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Mechanism Of By Product Formation From Different Water Matrices By Chlorination And Chloramination, Victoria Jane Hawkes

Master's Theses and Capstones

Application of chlorine-based disinfection to drinking water and wastewater leads to the formation of disinfection by-products that are harmful to human health. This paper presents research performed on the formation mechanisms of trihalomethanes (THMs) and nitrosamines (specifically NDMA) from chlorine-based disinfection practices. The formation of THMs and nitrosamines was investigated under a range of water matrices and disinfection conditions by developing a set of laboratory prepared water matrices containing natural organic matter (NOM), bromide and ammonium. In addition, two pretreated surface waters and one secondary treated wastewater effluent were selected to link experimental results to practice. THMs and nitrosamines were …

Sex And Death On The Western Emigrant Trail: The Biology Of Three American Tragedies, Debra E. L. Martin

Anthropology Faculty Research

This book offers a different look at how to think about the starvation and death that hounded emigrants attempting to get to California and Oregon in the early years of nineteenth-century US expansion. Specifically, the Donner party and two lesser-known Mormon handcart groups are scrutinized for what the patterns of age at death by sex can reveal. In the subtitle The Biology of Three American Tragedies, “biology” here means solely demographic data on sex and age at death. These are really the only biological variables examined, so the title Sex and Death on the Western Emigrant Trail is more accurate …

The Effect Of Distracted Driving On The Conspicuity Of Pedestrians At Night, Ellen Campbell Szubski

All Theses

Between 2008 and 2018, pedestrian fatalities have increased 35 percent in the United States and nighttime fatalities are responsible for a substantial portion of this increase. There are two significant problems that limit drivers' ability to respond to pedestrians at night: the degradation of drivers' visual abilities due to low illumination and the low contrast of pedestrians against the background. Pedestrians can make themselves more visible to nighttime drivers by strategically placing retroreflective material on the major joints of the body to highlight their biological motion (biomotion). However, past research on pedestrian conspicuity has largely focused on drivers who are …

Climate Change And Chagas Disease In The Americas: A Qualitative Systematic Review, Brittany N. Graves

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

While many studies have found associations between climate change and factors affecting Chagas disease transmission, the future impact of climate change on the global spread of Chagas disease remains debatable. A qualitative, systematic review was conducted to assess the impact of climate change on Chagas disease transmission in the Americas (Central America, South America, and North America). The literature search was performed in January 2019 using the keywords climate, Chagas, and “trypanosoma cruzi” and the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Ovid. Searches retrieved records from 1982 through 2019. The initial electronic database search identified a total of 191 record documents …

Uses Of Continuous-Time Markov Chain To Describe Longitudinal Patient-Reported Outcomes For Survival Prediction And Dimension Reduction, Ting-Yu Chen

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

A patient-reported outcome (PRO) is a type of outcome reported directly from patients, and it has been widely used in medical research and clinical trials to measure a patient’s symptoms, health-related quality of life, physical functioning, and health status. Previous studies have linked PROs to survival outcomes, but most of them only used the PRO information at baseline or at a specific clinical time point [1, 2]. Even though some of these studies collected longitudinal PROs, only few of them evaluated the association between the longitudinal PROs and a survival outcome. One of the major challenges in longitudinal PRO studies …

Hepatitis C Infection In Men Who Have Sex With Men, Jing Zhao

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation. Current treatment rates and efficacy are inadequate to manage the disease burden caused by HCV; thus, efforts are needed to control HCV transmission. Besides the well-known transmission routes, which are health-care-associated transmission and transmission through injecting drugs, HCV could also be transmitted by sexual contact, especially among men having sex with men (MSM). MSM also have higher drug use prevalence than the general population, which may contribute to HCV infection by sexual disinhibition and other risky behavior. Since 2000, there have been emerging reports …

Utilization Of Mind-Body Practices For Adults With Fibromyalgia: 2017 National Health Interview Survey, Jennifer Contreras

