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The Impact Of Perfumes And Cosmetic Products On Human Health: A Narrative Review, Sharifa Alblooshi

All Works

Background: The use of perfumes and cosmetic products is widespread, serving personal hygiene, aesthetic, and olfactory functions. However, concerns have been raised regarding the potential health impacts associated with long-term exposure to various ingredients used in these products. Objectives: This narrative review aims to synthesize evidence on the health risks associated with perfumes and cosmetics, focusing on specific health concerns, including fertility, respiratory health, cancer risk, allergies, skin disorders, endocrine disruption, and neurological effects. It also discusses the presence of heavy metals in cosmetics, regulatory challenges, and the need for transparency in ingredient disclosure. Methods: A comprehensive review of the …

Fabrication Of Palladium Decorated Zinc Oxide Nanostructures For Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensing, Reagan Aviha, Anju Joshi, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

The growing global burden of diabetes necessitates the development of glucose sensors that are not only reliable and sensitive but also cost-effective and amenable to point-of-care use. In this work, we report a non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor based on laser-induced graphene (LIG), functionalized with zinc oxide (ZnO) and palladium (Pd) nanostructures. The ZnO nanostructures were systematically optimized on the LIG surface by varying electrochemical deposition parameters, including applied potential, temperature, and deposition time, to enhance the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose in alkaline medium. Subsequent modification with Pd nanostructures further improved the electrocatalytic activity and sensitivity of the sensor. The performance …

Advanced Nanocomposite-Based Electrochemical Sensor For Ultra-Sensitive Dopamine Detection In Physiological Fluids, Megha Shinde, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

This study presents a novel point-of-care electrochemical sensor for dopamine (DA) detection, featuring a flexible laser-induced graphene (LIG) modified with a unique nanocomposite comprising Nb₄C₃T_x MXene, polypyrrole (PPy), and iron nanoparticles (FeNPs). The LIG-Nb₄C₃T_x MXene-PPy-FeNPs is characterized by scanning electron microscopy to confirm the successful surface modification. The electrochemical performance of the fabricated sensor via cyclic voltammetry showed significant electrochemical activity upon Nb₄C₃T_x MXene-PPy-FeNPs nanocomposite modification of the LIG surface with an increased peak anodic current (Ipa) from 43 μA to 104 μA. The sensor …

Electrochemical Strategies For Microrna Quantification Leveraging Amplification And Nanomaterials: A Review, Alexander Hunt, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and have emerged as critical biomarkers in various diseases, including cancer. Their stability in bodily fluids and role as oncogenes or tumor suppressors make them attractive targets for non-invasive diagnostics. However, conventional detection methods, such as Northern blotting, RT-PCR, and microarrays, are limited by low sensitivity, lengthy protocols, and limited specificity. Electrochemical biosensors offer a promising alternative, providing high sensitivity, rapid response times, portability, and cost-effectiveness. These biosensors translate miRNA hybridization events into quantifiable electrochemical signals, often leveraging redox-active labels, mediators, or intercalators. Recent advancements in nanomaterials and signal amplification …

Determining The Effects Of Light, Oxygen Diffusion, And 4-Hydroxy-2-Nonenal On Redox Stability Of Beef And Pork Oxymyoglobins, Rishav Kumar, Surendranath P. Suman, Runnan Li, Morgan M. Pfeiffer, Gretchen G. Mafi, Ranjith Ramanathan

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Retail light conditions influence consumers’ perception of meat color. Previous studies have shown that lipid and myoglobin oxidation are interrelated. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-induced beef and pork oxymyoglobin (OxyMb) oxidation is influenced by pH, temperature, and atmospheric oxygen partial pressure. However, limited knowledge is available on the effects of HNE on myoglobin redox stability under light/dark and aerobic/anaerobic (either allow or not allow atmospheric oxygen in contact with myoglobin solution) systems. Therefore, the objective was to examine the effects of light and dark storage conditions (experiment 1) as well as to compare aerobic and anaerobic systems (experiment 2) on HNEinduced beef and …

Artificial Raising On Milk Replacer And Finishing Diet Did Not Affect Color And Oxidative Stability Of Longissimus Lumborum Muscles From Polypay Ram Lambs, Koushik Mondal, Surendranath P. Suman, Katherine G. Purvis, Gregg Rentfrow, Donald G. Ely, Brittany E. Davis, Jennifer Weinert-Nelson, Yifei Wang, Ana Paula A.A. Salim

