes in the total as well as phosphorylated RhoA protein in Calu3 cell lines. Fluorescence microscopy aided in understanding the changes in morphological …

A Study Of Life Skills From Traditional And Afterschool 4-H Participants, Julia M. Kreikemeier

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cooperative Extension has been serving youth and their families for over one hundred years. The total impact of this service has been measured on several occasions by many researchers, most notably in the research of youth development by Richard Learner; however, his research only took into account those who participated in traditional 4-H clubs. The purpose of this quantitative study was designed to examine which life skills youth participants in traditional and afterschool 4-H programs reported. Quantitative methodology was used to collect post-program survey data of youth participants. Qualitative informal interviews were conducted of Extension Educators and afterschool 4-H program …

Corn Characterization And Development Of A Convenient Laboratory Scale Alkaline Cooking Process, Shreya N.O. Sahasrabudhe

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nixtamalized (alkaline cooked) corn (Zea mays L.) products are increasing in popularity due to their affordable cost, ease of production, and the diversity of products that can be made using similar unit operations. The nixtamal produced after alkaline cooking depends on the processing parameters used during cooking and steeping, as well as the physicochemical properties of the corn hybrids used. Processors incur high costs in narrowing down hybrids suitable for a given process, or they must be able to adjust cooking conditions to obtain the desired end-product characteristics. Improper processing generates large quantities of waste. Researchers have developed small …

Viability Of Lactobacillus Acidophilus Dds 1-10 Encapsulated With An Alginate-Starch Matrix, Liya Mo

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

L. acidophilus DDS1-10 was encapsulated using an alginate, potato starch and type 4 resistant starch (RS4) matrix. The wall material was optimized by varying levels of alginate (1.6 to 4.4%), while maintaining potato starch and RS4 ratio fixed at 2, and the total solid content at 5%. Particles were prepared using an emulsion and an extrusion method. Particles obtained from the emulsion method were smaller with a non-uniform distribution in size while those obtained by the extrusion method were bigger and uniform in size. The emulsion method did not seem to offer protection to the probiotic cells against pH, bile …

Acute Toxicity Of Β-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine (Bmaa) To Fathead Minnow (Pimephales Promelas) And Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Jiayi Wang

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxic amino acid produced by most species of cyanobacteria. Exposure to BMAA has been hypothesized as a cause of ALS and possibly Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases for several decades. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that exposure to elevated concentrations of BMAA can damage motor neurons and cause motor dysfunctions. However, the exact mechanism of BMAA-induced neurotoxicity has not been well understood.

Based on the available literature and in spite of its water-soluble and non-protein nature, BMAA appears to be able to bioaccumulate in organisms. The ubiquity of cyanobacteria and the potential for bioaccumulation …