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Optimization And Application Of Metabolomic Assays For Analyzing Diet-Induced And Gut Microbiota-Derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids In Mice And Humans, Robert M. Juenemann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: In recent decades, the obesity epidemic worldwide has prompted the need for research targeting disease prevention, treatment, and maintenance. Dietary interventions are one of the primary methods to instill positive nutrition habits into one’s lifestyle. Thus, resistant starch type 4 (RS4), a prebiotic dietary fiber, has been proposed to induce beneficial immunometabolic health outcomes. Currently there is a lack of knowledge on the health outcomes of RS4 in adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Goal: The goal of this research was to optimize a metabolomic assay to quantify fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), a byproduct of microbial fermentation …

An Advertisement Analysis Of Alcohol Products In Popular Women’S Magazines, M Dottington Fullwood, Jennifer Mongiovi, Grace Hillyer, Corey H. Basch, Danna Ethan, Rodney Hammond

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Home- And Hospital-Based Exercise In Cardiac Rehabilitation On Hopelessness In Patients With Coronary Heart Disease, Susan L. Dunn, L. Maureen Dunn, Nicole P. Rieth, Grace B. Olamijulo, Lien L. Swieringa, Theresa P. Holden, Jacob A. Clark, Holli A. Devon, Nathan L. Tintle

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Hopelessness is associated with increased adverse events and decreased survival in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of regular home- and hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) exercise on hopelessness levels in patients with CHD, hypothesizing that increased exercise in either setting would lead to decreased state hopelessness.

High Achievers Awards 2016, Aga Khan University Examination Board

The Aga Khan University Examination Board Archives

Director's Message Candidate Performance 2016 High Achievers 2016: Gender Distribution Alumni Achievements AKU-EB Bridge Scholarship Winners 2016 Wall Of Fame High Achievers Awards 2016 Our Impact

Unconscionable Judicial Disdain For Unsophisticated Consumers And Employees' Contractual Rights? Legal And Empirical Analyses Of Courts' Mandatory Arbitration Rulings And The Systematic Erosion Of Procedural And Substantive Unconscionability Defenses Under The Federal Arbitration Act 1800-2015, Willy E. Rice

Faculty Articles

Although the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) has taken steps to educate consumers about the perils of hidden and complicated arbitration provisions in contracts, these activities are not enough. Exceedingly large populations of unsophisticated employees need assistance because they are increasingly forced to arbitrate state and federal claims. Consequently, the Court's extremely harsh “federal policies” have gradually, systematically, and significantly eroded consumers and employees' ability to defend themselves in compulsive-arbitration trials.

While arbitration may be within the reasonable expectations of consumers, a process that builds prohibitively expensive fees into the arbitration process is not. It is substantively unconscionable to require …

The Correlation Between Strength Levels Measured Through Dynamic Strength Exercises And The Incidence And Severity Of Injury Among Collegiate Athletes, Alex Jardine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Injury to athletes in sport occurs as a result of extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors. Mounting evidence points toward decreased strength as a predictor of injury in athletes. By comparing strength levels in functional movement patterns to injury, the strength and conditioning professional will be able to design effective training programs to reduce the incidence of injury in sport better. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between strength measured through dynamic strength exercises (power clean, the squat, and the bench press) among collegiate athletes and the incidence and severity of injury. We hypothesized that greater incidence …

Differences In Running Mechanics Between Overweight/Obese And Healthy Weight Children, Kristen Roles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background/Purpose: Physical activity is commonly prescribed to reduce childhood obesity. However, due to differences in mechanics during low-impact activities, such as walking, obese children may be more prone to negative physical complications during high-impact activities, such as running. Therefore, this study analyzed the mechanical differences in running mechanics between healthy weight (HW) and overweight/obese (OV/OB) children. We hypothesized that when compared to HW children, OV/OB children would display higher vertical loading, greater joint moments and greater joint angular impulses during running. We also expect decreased sagittal plane range of motion and increased frontal plane range of motion of the hip, …

