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In Their Own Words: A Qualitative Study Exploring Influences On The Food Choices Of University Students, Michelle Lambert, Paola Chivers, Fiona Farringdon

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Issue addressed: University students generally make independent decisions regarding food choices. Current research about knowledge of Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG), sources of nutrition information and influences on food choices for this group is scarce.

Methods: Qualitative data were collected from gender‐separated focus groups comprising four female (n = 31) and four male (n = 18) to identify: knowledge of ADG; sources of nutrition information; factors that influence food choices; perceived relevant nutrition messages and how best to deliver them.

Results: Gaps in knowledge were identified particularly regarding number of serves and serving size for food groups. Social media was the …

Elevated Serum Homocysteine Levels Have Differential Gender-Specific Associations With Motor And Cognitive States In Parkinson’S Disease, Megan C. Bakeberg, Alexa Jefferson, Maddeson Riley, Michelle Byrnes, Soumya Ghosh, Frank L. Mastaglia, Malcom K. Horne, Sarah Mcgregor, Rick Stell, Jade Kenna, Sue Walters, Dana Hince, Ryan S. Anderton

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Studies attempting to elucidate an association between homocysteine and symptom progression in Parkinson’s disease (PD) have had largely discrepant findings. This study aimed to investigate elevated serum homocysteine levels and symptom progression in a cohort of PD patients.

Methods: Serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels were measured in 205 people with PD and 78 age-matched healthy controls. People with Parkinson’s disease underwent a battery of clinical assessments to evaluate symptom severity, including motor (MDS-UPDRS) and cognitive (ACE-R) assessments. Multivariate generalized linear models were created, controlling for confounding variables, and were used to determine whether serum markers are associated …

Increased Risk Of Blood Transfusion In Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Sustaining Non-Major Burn Injury, Linda Mai, Katrina Spilsbury, Dale W. Edgar, Aaron Berghuber, Fiona M. Wood

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Due to the increased mortality and morbidity associated with blood transfusion, identifying modifiable predictors of transfusion are vital to prevent or minimise blood use. We hypothesised that burn patients with diabetes mellitus were more likely to be prescribed a transfusion. These patients tend to have increased age, number of comorbidities, infection risk and need for surgery which are all factors reported previously to be associated with blood use.

Objective: To determine whether patients with diabetes mellitus who have sustained a burn ≤20% total body surface area (TBSA) are at higher risk of receiving red blood cell transfusion compared to …

Altered Gut Microbiome In Parkinson's Disease And The Influence Of Lipopolysaccharide In A Human Α-Synuclein Over-Expressing Mouse Model, Anastazja M. Gorecki, Leah Preskey, Megan C. Bakeberg, Jade E. Kenna, Christi Gildenhuys, Gabriella Macdougall, Sarah A. Dunlop, Frank L. Mastaglia, P Anthony Akkari, Frank Koengten, Ryan S. Anderton

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

The interaction between the gut microbiota and alpha-synuclein (αSyn) aggregation in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is receiving increasing attention. The objective of this study was to investigate gut microbiota, and effects of an inflammatory lipopolysaccharide (LPS) trigger in a human αSyn over-expressing mouse model of PD (Thy1-αSyn). Stool samples from patients with confirmed PD and Thy1-αSyn mice were analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Compared to healthy controls, the relative abundance of mucin-degrading Verrucomicrobiae and LPS-producing Gammaproteobacteria were greater in PD patients. In mice, the abundance of Gammaproteobacteria was negligible in both Thy1-αSyn and wild-type (WT) animals, while Verrucomicrobiae were reduced …

Plastome-Wide Rearrangements And Gene Losses In Carnivorous Droseraceae, Paul G. Nevill, Katharine A. Howell, Adam T. Cross, Anna V. Williams, Xiao Zhong, Julian Tonti-Filippini, Laura M. Boykin, Kingsley W. Dixon, Ian Small

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

The plastid genomes of four related carnivorous plants (Drosera regia, Drosera erythrorhiza, Aldrovanda vesiculosa and Dionaea muscipula) were sequenced to examine changes potentially induced by the transition to carnivory. The plastid genomes of the Droseraceae show multiple rearrangements, gene losses and large expansions or contractions of the inverted repeat. All the ndh genes are lost or non-functional, as well as in some of the species, clpP1, ycf1, ycf2 and some tRNA genes. Uniquely amongst land plants, the trnK gene has no intron. Carnivory in the Droseraceae coincides with changes in plastid gene content similar …

