Digital Commons Network^™

Neuroendocrine Regulation Of The Luteinizing Hormone Surge And Puberty Onset In Sheep, Max J. Griesgraber

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are essential for the reproduction of all mammalian species, including both sheep and humans. GnRH is secreted by hypothalamic neurons into the hypophyseal portal vasculature in a pulsatile manner, which then acts within the anterior pituitary to elicit the release of LH and FSH into wider systemic circulation. In females LH and FSH act on the ovaries to promote estradiol (E2) production, follicular development, and under certain conditions in regard to LH, ovulation. Furthermore, while E2 inhibits GnRH and subsequent LH secretion under most conditions, at high concentrations E2 …

Molecular Characterization Of Fungus-Arthropod Associations, Angie M. Martin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Arthropods, or phylum Arthropoda, are the largest group of animals, accounting for over three quarters of all animal records on NCBI Taxonomy. And yet, only 40% of all deposited sequences on NCBI Nucleotide come from arthropods. Clearly, arthropods are an understudied group of animals: they are small, often drab, and lead lives very alien to our own. Arthropods have chitinous exoskeletons, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages, and include crabs, barnacles, insects, spiders, and millipedes. Since the era of DNA based studies took off in the 1980s, DNA and other small molecules have been integral to our understanding of the Earth …

Evaluating Osmia Cornifrons As An Effective Pollinator For Agricultural Crops: An Analysis Of Hair Morphology And Sex-Ratio Distorting Bacterium, Wolbachia, Nellie Heitzman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Effective pollination relies not only on the presence of pollinators but also on their morphological adaptations and reproductive biology. In this study, I investigated both the external hair morphology and the intracellular bacterial infection status of Osmia cornifrons, a solitary bee species increasingly used in orchard pollination due to its efficiency and early seasonal activity. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), I characterized the distribution and structure of two major hair types present on the bee's body: branched and unbranched. Branched hairs were found widely distributed across the head, thorax, dorsal abdomen, and legs, and appeared to function primarily in incidental …

Monitoring West Virginia Wastewater For Norovirus: A Test Case For Tracking Foodborne Illness Outbreaks In Rural Communities Using Wastewater, Haley M. Phillippi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Foodborne illnesses are a global public health challenge. Foodborne illnesses, like norovirus, often have a large disease and societal burden. Norovirus is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus, with 10 identified genogroups (GI-GX). Genogroups GI and GII are responsible for nearly all human cases of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. In the United States, HuNoV is not notifiable case-by-case. Instead, outbreaks are reported to national surveillance systems when two or more cases are epidemiologically linked. Most norovirus outbreaks occur during Winter to early Spring, however, certain individuals may still shed and transmit the virus without being detected or reported. Wastewater monitoring is a …

An Analysis Of Usopc National Governing Body Policies Related To Body Pressures, Body Image Concerns, And Eating Pathology, Sarah Margaret Sadler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Athletes are often exposed to body pressures in sport environments (Voelker & Reel, 2020), which can contribute to body image concerns and eating pathology (Petrie & Greenleaf, 2007, 2012) with lasting consequences for performance and well-being. Although research has highlighted the harmful impacts of these concerns, and has called for a broader investigation into the sources of athletes’ experiences of these concerns (Voelker et al., 2022), little is known about the role of sport organizations in influencing athletes’ body pressures, body image concerns, and eating pathology. Using a descriptive qualitative research design within a post-positivist paradigmatic approach, the current study …

Non-Lethal Sampling Methods For Fish Health Assessments Using Smallmouth Bass Micropterus Dolomieu, Lindsey Nicole Hartzell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the early 2000s, fish kills of different species, including smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu, were reported in areas of the Potomac River drainage, including the Shenandoah River in Virginia. Since the first reports of fish kills and lesions affecting smallmouth bass, they have continued to show signs of adverse health effects. Additionally, in some areas of the Potomac River drainage, population declines have occurred, and lethal sampling is discouraged. To develop a holistic, integrative approach to assess fish health, Smallmouth Bass were collected and sampled using non-lethal techniques at three sites within the Shenandoah River drainage, VA and one …

Longitudinal And Ensemble Modeling Of Beef Cattle Feed And Water Intakes, Nathan El Blake

