Digital Commons Network^™

Phytoplasma Infection Of A Tropical Root Crop Triggers Bottom-Up Cascades By Favoring Generalist Over Specialist Herbivores, Kris A. G. Wyckhuys, Ignazio Graziosi, Dharani Dhar Burra, Abigail Jan Walter

Entomology Faculty Publications

Global interest on plant-microbe-insect interactions is rapidly growing, revealing the multiple ways in which microorganisms mediate plant-herbivore interactions. Phytopathogens regularly alter whole repertoires of plant phenotypic traits, and bring about shifts in key chemical or morphological characteristics of plant hosts. Pathogens can also cause cascading effects on higher trophic levels, and eventually shape entire plant-associated arthropod communities. We tested the hypothesis that a Candidatus Phytoplasma causing cassava witches’ broom (CWB) on cassava (Manihot esculenta Grantz) is altering species composition of invasive herbivores and their associated parasitic hymenopterans. We conducted observational studies in cassava fields in eastern Cambodia to assess …

Addressing Common Mental Health Issues Prevalent Among Honors College Students, Steven Pham

Honors Theses

The prevalence and severity of mental health disorders on college campuses has been increasing nationwide. This review aims to address some of the prevalent mental health issues that continuously plague college students today. Recent trends in college student mental health are analyzed as well as literature regarding common disorders including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. A comparison of honors and non-honors students is provided to contribute to an otherwise lacking area of research surrounding honors student populations. Effective practices and policies for colleges and universities to incorporate into their counseling services are also considered, with viable goals centering on the …

Healthelife: Using A Patient Portal App To Reduce Type 2 Diabetes In East Los Angeles, Reginald Tuyay

Master's Projects and Capstones

The following proposal explores a potentially cost effective and cost efficient solution to alleviate the burden of type 2 diabetes among White Memorial Medical Center (WMMC) patients and their primary service area within Los Angeles County Service Planning Area 4 (SPA-4). SPA-4 is a medically underserved area with numerous key health indicators that indicate the need for increased self-management efforts among its Hispanic population. In response, WMMC has made a commitment to the SPA-4 community and made diabetes atop its community priority. An organization-wide Glycemic Control Project was created by WMMC administrators to provide more effective services by using Health …

A Longitudinal Study Of Privacy Awareness In The Digital Age And The Influence Of Knowledge, Therese L. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Privacy, in the modern connected world, has become a much discussed topic in society ranging from privacy concerns to impacts, attitudes, practices and technologies. In today’s environment of vast social media and revelations of government spying, personal privacy is being highlighted as either non-existent or something that can be achieved to different degrees with knowledge or awareness of how our private information is collected and used. This research strives to answer the question "Using Alan Westin's privacy categories, what is the general awareness of privacy issues in social media and smartphone usage and how does it change when knowledge is …

The Cuban Experience: Comparative Of Health Systems And Infant Mortality Rates, Evangeline Anne Vargas

Master's Projects and Capstones

Although the United States is a developed country that spends billions of dollars for its healthcare sector, there are still many risk factors that highly influence our country’s respectively high infant mortality rates. Infant mortality rates are affected by a range of social determinants of health, low birth weight, and racial disparities. This paper addresses the United States’ and Cuban models of healthcare through a comparative lens to investigate the potential use of Cuba’s maternal and infant health practices to mirror similar preventative strategies that promote infant health. The field-based project with the Escuela Nacional de Salud Publica (ENSAP) drew …

Child Abuse Prevention Training: Introducing A Train-The-Teacher Manual For Child Safety Awareness, Kimmera Wilson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction. In order for the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center community education department to extend the outreach of the Child Safety Awareness (CSA) curriculum, a training manual was created for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) K- 5th grade teachers. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a train the teacher manual for the child safety lessons.