Soybean Yield And Plant Response To Phosphorus Fertilization, Rebecca L. Helget

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phosphorus (P) is a key limiting nutrient for soybean production in South Dakota. Soil tests have been used as a baseline indicator for plant available P and fertilizer recommendations for over a century. Plant nutrient analysis may be used to complement a soil test as a way to validate fertilizer and management practices. Soybean nutrient sufficiency ranges have only been slightly adjusted since they were published in the 1960’s. The objectives of this study were to update the soil test P and soybean plant P sufficiency level in South Dakota and to recognize implications of improper plant sampling. We also …

An Evaluation Of Rumen Modifiers For Lactational Performance And Nutrient Digestibility By Cows, Prakash Poudel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three studies were conducted to evaluate a commercial blend of essential oils, active dried yeast product and cobalt lactate on production performance, rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility by cows by using in vivo and in vitro methods. The first study evaluated the lactational performance and nutrient digestibility of lactating Holstein dairy cows fed two commercial supplements: 1) a propriety blend of essential oils and Cobalt lactate (EOC) (Stay Strong, Ralco, Inc., Marshall, MN) and 2) active dried yeast (ADY) (Omnigen AF, Prince Agri Products, Inc., Quincy, IL). The 12-week experiment demonstrated no differences in milk production, milk composition, and feed …

Icook 4-H: 0 To 24-Month Accelerometer-Derived Physical Activity And Sedentary Time In Youth, Emily Hofer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To assess accelerometer-derived physical activity and sedentary time from 0 to 24- months in youth in the iCook 4-H program. The iCook 4-H Program was a 5-state, randomized, control-treatment, family-based childhood obesity prevention intervention promoting cooking, eating and playing together. Youth, 9-10 years old, and their main adult meal preparer, participated in the 12-week program followed by monthly newsletters and bi-yearly booster sessions until 24-months. Physical activity and sedentary time were determined for youth who wore an Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer for 7 days at 0, 4, 12, and 24-months and met defined accelerometer compliance standards. Mean daily minutes of sedentary …

Relationship Between Self-Care Agency, Self-Care Practices, And Body Mass Index Among Nursing Professionals, Takara Schomberg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between self-care agency (SCA), self-care practices (SCP), and Body Mass Index (BMI) among Registered Nurses (RNs) living in an urban South Dakota county. These specific constructs and their relationships have not been researched among nursing professionals. Methods: This study used a non-experimental, predictive correlational approach based on Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory to quantify the relationship between self-care agency and self-care practices and subsequently body mass index (BMI) among nursing professionals. A tracked but anonymous online survey was sent by email via QuestionPro to 210 nursing professionals selected using systematic …

Body Satisfaction And Ability To Identify Weight Status Of Preschool-Aged Children By Their Caregivers, Andrea Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rates of childhood obesity have been rising consistently across the nation and internationally. As a result, interventionists have been working to develop ways to combat this and have focused on interventions involving caregivers. Previous research indicates caregivers experience challenges in identifying obesity among their own children, which leads to barriers in addressing and reducing rates of obesity as caregivers remain unaware of any problems. The current study explored caregivers’ ability to correctly assign their child to the appropriate weight category and whether their ability was impacted by caregivers’ own weight status. Further, it also explored caregivers’ level of body satisfaction …

Effects Of Ischemic Preconditioning On Exercise Economy, Gungeet Kaur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is the application of small bouts of ischemia followed by reperfusion. IPC has shown to enhance exercise performance in varied sports like 5K running, cycling and swimming. However, effect of ischemic preconditioning on running economy have not be investigated so far. We proposed that bilateral ischemic preconditioning will improve running economy in young healthy people. Methods: The study was a randomized single- blinded crossover study. Nineteen men and women were included in the study. Each participant underwent a sham and IPC trial using high pressure cuff (EC20 rapid cuff inflator, DE Hokanson, Inc.) followed by running economy …