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Lamb production traits are affected by pre-weaning management (such as artificial raising on milk replacer) and finishing (forage vs. concentrate) strategies. The objective of the current study was to examine the effects of pre-weaning management and finishing systems on the color and oxidative stability of longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles from ram lambs. Polypay ram lambs were raised conventionally with ewes (CR; n = 10) or artificially on milk replacer (AR; n = 10). After weaning at 60 d, ram lambs in AR and CR were equally divided and randomly allocated to finishing on a high-forage (50:50 forage:concentrate; HF) or a …

Effects Of Feeding Varying Levels Of Mycotoxin-Containing Corn Fines On Diet Choice And Growth Performance Of Nursery Pigs, Duncan B. Paczosa, Tyler B. Chevalier, Sunday A. Adedokun, Lan Zheng, Merlin D. Lindemann

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Mycotoxins in feed are known to negatively affect growth and other physiological processes in pigs. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding diets with varying levels of mycotoxins and boron (a nutrient reported to mitigate some aspects of mycotoxicosis). Screenings from the 2020 crop year corn contained mycotoxin levels of 23,038 ppb total fumonisins (FUM), 1,446 ppb zearalenone (ZEA), and 5,032 ppb total deoxynivalenol (DON). The corn fines were added to a corn-soybean meal diet formulated to meet or exceed NRC (National Research Council. 2012. Nutrient requirements of swine. 11th Revised Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies …

Evaluation Of Increasing Levels Of Mycotoxin-Containing Corn Fines And Mitigants On Nursery Pig Growth Performance, Duncan B. Paczosa, Tyler B. Chevalier, Sunday A. Adedokun, Lan Zheng, Merlin D. Lindemann

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

The effects of feeding corn fines (screenings) containing mycotoxin levels greater than the FDA guidance (fumonisins) and advisory (deoxynivalenol) levels were evaluated using 150 crossbred pigs (initial BW: 6.42 ± 0.06 kg; 90 barrows and 60 gilts) in an 8-wk study by adding contaminated corn fines to create six diets. The corn fines used contained prestudy analyzed mycotoxin levels of 20,334 ppb total fumonisin, 1,499 ppb zearalenone, and 5,075 ppb total deoxynivalenol. The corn fines were added into a corn-soybean meal basal diet at 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% corn fines (Diets 1 to 4, respectively). Diet 5 was created …

Stream Response To A Dam Removal: Mill Creek, Davenport, Ca, Jessica J. Williamson

Master's Theses

Dams have many effects on stream morphology and ecology, including a loss of sediment supply downstream, reduced access to the entire stream for aquatic fauna, and a flooded area upstream of the dam. Dams are a hurdle for migrating organisms such as anadromous fish, which is a group of concern. An over 100-year-old dam on Mill Creek, a stream draining a coastal watershed in central California, was removed in the fall of 2021. The site is in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where endangered salmonids such as steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, have historically lived. To study the change in the stream from …

Separation And Surface Examination Of Spacecraft Cabin Particulates, Grace A. Belancik

Master's Theses

Particulate matter in the atmosphere is a known detriment to human health, but several factors affect any particulate’s particular toxicity including particle size, surface area, and chemical composition. Extensive studies have been conducted to examine particulate hazards on Earth, but in crewed spacecraft, like the International Space Station (ISS), the particulate environment is wholly unique due to both the controlled environment and lack of gravity. Atmospheric sampling studies are underway, but another convenient source of airborne particulates for analysis is the contents of the vacuum bags used by the astronauts to clean the air vents. However, no method currently exists …

Resilience After Prenatal Substance Exposure: Exploring The Role Of Cumulative And Specific Protective Factors In Predicting Toddlerhood Temperament Profiles, Anjeli Elkins

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Objective

Prenatal exposure to common substances, including nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, and alcohol, has been linked to a wide range of psychiatric disorders and neurodevelopmental impairments. Identifying protective factors that may improve temperament profiles in toddlers who have experienced prenatal substance exposure may protect against these adverse outcomes and is crucial for developing targeted early interventions.

