Digital Commons Network^™

Do Individual Responses To Resistance Exercise Exist To An Extent That Can Be Detected Beyond That Of Measurement Error/Random Biological Variability?, Scott J. Dankel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Millions of dollars are spent analyzing inter-individual differences in response to resistance exercise, but the lack of a non-exercise control group means they may simply be examining random error. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are inter-individual differences in response to two distinct resistance exercise protocols. Participants (n=151) were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups as follows: (1) a traditional exercise group performing 4 sets to failure with a load that could be lifted 8-12 times; (2) a one-repetition maximum (1RM) training group performing a 1RM test each visit; and (3) a non-exercise control group. …

Progress Toward The Synthesis Of 3-Methoxyflavones As Potential Antioxidants, Neuroprotective Agents, And Trifluoromethylated 19f Nmr Probes, Reem Alkhodier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The total synthesis of polyhydroxylated flavones have proven to be challenging, due to the presence of more than one hydroxyl group. Direct cyclization was not successful in any of the attempts. However, by using a silyl protecting group, the cyclization was feasible. Other reactions like the Friedel-Crafts acylation and selective protection of phenols were also difficult.

Synthesis Of Fluoroflavones As Potential Neuroprotective Agents, Maali Alshammari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Flavones are polyphenol natural products that are known to have neuroprotective effects against many diseases caused by the formation of reactive species. Flavonoids are subgroup of flavones and they are believed to function as antioxidants. Specifically, they target free radicals and eliminate its harmful effect on the cell. Fluoroflavones were designed to improve the potency of the antioxidant activity and potentially be used as neuroprotective agents. A monofluorinated and trifluoromethylated flavone were synthesized by using commercially available fluorination reagents, N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide; and Togni’s or Umemoto's respectively. After the synthesis of the desired flavones and their monofluorinated and trifluoromethylated derivatives, biological testing …

An Experimental Test Of Controls On Resource Exchange In An Ectomycorrhizal Mutualism, Amber Lynn Horning

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Models of resource exchange mutualisms utilize economic principles to explain how the costs and benefits of these interactions vary with environmental context. All of these models use a ratio of resource exchange (e.g., nitrogen: carbon) as the central variable, and it is unclear whether such exchange ratios predict outcomes of mutualisms in natural systems. Corrêa et al. (2008) hypothesized instead that the absolute flux of the most limiting nutrient, rather than the ratio of the two exchanged resources, best explains the benefits of resource exchange mutualisms. To distinguish between these two competing hypotheses, we measured resource transfers, and their ratios, …

Pharmacokinetic Study Of Novel Anthraquinone Analogues, Yuhan Guo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Small molecules functioning as negative regulators of MDM2 have been considered as promising anti-cancer agents. A series of novel anthraquinone (AQ) analogues upregulate p53, a well-known tumor suppressor, by inactivating its antagonist protein MDM2. The novel AQ compounds synthesized through the modifications on the rhein scaffold were reported to have successfully arrested tumor growth. To have a better understanding of their underlying metabolism in vivo, pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were performed for the AQ compounds. A selective, accurate and reproducible assay methodology for PK study was set up for each AQ compound. The stabilities of AQ compounds were then evaluated …

Development Of Controlled Release Oral Dosages By Density Gradient Modification Using 3d Printing Technologies, Zhiqing Hu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the years, three-dimensional (3D) printing has gradually become more comin people's lives. Due to its quick development, it has attracted the attention of researchers in the pharmaceutical industry. The main purpose of this project was to couple fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing with hot melt extrusion (HME) technology to manufacture tablets with different drug release profiles and to solve dose issues related to an individual’s physiological differences and to enhance extended release properties. Ketoprofen was used as the model drug and different properties were added to the polymer to create a formulation suited to HME technology for the …

Of Mules And Mamas: Four Women, Africana Mothering, And Resistance, Ebony Olivia Lumumba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The black woman’s humanity is unjustly linked to domestic responsibility and, thus, the traditional constraints of mothering. The roles of the mother and the created archetype of the mammy often become marred with the latter role overtaking the former—leaving black children without full benefit and access to their biological maternal parent. With the pervasive threat to black lives present in spaces all over the globe, for women of the African Diaspora, simply deciding to accept the role of a mother to a life that is physically, socially, and economically under siege is revolutionary. Considering this, the act of mothering, especially …

