Digital Commons Network^™

Self-Compassion And Physical Health-Related Quality Of Life In Cancer: Mediating Effects Of Control Beliefs And Treatment Adherence, Morgan Treaster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Among the 14 million persons living in the United States with current or remitted cancer, poor physical health-related quality of life (HRQL) is a significant concern. However, self-compassion (i.e., common humanity, mindfulness, self-kindness) may be a protective factor, either directly or indirectly, by allowing for a sense of empowerment and control over illness, and in turn, facilitating engagement in treatment and positive perceptions of health. Serial mediation analyses among persons living with current (n = 67) or remitted (n = 168) cancer lend support for a positive, direct association between self-compassion and physical HRQL, as well as indirect effects via …

Gaming Behaviors In Day-To-Day Life: Exploring A Problematic Gaming Behavior Scale, Christin Collie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Growing concern for the problematic use of video games has prompted new research in a now growing field of literature. Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is a proposed behavioral addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). To examine the proposed criteria for IGD, a self-report problematic gaming behavior scale (PGBS) was developed for adults residing in the United States. One hundred eighty-nine participants completed an online questionnaire comprised of demographic items, general gaming information, the PGBS, and the Internet Gaming Disorder-20 Test (IGD-20 Test). Statistical analyses conducted at the conclusion of the study were consistent …

Worry In The Pews: Exploring Levels And Causes Of Worry Among Church-Goers, Jennifer Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A large body of research indicates that worry, anxiety, and depression are present in the modern American psyche at increasingly high levels. Everyday worry can lead to further mental health issues, interpersonal problems, and reduced physical wellbeing and should be reduced when possible. Previous research has examined the benefits of church attendance with varied results; however, understanding the relationship between church attendance and everyday worry could be useful in reducing the effects of worry on this population.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to measure self-reported levels and causes of everyday worry among church-goers from three congregations and to …

Sip-428, A Sir2 Deacetylase Enzyme And Its Role In Biotic Stress Signaling Pathway, Bal Krishna Chand Thakuri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

SABP2 (Salicylic Acid Binding Protein 2) plays a vital role in the salicylic acid signaling pathway of plants both regarding basal resistance and systemic acquired resistance against pathogen infection. SIP-428 (SABP2 Interacting Protein-428) is a Silent information regulator 2 (SIR2) like deacetylase enzyme that physically interacts with SABP2 in a yeast two-hybrid interaction and confirmed independently by a GST pull-down assay. We demonstrated that SIP- 428 is an NAD+ dependent SIR2 deacetylase enzyme. Transgenic tobacco plants silenced in SIP- 428 expression via RNAi showed enhanced basal resistance to microbial pathogens. Moreover, these SIP-428-silenced lines also exhibited a robust induction of …

Relative Permittivity As A Function Of Co-Solvent And Impedance Spectroscopy For Quantifying Anions In Solution, Yahya Sami Alseiha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work measured relative permittivity from 15.0 to 55.0 °C of aqueous solutions containing acetone or tetrahydrofuran using a BI 870 dielectric meter. A cubic polynomial fit resulted in coefficients for calculating permittivity as a function of temperature and mole fraction. Literature values for other co-solvent system resulted in similar polynomial coefficients. Using BI 870, permittivity measurements of ionic solutions were not possible because of high conductivity. A simple method using impedance spectroscopy measured these solutions. Impedance decreases with increasing temperature and decreases with increasing ionic strength. Due to the temperature dependence of impedance, all measurements were at 25.0 °C. …

Dreadd Targeting Projections From The Nucleus Accumbens To The Ventral Pallidum With Nicotine Self-Administration, Amanda Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Projections from the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) to the Ventral Pallidum (VP) play a critical role in motivation and reward. Rewards and reward-associated cues are thought to alter this pathway by suppressing GABA release to the VP, however, the role of the NAc to VP pathway has never been investigated with regard to nicotine self-administration. We hypothesized that increasing GABAergic signaling from the NAc to the VP would decrease the reinforcing effects of nicotine. To increase GABA release, CRE dependent DREADD was expressed in the NAc of male rats. Administration of low dose clozapine activated the DREADD receptor and showed a …

