Digital Commons Network^™

Food Security Status And Life Events Among Households With Children In The Midlands Of South Carolina, Erin Rebekah Drucker

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Food insecurity is a major public health problem in the United States (US) with 14.5% of US households having experienced some level of food insecurity in 2012. Among households with children, 20% experienced low food security in 2012, and in half of these households, both the children and adults were affected. Food insecurity among children can have lifelong negative health and mental effects. Life events are defined as self-­‐reported life changes, which create a strain on resources and an opportunity for food insecurity, Methods: The Midlands Family Study (MFS) was a cross-­‐ sectional study that surveyed households …

Maternal Obesity, Gestational Weight Gain And Offspring’S Asthma, Kristen Polinski

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Obesity is common among women of childbearing age and intrauterine exposures may influence the development of early childhood asthma. A handful of studies have investigated pre-pregnancy obesity, but even fewer have thoroughly explored gestational weight gain as possible childhood asthma risk factors. Gaps remain in the literature and to our knowledge, none have longitudinally explored these relationships in a nationally representative sample of U.S. children.

Methods: We used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Birth Cohort, in which children were followed through age four (n≈5,200). Asthma was based on parent report of a physician’s diagnosis. …

Engineered 3d Microenvironments To Direct Osteogenic Differentiation And Modulate Inflammation, Katherine Elizabeth Rutledge

Theses and Dissertations

Current methods of treating critical size bone defects (CSDs) include autografts and allografts, however both present major limitations including donor-site morbidity, risk of disease transmission, and immune-rejection. Tissue engineering provides a promising alternative to circumvent these shortcomings through the use of stem cells, three dimensional (3D) scaffolds, and growth factors. Cells receive signals from their microenvironment that determine cell phenotype, and a combination of physical cues and chemical factors is thought to have the most profound influence on stem cell behavior. A major focus of tissue engineering strategies is scaffold design to recapitulate in vivo microenvironmental architecture to direct stem …

Anarchic Wills: De Factoism And Its Discontents In Shakespeare And Milton, William Dean Clement

Theses and Dissertations

My dissertation explores the literary origins of de factoism – the political philosophy which considers any “right” to rule inconsequential to political legitimacy. My work introduces the concept of the “anarchic will,” my term for a literary character that recognizes the growing distance between an authority’s claim to power and the material fact of that power. I locate these figures in early modern drama and epic to demonstrate how their existence threatens the traditional power structures, both on the stage and in the streets of London. I argue that anarchic wills jeopardize political order at the most basic level, in …

The Relationship Of The Mediterranean Diet And The Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension (Dash) Style Diet With Cardiometabolic Health, Yong-Moon Park

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Much evidence shows that the Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) style diet are associated with risk reduction of cardiometabolic disease as well as lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality. A subgroup of obese individuals (metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype) and normal weight individuals (metabolically obese normal weight (MONW) phenotype) have been identified to have different cardiometabolic risks compared with their counterparts in the same category of body mass index (BMI). Scarce evidence exists demonstrating a relationship between adherence to Mediterranean diet or DASH style diets with MHO and MONW …

Low-Dose Stimulant Treatment During Periadolescence In A Fasd Model: Interactions Among The Catecholamines, Victoria Macht

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most common of deficits observed in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is difficulties with attention. Because attention deficits are commonly treated with stimulants, the impact of d-amphetamine (AMPH) treatment during the juvenile period in an animal model of FASD was examined. A dose-response study first assessed the appropriate dose of AMPH to use. In the dose-response study, therapeutic doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg/day of AMPH were chronically administered to female rats between postnatal days (PD) 26-40. Rats were subjected to an open field test on the first and last day of treatment. The dose of …

Longitudinal Association Between Television Watching, Computer Use And Meal Frequency And Risk Markers In Diabetes Among Youth With Diabetes, Chao Li

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Television watching and computer use are considered to be the main sedentary behaviors in children and youth. However, their longitudinal impact on HbA1c and serum lipids among youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are under-studied. Sedentary behavior is normally assessed by questionnaire in large epidemiological studies, however, its measurement by questionnaire has not been evaluated among youth with diabetes. Also, no recent studies have evaluated the optimal meal frequency for glycemic control in youth with T1D and T2D; for this reason nutritional guidelines on meal frequency for youth with diabetes are vague. …