Expression Of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha In A Chick Model Of Stress Vulnerable, Treatment – Resistant Depression, Mary Katherine Jourdan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An increasing body of literature suggests a Major Depressive Disorder subpopulation, Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD), is associated with an increased immune response. More than a decade of research has identified and begun to validate a novel animal model of TRD. This study sought to determine whether TNF-α levels would be altered due to isolation stress and differentiated between stress-vulnerable and -resilient strains. Black Australorp and Production Red chicks were placed into isolation for varying times during which Distress Vocalization (dVoc) rates were calculated and transformed into entry into behavioral despair percent thresholds. Blood levels of TNF- α were quantified via …

Democracy As Failure, Aziz Z. Huq

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

The theory and the practice of democracy alike are entangled with the prospect of failure. This is so in the sense that a failure of one kind or another is almost always to be found at democracy’s inception. Further, different kinds of shortfalls dog its implementation. No escape is found in theory, which precipitates internal contradictions that can only be resolved by compromising important democratic values. Out of localized failure, indeed, comes wholesale breakdown. A stable democratic equilibrium proves elusive because of the tendency of discrete lapses to catalyze wider, systemically disruption. Worse, the very pervasiveness of local failure also …

Reimagined: An Analysis And Retelling Of Hans Christian Andersen's Works, Preston Smith

Honors Projects

Where do modern retellings of classic fairytales stick to their source texts and where do they differ? Inspired by ABC’s fairytale drama Once Upon a Time, my reimagining project was born. I originally became obsessed with Hans Christian Andersen’s Snow Queen character both through this television series and through the character’s titular story, and after that, grew to love many of his tales from the nineteenth century. It has been two hundred years since Andersen was writing, and thus society has changed in ways potentially unimaginable in Andersen’s time. I have taken three of his stories— “The Snow Queen,” “The …

Awana Together: Empowering Parents As Spiritual Mentors For Their Children, Sara-Jane Heacox Sosa

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The post-Christian culture in the United States presents a significant challenge to the spiritual growth of adults and children. At Plymouth Covenant Church, ministry leaders recognized that young parents often lacked a biblical foundation. Many did not feel competent to lead their children spiritually. These parents needed a vibrant personal faith as well as good role models and encouragement. As a result, ministry leaders designed a more effective way to empower parents as spiritual mentors for their children. They created a new ministry that would provide personal faith development for parents, a supportive faith community, family-focused programming, and solid biblical …

Monitoring Cerebral Functional Response Using Scmos-Based High Density Near Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging, Dharminder Singh Langri

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Neurovascular coupling is an important concept that indicates the direct link between neuronal electrical firing with the vascular hemodynamic changes. Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) can measure changes in cerebral vascular parameters of oxy-hemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin concentrations and thus can provide neuronal activity through neurovascular coupling. Currently many commercial fNIRS devices are available, but they are limited by the number of channels (usually having only 8 detectors), which can limit the sensitivity, contrast, and resolution of imaging. High-density imaging can improve sensitivity, contrast, and resolution by providing many measurements and averaging the signals originating from the target cerebral focus area …

How African American Men From Challenging Backgrounds Beat The Odds And Graduated From College, Valisha Terry

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

While Bettis and Sternod (2009) asserted the notion of boys being in crisis as not a new phenomenon but a historically cyclical one, present research contends that African American men are one of the most at-risk groups in the United States. School and criminal-justice systems show similar results. African American men continue to lag in terms of graduation rates and college enrollment, while being overrepresented in victim violence and the criminal justice system. They also lead the nation in homicides as both victims and perpetrators. Despite these obstacles, many at-risk African American men graduate from college and excel in life. …

The Relationship Between Personal Values And Personality Traits In Inpatient Behavioral Patients, Chelsea M. Frank

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Inpatient behavioral-health hospital admission has become an important therapeutic option for severely ill psychiatric patients and accounts for one third of the national mental-healthcare costs. After discharge, approximately 40% of patients with psychiatric problems are rehospitalized within 1 year of release from an inpatient behavioral-health hospital. Currently, no clear agreement exists within the psychology field as to which variables predict readmission. Identifying personal values and personality traits in assessment may be beneficial to help understand individual’s better, thereby informing treatment planning to help reduce the rate of readmission. The present study examined the relationship between personal values and personality traits …

The Relationship Between Witnessing Domestic Violence And Criminal Recidivism Among Juvenile Sex Offenders, Shamyra Marie Shaw

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This correlational archival dissertation focuses on the relationship between exposure to domestic violence and criminal recidivism among juvenile sexual offenders. The study examined archival criminal arrest records and self-reported data gathered from a sample of 67 male juvenile sexual offenders in a residential treatment facility. Given the somewhat limited explanations for and research into the causes of juvenile sexual re-offending and the importance of identifying its determinants, this topic may be viewed as having substantial importance to future research and criminal justice policy. Findings did not support the primary hypothesis that prior exposure to domestic violence would be positively correlated …

