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The Effects Of Resveratrol On Dbc1 & Cadherin Expression In Prostate Cancer, Micah Bower-Kaiser

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Prostate cancer (PCa) is an incredibly common disease in the United States, with approximately 170,000 new diagnoses and 30,000 deaths occurring on an annual basis. The current mainstay of treatment for PCa is known as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which has proven to be an effective short-term option in earlier stages of the disease. Unfortunately, longer periods of ADT risk accelerating progression of the cancer to the point where 25% of all treated patients relapse to an incurable, metastatic, and highly lethal form known as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In approximately 60% of CRPC cases, a splice variant of androgen …

The Evaluation Of Pathogen Survival In Dry Cured Charcuterie Style Sausages, Jennifer Michelle Mcneil

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival of non-O157:H7 STEC, Salmonella spp., and S. aureus in dry fermented sausages. Chorizo and Landjager sausages were inoculated with individual bacterial cocktails and stuffed into natural casings. Temperature, relative humidity, pH, and water activity were monitored through fermentation, drying, and storage. Bacterial counts were determined by serial dilution and plated in triplicates on selective media. Plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and colony forming units per gram (CFU/g) were observed.

Results of the first study validate that contaminated raw materials contribute to pathogen survival and background bacteria outcompeted …

Long-Term Effects Of Different Fat Sources And Vitamin E Supplementation On Growth Performance, Antioxidant Status, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, And Immune Capacity Of Pigs With Heavy Slaughter Weight Up To 150 Kg, Ding Wang

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Two experiments were used to evaluate the potential interaction of fat source and vitamin E (VE) in heavy slaughter weight pigs. In Experiment 1, a total of 64 individually-fed pigs (28.41 ± 0.83 kg) were randomly assigned to 8 dietary treatments in a 4×2 factorial arrangement. Fat treatments included cornstarch (CS), tallow (TW), corn-oil (CO), and coconut-oil (CN). VE treatments were dietary α-tocopheryl acetate (ATA) at 11 and 200 ppm. In Experiment 2, a total of 72 individually fed pigs (28.55 ± 1.16 kg) were randomly assigned to 12 dietary treatments in a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement. Fat treatments …

Thermal, Interfacial, And Application Properties Of Pea Protein Modified With High Intensity Ultrasound, Aeneas Koosis

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The overall objective of the study was to investigate different food ingredient conditions and ultrasound treatment on pea protein in terms of surface morphology and thermal characteristics. The motivation of this work was based on previous studies focusing on non-chemical physical modifications of plant proteins and the increasing demand for functional alternative proteins.

Ultrasonication time and amplitude, pH, protein concentration, and salt concentration all influenced the thermal and interfacial properties of pea protein. Ultrasound treatment altered the quaternary and tertiary structure of the storage protein and disrupted non-covalent bonds. The structural altercations and a reduction in particle size led to …

Evaluating Costs Associated With Management Decisions Of Replacement Dairy Heifers And Their Impact On The Total Rearing Investment, Anna Catherine Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Replacement heifer rearing is critical for the future of the dairy operation, especially to improve genetic merit and maintain herd size. A replacement heifer from the day she is born to the day she calves herself is generally a 2-year investment without potential income. A myriad of options exists on how to manage, fed, and ultimately raise replacement heifers. This study quantifies the costs associated with replacement heifer management decisions from birth to calving related to housing, labor, feed and health. The heifer rearing period can be broken into pre and post weaning sections to allow for more understanding the …

Evaluation Of Current And Emerging Techniques For Measuring Eggshell Integrity Of The Domestic Fowl, Lauren Wood Nolan

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

This dissertation is an investigation into the effect of different zinc sources and levels on eggshell quality and microstructure, as well as keel bone damage. Eggshell function is two-fold; eggshells function to protect the developing embryo, as well as act as a barrier against bacterial penetration, optimizing food safety of the egg for human consumption (Mabe et. Al., 2003). Two small trials were conducted in order to determine differences in eggshell microstructure of eggs produced from hens at peak lay (26 weeks of age) and at the end of lay (88 weeks of age). Two groups of hens were fed …