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a medical condition characterized by chronic pain and tenderness. Individuals with FM may experience burdensome symptoms, which impact their health-related quality of life. Treatment for FM includes pharmacological and non pharmacological practices. Non-pharmacological treatments for FM include dietary management, routine exercise, and physical and mind-body therapies. There is growing evidence that the utilization of mind-body practices is increasing in the United States, but there have been limited investigations done to observe the use of mind-body practices in the FM population. The purpose of this study is to identify predictors of the use of meditation and/or meditative movement …

Assessing The Readiness Of Relatives To Undergo Cascade Genetic Testing For Inherited Predispositions To Cancer Using The Transtheoretical Model Stages Of Change, Erica M. Bednar

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

National guidelines recommend cascade genetic testing (CGT) for blood relatives after a cancer predisposition gene mutation is identified in an individual. Despite recommendations for CGT, only 30-60% of first-degree relatives (FDRs) complete CGT. The proportion of untested relatives who are planning to have CGT is unknown. We used the Transtheoretical Model to assess the readiness (stage of change) for CGT among living, untested FDRs at-risk for a hereditary predisposition to cancer. An anonymous, online survey was open to U.S. adults with an autosomal dominant, adult-onset, hereditary predisposition to cancer. Participants reported demographic information, their genetic testing information, and information on …

The Effects Of Fish Meal Supplementation On Gene Expression In The Bovine Corpus Luteum Following Low Dose Administration Of Prostaglandin F2a, Jessica Claire Cedillo

Master's Theses

The corpus luteum is a transient endocrine gland that develops from the remnants of the ovulatory follicle and secretes the steroid hormone progesterone. Progesterone is essential in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in all mammalian species. In the non-pregnant bovine, uterine prostaglandin F2α is secreted in a series of pulses between days 15 and 17 after ovulation, allowing the corpus luteum to undergo functional and structural regression and an opportunity for mating. During early pregnancy, trophoblastic cells of the developing embryonic placenta secrete interferon-tau, which attenuates uterine prostaglandin F2α secretion allowing for maintenance of the corpus luteum during the …

Intraspecific Functional Trait Diversity In Big Sagebrush-Associated Species And Implications For Ecological Restoration, Gwen Schneider

Master's Theses

Big sagebrush ecosystems are widespread throughout the western United States and provide essential ecosystem services, including water and nutrient cycling, energy capture, and habitat for sagebrush obligate taxa. Notably, sagebrush ecosystems provide habitat for the greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), which is a nearly threatened species of high concern. Sagebrush habitat has experienced a 45% reduction in range, and a large portion of intact habitat is at risk of loss from severe fire,cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invasion, encroachment of pinyon-juniper woodlands, fragmentation due to human development, and changes associated with anthropogenic climate change. Thus, it is of high conservation significance to …

Mechanisms Of Reduced Vascular Tone Following Arteriogenesis Induced By Femoral Artery Ligation, Christopher Hatch

Biomedical Engineering

The presence of a developed, native collateral network can decrease the severity of ischemic injury proceeding arterial occlusion. The collateral network must under arteriogenesis to enlarge and increase blood flow to the ischemic region. Although there has been tremendous effort attempting to understand the mechanisms of arteriogenesis, no therapies have been successful in improving patient outcome. To better understand the mechanisms involved in arteriogenesis, the effect of nitric oxide production, myogenic tone, and a-adrenergic receptors were evaluated as these have been identified as playing an important role in vascular injury. Arteriogenesis was induced by ligating the femoral artery between the …

Linear Algebra And Applications: An Inquiry-Based Approach, Feryal Alayont, Steven Schlicker

Open Textbooks

Linear Algebra and Applications: An Inquiry-Based Approach provides a novel open-source inquiry-based learning approach to linear algebra. The emphasis is on active learning and developing intuition through investigation of examples. The content is introduced through inquiry-based activities, starting with experimentation with hands-on concrete examples and continuing on to developing a deep understanding of the topics through working with conceptual questions. To provide motivation and context for the linear algebra content, the text includes 35 real-life applications projects. While working through all of this material in the text, readers are actively DOING mathematics instead of being passive learners. Although it is …