Role Of Exopolymeric Substances In Biofilm Formation On Dairy Separation Membranes, Nuria Garcia-Fernandez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the concentration of cheese whey by membrane filtration processes, fouling is a major limiting factor that leads to flux decline and affects product quality. The growth of biofilms on membranes contributes to biofouling. Biofilms are very difficult to eliminate, and will serve as the seed for additional biofilm development and product contamination. The biofilm matrix is composed mainly of microbial exopolymeric substances (EPS), and therefore EPS is thought to help bacteria to adhere and form biofilms by acting as a cementing agent. The first research project under this study was conducted with the aim of elucidating the role of …

Senescence Of Native Perennial Warm Season Grasses Senescence Associated Switchgrass Transcriptome, Michaellong Tran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Senescence of perennial crops enable continuous harvests after one sowing event. Perennials senesce at adapted rates of their native environments; however, early senescencing crops do not maximize the growing season as nutrient reallocation takes precedence. Chlorophyll degradation and nitrogen reallocation was observed to occur rapidly between mid to late September. Transcriptome analysis on early and late senescencing switchgrass cultivars reveals upregulation of starch metabolism, light reactions, Calvin-Benson Cycle, and anthocyanin synthesis in late senescencing switchgrass. Morphological variations between the two germplasms prolong the growing season of late senescencing switchgrass, maximizing yield. Expression of mRNA as senescence progresses and between the …

Protein And Fiber Fortification Of White Pan Bread Using Food-Grade Distiller’S Dried Grains, Ashley Adamski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Distiller’s dried grains (DDG) are a coproduct of ethanol production. DDG has been used historically as animal feed. However, in the past decade, ethanol production has dramatically increased causing a surplus of distiller’s grains and saturating the market. The use of DDG, which is high in both protein and fiber, to fortify baked goods is one option to reduce the excess of DDG while enhancing its economic value. The purpose of this study was first, to evaluate the washing process for DDG to make it food grade, and second to evaluate the effects of incorporation of food-grade DDG from two …

Influence Of Cardiovascular Risk Factors On Remote Ischemic Preconditioning, Tiffany Trachte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A powerful therapy against microvascular endothelial ischemia-reperfusion injury is remote ischemic preconditioning (rIPC), which triggers tissue protection by exposing a limb to small cycles of vascular occlusion. Animal models indicate that CVD risk factors reduce the protective benefits of ischemic conditioning. However, there are no human studies investigating how a burden of risk factors interferes with rIPC to prevent endothelial injury. The purpose of the present study was to determine the influence of risk factor burden on the capacity of rIPC to prevent endothelial reperfusion injury in humans. Twenty-two (age: 45±14 yr., BMI: 31±8 kg/m2) sedentary adults (12 lower burden: …

Study Of The Effect Of Feeding Highly Digestible Corn Based Calf Starter On The Growth Performance Of Calves, Shruti Srivastava

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

New corn hybrids have been developed by Masters Choice (MC) that vary in energy density and starch digestibility. These MC hybrids have lower starch densities due to an altered starch structure, which allows for greater ruminal and intestinal starch digestion. The altered starch structure of these new hybrids results in reduced feed manufacturing costs (i.e., grinding). Thirty (30) 1 to 3 d old (40.6 ± 1.72 kg) Holstein heifer calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 calf starters to measure growth performance of Holstein heifer calves through 8 weeks of age. Treatments were: 1) Hard starch (HS) corn calf …

Corncob Grit Application As An Alternative To Control Weeds In Two Crop Production Systems, Mauricio Erazo-Barradas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weed management is one of the most challenging production problems in organic cropping systems because of limited weed control methods. Grits, derived from agricultural residues, have been demonstrated to control weed seedlings selectively in corn. This research examined weed efficacy and crop yield of an integrated air-propelled abrasive corncob grit (for in-row weed control) at varying timings and frequencies and flame-weeding or cultivation (for between-row weed control) system in two corn production systems. In the first study efficacy of weed control was assessed with this approach in an organic corn silage production system established in Morris, MN in 2013 and …