More Than "Push" And "Pull"? Plant-Soil Feedbacks Of Maize Companion Cropping Increase Chemical Plant Defenses Against Herbivores, Daniel M. Mutyambai, Ethan Bass, Tim Luttermoser, Katja Poveda, Charles A.O. Midega, Zeyaur R. Khan, André Kessler

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Plants can alter nutritional availability, structure, and chemistry of the soil they grow in. These soil changes can positively or negatively influence the growth and metabolism of other plants that co-occur or grow later in the conditioned soil. Plant-soil feedbacks could affect community interactions and dynamics but also be applied in sustainable agriculture to promote plant growth and resistance to pests. In this study, we use a maize companion cropping system, commonly known as "push-pull," as a model to investigate soil-mediated effects of functional biodiversity, on maize plant growth, and resistance against insect herbivores. We grew maize in soils collected …

The Relationship Between Physical Activity And Cardiorespiratory Fitness Among People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Throughout The Life Span, Allison R. Webel, Joseph Perazzo, J. Craig Phillips, Kathleen M. Nokes, Cynthia Rentrope, Rebecca Schnall, Rita Musanti, Kimberly Adams Tufts, Elizabeth Sefcik, Mary Jane Hamilton, Carmen Portillo, Puangtip Chaiphibalsarisdi, Penelope Orton, Liana Davis, Carol Dawson Rose

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) are at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in PLHIV are poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to describe physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness by sex and age and to examine the association between physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in PLHIV, controlling for covariates.

METHODS: Seven hundred two PLHIV participated in a cross-sectional study and completed validated measures of self-reported physical activity (7-day Physical Activity Recall) and cardiorespiratory fitness (6-minute walk test). Participants were recruited from 7 diverse sites in the United …

Perceived Stress, Salivary Cortisol, And Depression In Adults Diagnosed With Postconcussion Syndrome; A Pilot Study, Christine Fish-Huson

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) affects approximately 1.7 million persons in the United States annually, 75% are categorized as mild (mTBI). Most persons who experience mTBI will recover, however an estimated 10% will develop Postconcussion Syndrome (PCS). Evidence supports a relationship between perceived stress, salivary cortisol, and depressive symptoms in persons after TBI; however, there are no known studies exploring these relationships in the PCS patient population. A sample of 17 men and women diagnosed with PCS were recruited from Southwest and Central Virginia. Data collection included the Rivermead Postconcussion Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale-10, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale and the …

Characterization Of The Novel Interaction Between Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Tdfj And Its Human Ligand S100a7, Stavros Maurakis

Theses and Dissertations

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an obligate human pathogen that causes the common STI gonorrhea, which presents a growing threat to global health. The WHO estimated 78 million new cases of gonorrhea worldwide in 2017, with estimates of 820,000 new cases in the United States alone according to the CDC. High-frequency phase and antigenic variation inherent in N. gonorrhoeae, coupled with its natural ability to rapidly acquire and stably integrate antimicrobial resistance factors into its genome, have culminated in an infection against which there is no effective vaccine, and for which the list of viable therapeutic options is quickly shrinking. Moreover, no …

My Clothing Is Me: Embracing Adhd In Traditional Qatari Apparel, Rabab Abdulla

Theses and Dissertations

Children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) are often secluded from society, as the condition is perceived to be a defect. These children constantly fidget, move, lose track of time, and forget to complete tasks, leading them to struggle within existing social environments. Additionally, in Qatar there is a need to educate society about ADHD. This research explores wearable solutions that alter behaviors through physical interactions and sensory engagements. In response to the challenges faced by ADHD, Qatari traditional attire has been customized to support children with time management, and communication between child, parent, and society. Additionally, these wearables …

At The Table; An Investigation Of How Growing, Cooking, And Sharing Food Together Can Bring A Wealth Of Benefits, Angeline M. Troilo

Theses and Dissertations

MOTIVATION: The value of family mealtime has been well documented by decades of academic research. Children from families, (regardless of race, class or income), that routinely sit down to a meal together, suffer less depression, obesity and substance abuse. They also stay healthier and do better in school (Benefits 2018). There are nutrition, health, social, and mental benefits to eating with others. Research has shown that people eat more fruits and vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods when they share a meal with others. They also drink less soda and eat less fried foods (Benefits 2018). Eating meals together teaches children …