Methods. A five question tool was developed to survey Kindergarten through 5th grade teachers working at elementary schools in the San Francisco Unified School District. The questions were designed to better understand the needs of the population before creating a resource for them …

A Roundtable On Cross-Sector Collaboration And Resource Alignment For Health Equity: Meeting Summary, Onyemaechi Nweke

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Cross-sector collaboration is a highly recommended strategy to eliminate health inequities nationally and globally. In the federal sector, it is evolving into an important approach for solving complex social problems, as evidenced by its steady proliferation the past few decades. Despite the increased adoption of cross-sector collaboration, it is still not a default strategy or preeminent option for managing complex social problems. In September 2015, the Federal Interagency Health Equity Team (FIHET) hosted a Roundtable event to discuss opportunities and strategies to foster widespread adoption of cross-sector collaboration and resource alignment. The Roundtable featured several expert panelists and participants from …

An Assessment Of Funding And Other Capacity Needs For Health Equity Programming Within State-Level Chronic Disease Programs, Tiffany Pertillar, Ann Pobutsky, Phd, Gail Brandt, Edd, Mph, Marisa New, Otr, Mph, Jamielou Delavan, Ba, Robyn Taylor, Mba, Amishi Shah, Mpa, Ma, Folasaya Adunola, Dds, Mph, Onyemaechi Nweke

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Chronic diseases are an important contributor to morbidity and mortality among racial/ethnic minority, low-income, and other under-resourced populations. Given that state health departments (and their chronic disease programs) play a significant role in providing population and preventive health services, their capacity to promote health equity is an important consideration in national efforts to address chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine capacity needs of state chronic disease programs with respect to promoting health equity.

Methods: In 2015, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) conducted a survey of its members that work within a …

Mapping The Alignment Of Programmatic Mission, Functions And Outcomes With The Attainment Of Health Equity: An Overview Of The Approach And Initial Outcomes Through The Lens Of The Usda’S Cyfar Scp Program, Onyemaechi Nweke, Kara Ryan, Mpp, Bonita Williams, Phd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Eliminating health disparities is a priority across national agenda and initiatives such as the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities (NPA), the National Prevention Strategy, and Healthy People 2020. To advance this priority under the NPA, the Federal Interagency Health Equity Team (FIHET), which is an NPA federal cross-sector and collaborative platform, initiated a voluntary pilot “health equity mapping” exercise in 2014. This exercise served as a strategy to clarify the strategic alignment between participant federal partner program missions, goals, and activities, and the goal to end health disparities and promote health equity. The mapping process included an …

Improving Access And Utilization Of Data To Support Research And Programs Intended To Eliminate Disparities And Promote Health Equity, Rosaly Correa-De-Araujo

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Numerous Federal initiatives are addressing health and health care disparities. The ultimate goal is to achieve “a nation free of disparities in health and health care.” Social determinants of health remain mostly responsible for health/health care disparities among population groups within and between countries. In the United States, there is little evidence that disparities associated with such determinants are decreasing, with only 10% of those associated with race/ethnicity and income having demonstrated improvement in recent years. A variety of data sources are available from the Federal and private sectors to support research on disparities, but no single national survey seems …

Response Of East Texas Mid-Rotation Loblolly Pine Plantations To Poultry Litter And Chemical Fertilizer Amendments, Brian P. Oswald, Micah-John Bieirle, Hans M. Williams, Kenneth W. Farrish, I-Kuai Hung

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Mindset Theory: Pre-Service Teachers’ Beliefs About Intelligence And Corresponding Pedagogical Decisions, Rachel Curtiss

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This replication study explored the relationships between pre-service teachers’ intelligence beliefs and their expectations for students’ future success, inferences about student ability, and election of pedagogical practices in mathematics. After learning of one failing test score, participants self-reported how they might respond to a struggling male student. The quantitative study used a series of four individual surveys obtained during the participants’ (N = 45) final semester of student teaching. Linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between theory of intelligence and teacher expectations, perceptions, and instructional elections. Results from this study indicate that pre-service teachers’ entity beliefs are …

Pharmacologic Or Genetic Targeting Of Glutamine Synthetase Skews Macrophages Toward An M1-Like Phenotype And Inhibits Tumor Metastasis., Erika M. Palmieri, Alessio Menga, Rosa Martín-Pérez, Annamaria Quinto, Carla Riera-Domingo, Giacoma De Tullio, D Craig Hooper, Wouter H. Lamers, Bart Ghesquière, Daniel W. Mcvicar, Attilio Guarini, Massimiliano Mazzone, Alessandra Castegna