Developmental Changes In The Pig From Birth To 42 Days Post-Weaning (1.5 – 25 Kilograms Bodyweight), Sarah K. Elefson

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

This study evaluated the changes in body composition, glycogen tissue reserves, visceral organ growth, and small intestine morphology in the young pig. A total of 96 crossbred pigs were euthanized at birth (pre-suckle), days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14 postpartum, weaning at day 21, and days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28, and 42 post-weaning. Body composition of the pig had increasing dry matter and fat, decreasing ash, calcium and phosphorus, and relatively static protein percentage over the course of the study. Liver and muscle glycogen was greatest at birth. Following birth and weaning there was a distinct …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Joan Rogers, Phd, Otr/L, Faota, Michelle Arnhalt, Ivy Steiger

Oral History Student Papers

Objective: This qualitative study was to examine the evolution of occupational therapy practice throughout the life history and career of Joan Rogers. The purpose of the study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond.

Method: The Kawa Model guided Semi-structured interview questions. Throughout the interview process, the researchers gained information regarding Joan Roger’s experiences related to gaining her occupational therapy …

Platelets To The Rescue? A Literature Review Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Platelet-Rich Plasma For Symptomatic Osteoarthritis Of The Knee, Timothy Simonich

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the most common joint disorders in the United States with rising prevalence due to obesity and an aging population. Regarding non-surgical approaches to management, there has been growing interest in the use of intra-articular injections with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).

Aspirin Use Following Preeclampsia To Prevent Future Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes, Kristi Bohlig

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Introduction: Preeclampsia during pregnancy warrants therapy with low dose aspirin. The purpose of this review is to investigate if these women are at increased future risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and if aspirin therapy prevents future cardiovascular events.

• Research Questions: Do women who had preeclampsia during pregnancy have increased future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality? • Does continued aspirin use in postpartum women, who had preeclampsia during pregnancy, decrease future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality?

• Research Methods: Literature review was conducted utilizing CINAHL, Dynamed plus and PubMed databases.

• Discussion: Many studies have found that preeclampsia does increase …

Pelvic Examinations For Ovarian Cancer Screening In Asymptomatic Adult Women, Riann Collar

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

There is discrepancy amongst organizations and the medical community whether bimanual pelvic examinations should be performed in asymptomatic women for routine screening. The purpose of this literature review was to determine whether bimanual pelvic examinations are beneficial for screening for ovarian cancer in comparison to no screening. In addition, research was conducted to see if healthcare providers’ professional beliefs align with the evidence and national recommendations, to determine women’s thoughts and beliefs regarding pelvic examinations, and identify other screening methods if bimanual pelvic exams are determined to be an invalid screening tool. Throughout reviewing peer reviewed articles and high quality …

Parenteral Ascorbic Acid For Treatment Of Sepsis, Lindsey Hiatt

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Sepsis kills nearly 1 million people each year in the United States and sepsis-related hospitalizations cost approximately $24 billion annually (Paoli, Reynolds, Sinha, Gitlin, & Crouser, 2018). Current treatment guidelines are limited to targeted antibiotics and hemodynamic support. While antibiotics are the definitive treatment to eradicate the infectious pathogen, there are currently no standard-of-care treatments that consistently and successfully attenuate the damage sustained to the body by its own inflammatory response to infection. Many different treatments have been trialed and failed to show improved outcomes. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, has long been associated with supporting immune function, and has …

Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In The Soil Environment: Sorption, Bioaccumulation And Biotransformation, Bosen Jin

