Digital Commons Network^™

Postpartum Body Composition And Breast Milk Hormones, Camille Schneider

All ETDs from UAB

The prevalence of both adult and child obesity continues to rise. Children born to mothers with obesity have a greater risk for future obesity and chronic disease. There is an increasing body of literature suggesting that pregnancy and infancy are critical periods influencing the child’s risk for obesity. However, little is known about whether consumption of breast milk from an obese mother might influence the child’s metabolic programming and growth. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the association of maternal adiposity with insulin and leptin in breast milk and, in turn, whether breast milk insulin, leptin, and glucose …

Targeting The Nad Salvage Pathway For The Treatment Of The Parasitic Disease Schistosomiasis, Michael David Schultz

All ETDs from UAB

Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is the third most common parasitic infection worldwide and a major source of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Caused by trematodes in the genus Schistosoma, this parasitic disease has no vaccine therapy and resources for drug development are scarce. Despite an unknown mechanism of action, praziquantal has become the primary source of treatment due to its efficacy against all species of Schistosoma. However, with increased drug resistance in endemic areas and low activity against immature parasites, relying on this single drug is unsustainable and risky. Hence, there is a growing need for new, safe …

Optimizing Toc Removal For Dbp Reduction In Drinking Water While Overcoming Source Water Variations, April Nabors

All ETDs from UAB

Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering University of Alabama at Birmingham ABSTRACT This dissertation used a holistic approach to research ways to optimize disinfection by-product (DBP) reduction during each sector of the conventional drinking water treatment process, regardless of the source water type or quality, in an overall effort to meet the USEPA Stage 2 Disinfection/Disinfection By-Products Rule (D/DBPR). DBPs are formed from the reaction between naturally occurring total organic carbon (TOC) in the water and disinfectants used during the treatment process. For this dissertation, effective treatment was measured by the amount of TOC that was removed through the …

A Deep Learning Approach For Identifying Key Biomarkers In Medical Imaging Applications, David Odaibo

All ETDs from UAB

Although Deep Leaning has achieved great success in many domains in recent years, research into its applicability and effectiveness in medical applications has been limited for various reasons. Some of these barriers are related to the historic impression that neural networks are black boxes, especially when applied to medical diagnosis and offer no in terpretation into prediction. In this dissertation, I demonstrated that deep learning can be an effective utility in medical diagnosis and biomarker detection. In particular, I have developed deep learning models that can identify biomarkers in brain hemorrhage, brain tumor, pneumonia, diabetic retinopathy and Parkinsons disease, with …

Functional Movement Testing And Subjective Well-Being Of Female Track And Field Athletes: Pre- And Post- Indoor Season, Aliyah Gustafson

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

Track and field is a sport that is comprised of running events and field events. Running events include sprints, middle- and long-distances, and hurdles. Field events are comprised of throwing and jumping events (e.g., shot put, discus, javelin, and high-jump). Track and field athletes have a wide range of body types, energy system demands, and specific skills/techniques during performance of these varied events. The purposes of this study were to evaluate functional movements and subjective well-being (positive affect and satisfaction with life) of female track and field athletes at Bowling Green State University prior to and following the 7-week indoor …

Fertilizer - Root Knot Nematodes Interactions In High Tunnel Tomato Production, Daisy Chepkoech Ngeno

All Master’s Theses

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the important vegetables grown in Kenya. It is the second leading vegetable in terms of production and nutritional value after the potato. Tomatoes are mainly grown by small scale farmers in most arable areas with the main production areas being in Kiambu County. Production of tomatoes in Kenya has been mainly under open field conditions until recently where modified high tunnels (‘greenhouse') were introduced. Tomato production in greenhouse in Kenya is hampered by pests and diseases mainly Meloidogyne spp., known as root knot nematodes (RKNs).RKNs are the most serious threat to utilization of the …

Conceptualizing Ecological Responses To Dam Removal: If You Remove It, What’S To Come?, J. Ryan Bellmore, G. R. Press, Jeffrey J. Duda, Jim E. O'Connor, Amy E. East, Melissa M. Foley, Andrew C. Wilcox, Jon J. Major, Patrick Shafroth, Sarah A. Morley, Christopher S. Magirl, Chauncey W. Anderson, James E. Evans, Laura Shawn Craig

School of Earth, Environment and Society Faculty Publications

One of the desired outcomes of dam decommissioning and removal is the recovery of aquatic and riparian ecosystems. To investigate this common objective, we synthesized information from empirical studies and ecological theory into conceptual models that depict key physical and biological links driving ecological responses to removing dams. We define models for three distinct spatial domains: upstream of the former reservoir, within the reservoir, and downstream of the removed dam. Emerging from these models are response trajectories that clarify potential pathways of ecological transitions in each domain. We illustrate that the responses are controlled by multiple causal pathways and feedback …

In Re Lipitor Antitrust Litigation: The Third Circuit's Prescription For Judicial Reviewability Of Reverse Payment Settlements, John Miraglia

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

No abstract provided.