Cisgender Fragility, Zachariah Graydon Oaster

Masters Theses

Cisgender people in the United States are socialized in an environment that shields them from gender-identity-based stress. Like the construct of white fragility (DiAngelo, 2011), cisgender persons exhibit defensive behavior in response to encountering any gender-identity-based discomfort. Once triggered, defensive acts and false claims are deployed in an attempt to return to a state of comfort and normalcy. The stress that cisgender persons feel, and the defensive actions that they take upon encountering such gender-identity-based discomfort is what I refer to herein as Cisgender Fragility.

This theoretical construct of Cisgender Fragility is nuanced through intersectional synthesis of queer and race …

Lifeline, Summer 2019, University Of Dayton

Alumni Communications

Alumni publication produced by the Premedical Programs Office at the University of Dayton

The Effect Of Metal Composition And Particle Size On Nanostructure-Toxicity In Plants, Natalie Lynn Smith

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have consistently been shown to have a detrimental effect on bacteria, fungi, and plants. The interaction of AgNPs with plants has received considerable scientific attention, because it is potentially through plants that these structures can enter the food chain and bioaccumulate in humans and animals. To determine the effects of AgNPs on plants, Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were chronically exposed to sublethal levels of AgNPs using a standardized method. To gain insight on mechanism of phytotoxicity, the seedlings were exposed to low concentrations of Ag⁺ (in the form of silver nitrate), AgNPs, or gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). To …

Learning To Relax: The Impact Of Brief Biofeedback Training On Salivary Cortisol Reduction, Dallas N. Robinson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Chronic stress has been linked to several health related and psychological problems. There is evidence that relaxation techniques can be useful in the reduction of stress and psychological complaints. Short-term interventions like computer-based biofeedback could provide a brief and independent way to manage stress and anxiety. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the ALIVE biofeedback program (a relatively new software that allows individuals to play a game requiring proper smoothness of breathing and heart rate) on the stress response after the Trier Social Stress Test, a laboratory stress task shown to elicit changes in cortisol …

The Dynamin-Like Protein Vps1 Stimulates Endosome-To-Golgi Fusion In Vitro, Jared Christopher Smothers

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Intracellular membrane fusion events can be reconstituted by exploiting isolated organelles from cellular hosts or artificial membranes made of purified phospholipid components. Artificial construction of membranes provides two significant advantages. First, cellular isolation of the endosome-derived vesicles and TGN (trans-Golgi Network) compartments needed for the fusion assay would be extremely challenging. Second, reconstituting the membranes provides the added benefit of controlling size and lipid compositions to functionally mimic the individual membrane architectures and introduce only the purified proteins that are under investigation. For these reasons, I have developed the first simultaneous lipid and content mixing fusion assays that measures the …

Assessing Bioavailability, Metal Fractionation, Magnetic Susceptibility, And Organic Matter Interactivity In Mine-Waste Contaminated Sediments In Turkey Creek, Joplin, Missouri, Zachary Joseph Collette

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Joplin, Missouri, part of the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD), has a long history of mining that resulted in mine waste piles proximal to the mines throughout the area. A local lead smelter also resulted in smelter fallout in Joplin. Mine waste pile runoff and local smelter fallout resulted in contamination of sediments, soils, and waterways. In the 1990s, remediation of residential soils and play areas began after blood lead levels in children were much higher than the national average. Soon afterwards, the chat piles were removed and used for beneficial reuse purposes. In May of 2011, an EF5 tornado devastated …