Theses and Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are man-made chemicals, widely used in both industries and daily lives, such as in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and painting materials. Researchers have investigated PFASs for about two decades, but most of the studies focus on perfluoroalkyl substances with very limited information available on polyfluoroalkyl substances. In this research, we investigated the sorption/desorption mechanisms perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its two cationic and zwitterionic precursor compounds, perfluorooctanesulfonamido ammonium salt (PFOSAmS) and perfluorooctaneamido betaine (PFOAB) in a group of soil. We also studied the bioaccumulation and bioconcentration of these chemicals along with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its …

Thermal Performance Analysis Of The Liquid Cooling And Ventilation Garment (Lcvg) With Respect To Tubing Geometry, Kayla Marie Daniels

Theses and Dissertations

The technology of a liquid-cooled garment allows astronauts to complete extravehicular activities while maintaining a degree of thermal comfort. The garment has gone largely unchanged despite advancements in technology, materials, and knowledge. This research examines possible advancements in thermal efficiency with an alternate tubing geometry through heat transfer rate calculations. A semi-circle cross-section was selected and compared against the current circular cross-section tubing. Each tubing cross-section was 3-D printed and integrated into forearm sleeves. For comparison, the assembly of each sleeve resembled the current Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment used with the Extravehicular Mobility Unit. Subjects wore the forearm sleeves …

Measuring Friendship Maintenance In Gay Men, Eliah Reding

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the existing friendship maintenance literature to develop a psychometrically sound scale for the measurement of friendship maintenance among gay men. Existing friendship maintenance research does not adequately capture the uniqueness of gay male friendship. Utilizing DeVellis’s (2016) steps of scale development, this dissertation constructs a new scale, the GayFABS, to assess the unique aspects of friendship maintenance in gay men. Unique in this dissertation is the use of a focus group to establish content validity rather than the traditional approach of expert review. An exploratory factor analysis is conducted to structure the scale and its component subscales. …

The Reliability Of Indirect Assessments Of Standing Forward Head Posture In Asymptomatic Adults, Bailey Strand

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Measurement reliability has important decision-making implications for physical therapists and researchers when assessing individuals. Given that physical therapists often visually assess forward head posture (FHP) to guide treatment, the aims of this study were to quantify: (a) the reliability of indirect (visual) assessments of standing FHP in asymptomatic adults, and (b) the magnitude of the biological (postural) and technical errors involved.

Methods: A reliability analysis of two indirect assessments (visual assessments of real and 3D body scanned people) of FHP was undertaken. The sample comprised 10 physical therapists and 50 asymptomatic participants. Participants were scanned using the Vitus Smart …

Influences Of Nesting Behaviors In Common Eiders (Somateria Mollissima Sedentaria) In The Western Hudson Bay, Tanner John Stechmann

Theses and Dissertations

Reproductive decisions of birds are shaped by minimizing predation while meeting physiological needs of parents and offspring. As a result, birds must make decisions about investment in offspring that allows them to maximize their overall fitness. This often drives nesting behaviors and can provide insights into reproductive success. Common eiders (Somateria mollissima) are thought to have high nest attendance (time spent tending the nest) and use substantial energetic resources during breeding. However, the specific behaviors at the nest of these birds are not well studied, with even less known about the Hudson Bay common eider (S. m. sedentaria). The objectives …

Development Of Dna-Based Biosensors And Antibacterial Additive, Yuqian Xing

Theses and Dissertations

In the first project, an ultrasensitive assay has been developed for the detection and determination of Hg2+(aq) based on single-particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS). In the presence of Hg2+(aq), AuNPs modified with a segment of single-stranded DNA can aggregate due to the formation of well-known thymine (T)-Hg2+-T complex. The spICP-MS can sensitively and quantitatively measure the degree of aggregation by the overall decrease in number of detected AuNPs or NP aggregates. Compared with most other Hg assays that use the same principle of aggregation-dispersion with DNA modified AuNPs, this spICP-MS-based method achieved a much lower detection limit of 0.031 …