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Glutamine-synthetase (GS), the glutamine-synthesizing enzyme from glutamate, controls important events, including the release of inflammatory mediators, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation, and autophagy. However, its role in macrophages remains elusive. We report that pharmacologic inhibition of GS skews M2-polarized macrophages toward the M1-like phenotype, characterized by reduced intracellular glutamine and increased succinate with enhanced glucose flux through glycolysis, which could be partly related to HIF1α activation. As a result of these metabolic changes and HIF1α accumulation, GS-inhibited macrophages display an increased capacity to induce T cell recruitment, reduced T cell suppressive potential, and an impaired ability to foster endothelial …

The Effects Of Moringa Leaves On Hepatic Lipid Accumulation And Inflammation In A Guinea Pig Model Of Hepatic Steatosis, Manal Almatrafi

Doctoral Dissertations

Moringa leaves (ML), have been recognized for their protective effects against chronic disease. To evaluate the protective effects of ML on hepatic steatosis and systemic inflammation, we used the guinea pig model. Male Hartley guinea pigs were assigned (n=8/group) to consume either a control diet (0 g Moringa), Low Moringa (LM) (10 %) or High Moringa (HM) (15%) diets, which were supplemented with 0.25% dietary cholesterol to induce hepatic steatosis. After 6 weeks, blood, liver, and adipose tissue were collected for determination of plasma lipids and lipoproteins, tissue cholesterol concentrations, inflammatory cytokines and expression of genes regulating hepatic cholesterol and …

Reproductive And Metabolic State Differences In Olfactory Responses To Amino Acids In A Mouth Brooding African Cichlid Fish, Alexandre A. Nikonov, Julie M. Butler, Karen E. Field, John Caprio, Karen P. Maruska

Faculty Publications

© 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd | Journal of Experimental Biology. Olfaction mediates many crucial life-history behaviors such as prey detection, predator avoidance, migration and reproduction. Olfactory function can also be modulated by an animal's internal physiological and metabolic states. While this is relatively well studied in mammals, little is known about how internal state impacts olfaction in fishes, the largest and most diverse group of vertebrates. Here we apply electroolfactograms (EOGs) in the African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni to test the hypothesis that olfactory responses to food-related cues (i.e. L-amino acids; alanine and arginine) vary with …

Analysis Of Dl-ρ¡-Tocopherol As Antioxidant On Malondialdehyde Level In Pediatric Patients With ρ¢-Thalassemia Major, Levana Rismayanti, Yulistiani Yulistiani, Mia Ratwita Andarsini, Mariyatul Qibtiyah

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Thalassemia is a hereditary form of anemia that affects the synthesis of hemoglobin. The management of therapy in patients with b-thalassemia major which patients should receive continuous blood transfusions and increased iron absorption from the digestive tract causes excess iron in the body. This will lead to an increase of free iron level that triggers Radical Oxygen Species (ROS). Increased level of ROS can initiate lipid peroxidation which used as an indicator of oxidative stress in cells and tissues and produce reactive carbonyl, mainly malondialdehyde (MDA). Thus, MDA measurement is widely used as an indicator of lipid peroxidation. On the …

The Effect Of Dietary Fat On Obesity, Gene Expression, And Dna Methylation In Two Generations Of Mice, Madeline Rose Keleher

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

As obesity rates continue rising nationally and globally, it is crucial to understand how a high-fat diet disrupts the regulation of the genome and leads to adverse health effects. Uncovering the underlying gene expression and DNA methylation changes induced by an individual’s high-fat diet and a maternal high-fat diet can pinpoint new targets for epigenetic therapies and reveal the physiological and behavioral changes in obesity. The goal of this dissertation is to gain deeper insight into the DNA methylation and gene expression changes that occur in response to a high-fat diet.I studied the response to dietary fat within two generations …

Nuclear Export Factor 3 Regulates The Localization Of Small Nucleolar Rnas, Melissa Wanling Li

