Digital Commons Network^™

Soil Preferences Of Nicrophorus Beetles And The Effects Of Compaction On Burying Behavior, Kelly A. Willemssens

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

The American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus Olivier was declared federally endangered in 1989 and many efforts to prevent this species from going extinct are ongoing. The Nicrophorus beetles bury small carcasses for reproductive purposes. They also reside in the soil during times of daily and seasonal inactivity. To better understand why N. americanus is in decline, the importance of soil texture, moisture, vegetation, gravel, the burial depth, and the effect of compaction on their burying behavior was examined.

All tested species preferred moist soils with N. orbicollis having a significant preference for wet (pN. marginatus had a significant preference for …

Investigations Into The Molecular Mechanisms Of Bacterial Pathogen–Host Interactions: Construction Of A Dual Plasmid System For Incorporation Of Unnatural Amino Acids Into Pseudomonas Syringae Pv. Tomato Dc3000, Scotty D. Raber

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A dual plasmid system for the incorporation of unnatural amino acids into plant pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, has been designed. This invention is expected to allow (a) mutations of proteins synthesized by the bacterium, P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000, that can capture molecular targets, especially for such modified proteins secreted by the phytopathogen into the host plant cells of A. thaliana and S. lycopersicum, (b) expression of biological probes in the bacterial species to monitor changes in redox, nutritional, and other small molecule states over pre-, post- and in situ disease stages, and secretion of such biological …

Transport Of Bovine Milk Exosomes By Human Colon Carcinoma Caco-2 Cells And Rat Small Intestinal Iec-6 Cells, Tovah Wolf

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We have reported that microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) in bovine milk regulate human genes. In milk, many miRNAs are encapsulated in exosomes, thereby conferring protection against degradation and a pathway for intestinal transport of miRNAs. We hypothesized that the uptake of bovine exosomes in human intestinal colon carcinoma Caco-2 cells and rat primary small intestinal IEC-6 cells is mediated by endocytosis. Transport studies were carried out using fluorophore-labeled exosomes purified from bovine milk. The transport of bovine exosomes exhibited saturation kinetics at 37°C (K_m= 55.5±48.6 µg/200 µL, V_max= 0.083±0.057 ng exosomal protein x 81,750 cells⁻¹ x …

Molecular Mechanism For The Biosynthesis Of Antifungal Hsaf And Antibacterial Wap-8294a2, Haotong Chen

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Bioactive natural products are a major source of anti-infectives. Many ubiquitous inhabitants of soil and water, such as the Gram-negative, prolific producers of natural products, Lysobacter, remain largely unexplored. This PhD thesis reports our studies of the biosynthetic mechanism for a novel antifungal natural product HSAF and a potent anti-MRSA natural product WAP-8294A2.

In the first chapter, we give a short review of the biosynthesis of polyketides, focusing on those which exhibit new biosynthetic features. In subsequent chapters, we present original research on the biosynthetic mechanisms of dihydromaltophilin, a heat stable antifungal factor (HSAF). HSAF is the main antifungal …

Characterizing The Effects Of Both Synthetic And Natural Inhibitors On The Function Of Holocarboxylase Synthetase And Lipid Metabolism, Elizabeth Cordonier

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The central theme of this dissertation explores enzyme inhibition, through the use of both synthetic and natural occurring inhibitors of three biotin-associated enzymes; the mammalian biotin ligase, holocarboxylase synthetase(HLCS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylases 1 and 2 (ACC1 and 2), whose activity is dependent on biotinylation by HLCS, and are involved in fatty acid synthesis and regulation of beta-oxidation, respectively. No null HLCS individual has ever been reported and individuals with inherited mutations in the HLCS gene, which render it incapable of biotinylating carboxylases, exhibit varying degrees of symptoms associated with multiple carboxylase deficiency. Little is known with regard to the reaction …

Effectiveness Of Cardiac Rehabilitation: Secondary Prevention Increases Functional Capacity In Myocardial Infarction Patients, Kristin Badillo

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this study was to discern the effectiveness of Cardiac Rehabilitation/ Secondary Prevention Programs (CR/ SPP’s) by evaluating increased functional capacity in the form of MET (metabolic equivalent) scores post-myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack. The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) survey is administered as part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for participation in the Secondary Prevention Program. Criterion for the research included patients 65 and older, with a history of one myocardial infarction, and had completed all 36 sessions of CR. The scores from 11 SPP surveys were analyzed and compared in three time increments from …

Microfinance In Algeria, Tunisia, And Lebanon, Elaine Chamberlain

HIM 1990-2015

In theory, microfinance is a system of decentralized bankers lending to the poor in order to improve economic systems and emphasize entrepreneurial development. Specifically, within the Middle East and North Africa region, the poor economic performances have been closely linked to poor savings and investments. This thesis explores the various factors which affect the microfinance sector in three countries in the Middle East and North Africa region: Algeria, Tunisia, and Lebanon. Algeria, Tunisia, and Lebanon, have similar cultural and political histories that could potentially affect the development of microfinance within the state. Microfinance institutes aim at economic improvements, but the …