Associations Between Parental Alcoholism And Adult Internalized And Externalized Indicators Of Maladjustment, Stephanie Brezinski

Theses and Dissertations

Associations between parental alcoholism and internalized and externalized indicators of maladjustment in adult children of alcoholics were examined. College students (N = 2,531) and respondents from the general population (N = 703) provided self-reports of various internalized and externalized indicators of maladjustment. Several hypotheses were tested: (1) CAST scores will be positively associated with symptom severity; (2) Combined maternal and paternal alcoholism will be associated with the most severe maladjustment compared to ACAs from a single parent and/or non-ACAs; (3) Male ACAs will exhibit relatively more externalized symptoms than internalized symptoms and female ACAs will exhibit relatively more internalized symptoms …

Photography Methods To Understand Rural Resilience And Environmental Literacy: The Example Of Fracking In The Bakken, Bruce Evan Farnsworth

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the social and environmental impacts of fracking through deep ethnographic interviews and observations with farmers and ranchers living and leasing on the Bakken and Three Forks shale oil formations of western North Dakota, currently the second largest oil-producing region in the United States. This study investigates how photographic methods such as photo elicitation, repeat photography, and aerial photographs/maps elicit local knowledge and testify to the resilience of ranchers and farmers challenged by oil development and the alteration of their environment. Motivated by heritage, political marginalization and the pervasive loss of ruralness, the participants express several roles, among …

Chromatin Associated Small Rna Show Evidence Of Processing After Promoter Proximal Rna Polymerase Ii Pausing, Nii Koney-Kwaku Koney

Theses and Dissertations

Paused Pol II has been implicated in the generation of short non-coding RNAs, such as transcription start site RNAs (TSSa RNAs) and transcription initiation RNAs (tiRNAs), which are found within or around the 5’ ends of gene promoters. The generation of these RNAs (which I termed “processed RNAs”) is known to occur in the nucleus; however, whether their biogenesis is co-transcriptional or post-transcriptional is unknown. These RNAs have been proposed to be remnants of 5’ to 3’ processing and protected by paused Pol II. Processed RNAs may represent a novel class of small RNAs derived from promoter-proximal transcription termination.

I …

Temporal Trends In The Standing Broad Jump Test Performance Of United States Children And Adolescents, Bridget Kate Pinoniemi

Theses and Dissertations

Muscular fitness is a very important indicator of health. Using a systematic review strategy, the aim of this study was to estimate the temporal trends in broad jump performance of United States youth. Broad jump data on apparently healthy United States youth (aged 10–17 years) were located through a systematic electronic database search and by pearling reference lists, topical systematic reviews and personal libraries. Sample-weighted temporal trends (expressed as percent and standardized trends) were estimated for separate age-sex groups using best-fitting regression models relating the year of testing to mean jump performance. Mean trends standardized to the year 1985 were …

Characterizing The Contribution Of Groudwater In The Water Budgets Of Wetlands Using Gis Groundwater Modeling And The Field Measurement Of Water Quality, Brianna Fuller Speldrich

Theses and Dissertations

Wetlands provide many benefits to society, including flood attenuation, groundwater recharge, water quality improvement, and habitat for wildlife. Because their structure and function are sensitive to changes in hydrology, characterizing the water budgets of wetlands is crucial to effective management and conservation. The groundwater component of a budget, which often controls resiliency and water quality, is particularly difficult to estimate and can be costly, time-consuming, and invasive. This study used a GIS approach using a digital elevation model (DEM) and the elevations of lakes, wetlands, streams, and hydric soils to produce a water-table surface raster for a portion of the …

Wearable Devices For Single Cell Sensing And Transfection, Lingqian Chang, Yu-Chieh Wang, Faheem Ershad, Ruiguo Yang, Cunjiang Yu, Yubo Fan