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, are associated with excess levels of lipids, which can lead to organelle dysfunction, cell death and eventually organ dysfunction. This process, termed lipotoxicity, is still not completely understood. In a genetic screen used to identify genes critical for lipotoxicity, the Schaffer lab has identified small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) within the ribosomal protein L13a (Rpl13a) locus that mediate the cellular response to lipotoxic and general metabolic stress. These snoRNAs are non-canonical in that they accumulate in the cytosol after metabolic stresses like lipotoxicity and oxidative stress, suggesting that cells have specific mechanisms for regulating …

Evaluating A Targeted, Universal Middle School Program For Childhood Overweight And Obesity: Stayingfit, Myra Altman

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATIONEvaluating a Targeted, Universal Middle School Program for Childhood Overweight and Obesity: StayingFitbyMyra AltmanDoctor of Philosophy in PsychologyWashington University in St. Louis, 2016Professor Denise E. Wilfley, ChairpersonChildhood obesity is a pressing public health concern associated with significant medical and psychosocial comorbidities. Intervention is crucial, and schools are often suggested as an important venue through which to intervene, although the results of such interventions are inconsistent and mixed. The present study sought to expand on the literature by evaluating the effect of a targeted and universal school-based obesity intervention, StayingFit, in three middle schools in a low-socioeconomic status, …

Impacts Of Coastal Acidification On Louisiana Plankton, Amy Mallozzi

LSU Master's Theses

Anthropogenic input of carbon dioxide (CO₂) has an increasingly acidifying effect on the world’s oceans with the potential to impact biogeochemical cycles and food web dynamics. Coastal Louisiana is an area highly vulnerable to changing climate, but the unique local water chemistry created by input from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers makes the manifestation of elevated CO₂ and its biological implications difficult to predict. Louisiana estuaries are highly productive and support a large commercial market for the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. This study explores the use of experimental microcosms to expose natural phytoplankton assemblages and larval …

Exploring The Role Of Nutrition Education In Reducing Obesity Among The U.S. Adult Population, Nikitha Reddy Ravula

Master's Projects and Capstones

Obesity is a major concern among the low-income groups, yet the problem lacks adequate awareness. It is observed that the prevalence of obesity in the United States is increasing in the U.S., this paper is focused on obtaining information on low-income participants’ knowledge about consumption of nutritious food and its contribution in preventing obesity. This paper focuses on identifying the steps that participants have been taking to prevent obesity. To reach the goal of this qualitative study two surveys were designed by the researcher. From the study, it was found that majority of the participants were aware that consumption of …

Prognostic Value Of Routine Laboratory Variables In Prediction Of Breast Cancer Recurrence., Zhu Zhu, Ling Li, Zhong Ye, Tong Fu, Ye Du, Aiping Shi, Di Wu, Ke Li, Yifan Zhu, Chun Wang, Zhimin Fan

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

The prognostic value of routine laboratory variables in breast cancer has been largely overlooked. Based on laboratory tests commonly performed in clinical practice, we aimed to develop a new model to predict disease free survival (DFS) after surgical removal of primary breast cancer. In a cohort of 1,596 breast cancer patients, we analyzed the associations of 33 laboratory variables with patient DFS. Based on 3 significant laboratory variables (hemoglobin, alkaline phosphatase, and international normalized ratio), together with important demographic and clinical variables, we developed a prognostic model, achieving the area under the curve of 0.79. We categorized patients into 3 …

Mental Health And Academic Outcomes Among Adolescents In South Korean Orphanages, Hollee Ann Mcginnis

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Research conducted over the past 100 years in Western nations support the adverse effects of orphanages on children’s emotional, developmental, and social well-being as well as economic costs to society (Save the Children UK, 2009; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Van IJzendoorn & Juffer, 2008; Williams & Greenberg, 2010). Globally, the number of orphaned and abandoned children is conservatively estimated to be around 143 million, of whom the majority reside in Asia, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (UNICEF, UNAIDS, & USAID, 2004). South Korea (hereafter “Korea”) is an exemplary nation for study because it has a well-established child welfare system, including family-based alternatives (domestic and …