The Impact Of Citizen Environmental Science In The United States, George Wyeth, Lee C. Paddock, Alison Parker, Robert L. Glicksman, Jecoliah Williams

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

An increasingly sophisticated public, rapid changes in monitoring technology, the ability to process large volumes of data, and social media are increasing the capacity for members of the public and advocacy groups to gather, interpret, and exchange environmental data. This development has the potential to alter the government-centric approach to environmental governance; however, citizen science has had a mixed record in influencing government decisions and actions. This Article reviews the rapid changes that are going on in the field of citizen science and examines what makes citizen science initiatives impactful, as well as the barriers to greater impact. It reports …

Mutations Of Fus Cause Aggregation Of Rna Binding Proteins, Disruptions In Protein Synthesis, And Dysregulation Of Nonsense Mediated Decay, Marisa Elizabeth Kamelgarn

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron death and subsequent muscle atrophy. Approximately 15% of ALS cases are inheritable, and mutations in the Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) gene contribute to approximately 5% of these cases, as well as about 2% of sporadic cases. FUS performs a diverse set of cellular functions, including being a major regulator of RNA metabolism. FUS undergoes liquid- liquid phase transition in vitro, allowing for its participation in stress granules and RNA transport granules. Phase transition also contributes to the formation of cytoplasmic inclusions found in the …

Case-Control Study Of Nutrition And Lung Cancer In Appalachian Kentucky, Afton N. Wright

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background and Objectives

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths world-wide. Recent studies suggest a possible association between nutrition and risk for specific histological subtypes of cancer. We examined the relationship between nutrition and lung cancer histology in Kentucky, a largely rural U.S. state that ranks among the highest in the nation in lung cancer rates, as well as diseases related to diet, such as diabetes and obesity. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of nutrition on lung cancer risk and histology in Kentucky. More specifically, we wanted to investigate potential associations with …

Exploring Methods To Increase Hiv Testing In Kentucky, Chukwudi Yagazie Mbagwu

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

This project was conducted to develop a policy proposal that would increase HIV testing after evaluating current Kentucky Law and Regulations, current health insurance laws, studies on acceptability of different HIV test, barriers to testing from both providers and patients/individuals, and factors associated with positive likelihood of HIV testing. Based on these findings a proposal was developed that would require changing Kentucky regulations on providers communicating test results to patients, change in what form HIV testing would be covered under certain insurances, develop incentives for patients to be tested and report their results to their provider (and hence increasing surveillance …

Second Hand Smoke Exposure And Memory Performance In An Appalachian Pediatric Cohort, Zaynab Al Abdali

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background: Smoking rates in Appalachian counties are about two times higher than in non- Appalachian counties. Apart from the detrimental effects smoking has on the smoker, exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) can have negative health effects on both adults and children. SHS exposure can result in asthma exacerbations and other respiratory difficulties, impaired neuromotor function, neurobehavioral problems, and decreased performance in school.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether SHS exposure, as measured by serum cotinine, is associated with learning and memory in children, as measured by the California Verbal Learning Test – Children's Version.

Methods: Children …

Targeting Food Selectivity In Young Children In A Preschool Classroom Using A Multi-Component Treatment Package, Christina Challed Hesley

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using a video model, graduated exposure (i.e., touch, smell, try, eat), and positive reinforcement to first increase food exploration, and then increase consumption of non-preferred foods in young children that exhibit food selectivity in a school setting. A multiple probe design across behaviors replicated across participants was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment package. The treatment package consisted of a video model of each target behavior (touch, smell, try, eat) and positive reinforcement which included preferred foods and materials. The results indicated that the treatment package was …

Community-Based Coastal Restoration: Long Term Impacts On Habitats And People In Volusia County, Rachel Wimmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Coastal habitats provide invaluable economic and ecosystem services. However, coastlines are eroding at increasing rates due to anthropogenic and climate driven changes. Grey and green infrastructure solutions have been proposed to retard the decay of coastlines, with oysters serving as a popular living shoreline. Three community-based stabilizations that implemented living shorelines and engaged local communities in restoration efforts over the past decade in Volusia County were revisited to determine if they were successful and if they produced positive public perceptions of success. Chicken Island, which was restored after waves, boat wakes, tides, and adverse weather altered the natural shoreline, had …