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Beef cattle production remains a cornerstone of global food systems, providing highly bioavailable protein and essential micronutrients that are difficult to secure from plant-based foods alone. Yet this production is also resource-intensive, requiring substantial land, feed, and water inputs while contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Efficiency of dry matter intake (DMI) and water intake (WI) is central to both productivity and sustainability, but accurate measurement of these traits—particularly in grazing systems—remains a major limitation. National WI standards continue to rely on pen-level data collected in the 1950s, while most existing DMI prediction equations perform poorly when applied beyond the …

Microbial And Plant Biodiversity In Appalachian Agroecosystems And Their Implications For Soil Health, Kinsey Reed Close

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The sustainability of agricultural landscapes depends on understanding the complex interactions between plants, soil, and microbes. In Appalachia, a region shaped by complex terrain and long histories of human and ecological interaction, small family farms produce hay, livestock, and row crops. These agroecosystems, though often treated as “artificial” by many ecologists, have the potential to support both food production and biodiversity conservation if managed with an understanding of ecological complexity. This dissertation examines how plant and microbial diversity interact with soil and management to influence nutrient cycling, soil health, and long-term resilience in Appalachian agricultural systems. A literature review revealed …

Synergetic Effect Of Cellulose And Chitosan Polymers In Cancer Treatment, Grace Peterson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research explores the development of a biocompatible, natural drug delivery system designed for targeted cancer therapy. Lung cancer cells are used in these particular tests, but further research indicates treatment could be used for various cancer types. Traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy are often limited by poor selectivity for tumor cells, causing significant damage to healthy tissues. The study proposes a dual-layered delivery system, utilizing Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) as the core material and a charge-reversible chitosan shell to encapsulate and target cancer drugs. CMC, with its water solubility and ability to form stable gels, serves as a stable drug …

Exploring The Ruminal Microbiome And Its Impacts On Feed Efficiency In Beef Cattle, Taylor Simone Sidney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The ability for beef cattle to utilize feed efficiently is a critical determinant for both economic and environmental sustainability in livestock production. However, despite extensive research, the complex microbial ecosystem within the rumen and its relationship to feed efficiency remain incompletely understood. This dissertation explores the physiological and microbial foundations of feed efficiency by characterizing how rumen microbial communities and their functions differ among beef cattle with divergent residual feed intake (RFI) phenotypes and how the RFI status of beef cattle influenced their response to dietary interventions such as supplementation with a Bacillus-based feed additive. In the first study, …

Access And Entitlement: Investigating The Contours Of Public Health In Late Colonial Bengal And Post Colonial West Bengal (1920-1960), Ametasree Bhattacharya

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation employs the comparative framework of “Access and Entitlement,” which serves as a metric to measure the goods and services the state could responsively provide to the public. It utilizes this framework to analyze the realm of public health in Bengal/West Bengal before and after decolonization. The main body is divided into two parts: the first three chapters focus on malaria, and the last three on nutrition. The first chapter explores debates over malaria control between 1919 and 1935. The second examines anti-malarial efforts from 1935 to 1947, emphasizing the influence of communal politics and the Second World War …

Editorial: Enhancing Nutrient Profile, Safety, And Sustainability With Fermentation Technology, Oluwafemi Ayodeji Adebo, John Gieng, Xi Feng

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

The Gut-Brain Axis: Investigating The Effects Of Diet, Physical Activity, And Prior Adversity On Anxiety Via Autonomic Nervous System, Jenna L. Pennella

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature has highlighted a bidirectional relationship between the gut and brain called the gut-brain axis (de Punder & Pruimboom, 2015; Hill et al., 2008; Leistner & Menke, 2020). The current study aimed to investigate directional relations between different stressors (e.g. poor diet, vigorous activity, and prior adversity) and anxiety and how interactions with gut issues and autonomic dysfunction may impact these relationships. Based on previous literature, we examined (a) physical activity and diet as moderators of stress and anxiety as well as stress and GI symptoms, (b) GI symptoms as a mediator between various predictors (i.e., diet, stress, physical …

Investigating The Production Challenges Of The P100.1 Phage Endolysin, Jonah O. Frago