Acculturation Factors Associated With The Prevalence Of Obesity In Immigrant Children And Adolescents, Suzeline Desir

HIM 1990-2015

Childhood obesity (CO) is a significant public health issue in the United States, including the immigrant populations. Obese children and adolescents are at increased risk for multiple preventable comorbidities that affect their physical health and psychological well-being. The perception exists that the immigrant child population may possess protection against CO, but this group also experienced an increased prevalence of CO. Acculturation, or the adaptation to American culture and lifestyles, has been shown to be associated with the increased obesity rate among immigrant children and adolescents. Understanding the association between acculturation factors and CO is necessary to effectively combat obesity among …

Total Body Water And Its Relationship To Functional Performance In Individuals With Diagnosed Osteoarthritis, Sara Hanson

HIM 1990-2015

This study examines a possible relationship between Total Body Water (TBW) levels, osteoarthritic pain and functional performance in a sample of untrained adults. Participants complete a Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire, TBW is measured using single-frequency bioelectrical impedance (SF-BIA) and strength, balance and physical function are measured by the completion of 7 standardized functional tests. Participants in this study will include adult men and women, age 35 years and older, who have been previously diagnosed with Osteoarthritis (OA) in the hip or knee, or who score 35 or higher on the WOMAC. This study aims to …

Biomarkers In Athletes: A Meta-Analysis In Female Soccer And Field Hockey Players, Sophie Howard

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and potential abnormalities of biomarkers in female soccer and field hockey players by conducting a meta-analysis of previous studies. In this study, previous research on certain biomarkers (Creatine kinase, lactic acid, iron, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and cortisol) in collegiate, elite and national level female soccer and field hockey players was collected and evaluated. Studies on baseline measurements for these biomarkers in female soccer and field hockey athletes were collected and their group means were considered. These values were collectively put into individual forest plots, one for each biomarker, and …

Effects Of Caffeinated Energy Drink And Alcohol Usage On Perceived Stress And Burnout In Undergraduate Students, Arjun Patel

HIM 1990-2015

Caffeinated energy beverages (CEDs) are a growing supplement being consumed by a large number of young adults aged 18 to 24 years of age. As these CEDs contain nutritional supplements, they are not classified the same way other beverages such as sodas are and they can thus bypass regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. Without regulation by this governing body, it is important to understand how these supplements may be affecting their target population. In this study, students from a large university were recruited in order to determine patterns of CED usage as well as how CED usage may …

Stable Isotope Evidence For The Geographic Origins And Military Movement Of Napoleonic Soldiers During The March From Moscow In 1812, Serenela Pelier

HIM 1990-2015

In 2001, 3269 unidentified individuals were found in a mass grave on the Northern part of Vilnius, Lithuania. Artifactual context indicates that these individuals were likely soldiers that were a part of Napoleon’s Grand Army. Stable oxygen isotope analysis was performed on bone apatite from 9 femoral bone samples to determine whether or not these individuals were Lithuanian locals and to test ratio variation. If individuals were foreigners, then geographical origins were approximated utilizing percentages of C4 plants from Holder (2013) and δ18O values that were extracted from bone apatite. The carbonate oxygen isotope compositions (δ18Ocarbonate) of bone apatite from …

The Increase Of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) Participation By Low Income Workers: A Social Work Perspective, Elizabeth Scheiner

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the literature focused on the increased utilization of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by low-income workers attempting to become food secure. Poverty measurement will be discussed for its importance to accurately identify individuals and families who are still excluded of social services and programs due to a faulty measurement of poverty. Furthermore, this paper will identify how the limitations of the current minimum wage system in the United States contributes to food insecurity within the population of low-income workers. A concise history of the creation of the SNAP …

Determining The Daily Caloric Needs Of Collegiate Female Athletes, Alicia D. Watson

Theses

Dietary requirements in athletes are critical to overall health and performance, yet no formula to predict dietary needs is available for female athletes. This study's purpose was to develop a validated prediction equation to predict the resting metabolic needs of female athletes. 63 NCAA Division II female athletes (19.7 ± 1.1 years, 169.3 ± 8.6 cm, 67.5 ± 9.1 kg) were recruited as participants in this study. Upon providing their informed consent, study participants arrived for testing in the morning between the hours of 0600 - 1000 after observing a ~10 hour fast and within 30 - 60 minutes of …

Improving Breastfeeding Support Through Understanding Mothers' Perspectives And Experiences, Alicia D. Debevec