The Potential Use Of Seagrass Herbivory Patterns As An Indicator Of Herbivore Community Change After Tropical Marine Protected Area Establishment, John M. Carroll, Amber D. Stubler, Christopher M. Finelli, Bradley J. Peterson

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Throughout the Caribbean, fishing pressure has decreased the abundance of many species, including both large predators and larger-bodied herbivores. In an effort to reverse these trends and reduce harvest pressure on vulnerable fish populations, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been established throughout the Caribbean. Yet, the effort to monitor fish communities, is variable, and there are MPAs where no monitoring program exists. It is possible that other metrics may be used to determine whether the impact of MPA establishment. By comparing two seagrass herbivory experiments, one pre- and one post-MPA establishment, we provide evidence that the MPA established in Discovery …

Variability In Microphytobenthos Biomass And Carbon Isotopic Values In Shallow Coastal Waters Of The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Sharil N. Deleon, Jeffrey W. Krause, Ronald Baker

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Chromium Distribution In Water And Sediments In The Mobile River And Bay, Alabama, Ryan R. Roseburrough, Xiangli Wang

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Structure And Topology Of Transcriptional Regulatory Networks And Their Applications In Bio-Inspired Networking, Satyaki Roy

Doctoral Dissertations

"Biological networks carry out vital functions necessary for sustenance despite environmental adversities. Transcriptional Regulatory Network (TRN) is one such biological network that is formed due to the interaction between proteins, called Transcription Factors (TFs), and segments of DNA, called genes. TRNs are known to exhibit functional robustness in the face of perturbation or mutation: a property that is proven to be a result of its underlying network topology. In this thesis, we first propose a three-tier topological characterization of TRN to analyze the interplay between the significant graph-theoretic properties of TRNs such as scale-free out-degree distribution, low graph density, small …

Modeling Of Hiv, Sir And Sis Epidemics On Time Scales And Oscillation Theory, Gülşah Yeni

Doctoral Dissertations

"We study higher dimensional systems of first order dynamic equations on time scales together with their applications. In particular, we focus on epidemic models such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), SIS (Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible) and SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered).

First, we generalize the early studied continuous three dimensional linear model of drug therapy for HIV-1 decline on time scales in order to derive new discrete models that predict the total concentration of plasma virus as a function of time. We compare these models to explore the impact of the theory of time scales. After fitting the models to the data collected at a clinical …

A Computational Study Of Sleep And The Hemispheres Of The Brain, Tera Ashley Glaze

Doctoral Dissertations

"Sleep and sleep cycles have been studied for over a century, and scientists have worked on modeling sleep for nearly as long as computers have existed. Despite this extensive study, sleep still holds many mysteries. Larger and more extensive sleep-wake models have been developed, and the circadian drive has been depicted in numerous fashions, as well as incorporated into scores of studies. With the ever-growing knowledge of sleep comes the need to find more ways to examine, quantify, and define it in the context of the most complex part of the human anatomy -- the brain. Presented here is the …

Long Period Fiber Grating, Thin Coating Of Graphene And Silver Nanowires, And Corrosion Sensing For Life-Cycle Assessment Of Steel Structures, Chuanrui Guo

Doctoral Dissertations

"This study aims to develop and validate a compact, integrated lab-on-sensor system for simultaneous measurement of strain, temperature and corrosion-induced mass loss in steel structures and concrete reinforcement elements in order to assess their life-cycle performance. The sensing system operates based on the principle of long period fiber gratings (LPFG) that are responsive to both thermal and mechanical deformation, and the change in refractive index of any medium surrounding the optical fiber. To fabricate a LPFG sensor for strain and temperature measurement, a CO₂ laser aided fiber grating system was assembled. To enable mass loss measurement, a low pressure …