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common skin diseases globally. One key aspect of acne pathogenesis is the disturbance of healthy strain diversity of the skin bacterium Cutibacterium acnes. Many acne treatments are antimicrobial; however, these treatments are generally nonspecific and carry a variety of side effects in addition to contributing to rising antibiotic resistance. Lytic bacteriophages (or phages) are viruses that infect and kill bacteria. Their lytic lifestyle is facilitated by enzymes called endolysins. Phages have been studied as an alternative to traditional antimicrobials in acne treatment and have shown reduced C. acnes load in acne lesions and …

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (Tpo Ab) Can Be Used As A Marker For Persistence Of Symptoms Of Hypothyroidism In Patients With Primary Hypothyroidism Despite Normal Tsh Level: Cross-Sectional Study, Gehad Mohamed Aldamsisy, Mohamed Ghoniem Mohamed, Mohammed Mofreh, Ahmed Albehairy

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background Primary hypothyroidism is one of the most prevalent endocrine conditions. Some hypothyroid patients treated with an acceptable dose of levothyroxine report continuing symptoms including fatigue, depression, and weight gain, despite having a TSH level in the lower half of the normal range. Aim to evaluate why some hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine continue to have residual symptoms despite apparently adequate replacement& laboratory euthyroid status? Patients and methods 111 Adult male and female ranging from (18-65) years with primary hypothyroidism and normal TSH taking adequate levothyroxine dose were divided into 2 groups. Group1: Hypothyroid patients with persistent symptoms despite normal TSH …

Predictive Value Of Procalcitonin In Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Related Liver Cirrhosis And Sepsis, Omar Abdallah, Elshimaa Saad Eleraky, Doaa A. A. Abdeldayem, Mohamed Hossam El-Dein Zaghloul, Mohamed El-Saadany

Mansoura Medical Journal

Infection is a major source of morbidity and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. In about 30% of patients, bacterial infection is present on admission or develop during hospitalisation. Early detection of bacterial infection in patients with decompensated cirrhosis remain a major challenge, where time plays a crucial role. This study was conducted aiming to find the prognostic value of PCT in the patients with liver cirrhosis presenting with sepsis. During the period from June 2021 to December 2021, 75 subjects were enrolled. 50 patients with Hepatitis-C Virus (HCV) cirrhosis with sepsis. 25 patients had compensated cirrhosis while the other …

The Impact Of Effective Diabetes Management On Reducing Burden In Elderly Patients: A Case-Control Study, Eslam Abdelhamid Mohamed, Mohamed A. Helaly, Ahmed Albehairy

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background and aim: Elderly individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) are more prone to experiencing common geriatric syndromes, which include impaired cognition, dementia, frailty, falls, fractures, urinary incontinence, and disability. These can significantly impair their quality of life (QoL) and could conflict with anti-diabetic medication. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the impact of controlling diabetes on the overall burden of diabetes in the elderly. Materials and Methods: 100 elderly patients over sixty-five with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were selected from Mansoura Specialized Medical Hospital (MSMH) between April 2022 and February 2023. The patients were divided into two groups: fifty diabetic …

Evaluation Of Serum Zinc-To-Copper Ratio In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes And Its Association With Microvascular Complications, Magdy H. Megallaa, Shimaa M. Elrahmany, Rehab Safwat, Mohamed Zietoun

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are indispensable trace metals that contribute fundamentally to insulin biology, antioxidant defense, and vascular health. In this research, we sought to explore the association between the serum zinc-to-copper (Zn/Cu) ratio and microvascular complications among adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods For this case-control design, a total of 336 participants were selected and divided into two main groups: Group 1, comprising 224 patients with T2DM, and Group 2, consisting of 112 healthy subjects serving as controls. Group 1 was further stratified into two subgroups based on the presence of microvascular complications; Group 1A …

Low-Carbohydrate, Low-Fat, And Balanced Diets In Weight Reduction Among Obese Adolescents., Ashraf A. Elsharkawy, Gihan Fouad Ahmad, Ahmed El-Husseiny, Amany K. Elhawary, Ola Shawky Ahmed, Asmaa Taha Zaher Taha, Fatma El-Zahraa M. Hashish