In Vitro Study Of Wound-Healing Capabilities Of Bioactive Glass Fibers Under Various Culture Conditions, Sisi Chen

Masters Theses

"Bioactive borate glass has been recognized to have both hard and soft tissue repair and regeneration capabilities through stimulating both osteogenesis and angiogenesis. However, the underlying physiological and cellular mechanism behind this function remains unclear. In this study, in vitro dynamic flow modules were designed to mimic the micro-environment near the vascular depletion and hyperplasia area in wound-healing regions, and were used to investigate the biocompatibility and functionality of borate glass nano-/micro-fibers. Glass-cell interactions were investigated either by dosing fibers to the upstream of or co-cultured with cells, and two types of borate glasses (with or without CuO/ZnO doped were …

System Integration Of Hydrogen Energy Technologies Using Renewable Energy Resources, Tarek A Mohammed Hamad

Doctoral Dissertations

"The objective of this work has two major tasks that investigation the use of CHHP system at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) campus and studying solid waste as renewable source of energy: current and future possibility in Libya. Task one has three major topics. In Topic I, Design of Combined Hydrogen, Heat and Power (CHHP) system for the campus using local resources and treated biogas can be used to generate CHHP using a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC). In Topic II, hydrogen recovery and cleaning system, Heat recovery and electric power usage, hydrogen compression, storage, and …

Examination Of Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Ovarian Cancer Stage Of Diagnosis, Surgery Treatment And Survival: Multilevel Analysis Of 2001-2012 Seer Data, Chen Chen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Context. Racial/ethnic disparities in cancer outcomes are major public health concerns. Ovarian cancer is the tenth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Identifying individual- and contextual-level factors contributing to racial/ethnic disparities in ovarian cancer stage of diagnosis, surgery treatment and survival is necessary for reducing and eliminating these disparities.

Objective. The study aims to examine racial/ethnic disparities in ovarian cancer diagnosis, surgery treatment and survival outcomes; to explore individual- and contextual-level factors contributing to these disparities, and to examine the trend of ovarian cancer racial/ethnic disparities from 2001 to 2012.

Methods. The …

The Role Of Adenosine Monophosphate Activated Protein Kinase In Luteal Progesterone Production, Elizabeth Compton Bowdridge

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2&agr;) has in vivo luteolytic actions on the bovine corpus luteum (CL). Although PGF2&agr; is utilized extensively in livestock to synchronize estrus, its actions in vitro are controversial and do not always result in a reduction in progesterone (P4) secretion. The mechanism of action of PGF2&agr; is thought to involve activation of the phospholipase C-Ca2+ pathway. The luteolytic actions of PGF2&agr; are mediated through an elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ involving activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Expression of PKC isozymes and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2) change as the CL develops to a mature stage. Either …

Polyploidy Affects Growth, Fillet Composition, And Fatty Acid Profile In Two Year Old Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Jeremy Lynn Everson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Gonadal development is a dominant physiological process that alters growth and fat metabolism, thereby reducing fillet quality. Sterile, triploid (3N) female rainbow trout, generated by pressure-induced shock of zygotes 30 minutes after fertilization (3NP), are used to eliminate reduced growth and quality associated with gonadogenesis. However, this method does not produce 100% 3N offspring. Crossing a diploid (2N; fertile) female and a tetraploid (4N; fertile) male produces triploid offspring 100% of the time (3NC; sterile). This method is not widely used in the industry because it requires 4N brood stock. The current study examines growth, fatty acid composition, and fillet …

Development Of A Conservation Action Plan For The Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis Alleganiensis) In West Virginia, William J. Greathouse

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis ) is the largest salamander in North America growing to 75 centimeters in length. This fully aquatic species is an indicator of good stream and river quality and has been considered to be in decline or rare throughout its range. This study focused on the current distribution of the Eastern hellbender at sites of historic occurrence in West Virginia in order to determine the species' current range and factors impacting its distribution in order to facilitate planned reintroductions and translocations of hellbenders reared in human care. The success of the reintroduction and translocation efforts …