In A Building, A Stairwell, A Room Speaks, Tsz Wai Wallis Cheung

Theses and Dissertations

Working toward a personal definition of womanhood while progressing with my research in feminist discourse, I frame biographical events alongside the intricate use of language surrounding feminist theory. Experimenting with material specificities that speak to my personal narratives and cultural significance, my work seeks to address the interlacing operations of subjectivity expanding on the intersection of class, gender and race.

The Wheel House - An Intergenerational Space Creating Bonds Between At-Risk Teens And Seniors, Jessica M. Keegan

Theses and Dissertations

MOTIVATION

Two main groups in American society today are floundering: adolescent children of low income families and the elderly.

Between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 p.m., one in five children are unsupervised. Left to their own devices, many become involved in negative behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse, sexual activity or in the worse cases, delinquency (Afterschool Alliance, 2016). It is proven that when children are alone after school, they not only miss out on valuable learning opportunities, but also their parents are affected as well by having to lose as many as eight work days annually to …

Erasure: An Additive And Subtractive Act, Margaret Davids

Theses and Dissertations

MOTIVATION In the simplest form, a pencil mark on a page is removed by a traditional rubber eraser. However, the marks are often never fully removed, and the paper thins with each attempt to rub out an old idea.

But how does one erase a chair? A pilaster? A room? A building?... More importantly, how does the subtractive act of erasing become an additive one?

The historical fabric of a building is important; it is also imperative that it does not remain stagnant. Erasing is an opportunity to design an interior environment that both acknowledges the traces of the pencil …

An Evaluation Of Induced Shear Stress On Endothelial Cellular Adhesion Molecules, Edward B. Crabb

Theses and Dissertations

The pathophysiology of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is highlighted by vascular dysfunction and low-grade vascular inflammation. Furthermore, the site-specific distribution of atherosclerosis throughout the arterial vasculature is primarily determined by local hemodynamic force. Therefore, this dissertation outlines three experiments designed to investigate the role of acute mental and physical (i.e., aerobic exercise), and vascular wall shear stress (SS) on the inflammatory aspects of atherosclerosis. Chapter 2 examines the effect of acute laboratory-induced mental stress on intracellular pro-inflammatory signaling pathways in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Chapter 3 investigates the impact of acute laboratory-induced mental stress and maximal aerobic exercise on the …

The Role Of Tumor And Tumor Microenvironment On Breast Cancer-Associated Adipocyte Plasticity, Janina V. Pearce

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer-associated cachexia is a condition defined by a sustained net-negative energy imbalance. Although the different types of adipose tissue – white, beige, and brown – have been implicated in contributing to cancer-associated cachexia, the mechanisms of these maladaptive changes and their impact on whole-body energy expenditure have not been fully elucidated. Using breast cancer as our model, we demonstrate white adipose tissue browning in murine and human breast cancer; furthermore, we demonstrate that this effect is extremely localized and takes place early in tumor progression. We utilized in vitro cell culture techniques and demonstrate that cancer secreted factors and cross-talk …

Young Adults With Disabilities Financial Skills And Goals: A Mixed Methods Strengths And Needs Assessment, Allison D'Aguilar

Theses and Dissertations

Young adults with disabilities face barriers that affect their financial capability and financial inclusion in the marketplace. Barriers include a lack of autonomy, skills, and opportunities. This mixed method strengths and needs assessment aimed to explain and explore the financial skills and goals of young adults with disabilities. A standardized scale captured young adults with disabilities financial skills, photovoice participatory action research documented their valued financial skills and goals, and semi-structured interviews notated parents financial aspirations and goals for their daughters and sons. The mixed methods analysis suggested young adults with disabilities underlying financial skills fell 25 percent below the …

Investigating Daily Writing Emotions, Attention Regulation, And Productivity: An Intensive Longitudinal Study, Eric Ekholm