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Obesity in adolescents is a major public health concern, leading to early onset of metabolic abnormalities. This study aimed to compare the effects of the Low- Carbohydrate Diet (LCD) and Low-Fat Diet (LFD) in comparison with the balanced calculated diet (BCD) on weight reduction in obese adolescents and their impact on metabolic health markers. Patients and methods: 75 obese adolescents aged less than 18 years were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, controlled study and were randomly assigned to either LCD group, LFD group, or BCD group. Anthropometric and laboratory measures were collected before and after a 10-week intervention. Results: …

Food Allergies And Quality Of Life In Older Adults: Development Of A Food Allergy Questionnaire, Avalon F. Mustafa

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The United States is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of older adults, yet there is a lack of research on food allergies in this demographic. While there are survey instruments available to study food allergies and quality of life, none of these are tailored to the unique needs of elderly individuals. This study aims to create and validate an on-line survey instrument specifically designed for older adults, focusing on their quality of life in the context of food allergies. The survey will be used to establish a food allergy severity score and a quality-of-life score, enabling comparison between …

Efficacy Of Intradermal Injection Of Tranexamic Acid And Ascorbic Acid Versus Tranexamic Acid And Placebo In The Treatment Of Melasma: A Split-Face Comparative Trial, Wafaa H. A. Mahmoud, Bothaina M. Ghanem, Amal Wagdy

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Melasma is a common hyperpigmentation disorder affecting millions worldwide. This study was done to evaluate effectiveness of combined intradermal injections of Tranexamic acid (TxA) and ascorbic acid compared to TxA alone with placebo in managing facial melasma. Methods: This randomized controlled study included twenty patients diagnosed with epidermal melasma were divided into two groups. In Group A, one side of the face received 0.5 ml of TxA (50 mg) with 0.5 ml of normal saline; in Group B, the other side received 0.5 ml of TxA plus 0.5 ml of ascorbic acid. Treatment efficacy was assessed by measuring the …

Response: Work And Home, Katharine B. Silbaugh

Faculty Scholarship

The idea of work, as it pertains to a place called home, as distinct from the market, has engaged and perplexed scholars for generations. Work in the home raises complicated issues that have accordingly drawn the focus of generations of scholars, from Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the material feminists of the late nineteenth century¹ to historians of labor such as Eileen Boris² and of law like Reva Siegel,³ from legal scholars like Fran Olson, Dorothy Roberts, and Robert Ellickson⁴ to social theorists like Friedrick Engels⁵ and architectural historians like Dolores Hayden,⁶ to name just …

Analysis Of Health Promoting Lifestyle And Associated Factors On Collegiate Aviation Pilots, Bill Deng Pan, Flavio A. C. Mendonca

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

A health-promoting lifestyle is an important determinant of physical and mental health status. Collegiate aviation pilots face unique challenges in balancing a healthy lifestyle with academic and physical demands. The schedule and expectations required of collegiate aviation pilots can make it difficult to practice a health-promoting lifestyle. Enhancing comprehension of the lifestyles of these students can yield valuable insights into the challenges they encounter, and how institutions can enhance their support for them. An online survey using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II questionnaire was utilized to investigate collegiate aviation pilots’ health promoting lifestyle and behaviors. Overall health promoting lifestyle and …

The Possible Protective Effect Of Coenzyme Q10 And Indole-3-Carbinol On Cyclosporine Induced Nephrotoxicity In Rats, Maha A. Ollaek, Gehan S. Georgy, Engy M. El Morsy, Eman M. Raafat

Trends in advanced sciences and technology

Background: Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a potent immunosuppressive drug, with nephrotoxicity being its most frequent adverse effect, primarily due to the involvement of free radicals in inflammatory and fibrotic pathways. Both coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a fat-soluble vitamin-like molecule, and indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a natural compound, possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of CoQ10 and/or I3C against CsA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Methods: Male albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups, with six rats in each group. Group (1) served as the normal control group and received corn oil orally by gavage for …

Repair And Regeneration Of Low Dose Ionizing Radiation To Injured Muscles Using Barium Chloride In A Rat Model, Esraa A. Aboelfadl, Hesham Haffez, Soheir S. Koraa, Ahmed E. Abdel Moneim, Ola H. El-Habit, Rasha S. Elbeltagy