Biodiesel From Tall Oil Fatty Acids And Physico Thermal Properties Of Tropical Tree Fruit Oils As Thermal Energy Storage Systems, Gideon Sackey Lawer-Yolar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research into biodiesel as a substitute for petroleum diesel has been ongoing since the energy crisis of the 1970's. The concern for the effect on the use of edible vegetable oils as feedstock has increased. Tall oil fatty acids have been considered as a non-food substitute and various works have been done on it. In this study, sulfuric acid and Amberlyst BD 20 were used as homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts respectively in the production of biodiesel from Tall oil fatty acids in a batch reactor. The treatment conditions for the homogeneous catalysis varied the factors of fatty acid to methanol …

Influences Of Preschool On Social-Emotional Development For Children With Disruptive Behavior Disorders, Sierra Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Childcare research has examined effects of center-based childcare on the cognitive, behavioral, and social development for young children, often finding mixed results and short-term benefits. Many studies focus on at-risk populations, specifically children from low-income backgrounds who are often enrolled in programs, such as Head Start that have a specific focus on fostering all areas of child development. However, there is minimal research showing the impact of childcare attendance for children with disabilities such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, are at-risk for delayed school readiness due to deficits in social-emotional development. Using multiple regression, data from the …

Examining The Use Of Mindfulness Meditation To Enhance Attention Regulation Efficiency In Nursing Students, Kathleen Burger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of mindfully-attentive nursing graduates is a heightened charge for pre-licensure nurse educators given an increasingly complex healthcare workplace in which nurse's must detect patient risk among multiple stimuli, distractions, and interruption (Beyea, 2007; Cornell et al., 2010; Ebright, et al., 2006). Novice nurses frequently report symptoms of cognitive overload associated with error and other negative patient outcomes (Ebright, Urden, Patterson, & Chalko, 2004; McGillis Hall et al., 2010; Unver, Tastan, & Akbayrak, 2012) yet standard pre-licensure nursing curricula does not specifically prepare students for the needed attention regulation skills of safe nursing practice. Recent and accumulating neuroscientific research …

Desensitization Of Hacat Keratinocytes To Vitamin D3 Occurs Via Loss Of Redd1 Regulation Of The Mtor Pathway, Michelle Leigh Jones

Wayne State University Theses

Vitamin D3 treatment has long been considered in the treatment of cancer due to its well-documented anti-proliferative effects in vitro. While clinical studies have been positive in other cancers, results are inconclusive in cases of basal cell carcinoma. To better understand the reasons underlying this disconnect, this study employs an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) to observe the effects of vitamin D3 treatment on cellular proliferation. The results show that both activate vitamin D3 (calcitriol) and its precursor (cholecalciferol) increase proliferation of these cells. Real-time PCR and western blot data indicate that the mTOR pathway becomes activated despite increased …

Attitudes Toward Breastfeeding: A Content Analysis Of Responses To Public Breastfeeding On Internet News Stories, Christina M. Miller-Bellor

Wayne State University Theses

Leading medical organizations recommend breastfeeding for at least a year. The Center for Disease Control (CDC 2011) estimates that 74% of women initiate breastfeeding, while only 23.8% of infants are breastfed until age 1 in the United States. These statistics indicate that while there is an increase in women trying to breastfeed, there are barriers to sustained breastfeeding. Some studies indicate that negative experiences while breastfeeding in public creates a barrier to breastfeeding (Boyer 2010; McIntyre et al. 1999; Smyth 2008). This research contributes to existent literature on breastfeeding. I used a different type of analysis to explore attitudes and …

Detection Of Beneficial Microbiota In Mouse Colon, Aranya Linpisanl

Wayne State University Theses

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Bifidobacterium are the most common types of microbes used as probiotics. They are present in the human gastrointestinal tract and have a significant influence on our health and well-being. Microbiota plays an important role in host metabolism and provides a natural defense mechanism against invading pathogens. This experiment was focusing on establish a method to detect the gastrointestinal tract microbiota, either by fecal or colonic tissue DNA extraction.