The Effects Of Preovulatory Estradiol On The Uterine Environment And Conceptus Survival From Fertilization To Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy, Emmalee J. Northrop

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Preovulatory estradiol has been reported to play a critical role in pregnancy establishment and embryonic survival, but the mechanism by which estradiol exerts its effects has not been well characterized. The objective of this thesis is to determine the effects of preovulatory estradiol on the uterine environment and conceptus survival from fertilization to maternal recognition of pregnancy. Beef cows/heifers were synchronized with the CO-Synch protocol and AIed (d 0). Cows were classified by estrus expression (estrus and no estrus), and uteri were flushed to collect d16 conceptuses nonsurgically (Rep 1; n = 29), or following slaughter (Rep 2; n = …

Effects Of Small Intestinal Starch Digestion And Dietary Lipid On Efficiency Of Nitrogen Use In Cattle, Ethan J. Blom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of increases in energy available for gain from increased small intestinal starch digestion (SISD) and dietary lipid source and amount on the efficiency of N use in cattle. Five ruminally, duodenally, and ileally cannulated steers were placed in a 5 × 5 Latin square. Each received duodenal infusion of 1.5 ± 0.08 kg/d raw cornstarch and either 0, 30.9 ± 0.59, 62.4 ± 1.16, or 120.4 ± 3.39 g/d Glu, or 387.9 ± 17.47 g/d casein. Casein increased (P = 0.05) SISD. Similarly, greater duodenal Glu linearly (P = 0.02) …

Inactivation Of Thermodynamic Sporeformers And Spores In Skim Milk By Continuous Ultrasonication And Hydrodynamic Cavitation In Combination With Thermal Treatments, Dikshi Bawa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies were conducted to determine the effectiveness of ultrasonication and hydrodynamic cavitation, in a continuous mode, alone and in combination with thermal treatments, on heat resistant aerobic sporeformers and spores in skim milk, and skim milk concentrate. The first study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a continuous ultrasonication process to reduce thermoduric Bacillus coagulans cells in skim milk. A 25% reduction was obtained by lab pasteurization alone, whereas ultrasonication alone resulted in an inactivation of 92% after 12 passes (80 sec exposure time per pass). Ultrasonication when combined with pasteurization resulted in further increased inactivation to 99.98%. It …

Impact Of New Processing Technologies On The Physical And Functional Properties Of Skim Milk And Skim Milk Concentrate, Harsh Dahiya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

United States is one of the largest producer of cow’s milk in the world and a substantial portion of this milk is converted into dried milk products, a category that is becoming increasingly important to the dairy industry. The processing treatments on skim milk and skim milk concentrate affect the functionality of resultant powders made from them, therefore processing treatments are crucial to modify physical and functional properties of skim milk, skim milk concentrates and the powders made from them. The objective of this research was to explore impact of new processing technologies hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) …

First Record Of The Grape Cane Borer, Amphicerus Bimaculatus (Olivier, 1790)(Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), On Pomegranate In Greece, Stefanos S. Andreadis, Emmanouel I. Navrozidis, Stylianos Katerinis

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Discoloration of the leaves of unhealthy pomegranate trees, caused by the Coleopteran species Amphicerus bimaculatus (Olivier, 1790), was found in a newly planted pomegranate orchard in April 2011 in northern Greece (Vrontou area). Identification of the species was based on morphological characteristics. This report is the first record of A. Bimaculatus in Greece infesting pomegranate trees.

Etiological Study Of Molt Abnormalities In The African Penguin, Spheniscus Demersus, Carah Austin

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

An important life history event for African penguins is the annual molt, which restores healthy plumage for proper thermoregulation and waterproofing. This study examined three, not necessarily mutually exclusive, hypotheses to explain the etiology of improper molting in zoo and aquarium populations: (1) the syndrome is hereditary; (2) birds do not amass enough nutritional resources prior to the molt to allow the molt to progress normally; (3) the timing of the molt is disrupted by exogenous cues that are contrary to those experienced in the wild. A two-part survey was completed by 17 U.S. zoos and aquaria that returned information …