Consumer Preferences For Sustainable Rice Practices In Nigeria, Glory Esohe Okpiaifo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Improving the sustainability of rice production is important given its position as a global staple and its environmental footprint. The adoption of sustainable practices can generate positive externalities such as lower environmental pollution and improved working conditions for rice industry workers that could be capitalized via the design of consumer-based marketing strategies. The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) initiative aims at advancing the adoption of sustainable practices in rice production. We assess consumers’ perceptions of the SRP sustainability indicators using the Best-Worst Scaling approach to rank SRP sustainability attributes according to their preference shares and examine the effects of demographic characteristics …

A Single Session Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy To Promote Health-Related Behavior Change: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Monica Barreto

Dissertations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified physical activity, nutrition, and sleep as three key health-related behaviors that can help the prevention of chronic disease. Only a fraction of the population met the recommended guidelines across these domains. It is important to develop interventions that can be simultaneously focused, flexible, efficient, and efficacious as a means of impacting population health. This study examined the efficacy of a single 60-minute Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) session targeting health-related behavior change and compared it to an information-only wait-list (WL) control condition. Forty-five collegians (Mage = 22.35 [6.91], 78% female, 56% …

Assessing Disease Concerns On Quinoa And Evaluating Sources Of Disease Resistance In Chenopodium Species In New England, Haley Breanne Nolen

Master's Theses and Capstones

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a potential new crop for New England because of its high nutritional qualities and environmental adaptability; however, its susceptibility to disease such as downy mildew, caused by Peronospora variabilis Gaum is a significant obstacle. Downy mildew is a key disease of quinoa causing yield reductions up to 33% in tolerant varieties and 99% yield loss in susceptible varieties. Warm temperatures and high humidity in New England provide optimum conditions for pathogen infection and spread, negatively impacting quinoa growth and yield. This pathogen is able to persist in the seed coat of quinoa and overwinter in …

The Impacts Of Terrestrial Invasive Plants On Streams And Natural And Restored Riparian Forests In Northern New England, Chad Frederick Hammer

Master's Theses and Capstones

Non-native invasive species are a major cause of ecosystem degradation and impairment of ecosystem service benefits in the United States. Riparian areas are at high risk for invasion because they are among the most human-disturbed ecosystems in the world. Forested riparian areas provide us with many ecosystem services and are vital to streams and rivers as they increase habitat complexity and available resources for organisms of many trophic levels. In this study, I quantified the impacts of terrestrial invasive plant invasions by Japanese knotweed and woody invasive plant species on riparian forest structure, stream physical habitat, soil structure, and soil …

Evaluating Wood Fiber Soilless Substrates For Effects On Plant Performance And Nutrient Management In Container Crops, Crysta Harris

Master's Theses and Capstones

Sphagnum peat moss is the most commonly used soilless substrate component to produce containerized greenhouse bedding plants. Perlite is often blended with peat to achieve desirable physical properties. Increasing transportation costs and occasional shortages of peat and perlite have increased the need for alternative substrate components. Wood fiber materials produced from the extensive secondary processing of pine wood chips are a potential partial alternative to peat and perlite. Incorporating wood materials into soilless substrates may result in nitrogen immobilization, increasing the amount of fertilizer nitrogen needed during production. Wood materials also have a naturally higher pH compared to peat, requiring …

Integrated Organic Management Of Cabbage Aphid On Brussels Sprouts, Alina Sophia Harris

Master's Theses and Capstones

Growers across the globe and in Northeastern United States have reported economically damaging populations of cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) in Brussels sprouts (Brassicacea). The pest affects the Brassicacea family, which includes economically important agronomic, forage, horticultural, and forage crops. However, cabbage aphid management in certified organic systems is very challenging because tools are limited and reports evaluating efficacy of insecticides used in organic systems are sparse. There are natural insect predators and parasitoids of aphids that may serve as biological control agents whose populations can be augmented using insectary plants. Use of alyssum insectary intercropping has been successful for control …

A Foundational Study Of A New Synthetic Method Of Metal Carbonyl Clusters, Miles Shaun Millard