The experiment comparing 2 types of DNA extraction; ZR Fecal kit and DNAzol direct. DNAzol direct was easy to use but was not suitable for long term …

Delta-Tocotrienol Downregulates Mmp-9 Expression In Nsclc Cells, Rohini Sri Harshini Pindiprolu

Wayne State University Theses

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Unites States. The main types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non small cell lung cancer. NSCLC accounts for about 80% of the cases with less than 15% of patients surviving beyond 5 years. Most common causes of lung cancer are smoking, inhaling asbestos fiber, radon gas, passive smoking, air pollution, familial predisposition, prior history of lung cancer etc. Surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, palliative care are commonly used treatment techniques for lung cancer. Radiation therapy is an important part of lung cancer management. The objective of this …

Maternal Emotion Regulation And Expressivity As Predictors Of Positive Parenting In Low-Income Families, Laura Michelle Crespo

Wayne State University Theses

Positive parenting has been associated with various adaptive childhood outcomes involving healthy cognitive, social, and emotional development (Fuligni & Brooks-Gunn, 2013; Roggman, Cook, Innocenti, Jump, & Christiansen, 2013). There is less research, however, on which factors contribute to the parents' use of positive parenting strategies. Some evidence suggests that factors such as the parents' emotional competencies, along with the child's temperament and the family environment, influence parenting behaviors (Belsky, 1984). This study explored predictors of positive parenting, including maternal emotion expressivity and emotion regulation, child temperament traits, maternal cognitive ability, maternal perception of social support, and single parenting. Participants were …

Effectiveness Of Different Corticosterone Administration Methods To Alter Corticosterone Levels In Serum And Depressive-Like Behavior In Female Rats, Jennifer Marie Kott

Wayne State University Theses

There is wide variation in the current literature on rodent models of high levels of chronic stress. This study aims to reduce these discrepancies by investigating the effects of 3 different administration methods of corticosterone (CORT; the endogenous stress hormone in rodents) and the differential effects it has in the female sex. The majority of studies utilize male rodents, while research in female rodents is largely under-investigated. This study will utilize female rats and 3 different administration routes: a) subcutaneous implantation of a CORT pellet, b) CORT in the drinking water, and c) CORT by a daily subcutaneous injection, and …

The Effect Of Dietary Folate On Tissue Folate Status, Ghada Aoun

Wayne State University Theses

ABSTRACT

THE EFFECT OF DIETARY FOLATE ON TISSUE FOLATE STATUS.

by

Ghada Aoun

December 2015

Advisor: Dr. Diane Cabelof

Major: Nutrition & Food Science

Degree: Masters of Science

The folates are a family of structurally similar, water soluble, B vitamins that play a crucial role in human health and disease. Folate has an important role in the synthesis of DNA, DNA methylation, and cellular growth. Folate coenzymes function in accepting and donating one-carbon units in the folate metabolic pathway. Folate deficiency impairs DNA synthesis, induces cancer, and causes abnormalities such as neural tube defects and megaloblastic anemia. While scientific research …

Assessment Of Temporal And Spatial Alterations In Spinal Glial Reactivityand The Extent Of Cervical Spinal Axonal Injury In The Rat After Blast Overpressure, Heena S. Purkait

Wayne State University Theses

Blast induced neurotrauma (BINT) is the signature wound of veterans returning from various military operations. A substantial percentage of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans have reported to experience ongoing or new pain following their military service. Head (58%) and back (55%) have been the high prevailing locations of pain in these returning OIF and OEF veterans and the underlying pathomechanism of these conditions is yet to be understood. In the context of blast overpressure induced pathological changes, the fundamental question that still needs to be addressed is whether there are any underlying cellular injury changes the …

Potential Antidiabetic And Antioxidant Activitys Of Selected Medicinal Plants, Paba Surangi Sathsara Saranasingha Edirisuriya