Theses and Dissertations

Emotions pervade academic situations and influence the ways that learners think, behave, and achieve (Pekrun, 2006; Schutz & Lanehart, 2002). Writing may be a particularly emotion-laden activity, and especially so for students concentrating in fields that value writing production. However, very few studies have quantitatively investigated writers’ emotional experiences. The goal of the current study was to examine the writing-related emotions of graduate students enrolled in writing-intensive disciplines as well as how these emotions related to writers’ daily productivity and attention-regulation behaviors. To do so, the study employed a daily diary design (Gunthert & Wenze, 2012) in which participants completed …

Latent Growth Model Approach To Characterize Maternal Prenatal Dna Methylation Trajectories, Dana Lapato

Theses and Dissertations

Background. DNA methylation (DNAm) is a removable chemical modification to the DNA sequence intimately associated with genomic stability, cellular identity, and gene expression. DNAm patterning reflects joint contributions from genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. As such, differences in DNAm patterns may explain interindividual variability in risk liability for complex traits like major depression (MD). Hundreds of significant DNAm loci have been identified using cross-sectional association studies. This dissertation builds on that foundational work to explore novel statistical approaches for longitudinal DNAm analyses. Methods. Repeated measures of genome-wide DNAm and social and environmental determinants of health were collected up to six …

The Effect Of Change In Medi-Cal Dental Coverage On Dental Care Utilization Among Medi-Cal Beneficiaries, Min H. Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most important factors in accessing dental care is having dental insurance. For people with low incomes, Medicaid is the main source of health insurance. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program. Adult dental services were mostly eliminated in Medi-Cal in 2009 due to the economic downturn and partially restored in 2014. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of change in Medi-Cal dental coverage, specifically the partial restoration of adult dental coverage in 2014, on dental care utilization among Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The partial restoration significantly increased the utilization rates in dental clinics from 2014 to 2017 …

Eternal Enemies, Or Incidental Encounters? Structure And Patterns Of Interspecific Killing In Carnivora, Tor G. Bertin

Theses and Dissertations

Lethal interactions between carnivorans (interspecific killing) may influence their population dynamics, behavior, and other important aspects of their ecology. In this study, I expand upon previous research on the broad-scale patterns of interspecific killing in Carnivora (Palomares & Caro 1999, Donadio & Buskirk 2006) with a greatly expanded dataset (inclusion of scat and stomach data and more intensive sampling of the literature), and suggest avenues for future research. While like previous studies, I found a positive effect of relative body size between killer species and killed species on the likelihood of forming a killing interaction, I failed to find evidence …

Targeting Sphingosine Kinase 2 As A Treatment For Cholangiocarcinoma, Anthony D. Stillman

Theses and Dissertations

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has a high mortality rate and its occurrence is rising. This increase prompts the need for improved CCA treatments. Studies have suggested that CCA is highly reliant on the sphingosine-1-phosphate-receptor-2 (S1PR2) and sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2). Recently, a competitive SphK2 inhibitor, ABC294640, has been approved for clinical trial. ABC294640 has the potential to treat CCA, which is support by a phase I clinical study that was able to temporarily treat a patient suffering from metastasized CCA with ABC294640. To determine the viability of ABC294640 as a treatment for CCA, this study focused on determining the effects of ABC294640 …

Rehabilitation Counselor Clinical Judgment Model Application With Data From An Individualized Placement And Support Trial For Veterans Living With Spinal Cord Injuries, Kevin Fields

Theses and Dissertations

Employment rates for veterans with spinal cord injuries remain low despite legislation aimed at helping individuals with significant barriers to employment succeed in finding competitive work. As access to services and resultant outcomes become more scrutinized, the need for Rehabilitation Counselors to efficiently allocate resources grows more vital to the cause. Existing research supports a mediated path model of rehabilitation counselor clinical judgment asserting observations of disability severity, intelligence, and psychosocial adjustment lead to inferences of functional status and attribution thereof, which collectively influence predictions of successful rehabilitation. The current study investigated the variance attributable to this clinical judgement model …

Genetic Regulation Of The Elicitation Of Glyceollin Biosynthesis In Soybean, Md. Asraful Jahan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Glyceollin phytoalexins are the pathogen-elicited defense metabolites that belong to the isoflavonoid family of molecules of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr). Phytophthora root and stem rot of soybean caused by Phytophthora sojae is a destructive disease throughout the soybean-growing regions worldwide causing devastating economic damages (globally $1-2 billion and over $250 million in the USA) every year. Engineering soybean plants that produce higher levels of glyceollins could confer resistance against this pathogen. Glyceollins also show anticancer and neuroprotective activities in mammals, therefore they are important for agriculture and medical research. Firstly, we were interested in understanding how biotic and …