Trends in advanced sciences and technology

The biological consequences of low dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) are strongly debated. While most studies confirm its detrimental effects, several studies suggest beneficial (hormetic) effects of LDIR as an anti-inflammatory agent on musculoskeletal injuries. The present study aimed to investigate the bio-stimulatory effects of LDIR (direct and indirect) in healing the musculoskeletal injuries induced by barium chloride (BaCl2). Thirty adult male Albino rats were used in this study and were divided into five groups as follows: control, BaCl2, g-rays (direct), g-rays (indirect), BaCl2 and g (direct), and BaCl2 and g (indirect) group. Muscle injury was induced using 50 ml of …

Enhanced Optimization Of Mass Transfer For Carbon Capture And Wastewater Remediation In Algal Systems Through Algorithmic And Bioprocessing Techniques, Peter Ofuje Obidi

Doctoral Dissertations

The scalability and industrial deployment of algal cultivation systems are limited by suboptimal mass transfer, constraining their effectiveness in carbon capture and wastewater remediation. This research investigated these challenges through integrated optimization methodologies that combine algorithmic frameworks with enhanced bioprocessing techniques to enhance efficiency, economy, and scalability. A System-of-Systems (SoS) meta-architecture was developed using genetic algorithms and fuzzy assessor functions to demonstrate a pathway toward cost reduction. Rigorous mechanical and chemical characterizations were quantitatively analyzed to reveal existing optimization strategies and further evaluated the best strategies to use in enhancing mass transfer for improved biomass yield. The work also integrates …

Nutrient Fate, Mass Balance, Species Selection, And Plant Management Strategies With Floating Treatment Wetlands, Carla Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations

Excess nutrients in shallow urban ponds can lead to harmful algal blooms, low dissolved oxygen, and internal phosphorus cycling. These effects can compromise municipal water supplies and cause negative impacts on fisheries and recreation. Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) show promise to mitigate surface water nutrient pollution. However, despite recent research, many aspects of FTWs remain poorly characterized. The contribution of FTW components to nutrient removal, local species selection, and plant management strategies were the focus of this dissertation. Mesocosm experiments revealed that the combination of plants and coir fiber growth media in FTWs appeared to positively affect plant biomass gain …

Obesity, Metabolic Health, And Diabetic Complications In People With Type 1 Diabetes., Yuanjie Mao, Jen-Tzer Gau, Ning Jiang

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

AIM: The concept of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) has not been studied in type 1 diabetes (T1D). By analysing datasets from the DCCT/EDIC study, we compared the development of diabetic complications by obesity and metabolic health over 30 years of follow up.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Insulin resistance was calculated by estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR). The participants (n = 1127) were then divided into four groups based on time-weighted mean body mass index and mean eGDR: metabolically healthy non-obesity (MHN, n = 874), metabolically unhealthy non-obesity (MUN, n = 66), MHO (n = 146) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO, n …

Microencapsulation Of Capsicum And Its Derivatives Compounds By Spray-Drying: A Review, Ana Gabriela Da Silva Anthero, Larissa Consoli, Jesús Maria Frías Celayeta, Cinthia Baú Betim Cazarin, Miriam Dupas Hubinger

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

No abstract provided.

Integration Of The Portionsize Ed App Into Snap-Ed For Improving Diet Quality Among Adolescents In Hawaii: A Randomized Pilot Study, Emerald S. Proctor, Kiari H.L. Aveiro, Ian Pagano, Lynne R. Wilkens, Leihua Park, Leilani Spencer, Jeannie Butel, Corby K. Martin, John W. Apolzan, Rachel Novotny, John Kearney, Chloe P. Lozano

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Background/Objectives: Coupling mobile health (mHealth) technology with community-based nutrition programs may enhance diet quality in adolescents. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of integrating PortionSize Ed (PSEd), an image-assisted dietary assessment and education app, into the six-week Hawaii Food and Lifeskills for Youth (HI-FLY) curriculum delivered via Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed). Methods: Adolescents (grades 6–8) from two classrooms were cluster-randomized into HI-FLY or HI-FLY + PSEd. Both groups received HI-FLY and completed Youth Questionnaires (YQ) and food records (written or app-based) at Weeks 0 and 7. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed via enrollment, attrition, …