Wayne State University Theses

Explore traditionally used medicinal plants for diabetes mellitus would be beneficial to find an alternative option for controlling global diabetic prevalence. Present study aims to compare and identify potential antidiabetic activity in Tinospora cordifolia, Gymnema sylvestre and Aegle marmelos. Fifty percent acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of each plant were studied for anti-diabetic activity using different assays (ORAC, DPPH, ABTS, TPC, α-glucosidase inhibition). Total phenolic content and anti oxidant properties were significantly different among three plants. Tinospora cordifolia ethyl acetate extract possessed significantly higher anti oxidant activity and total phenolic content. DPPH and ABTS results were significantly correlated with each …

Effect Of Metformin On Global Phosphorylation Profiles Of Primary Skeletal Muscle Cells Derived From Overweight/Obese Insulin Resistant Human Participants, Nishit Shah

Wayne State University Theses

Metformin is a drug from the biguanide class and it has been in use for the treatment of type 2 diabetes for a long time, and it can improve insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. However, the mechanism for metformin’s action is unclear. Phosphatases and kinases, and their subunits are the proteins required for dephosphorylation and phosphorylation of proteins in cells during various signaling pathways. Phosphorylation studies of proteins from primary cell culture derived from skeletal muscle tissue from obese/overweight insulin resistant participants will help to understand the regulation of phosphorylation in phosphatases and kinases by metformin.

In the current research, …

Antimicrobial-Resistant Listeria Species From Retail Meat In Metro Detroit, Liziane Da Rocha

Wayne State University Theses

A total of 138 Listeria isolates, including 58 Listeria welshimeri, 44 Listeria monocytogenes, and 36 Listeria innocua, from retail meat were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility tests against nine antimicrobials. In addition, the 44 L. monocytogenes were analyzed by serotype identification using PCR and genotyping using pulsed-filed gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Resistance to one or two antimicrobials was observed in 32 Listeria (23.2%). No multidrug resistance was identified. Tetracycline resistance was the most common resistance phenotype and identified in 22 Listeria isolates. Low prevalence of resistance to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamicin, and vancomycin was also detected. L. innocua demonstrated the highest overall prevalence …

Exploring Community Gardening: Motivations And Impacts, Kathleen Marie Gersky

Wayne State University Theses

Research shows the emergence of community gardens in urban areas serves to address issues such as food scarcity and community cohesion, creating positive implications at the neighborhood and city wide level. However, the research does not adequately address the impact it may have on a micro level in middle-upper class areas, potentially hindering the gardening movement. Understanding community gardens in all socioeconomic settings will be important to the broader sustainable food movement’s current and future success. In this thesis, I ask: what are the motivations and impacts of community gardening? The objectives are to understand how motivations and impacts may …

Curcumin Attenuates The Effects Of Atherogenic Diet In Aged Male Brown Norway Rats, Vindhyaja Srirajavatsavai

Wayne State University Theses

ABSTRACT

CURCUMIN ATTENUATES THE EFFECTS OF ATHEROGENIC DIET IN AGED MALE BROWN NORWAY RATS

by

VINDHYAJA SRIRAJAVATSAVAI

DECEMBER 2015

Advisor: Dr. Smiti Gupta

Major: Nutrition and Food Science

Degree: Master of Science

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a universal problem in modern society. Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Hyperlipidemia further leads to increased oxidation and inflammation. Curcumin has long been used as a spice and food-coloring agent. In experimental animals, curcumin has shown anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and anti-oxidant properties. In this study, Aged Brown Norway Rats were fed 1 of 3 experimental diets: a …

Synergetic Effect Of Permethrin And Dmh On Anti-Oxidation And Damage Response Genes, Karim Mohamed

Wayne State University Theses

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Synergetic Effect of Permethrin and 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine (DMH) on Anti-oxidation and Damage Response genes. The animal models used for this study were 8 week old C57/blk6 female mice. The mice were fed a Folate Adequate (FA) diet. At 8 weeks, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with pesticides. Three 8-week old female mice were injected intraperitoneally with a mix of cis and trans permethrin (75%:25% respectively) at 30% median lethal dose (96 mg/kg body weight). Permethrin was dissolved in corn oil and injected 24 hours before sacrifice. In three other mice, DMH was …