You Can Sit With Us: An Investigation Of Organizational Rationale For Diversity And Inclusion Climate, Stephanie Leonard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Climate for inclusion has captured the attention of management scholars as well as practitioners due to the positive effects inclusive climates have on organizations. Prior research has shown that a strong climate for inclusion leads to desirable outcomes such as increased organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and creativity, as well as a decrease in intent to turnover (e.g., Acquavita et al., 2009; Groeneveld, 2011; Choi & Rainey, 2010; Pitts, 2009). However, the field is lacking understanding of the factors that impact inclusion climate (Guillaume et al., 2014). To answer this call for inclusion climate formation research, this dissertation considers the relationship …

The Effect Of Reliability Information And Risk On Appropriate Reliance In An Autonomous Robot Teammate, Andrew Talone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research examined how information regarding a robot teammate's reliability and the consequences for mistakes made by a robot in its task influence reliance on the robot by a human teammate. Of interest in this research was the notion of appropriate reliance: relying on a robot teammate's decisions when it is performing well and not relying on its decisions when it is performing poorly. An experiment was conducted in which participants interacted with an autonomous robot teammate while performing a cordon and search operation within a virtual reality simulation environment. Participants were responsible for monitoring the perimeter of a search …

Dentate Gyrus Neurogenesis Across Different Ages In Male Rats: An Immunohistochemical Approach, Ayman Ghallab, Ayman Mohammed Ghallab

Dentistry

Abstract Dentate gyrus is a fundamental sub-region of the hippocampus which is directly engaged in higher memory and cognitive functions. This study was performed to describe the histological and immunohistochemical changes in dentate gyrus in experimental animals during postnatal development. Forty four male albino rats were classified into four equal groups: new born group aged one day, adult group aged 3–6 months, early senile group aged 18–20 months and late senile group aged 30–31 months. Specimens of hippocampus were processed and prepared for routine hematoxylin and eosin stains and immunohistochemical expressions of calretinin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and Ki67 (Kiel …

Responses Of Bovine Pituitary Transcriptome Profiles To Consumption Of Toxic Tall Fescue And Forms Of Selenium In Vitamin-Mineral Mixes, Qing Li

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The first goal of the current research was to determine whether gene expression profiles differed between whole pituitaries of growing beef steers grazing pastures containing high (HE) or low (LE) amounts of toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue. The global (microarray analysis) and selected targeted (RT-PCR) mRNA expression patterns of pituitaries collected from beef steers (BW = 266 ± 15.5 kg) that had been randomly assigned to undergo summer-long grazing (89 to 105 d) of either HE (0.52 ppm ergot alkaloids) or LE (< 0.03 ppm ergot alkaloids) pastures were compared. Gene expression data were subjected to one-way ANOVA. The pituitaries of HE steers had 542 differentially expressed genes, and the pattern of altered gene expression was dependent on treatment. Targeted RT-PCR analysis corroborated these findings, including decreased expression of DRD2, PRL, POU1F1, GAL, and VIP and that of POMC and PCSK1, respectively. Canonical pathway analysis (Integrated Pathway Analysis, IPA) identified HE-dependent alteration in signaling of additional pituitary-derived hormones, including growth hormone and GnRH. In conclusion, consumption of endophyte-infected tall fescue alters the pituitary transcriptome profiles of steers in a manner consistent with their negatively affected physiological parameters. The second goal of this project was to test the hypothesis that sodium selenite (ISe), SEL-PLEX (OSe), vs. a 1:1 blend (MIX) of ISe and OSe in a basal vitamin-mineral (VM) mix would differentially alter pituitary transcriptome profiles in growing beef steers (BW = 183 ± 34 kg) commonly grazing an endophyte-infected tall fescue (HE) pasture. Steers were randomly selected from herds of fall-calving cows grazing HE pasture and consuming VM mixes that contained 35 ppm Se as either ISe, OSe, or MIX forms. Steers were weaned, depleted of Se for 98 d, and subjected to summer-long common grazing of a 10.1 ha HE pasture containing 0.51 ppm ergot alkaloids. Steers were assigned (n = 8) to the same Se-form treatments on which they were raised. Selenium treatments were administered by daily top-dressing 85 g of VM mix onto 0.23 kg soyhulls, using in-pasture Calan gates. Pituitaries were collected at slaughter and changes in global (microarray) and selected (RT-PCR) mRNA expression patterns determined. The effects of Se treatment on relative gene expression were subjected to one-way ANOVA. The form of Se affected the expression of 542 annotated genes. Integrated Pathway Analysis found a canonical pathway network between prolactin and POMC/ACTH/ α-MSH synthesis-related proteins, and that mitochondrial dysfunction was a top-affected canonical pathway. Targeted RT-PCR analysis found that the relative abundance of mRNA encoding prolactin and POMC/ACTH/ α-MSH synthesis-related proteins was affected by the form of Se, as were mitochondrial dysfunction-related proteins OSe steers appeared to have a greater prolactin synthesis capacity vs. ISe steers through decreased dopamine receptor D2 signaling, whereas MIX steers had a greater prolactin synthesis capacity and release potential by increasing TRH concentrations than ISe steers. OSe steers also had a greater ACTH and α-MSH synthesis potential than ISe steers. We conclude that form of Se in VM mixes affected genes responsible for prolactin and POMC/ACTH/α-MSH synthesis, and mitochondrial function in pituitaries of growing beef steers commonly grazing an HE pasture. The third goal was to test the hypothesis that sodium selenite (ISe), SEL-PLEX (OSe), vs. a 1:1 blend (MIX) of ISe and OSe in a basal vitamin-mineral (VM) mix would differentially alter selenoprotein profiles in pituitaries and livers of growing beef steers commonly grazing an endophyte-infected tall fescue (HE) pasture (i.e., the same steers used in Goal 2). The effects of Se treatment on relative gene expression were subjected to one-way ANOVA. The mRNA content of 6 selenoproteins in the pituitary was affected by Se treatments, along with two selenoprotein P receptors, whereas the expression of two selenoproteins was altered in the liver. We conclude that the change in selenoprotein gene expression in pituitaries indicates that OSe steers have a greater potential capacity to manage against oxidative damage, maintain cellular redox balance, and have a better quality control of protein-folding in their pituitaries than ISe steers. The change in selenoprotein gene expression by the liver indicates that MIX steers have a greater redox signaling capacity and capacity to manage oxidative damage than ISe steers.