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Delayed Cord-Clamping In Term And Preterm Infants: Nursing Strategies To Facilitate Implementation, Nancy M. Finnegan

Theses and Dissertations

Newborns have been shown to benefit from delayed umbilical cord clamping after birth by the extra transfusion of placental blood. Enhanced placental transfusion is known to increase blood volume, red blood cells and improve the oxygenation of vital organs in both term and preterm infants. There continues to be however, a need for further research including issues such as optimal timing of the delay, eligibility and appropriateness of those newborns requiring resuscitation, and the ideal position to hold the infant prior to cord clamping. Changes in clinical practice have been slow to take hold because of these issues, along with …

Increasing Palliative Care Referrals In Terminal Lung Cancer Patients, John Edward Roll

Theses and Dissertations

Late referrals to palliative care services for patients suffering from terminal lung cancer is an ongoing problem that unnecessarily shortens patient survival time by inadequate and poorly timed symptom control that affects the remaining quality of life for both patient and family. The latest mortality figures available (2011) showed approximately 157,000 people died due to cancer of the lung, trachea, and bronchus (CDC, 2014a). The purpose of this independent study was to review and effectively analyze the literature and understand the reasons and barriers to early referral of palliative care services by health care providers for their clients diagnosed with …

Kentucky Mineral Spring Resorts : An Archaeological Reconnaissance Of Medical Trends And Land Use., Sara Marian Deurell

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

This project is an archaeological reconnaissance survey of 12 historic mineral spring resorts of Kentucky. The objective of this research is to assess the archaeological potential of these sites, and to provide an archaeological perspective on 19th and early 20th century Kentucky health care in relation to the use of opiates, as well as the evolution of land use in relation to preservation of features and artifacts associated with the resort hotel era. Compared to the number of sites in the state (71), very little archaeological investigation of mineral spring resorts has been conducted. The importance of these sites to …

Teacher Perceptions On The Ethics Of Using Corporate-Sponsored Curriculum In The Classroom, Laura J. Lightfoot

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Corporate involvement in education has always been a hotly debated issue. Is it a conflict of interests if companies provide material and information to schools? Or is it their civic responsibility and best interest to help promote education in order to create exceptional future employees? As budget cuts continue to devastate public schools throughout the United States, districts and teachers are looking for alternative means to provide the best education that they can. Many corporations are providing additional resources at minimal to no cost to schools, but with what consequences? Corporate created curriculum does not have as rigorous restrictions or …

Activity-Rest And Skin Temperature Circadian Rhythms And Sleep Patterns In Community-Dwelling Women, Kristina L. Leyden

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore activity-rest and temperature circadian rhythms and sleep patterns in ambulatory women of reproductive, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal stages. Study aims were to (1) correlate the patterns of activity-rest with skin temperature and determine (2) lead-lag relation between activity-rest and circadian temperature rhythm, (3) stability of activity-rest patterns during work and non-work days, (4) duration of actigraphy sampling sufficient to reliably capture activity-rest patterns, and (5) sleep parameters in participating women across reproductive stages.

Design: Analysis of extant data sets.

Sample and Setting: Seven community-dwelling women, 27-to-54-years old

Methods: Participants wore an actigraph …

Using Art Therapy To Understand The Experience Of African-American Girls With Childhood Obesity, Elva Anderson

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

The growing epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States disproportionately affects African-American children. Traditional use of behavior modification and nutrition counseling in weight reduction programs for obese children have not been successful in overcoming the social, cultural, and psychological barriers to effective weight control. Although art therapy can provide important insights into the life challenges faced by obese children, there has been little research on the use of art therapy to increase understanding of the lived experiences of African-American girls living with obesity. By understanding their perspective, it will assist in developing theory as a means to create better …

Lymphocyte Proliferation In Response To Benzofuran-2- Carboxylic Acid Derivative (Kmeg) On International Space Station (Iss) As Potential Countermeasures For Immune Suppression In Microgravity, Ivory Ellis

Theses (Pre-2016)

Microgravity and radiation exposure experienced during space flights result in immune system suppression. Subsequent research was conducted on the ISS in real microgravity and radiation environments experienced during a Spacex-3 mission (UR-l) launched April 18, 2014. The experiment was designed and integrated into Nanoracks hardware for testing on the ISS. Experimental design and cellular protocols were developed for a time period over a year. During such time dry runs, microgravity grounds models and cell conditions were optimized. Normal lymphocytes were flown on a Nanoracks platform with and without benzofuran-2-carboxylic acid derivative KMEG for 6 days. Appropriate fixatives for RNA isolation …

A Call For Friendship And Freedom Across Time: Gilgamesh, Robinson Crusoe, And Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn, Waleed Kadhim Alasari

Theses (Pre-2016)