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Transdermal drug delivery systems have been successful for decades. Now these devices can be further scaled down, and their applications have been extended to wide selections of cargo, ranging from natural molecules (e.g., insulin and glucose) to bioengineered molecules (e.g., nanoparticles and vaccines). Some emerging nanopatches show promise for precise single-cell gene transfection in vivo and have advantages over conventional tools in terms of delivery efficiency, safety, and controllability of delivered dose. In this review, we discuss recent technical advances in wearable micro/nano devices with unique capabilities or potential for single-cell biosensing and transfection in the skin or other organs, …

Optimization Of Protein-Protein Interaction Measurements For Drug Discovery Using Afm Force Spectroscopy, Yongliang Yang, Bixi Zeng, Zhiyong Sun, Amir Monemianesfahani, Jing Hou, Nian-Dong Jiao, Lianqing Liu, Liangliang Chen, Marc D. Basson, Lixin Dong, Ruiguo Yang, Ning Xi

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Increasingly targeted in drug discovery, protein-protein interactions challenge current high throughput screening technologies in the pharmaceutical industry. Developing an effective and efficient method for screening small molecules or compounds is critical to accelerate the discovery of ligands for enzymes, receptors and other pharmaceutical targets. Here, we report developments of methods to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for screening protein-protein interactions using atomic force microscopy (AFM) force spectroscopy. We have demonstrated the effectiveness of these developments on detecting the binding process between focal adhesion kinases (FAK) with protein kinase B (Akt1), which is a target for potential cancer drugs. These developments …

Local Control Robotic Surgical Devices And Related Methods, Eric Markvicka, Tom Frederick, Jack Mondry, Joe Bartels, Shane Michael Farritor

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The various robotic medical devices include robotic devices that are disposed within a body cavity and positioned using a support component disposed through an orifice or opening in the body cavity. Additional embodiments relate to devices having arms coupled to a device body wherein the device has a minimal profile such that the device can be easily inserted through smaller incisions in comparison to other devices without such a small profile. Further embodiments relate to methods of operating the above devices.

Medical Inflation, Attachment And Delivery Devices And Related Methods, Mark Rentschler, Shane Michael Farritor

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to procedural space maintenance devices, medical device positioning devices, and devices that provide both procedural space maintenance and device positioning. Further embodiments relate to medical device insertion and/or retraction devices.

Attitudes And Perceptions Among African Americans About Dating Individuals With Bipolar Disorder, Casey Michelle Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals who experience bipolar disorder may have difficulty acquiring and maintaining relationships due to the stigma associated with mental illness. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to examine the attitudes and perceptions of African American men and women regarding their experiences of dating and relationships with individuals who suffer from bipolar disorder. The theory used in this study was equity theory. The research question for this study explored how African American adults experience relationship acquisition and maintenance with a partner who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. For this generic qualitative study, there were 12 respondents. Participants were …

Policy Implications Of Intentional Contamination Of The Retail Food Chain, James C. Mack

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The retail food safety chain is vulnerable to deliberate contamination, yet food safety professionals and emergency managers typically respond to intentional contamination in different ways. Little is known about the practices of environmental health food safety professionals (EHFSP) as compared to emergency managers and whether those approaches can be combined to more successfully impede intentional food contamination. The purpose of this narrative policy analysis was to use routine activity theory to compare the narratives of EHFSPs and emergency managers to determine whether there are opportunities to better understand the relationship between vulnerability and resiliency of the retail food safety chain. …

Supply Chain Managers' Reverse Logistics Strategies To Control Cost Through Risk Mitigation, Lawrence A. Reeves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supply chain managers in the food and beverage industry face significant challenges regarding the use of effective reverse logistics strategies to reduce supply chain disruptions, control risk, and reduce costs. Through the lens of resource dependence theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore reverse logistics strategies used by supply chain managers in the United States to control cost through risk mitigation. Participants in this study included 5 supply chain managers in the food and beverage distribution industry in the state of Georgia who implemented successful reverse logistics strategies to control cost through risk mitigation. Data were …