Characterization Of Acyltransferases And Wrinkled Orthologs Involved In Tag Biosynthesis In Avocado, Md Mahbubur Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Triacylglycerols (TAG) or storage oils in plants are utilized by humans for nutrition, production of biomaterials and fuels. Since nonseed tissues comprise the bulk biomass, it is pertinent to understand how to improve their TAG content. Typically, the final step in TAG biosynthesis is catalyzed by diacylglycerol (DAG) acyltransferases (DGAT) and/or phospholipid: diacylglycerol acyltransferases (PDAT), which also determine the content and composition of TAG. Besides enzymatic regulation of TAG synthesis, transcription factors such as WRINKLED1 (WRI1) play a critical role during fatty acid synthesis. In this study, mesocarp of Persea americana, with > 60% TAG by dry weight and oleic …

The Role Of Non-Neuronal Acetylcholine In Urogenital Chlamydial Infection, Jessica R. Lockhart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chlamydia trachomatiscauses a bacterial sexually transmitted infection, Chlamydia, that is often chronic and casues reproductive complications in women. We hypothesized that Chlamydia infection increases local acetylcholine (ACh) production, which regulates the host’s inflammatory response to the infection. Female mice infected with C. muridarumwere sacrificed at days 3, 9, 15, and 21 post-infection, genital tract tissues harvested, and immunohistochemistry performed to enumerate ACh-producing cells. Infection increased the number of ACh-producing cells in cervical tissue at days 3,15, and 21 post-infection (pi), uterine tissue at day 3 and 9 pi, and ovarian tissue day 3, 15, and 21 pi. These …

Effects Of Performance Pressure On Response Inhibition Performance, Daniel N. Endres

All Theses

Previous research suggests that psychological pressure tends to exert detrimental effects on action-oriented cognitive tasks. However, the effect of psychological pressure on inhibitory cognitive processes has been relatively overlooked. Consequently, the goal of this study was to examine the effect of psychological pressure on response inhibition performance. Participants (N = 125) were assigned to either a time pressure condition or control condition, and then completed the Stop Signal Task, which tests response inhibition. Outcome variables of interest were stop accuracy, stop signal reaction time, and post error slowing. The results from the study indicated that time pressure significantly impaired stop …

Investigation Of Fungi Causing Twig Blight Diseases On Peach Trees In South Carolina, Martha Jennie Hudgins Froelich

All Theses

In 2016, fungal pathogens causing twig blight disease were isolated from symptomatic one-year-old shoots from peach orchards in 6 locations in South Carolina. Four twig blight pathogens, which included Phomopsis amygdali, Botryosphaeria obtusa, Leucostoma persoonii, and Cytospora sp., were isolated. L. persoonii was isolated in the highest frequency, followed by P. amygdali and B. obtusa. All pathogens were sensitive to thiophanate-methyl (FRAC 1), pyraclostrobin, and azoxystrobin (both FRAC 11). However, they were not sensitive to boscalid and fluopyram (both FRAC 7). L. persoonii exhibited less sensitivity to difenoconazole and propiconazole (both FRAC 3) while P. amygdali and B. obtusa were …

Intermittent Estimation Of Volumetric Mass Transfer Coefficient Using Offgas Sensor Data For Continuous Our Estimation For Cho Cell Culture, Swadeel Deepak Gaad

All Theses

For the last several years drugs based on monoclonal antibodies have been manufactured using Chinese Hamster Ovaries (CHO) cells by the bio-pharmaceutical industries to treat cancer and other autoimmune diseases. Several control strategies are used to increase the productivity and efficiency in bio-pharmaceutical manufacturing. Cell growth can be controlled by adjusting the feed rate based on oxygen uptake rate of the cells in the bioreactor. Determining the volumetric mass transfer coefficient and oxygen saturation concentration is vital in correctly estimating oxygen uptake rate. Thus, a robust and efficient method to determine volumetric mass transfer coefficient and oxygen saturation concentration, which …

The Impact Of Surfactant On The Transport Of Toxoplasma Gondii Oocysts Through Unsaturated Soil, Erin N. Kinsey

All Theses

Toxoplasma gondii is among the most prevalent parasites affecting warm-blooded animals, including humans. In humans, it poses health risks for immunocompromised populations and for fetuses including damage to the eyes brain and other organs. Humans may come in contact with T. gondii through the consumption of infected animal flesh or accidental contact with cat feces. Its life cycle includes numerous intermediate hosts and felids as the definitive host, which has allowed for its spread through nearly the entire world. T. gondii has been detected in open water, soil and animal feeds. Its transport has not been well studied to this …