The Implications Of Childhood Trauma For Education Professionals, Travis William Walls

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students in all areas of the world have experienced trauma that has impacted both their educational and social development; this epidemic has become clear over the last 20 years. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study recognized seven negative exposures that were believed to have a detrimental effect on health and wellbeing later in life. After more research, the list of known traumatic experiences has grown to include other negative impactors like parental divorce, bullying at school, or abuse. In reality, any experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope and adapt properly can be considered traumatic. Thankfully, there are now many …

Application Of Theory To Guide Development Of A Rehabilitation Service-Learning Project In Guatemala, Mary Zadnik, Suzanne Trotter, Cindy Mathena

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

International community-based rehabilitation service-learning projects in physical and occupational therapy education programs may impact underserved communities internationally. The intentional inclusion of learning in service activities has been identified as service-learning. Extending the impact and education beyond the service project is necessary in order to provide a sustainable outcome for the community. Faculty at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences partnered with Potter’s House Association International to develop an interprofessional program to address the rehabilitation needs and continuity of care following a one-week project serving the community members of the Guatemalan City Garbage Dump. The purpose of this article …

Nurturing Brilliance In Engineering: Creating Research Venues For Undergraduate Underrepresented Minorites In Engineering As An Initiative From Faculty Members That Foster Academic Inclusion, Development, And Postgraduation Instruction, Eleazar Marquez, Samuel Garcia

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

In this study, a new model for attracting, advancing, and advocating for the participation of underrepresented minorities in research venues is proposed with the intention of fostering academic inclusion, development, and post-graduation mentorship. It involves developing and nurturing a disposition from faculty by proactively identifying students via classroom interaction, performance, and academic aptitude and extending a personal invitation to collaborate on the research team. Current research opportunities for engineering undergraduates at tier-one institutions are obtained by students' incentive to communicate with faculty members via email or office hours. Despite the available opportunities, only a limited number of students are selected …

Perceptions Of Fatherhood Programs From The Experiences Of Uninvolved Fathers, Rahsaan Roland Turpin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Past researchers have reported that father absence and low engagement affects 24 million children in the United States. African American fathers make up the largest group with low involvement. Fatherhood programs support men in their roles, yet little is known about why this group still exhibits low engagement. Using the family systems theory as a foundation, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American fathers who participated in fatherhood programs and their engagement after these programs. This study used purposeful sampling and semi-structured interviews to collect information from 9 African American men aged …

Effects Of Neighborhood Membership And Hypertensive Disorders In Pregnancy On Adverse Birth Outcomes, Chinyere Onyebuchi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infant mortality (IM) rates in the United States remains high. The higher rates of IM among specific groups in the United States is believed to be fueled by the high rates of adverse birth outcomes including low birthweight (LBW) and preterm births (PTB) among these groups. Adverse birth outcomes have also been linked to the presence of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the association between hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes and the impact of the residential neighborhood of expectant mothers on this association. The life course health development theory …

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2019), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

This is issue contains the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station 2018 Annual Report, and the SDSU Extension 2018 Annual Report.

[Page] 2 Setting Into role as Dean
[Page] 4 Raven Precision Ag Center Groundbreaking Ceremony
[Page] 10 Collaborating for Research-Based Solutions
[Page] 12 From the SDSU Extension Director
[Page] 14 Empowering South Dakotans Through Training and Certifications
[Page] 18 Mental Health and Opioid Education
[Page] 21 Science of Agriculture
[Page] 23 Community Gardens Bring Hope to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
[Page] 26 Energize! Conference
[Page} 28 Disaster Preparedness Training
[Page] 30 Bush Foundation Change Network
[Page] 32 SDSU to Participate …

Anti-Fat Bias Of Occupational Therapy Students, Carli Friedman, Laura H. Vanpuymbrouck

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Anti-fat biases in healthcare providers can result in substandard and decreased care, and also result in health disparities. There are very few studies that examine occupational therapists’ attitudes towards fat people and implications on practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the implicit fat prejudice of occupational therapy students. The authors also sought to understand how this prejudice related to the occupation-based models/frames of reference with which students professionally identified. To do so, 58 occupational therapy students from three Midwestern universities, all of whom recently completed their first year of professional occupational therapy education, completed the Weight …

Increasing Emotional Intelligence Through Self-Reflection Journals: Implications For Occupational Therapy Students As Emerging Clinicians, Natalie A. Perkins, Arlene A. Schmid