The Effect Of Occlusal Pressure On Vertical Force Generation On Dentate And Edentulous Subjects, Matthew Thomas Harper

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives: To determine 1) the difference in lower extremity power obtained from a vertical jump in individuals who are dentate or edentulous (implants or dentures) and 2) the difference occlusal pressure makes on lower body force output. Variables included jump height, maximum kicking force, maximum push off force, take off velocity, flight time, jump impulse, and maximum velocity. Groups included dentate, implant overdenture, and conventional denture.

Methods: Counter movement jumping with force plate collection was utilized to test the three populations in this study. The three populations were dentate, mandibular implant overdenture opposing maxillary complete denture, and conventional maxillary and …

Organizational Models In Athletic Training And The Effect On The Quality Of Care Delivered, Matthew Ferreira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Context: Quality of care is an ethical priority to all healthcare professionals. Healthcare fields such as nursing and physical therapy have made changes in staff size and focus that have increased the quality of care provided to patients. The athletic training field has not made changes to the organizational structure. Thus, the quality of care delivered by athletic trainers is an understudied topic. Likewise, the organizational models have just recently been explored in the literature. Objective: Identify differences in the three models of organization (academic, athletic, and medical) related to quality of care delivered and coverage versus care. Design: This …

Learn First, Practice Second Approach To Increase Health Professionals’ Nutrition-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, And Self-Efficacy., Madison E. Santella

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a “learn first, practice second” intervention on the nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of multidisciplinary health professionals in West Virginia, specifically highlighting the Mediterranean Diet. Data was captured via online surveys at four time points (Baseline, Post-education, Post-immersion, Follow Up). All information was self-reported. This approach consisted of 16 weeks of online education, 2 weeks of cultural immersion in Tuscany, Italy, and a 7 month return to practice period. Data were analyzed using JMP Version Pro 12.2 and SAS Version 9.3 for Windows. Repeated measures ANOVA with irregular spacing …

Service Dogs For Veterans With Ptsd: Taxonomy, Work Stress Reduction, And Matching, Lindsay Parenti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research suggests that many veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) struggle with reintegration (Sayer et al., 2010), but are unlikely to seek help or complete treatment (Schottenbauer et al., 2008). To make matters worse, available treatment options are often time consuming, challenging, and/or associated with negative side effects (Carafano & Hutchinson, 2017). Using animals as a treatment modality for veterans with PTSD is an emerging topic of interest and has shown promise (Owen, et al., 2016; Richie et al., 2016). However, several factors have hindered the advancement of this field. Obstacles include a lack of standard terminology and classification system, …

Morphological And Functional Evidence Of Sexual Dimorphism In The Retrochiasmatic Area Population Of Nk3r-Containing Neurons In Sheep, Justin A. Lopez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neurokinin B (NKB) and kisspeptin are critical for fertility and potent stimulators of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in sheep. We previously demonstrated that administration of NKB receptor (NK3R) agonist, senktide, within the retrochiasmatic area (RCh) resulted in surge-like release of LH and increased expression of kisspeptin neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of female lambs. We concluded that NKB-responsive neurons in the RCh stimulate GnRH secretion by inducing kisspeptin release from neurons in the ARC.

We have demonstrated morphological and functional evidence of sexual dimorphism in NKB-NK3R signaling in ovine RCh. RCh senktide administration resulted in …

The Effect Of Sodium Selenate Biofortification On Plant Yield, Mineral Content, And Antioxidant Capacity Of Culinary Herb Microgreens, Rachel G. Newman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Selenium (Se) biofortification of plants has been suggested as a method for enhancing dietary Se intake. Popular herbs such as basil (Ocimum basilicum), cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), and scallions (Allium fistulosum) are used for enhancing flavors. Microgreens are young seedlings harvested with one to two true leaves and are increasingly popular in the consumer marketplace. In this study, basil, cilantro, and scallion microgreens were treated with various concentrations of Se as sodium selenate in hydroponic conditions to investigate the effect on plant yield, mineral content (selenium, sulfur, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and boron), total phenolic compounds, …