Analysis Of Frozen Desserts Using Low-Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy (Lt-Sem), Kinsey Elizabeth Macdonald

All Theses

Commercial vanilla ice cream and other frozen desserts from the United States were analyzed for ice crystal length using low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM). Average ice crystal length was determined using multiple micrographs of each sample/product. Out of the products tested, 11 out of 15 samples had an average ice crystal length above the consumer sensory threshold limit of 55 µm. Products containing stabilizers tended to have smaller average ice crystal lengths than products without stabilizers. With a few exceptions, lower fat products tended to have larger ice crystals because there was less fat to stabilize the ice crystals. Four …

Characterization Of Botrytis Cinerea From Commercial Cut Flower Roses And Evaluation Of Current Crop Management Practices, Melissa Muñoz

All Theses

Botrytis cinerea Pers. is a necrotrophic fungal pathogen that infects over 235 different plant species around the world. In cut flower roses, B. cinerea causes gray mold disease which leads to large economic losses during greenhouse production and in the post-harvest environment. Disease symptoms are often not visible during the production stage but are observed after storage and/or transportation. Fungicide applications are the primary strategy for gray mold management. However, fungicide resistance has been observed in several crops around the world, resulting in lack fungicide efficacy. Cultural practices such as plant nutrient management, cultivar selection, and crop sanitation are also …

The Effects Of Late Gestation Supplementation Of Rumen Protected Fat On Cow And Calf Serum Fatty Acids, Passive Immunity Transfer And Growth In Beef Calves, Ralph Earl Ricks

All Theses

The primary objective of the cow calf sector of the beef industry is to market live calves after weaning. One component to profitability in this sector is to wean healthy, productive calves with as low of an input a possible. This means not only efficiency of preweaning growth of the calf, but the dam needs to produce a more than adequate supply of milk as it is the primary nutrition of the calf. Production of an animal that can convert the milk supply offered and turn it into pounds of gain efficiently is ideal. The calf, ideally, should be born …

Vulnerability Of Tri-Colored Bats (Perimyotis Subflavus) To White-Nose Syndrome In The Southeastern United States, Pallavi Sirajuddin

All Theses

Tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) have experienced significant population declines in the southeastern United States due to white-nose syndrome (WNS). The lack of information on the torpor patterns and winter activity in conjunction with the rapid decline from the disease has led to an increased effort in researching the hibernation physiology and wintering activity of P. subflavus and their response to WNS in southern hibernacula. To address this growing concern, we used temperature sensitive radio transmitters to examine torpor patterns in three geographically distinct states and acoustic detectors to monitor bat activity within a WNS-positive hibernaculum. Our specific objectives …

An Interpretative Phenomenological Study Of College Women Who Participate In High-Risk Drinking, Their Perceptions Of Drinking Norms, And The Influence Of Those Norms On Their Drinking Behaviors, Elizabeth Leeman Carter

All Dissertations

High-risk alcohol use on college campuses is associated with several negative consequences for students. Social norms campaigns are a widely used intervention aimed at decreasing high-risk alcohol use in a university population but their efficacy can vary based on students’ peer groups and gender. Research on gendered drinking norms for college students tends to focus on men, as they are usually identified as more likely to drink alcohol overall and to drink in high-risk ways. Additionally, social norms campaigns implemented in a small group setting, which aim to correct misperceptions of students who may not initially identify with norms of …

Development Of A New Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy, Zhe Chen

All Dissertations

The dissertation focuses on the development of a novel electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy based on an RF interferometer. The ESR spectroscopy is broadband and quantitative which is tunable over a wide frequency range, in which the RF interferometer is used to remove radio-frequency (RF) probing signals at the detector. With a planar microwave resonator (MR) the ESR spectroscopy is able to measure as low as 0.2 µg (2.8×1014 spins) DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) sample at a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ~ 121 at room temperature. The broadband ESR operation capability is investigated with a broadband meander micro-strip line (MML) by measuring …

Tight Representations Of Specially-Structured 0-1 Linear, Quadratic, And Polynomial Programs, Audrey N. Devries