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy practitioners and students need skills associated with emotional intelligence (EI) as it is linked with therapeutic use of self. It is vital to train and educate occupational therapy students in self-awareness in order to prepare them to work effectively with future clients and co-workers. This study explored the use of self-reflection journals among graduate students during their spring semester of a full-time on-campus Master’s in Occupational Therapy program. Researchers aimed to understand the impact of self-reflection journals on trait EI. First year master level occupational therapy students (n=39) completed the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue). Quantitative data were …

Student Perceptions And Grade Comparisons After Exposure To Instructor-Made Skills Videos In A Kinesiology Course, Pamela Karp, Robert G. Gallagher

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this mixed method, descriptive case study was to determine whether the use of pre-recorded instructor-made videos (PRIMVs) in a kinesiology course, along with curricular design changes, facilitated increased conceptual and practical student learning. The study examined three student cohorts in one occupational therapy program. Two of the student cohorts had unrestricted access to the PRIMVs designed to support student learning of bone and muscle palpation and joint actions. Students from the two cohorts completed a survey about their experience of having access to the videos. Exam data from the student cohorts who had access to the videos …

Critical Thinking And Transformational Learning: Using Case Studies As Narrative Frameworks For Threshold Concepts, Christine Berg, Rachel Philipp, Steven D. Taff

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Critical thinking is an essential component to the occupational therapy process that is a timely skill with the rapid pace of change in our healthcare system. Critical thinking exposes assumptions, biases, beliefs and points of view and challenges a shift in epistemology by asking, ‘how do we know what we believe to know?’ Case studies are a tool to engage the learner in critical thinking and are commonly employed in occupational therapy curricula. Social determinants of health (SDH) describe environmental circumstances that affect health. The authors propose that SDH, embedded in case studies, serve as a threshold concept. A threshold …

Characterizing The Role Of Neurogenic Atrophy-Induced Protein Phosphatases In Skeletal Muscle, Sydney Ann Labuzan

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Dusp4 and Ppme1 have been identified as novel genes in skeletal muscle that are upregulated in response to neurogenic atrophy in a mouse model. Overexpression (OE) of Dusp4 wild-type (Dusp4-WT), as well as a Dusp4 Dominant Negative (Dusp4-DN) in C₂C₁₂ cells inhibits proper muscle differentiation potentially through its attenuation of ERK-MAPK signaling. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis shows Dusp4-DN associating with ERK1/2 but not p38, suggesting Dusp4 is specific for ERK1/2 but not p38. Quantitative PCR as well as Western blot analysis confirm that Ppme1 is expressed uniformly during muscle cell proliferation and differentiation. Interestingly, Ppme1 mRNA levels appear to …

Design And Evaluation Of A Non-Contact Bed-Mounted Sensing Device For Automated In-Home Detection Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Pilot Study, Clara Mosquera-Lopez, Joseph Leitschuh, John Condon, Chad C. Hagen, Uma Rajhbeharrysingh, Cody Hanks, Peter Jacobs

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the accuracy of a custom built non-contact pressure-sensitive device in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity as an alternative to in-laboratory polysomnography (PSG) and a Type 3 in-home sleep apnea test (HSAT). Fourteen patients completed PSG sleep studies for one night with simultaneous recording from our load-cell-based sensing device in the bed. Subjects subsequently installed pressure sensors in their bed at home and recorded signals for up to four nights. Machine learning models were optimized to classify sleep apnea severity using a standardized American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) scoring of the gold …

Animal Science E-Newsletter, January 2019, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Department Of Animal Sciences

Animal Science e-Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Illustration Game: Quotes & Notes, Jaleen Grove, Illustration Department

Faculty & Librarian Work

Liner noes included with The Illustration Game boardgame providing sources of quotes and in-depth commentary by creator Jaleen Grove.

Metamorphosis: A Minority Professor's Life, Richard Delgado

Articles

This article is a dark semiautobiographical takeoff on a famous novel by Franz Kafka I use the predicament of Gregor the central character in The Metamorphosis as a thematic metaphor to explain a series of events in the life of an outwardly successful man of color teaching law It proceeds in a series of 37 short vignettes told in the course of a bedside conversation in which my young firebrand Rodrigo turns tables on his usual foil and straight man "the Professor" and asks him a few questions about his life and career Until now the two had focused on …