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

“Traditional” Metal Carbonyl Clusters (MCCs) contain a framework of multiple metal atoms bound together through formal metal-metal (M-M) bonds. Current methods of synthesis result in different cluster sizes and lack a method to control growth. This project proposes a new method of MCC synthesis to build larger structures utilizing secondary non-covalent interactions to develop “non-traditional” MCCs. The N,N’-diarylurea moiety is a strong hydrogen bond donor/acceptor that can induce self-assembly into larger secondary structures. The union of metal carbonyl and urea chemistry provides a potential method of “non-traditional” MCC synthesis. This proof of concept experiment will elucidate foundational information such …

Effects Of Protective Nesting Site Properties On Gyrfalcon Breeding Success And Parental Investment In Western Alaska, Michael Thomas Henderson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Habitat suitability for wildlife is defined at scales ranging from the landscape to an individual breeding site. Areas that fulfill habitat requirements for birds disproportionally maintain populations, and the identification of variables that distinguish optimal breeding sites helps to prioritize conservation. Nesting site characteristics that protect breeding raptors from harsh weather can promote a more favorable microclimate and increase breeding success, although previous attempts to understand this effect in breeding Gyrfalcons have yielded ambiguous results. Additionally, breeding adults incur substantial costs from the physical shielding of eggs and nestlings, particularly in the Arctic, and it is possible that protective properties …

Achieving Musical Peak Performance: The Impact Of An Online Self-Efficacy And Performance Anxiety Management Program Based On Maslow’S Hierarchy Of Needs, Melynie Joy Campbell

Dissertations

Every musician should be encouraged to strive for peak performance; however, many musicians do not know how to achieve it. Although there is a significant amount of research done on music cognition, music therapy, and musical behavior, the research that aims to expose the inner workings of the performer’s brain is still in its infancy. In the field of Sports Performance Psychology, there have been many performance-based studies designed to discuss this idea among athletes; however, to date, there has not been a correlation for how to attain peak performance results among musicians. To bridge the relationship between the theories …

Effects Of Two Types Of Creatine Feeding And Doxorubicin On Skeletal Muscle Apoptotic Markers, Zoltan A. Torok

Dissertations

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a widely used anthracycline antibiotic used to treat a number of hematological and solid tumor cancers. Dosage however, is limited due to its toxic effects in healthy tissues. Negative consequences include myotoxicity in skeletal muscle, which may limit mobility and activities of daily living. Doxorubicin increases the formation of reactive oxygen species, which triggers apoptosis in the tumor and healthy tissue. Skeletal muscle undergoes apoptosis in response to Dox treatment, via the activation of the cleaved caspase-3 and its downstream target, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Creatine monohydrate (Cr), a naturally occurring chemical, when taken exogenously, can improve athletic performance. …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Moral Injury Among Female Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans, Tricia Mercaldi Steeves

Dissertations

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study was to investigate the construct of moral injury among a female Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veteran sample. Moral injury has been defined as the “lasting psychological, biological, spiritual, behavioral, and social impact of perpetrating, failing to prevent, or bearing witness to acts that transgress deeply-held moral beliefs and expectations” (Litz et al., 2009, p. 697). Moral injury also includes experiences of feeling betrayed by others (e.g., leaders and/or peers) while serving in high-stakes situations such as theater (Drescher et al., 2011; Litz, Leslie, Gray, & Nash, 2015; Shay, 1994). A …

Application Of Semi-Hydrophobic Layers To Decrease Bare Soil Evaporation, Jesse Lee Barnes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Evaporative water loss from bare agricultural soils is a primary area of water conservation research. Mulching is the commonly utilized method to decrease evaporative water loss. The most commonly utilized mulch is nonbiodegradable polyethylene sheeting because it tends to decrease evaporative water loss and increase crop yields more than environmentally friendly mulches. This study aimed to test the utility of sand coated with polymerized soybean oil (i.e., hydrophobic sand) as a treatment to reduce bare soil evaporation and an alternative to current practices. Evaporation rates were measured in laboratory soil columns containing both treated and untreated soils. Treatment parameters were …