An Appraisal Of The Effect Of Nursing Location On Weaning Weight Of Piglets And Its Dependence On The Feeding Of Essential Oils To Sows, Shannon L. Dierking

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The objective of these studies was to evaluate the effect of piglet nursing location on weaning weight, and its dependence on essential oil supplementation on sow and piglet performances.

Piglets that nursed anterior teat pairs had heavier weaning weights and higher gain for the lactation period. Additionally, piglet birthweight did not impact their overall teat selection and nursing location. These results provide some insight into the biological aspects of sow milk production, and implied that milk yield may vary between teat pairs along the udder line.

Supplementation of essential oils (EO) during late gestation and lactation had no effect on …

The Ecology And Behavior Of Spring Migrating Indiana Bats (Myotis Sodalis), Piper Lee Roby

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Migration of animals has been studied for decades and has included everything from large terrestrial and pelagic mammals traveling thousands of kilometers to many types of birds flying through several countries to insects going through multiple life cycles in a single migration. The migration of bats has been studied in broad terms to gather coarse information such as distance traveled, connecting summer and winter habitat, and a general understanding of timing. However, only recently have researchers begun to understand the specifics of bat migration including physiology and fine resolution behavior.

Using nine years of spring migration data collected on VHF …

Vital Rates And Habitat Selection Of Bull Elk (Cervus Canadensis Nelsoni) In Southeast Kentucky, John Tyler Hast

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Globally, male ungulate species are heavily managed for their sporting and trophy qualities. North American elk (Cervus canadensis) are typically managed using a male-biased harvest regime, placing increased chances of mortality on males in these hunted populations. To manage for trophy quality animals that typically represent older age classes, wildlife managers have implemented many age-biased harvest regulations, including spike-only tags and antler point restrictions. Many of these age-biased harvest regulations have fallen short of their desired goal of producing older bull elk. Consequently, the consensus has evolved to center on an overall reduction in harvest pressure.

The state …

Postoperative Pain After Single Visit Root Canal Treatment Using Multiple Rotary Files And Single Reciprocating File Instrumentation Techniques In Asymptomatic Mandibular Molars With Necrotic Pulps: A Randomized Control Clinical Trial, Mostafa M.A. Elkholy, Kariem M. El Batouty, Ehab Hassanein

Dentistry

Aim This prospective clinical study compared postoperative pain following single visit root canal treatment in patients with asymptomatic mandibular molar teeth with necrotic pulps using two different instrumentation techniques: multi-file rotary (ProTaper Universal), and reciprocating single-file (WaveOne) techniques.

Methodology Forty patients, who fulfilled specific inclusion criteria were randomly and equally assigned to 2 groups according to the root canal instrumentation technique used. All treatments were performed in one appointment. Patients were asked to complete a numerical rating scale (NRS) for recording pain levels at 6, 12, 24, 72 h and at 1 week postoperative intervals. In addition, the Face Pain …