All Dissertations

This research derives improved mathematical representations for various expressions of binary variables. There are three main efforts, consisting of: the Target Visitation Problem (TVP), the Quadratic Linear Ordering Problem (QLOP), and a special family of monomials of binary variables. For the first two efforts, which are known in the literature to be (mixed) 0-1 programs, we derive new families of valid inequalities that tighten existing forms and lead to superior performance. We give computational experience to show the advantages of our approaches. For the third effort, we provide an explicit convex hull representation for special forms of monomials of binary …

Interfacing The Liquid Sampling- Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge Ion Source With Orbitrap Mass Spectrometers For High Accuracy High Precision Isotope Ratio Measurements Of Uranium, Edward Dexter Hoegg

All Dissertations

The integration of the liquid sampling – atmospheric pressure glow discharge (LS-APGD) with Orbitrap mass spectrometers has led to a potential paradigm shift in the field of high certainty isotope ratio measurements. Since the dawn of the atomic age, mass spectrometry has played a critical role in performing isotope ratio measurements of uranium (U), plutonium (Pu) and other radionuclides. Traditionally, these measurements have been made using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) instruments and, more recently, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instruments. While the ability of these instruments to perform isotope ratio measurements with a high degree of certainty has …

Computational Approaches To Understanding Structure-Function Relationships At The Intersection Of Cellular Organization, Mechanics, And Electrophysiology, Tyler George Harvey

All Dissertations

The heart is a complex mechanical and electrical environment and small changes at the cellular and subcellular scale can have profound impacts at the tissue, organ, and organ system levels. The goal of this research is to better understand structure-function relationships at these cellular and subcellular levels of the cardiac environment. This improved understanding may prove increasingly important as medicine begins shifting toward engineered replacement tissues and organs. Specifically, we work towards this goal by presenting a framework to automatically create finite element models of cells based on optical images. This framework can be customized to model the effects of …

Surface Functionalized Organic/Inorganic Colloids: Imaging And Spectroscopy With X-Ray And Optical Excitation, Mary Burdette

All Dissertations

Nanoparticles continue to be studied for their properties as carriers for small molecules, such as bio-imaging agents, biologically relevant targeting ligands, and therapeutic drugs as tethering these small molecules to a larger particle provides stability to the molecule and lessens the probability that the system is cleared prematurely from the body. However, the body suffers from intense auto-fluorescence, so one way to improve imaging agents to combat the auto-fluorescence issue is to create a system that is fluorescence activatable; the activation must occur when the system is only in the intended environment. Additionally, intense light scattering occurs at the blue …

The Effects Of Various Retort Motions On The Rate Of Heat Penetration Of A Food Simulant In Pouches, Mollye Macnaughton

All Dissertations

Processing foods in a retort is a reliable and established method of creating sterile and shelf stable products. The formula of the product and the package size dictates the processing time. Rotary retorts were invented to agitate cans to reduce the processing times and create uniform heating within the can. Recently, horizontal reciprocating agitation has become a feature of retorts referred to as Gentle Motion® and Shaka®. Oscillating agitation is an even newer possible retort motion. This research experiment was designed to (1) determine the effects of oscillating continuously and oscillating-dwell time on the rate of heat penetration in a …

Understanding The Interactions Of Anions With Lewis Acids And Π-Acids To Develop Efficient Ion-Pair Receptors, Krishnendu Maity

All Dissertations

Anions play vital roles in many industrial, environmental, chemical, and biological processes. Due to their adverse effects on our health and ecosystem, precise regulation of toxic anions and ion-pairs are of prime importance. A majority of anion receptors rely on subtle supramolecular forces like electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding to bind anions, and the main source of selectivity comes from the shape and size complementarity of the receptors and guest anions. In aprotic solvents, interactions of anions with π-acidic receptors such as naphthalenediimides (NDIs) and perylenediimides (PDIs), and Lewis acids, such as silver ion, depend on their electron donating ability, …

Magnolia: Impact Of Interspecific Hybridization On Genetic Variation And Ongoing Breeding Initiatives, James Kevin Parris