Food/Drug Interactions: Assessing Student Knowledge Before And After Viewing An Interactive Educational Website, Cole Smith

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Background: Knowledge of food and drug interactions is important and may greatly impact compliance and success of drug therapy. Patients are required to be educated about food and drug interactions at the point of care by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations’ standards; and, in both the institutional and community settings, quality of patient care is improved if the patient understands the importance of food and drug interactions. Methods: This study was conducted online via a web-based survey using Survey Monkey. Students in their second year of pre-pharmacy classes were asked to complete a pre-survey, review a website …

Colistin Efficacy In The Treatment Of Multidrug-Resistant And Extremelydrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections*, Çi̇ğdem Banu Çeti̇n, Deni̇z Özer Türk, Şebnem Şenol, Gönül Di̇nç Horasan, Özlem Tünger

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Colistin is used as a salvage therapy for multidrug-resistant and extremely drug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections. Our aim was to evaluate colistin efficiency and toxicity in the treatment of these resistant gram-negative bacterial infections. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study carried out in a tertiary care hospital during 2011-2013. Study data were collected from the medical records and consultations of the infectious diseases clinic. Results: The study group included 158 patients with nosocomial infections and 136 (86.1%) of them were hospitalized in the ICU. Respiratory tract infections were the most commonly observed ones (n = 103, 65.2%). The …

Determination Of Reference Range With The Indirect Method Of The 25-Hydroxyvitamind3 Test In The Balıkesir Region, Turkey, Medi̇ne Alpdemi̇r, Mehmet Fati̇h Alpdemi̇r

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The aim of this study is to determine the reference ranges of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)vitD3) by an indirect method using data obtained from patients over the course of 3 years. Materials and methods: The 25(OH)vitD3 test results of the patients who applied to the medical biochemistry laboratory of Balıkesir State Hospital between the years of 2010 and 2014 were analyzed. Patient data were retrospectively taken from the laboratory information system. The 25(OH)vitD3 levels of patients were examined after exclusion of outliers. Patients were divided into subgroups according to season, sex, and age. The central 95% reference intervals were calculated …

Effect Of Stocking Rate On Pasture And Sheep Production In Winter And Spring Lambing Systems, Serkan Ateş, Gazi̇ Özcan, Harun Çi̇çek, Mesut Kirbaş, Gürhan Keleş, Şaban Işik

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

A 2-year study was conducted to quantify the effect of stocking rate on pasture and sheep production in winter and spring lambing systems. Pastures were set-stocked with ewes and their winter-born single lambs at low (20 ewes + lamb ha?1), medium (28 ewes + lamb ha?1), and high (36 ewes + lamb ha?1) stocking rates in spring 2012 and by ewes and their spring-born lambs at low (16 ewes + lamb ha?1), medium (24 ewes + lamb ha?1), and high (32 ewes + lamb ha?1) stocking rates in spring 2013. Annual pasture dry matter production ranged from 8.9 to 10.2 …

Poor Placental Traits Reduce Kid Birth Weight In Young Saanen Dams In The First Parity, Uğur Şen, Hasan Önder

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Placental characteristics are the most important indicators of fetal growth and development that influence kid vitality. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of maternal parity on placental characteristics and birth-related traits in Saanen goats. The experiments were conducted on 41 singleton-bearing Saanen does, ranging from 1 to 4 years of age and classified according to first, second, and third parities. Birth weight, placental weight, placental efficiency, and cotyledon density were influenced by parity (P < 0.05). First-parity does had kids with significantly (P < 0.05) lower birth and placental weights than does of other parities, while they had significantly higher (P < 0.05) placental efficiency and cotyledon density. First-parity does had fewer (P < 0.05) large and total cotyledons than third-parity does. Cotyledon dimensions varied among parities (P < 0.05), while average cotyledon surface area and cotyledon efficiency were the lowest in the first-parity does (P < 0.05). The results suggest that younger dams in the first parity may alter placental characteristics and fetal development, resulting in a reduced birth weight from singleton gestations.