This study thoroughly examines the uncivilized human being through the characters of Gilgamesh and Enkidu in Gilgamesh, Crusoe and Friday in Robinson Crusoe, and Huck and Jim in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. These characters are selected purposively to substantiate the role of living transitional figures wrestling between the forces of nature and culture. Additionally, these individuals act out and respond to conditions in a hierarchical environment that governs their behaviors and positions. On a larger scale, they are preordained by uncontrollable forces-that of rigid social conditions, destiny, or error of judgment. The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays vividly the cantankerous nature …

Caenorhbaditis Elegans As A Model Organism For Studying The Toxic Effect Of Chlorinated Natatorium Swimming Pool Water, Hadijat Wemmy Audu

Theses (Pre-2016)

The relationship between toxicant exposure and reproductive and neurological effects in Caenorhabditis elegans is an area of increasing scientific inquiry. Chlorine is a disinfectant that is widely used in developed countries, however, its potential hazardous effect as an environmental toxicant was what made it of interest in our research. In this research experiment, we aimed to study how chlorinated swimming pool water affects the survival, reproduction, behavior, and if it induces oxidative stress in C. elegans. We found that chlorinated pool water had a dose dependent effect on increasing the mortality rate of the C. elegans and decreasing their egg-laying …

The Effectiveness Of An Evidenced-Based Decision Making Program In Criminal Justice Systems, Tashina Lorraine Keith

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Abstract The National Institute of Corrections selected the Yamhill County Department of Corrections to implement a new evidenced-based decision making program within their criminal justice system. As part of the new program, every individual who was arrested and placed on probation went through a case analysis assessment and had their treatment programs approved by a judge prior to sentencing. In this study 20 randomly selected individuals who received their treatment programming prior to sentencing were matched to 20 randomly selected individuals who received treatment programs post-sentencing. The hypothesis of this study was that those probationers in the pre-sentencing group who …

Barriers To Mental Healthcare Across Age And Education Level, Vanessa Lynn Jones

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between age and education and perceived barriers to mental health care as measured by the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE-III). Age ranged from 18-92 and ages were divided into three groups (25 and younger, 26-55, 56 and older). Education ranged from no high school diploma (or its equivalent) to doctoral degrees. A moderation analysis was conducted using each BACE-III factor as well as the BACE-III total. A qualitative analysis was also performed. The results indicated little or no relationship existed between age and education level and perceived barriers to mental health care. The …

Postharvest Degradation Of Microalgae: Effect Of Temperature And Water Activity, Jacob A. Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Though usually a nuisance in swimming pools and ponds, algae has the potential to be a valuable commodity for use as food and fuel. But before algae butter and biofuel become commonplace, issues with harvesting and storing this new crop need to be overcome. Though there has been ample research into how to grow and use algae, scientists have spent little time figuring out what to do after you pull it out of the water and before you eat it (or turn it into biodiesel). Algae, like all food products, starts to spoil as soon as it is harvested.

This …

Weight Management Of Diabetic Patients: Can Text Messaging Help?, Culver Randolph

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The prevalence of obesity and diabetes have steadily increased over the past three decades with projections calling for 83% of men and 72% of women becoming overweight or obese by 2020; similarly, the incidence of women with diabetes is projected to increase from 37 % to 44% (Shute, N., 2011). These drastic increases have brought about a dramatic growth of innovative disease management tools that have proven to increase patient control over their disease as well as enhance patient-practitioner correspondence. The literature provided information involving the use of text messaging to prompt the patients to increase their adherence to the …

Male Escorts’ And Male Clients’ Sexual Behavior During Their Last Commercial Sexual Encounter: Comparing And Contrasting Findings From Two Online Studies, Christian Grov, Carlos E. Rodríguez-Díaz, Gerardo G. Jovet-Toledo

Publications and Research

Much of what is known about commercial sexual encounters between men is based on data gathered from escorts. With few exceptions, studies have not compared male clients’ reports of behavior during commercial sexual encounters with male escorts’. The present study draws from two datasets, a 2012 survey of clients (n = 495) and a 2013 survey of escorts (n = 387)—both used virtually identical measures of sexual behavior during the most recent commercial sexual encounter. For clients and escorts, the majority eschewed having sex without a condom, and kissing and oral sex were among the most common behaviors reported. Using …

Assessment Of Stabilization And Muscle Recruitment In Amputees Following Sit-To-Stand Transfer, Elizabeth Terran Jones

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Standing from a seated position is a task of daily living that is essential for independence relying heavily on balance and lower-extremity muscle strength and coordination (Whitney et al., 2005). With age, many once healthy individuals lose this ability and are institutionalized or find themselves reliant on others for care due to the development of balance disorders or loss of muscle mass. The majority of research present today on transitional movements affected by balance disorders, such as the sit-to-stand transition, has been focused on the elderly population. A correlation has been established between the Sit-To-Stand Test and factors such as …