All Dissertations

The genus Magnolia comprises over 250 species naturally occurring in Eastern North America, Central America, South America, islands of the Gulf of Mexico, and Eastern Asia. A long history of cultivation and breeding going back to the early nineteenth century reveals a common trend of reproductive compatibility throughout this group of basal angiosperms. Interspecific hybridization has led to plethora of ornamental cultivars that have proven adaptable to natural and cultivated habitats beyond the range of each species. Understanding of taxonomic relationships between species has evolved as observations of morphological characteristics and genetic analyses have been more thoroughly investigated. The objectives …

Investigating The Use Of Streaming And Robotic Dielectrophoresis To Enable Continuous Cell Sorting And Automatic Cell Transfer In Sample Preparation, Rucha Natu

All Dissertations

The sorting of targeted cells or particles from a sample is a crucial step in the sample preparation process used in medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, bio-analysis and personalized medicine. Current cell sorting techniques can be broadly classified as label based or label-free. Label-based techniques mostly rely on fluorophores or magnetic nanoparticles functionalized to bind with targeted cells. Although highly specific, this approach can be expensive and suffers from limitations in the availability of suitable markers. Label-free techniques exploit properties inherent to the cell, such as density and size, to simplify the sorting protocol and reduce cost by eliminating the need …

High-Throughput Polygenic Biomarker Discovery Using Condition-Specific Gene Coexpression Networks, William Louis Poehlman

All Dissertations

Biomarkers can be described as molecular signatures that are associated with a trait or disease. RNA expression data facilitates discovery of biomarkers underlying complex phenotypes because it can capture dynamic biochemical processes that are regulated in tissue-specific and time-specific manners. Gene Coexpression Network (GCN) analysis is a method that utilizes RNA expression data to identify binary gene relationships across experimental conditions. Using a novel GCN construction algorithm, Knowledge Independent Network Construction (KINC), I provide evidence for novel polygenic biomarkers in both plant and animal use cases.

Kidney cancer is comprised of several distinct subtypes that demonstrate unique histological and molecular …

Subventricular Zone Neural Stem Cells Release Extracellular Vesicles During Early Postnatal Neurogenesis, Mary C. Morton

All Dissertations

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanometer sized particles released from all cells. EVs are found in all biological fluids, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. EVs modulate intercellular communication through the transfer of nucleic acids and proteins from donor to recipient cells. During early postnatal neurogenesis, subventricular zone (SVZ) neural stem cells (NSCs) asymmetrically divide to give rise to neuroblasts that migrate along the rostral migratory stream (RMS) and populate the olfactory bulb (OB). Other, non-neuronal cells populate the SVZ, such as microglia and endothelial cells. Microglia have been shown to regulate SVZ NSCs, but it remains unclear if this communication …

Development Of A Biomimetic, Collagen-Based Scaffold For The Repair And Regeneration Of The Annulus Fibrosus, Ryan Borem

All Dissertations

Annually, over 5.7 million Americans are diagnosed with two IVD-associated pathologies: IVD herniation (IVDH- a mechanical disruption of the concentric fibrous layers of the annulus fibrosus (AF)) and/or degeneration (IVDD- a multifactorial process which initiates within the inner gelatinous core (NP), and results in a biochemical degradation of NP tissue), with over 2.7 million requiring surgical interventions. Although both underlying pathologies are different, quite often they both lead to a decrease in IVD height, impaired mechanical function, and increased pain and disability. These pain symptoms affect approximately 80% of the adult population during their lifetime with estimated expenditures exceeding $85.9 …

Taxonomic, Genetic And Functional Diversity Of Symbionts Associated With The Coastal Bivalve Family Lucinidae, Jean S. Lim

All Dissertations

Extant bivalve members from the family Lucinidae harbor chemosynthetic gammaproteobacterial gill endosymbionts capable of thioautotrophy. These endosymbionts are environmentally acquired and belong to a paraphyletic group distantly related to other marine chemosymbionts. In coastal habitats, lucinid chemosymbionts participate in facilitative interactions with their hosts and surrounding seagrass habitat that results in symbiotic sulfide detoxification, oxygen release from seagrass roots, carbon fixation, and/or symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Currently, the structural and functional complexity of whole lucinid gill microbiomes, as well as their interactions with lucinid bivalves and their surrounding environment, have not been comprehensively characterized. This dissertation focuses on the taxonomic, genetic, …