Sorption Of Metals Onto Natural Sediments And Engineered Iron Oxide Nanoparticles, Zezhen Pan

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Metal contamination of subsurface environments and engineered water systems can be derived from natural processes and anthropogenic activities associated with industrial processes, past weapons production, and mining works. The toxic and carcinogenic effects of uranium and chromium pose a significant risk to the environment and human health. For uranium contamination in subsurface environments, phosphate addition has been performed for in-situ immobilization, which can avoid the costs associated with pump-and-treat or excavation-based remediation strategies. The interactions of uranium and phosphate in Hanford sediments had been insufficiently explored in terms of its site-specific groundwater chemistry and aquifer sediment properties. For water treatment …

Effect Of Mindfullness Meditation On Stress Level And Coping Mechanism In Cancer Patients, Yesiana Dwi Wahyu Werdani

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Cancer patients have a tendency to experience mental disorders, because the physical changes cause frustration and despair. It impacts on anxiety, depression, and social isolation. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of mindfullness meditation to stress levels and coping mechanisms in cancer patients. This study used pre experimental approach with one group pre-test post-test design. Samples were 32 cancer patients with composmentis condition in Indonesian Cancer Foundation East Java Branch, taken by total sampling. The instrument was Perceived Stress Scale and Coping Strategies Inventory. Statistics was verified with Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test and Paired T-test P < 0.05. Results showed the effect of Mindfulness Meditation on the level of stress p = 0.001, the adaptive of coping mechanisms p = 0.001 and maldaptive p = 0.003. In conclusion, Mindfulness meditation can cause the respondent to concentrate and focus on themselves, and also strengthen brain regions at the center of attention and executive function, interoception and mental flexibility.

Body Height Estimation Based On Percutaneous Foot Length And Breadth Of Javanese Females, Nur Mujaddidah Mochtar, Ari Gunawan, Myrtati Dyah Artaria, Susilowati Andajani

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Body height estimation is one of important parameters used for establishing the individuality in cases of mutilated bodies or found body parts. It is not rare that in the cases of mutilation the police authority would only give the body parts or remaining skeletons of the victims. The aims of the study were to find body height estimation formula based on percutaneous of foot length and foot breadth in Javanese females at Surabaya Muhammadiyah University. The type of research design was cross-sectional observational study. Samples were Javanese females student at Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya , which was selected as the …

September 14, 2017, James Madison University

The Breeze, 2010-2019

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Unh Researchers Aim To Re-Domesticate Quinoa For Northern New England, Lori Tyler Gula

Media Relations

No abstract provided.

Correlation Between The Use Of Albumin Infusion And Concentrations Of Serum Albumin, Proinflammatory Cytokines (Tnf-ρ¡, Il6) And Sofa Score In Septic Patients, Arie Utariani, Budi Prasetyo, Jusak Nugraha

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Sepsis is a major problem causing high morbidity and mortality in patients who hospitalized in intensive care. In sepsis, there is a change in the distribution of albumin in the intravascular and extravascular compartment, so hipoalbumin is occured. Using albumin in septic patients from several studies that have been done are still controversial. Analyzing albumin infusion with changes in levels of albumin, cytokines and SOFA score in septic patients in intensive care dr. Soetomo. The design of this study is a prospective longitudinal observational. The study was conducted in the intensive care unit or ICU dr. Soetomo in February 2015. …

The Mechanism Of Alpha Lipoic Acid On Reducing The Mda Level And Mcp-1 Expression In Endothelial Dysfunction Of Hypercholesterolemia Rat (Rattus Norvegicus) Model, Dewi Perwito Sari, Imam Susilo, Junaidi Khotib

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Endothelial dysfunction is an initial condition of atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases where one of the risk factors is hypercholesterolemia. Blood cholesterol levels is associated with an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The increasing of ROS production can cause increased oxidative stress which in turn resulting in endothelial dysfunction. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is one of the antioxidant compound that has been developed and studied. In this study we found that the use of ALA in Rattus norvegicus rats signifficantly lower the total cholesterol levels at dose 60 mg/kgBW (p=0.020). ALA also inhibit the expression of …