Methods

Participants (n=92; Mage = 28.7 years; 47.0% White) were biological mothers of toddlers (Mage = 22.6 months) with prenatal substance exposure. Mothers responded to an online survey that gathered information on substance use during pregnancy, proposed perinatal protective factors, and child temperament. …

"We Talk About It At The Dinner Table": Parent Discussions Of Identity And Politics In Diverse Adoptive Families In The United States, Abigail L. Moore

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Parents discussing identity and politics with their diverse adolescents can be protective against experiences of political stress and negative outcomes (Anderson, 2023). Identity discrepancies between parents and adolescents may complicate these conversations (McCrimmon et al., 2024). However, this research often only focuses on only one identity (e.g., race or gender; Mendez, 2022). Because negative political climates affect multiple identities simultaneously (Kassing et al., 2021), the current study explores political conversations in diverse, adoptive family contexts with varying (un)shared identities. Through reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021), 7 major themes were developed. Results suggest that identity discrepancies may underlie a …

Associations Between Queer Parent Family Socialization And Adolescent Outcomes Among Diverse Lgbtq+ Parent Families In The U.S., Nita U. Kulkarni

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Queer parent family socialization refers to the way LGBTQ+ parents talk with their children about what it means to be queer in society, how to handle discrimination, and ways to have pride in their family’s identity. This construct has been linked with positive well-being outcomes in children, and this study used a strengths-based, mixed- methods framework informed by Minority Stress Theory and intersectionality to examine how queer parent family socialization related to several adolescent well-being outcomes, namely internalizing behaviors, social competence, and adaptive coping. Participants recruited across two projects were 191 queer parents with an adolescent and 114 adolescents with …

Weighted Family History Density Of Substance Use: Influence On Participant Substance Use Onset, Escalation, And Duration, Carleigh A. Litteral

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Substance use disorders impose a staggering toll on the United States (U.S.), straining healthcare systems, destabilizing communities, and profoundly impacting both individuals and families. Approximately one in six Americans aged 12 and older had a past-year substance use disorder in 2022 (Key Substance Use, 2022), and nearly one-third of adults experience a substance use disorder in their lifetime (Wu, 2010), contributing to an economic burden exceeding $400 billion annually (National Drug Threat Assessment, 2011). Family history of substance use disorders is a key predictor of vulnerability, with individuals who have affected relatives being 2–8 times more …

Exploring The Effects Of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Of The Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus On Inhibitory Control In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Colton Rippey

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Background: The right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) is implicated in stop signal reaction time (SSRT) performance – a common measure of inhibitory control – and emotional expression and control. Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit poorer stop SSRT performance, which is associated with rIFG hypoactivity. Neuromodulation of the rIFG with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can significantly improve inhibitory control and reduce fearful responding to threatening stimuli. Research has yet to test the effects of multifocal tDCS targeting the rIFG on inhibitory control or emotional reactivity in individuals with PTSD.

Methods: The current study aims to examine the impact …

Relationship Between Anticipated Stress And Individuals’ Health-Related Behaviors, Julie Parsons

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Prior work in assessing the relationship between stress and health behaviors has identified the complex and multi-directional nature of these relationships. However, minimal work has assessed the possible relationships between stress anticipation and health behaviors such as diet, physical activity, and sleep outcomes in individuals. This work seeks to address this gap by conducting a daily diary study assessing within-person associations between stress anticipation and health behaviors over the course of a week. We hypothesized that daily stress anticipation would be negatively associated with dietary scores, physical activity engagement reports, sleep quality, and sleep duration while being positively correlated with …

Interparental Conflict And Sibling Relationship Quality In Emerging Adulthood: An Emotional Security Perspective, Courtlyn A. Fields

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Sibling relationships are among the earliest lifelong relationships and have been found to be protective against family dysfunction and positive adjustment outcomes. Yet research on sibling relationships remains limited. The current study aims to expand understanding of sibling relationship quality in emerging adulthood through the application of Emotional Security Theory (EST). EST provides a framework for understanding how adult sibling relationships may be impacted by childhood experiences of destructive interparental conflict. A sample of 1222 undergraduates with siblings completed an online survey. Participants retrospectively reported on interparental conflict and emotional security in childhood, and reported on their current emotion regulation, …

Why Are Women Tired? Examining Sex-Dependent Effects Of Behavioral Rhythms On Perceived Sleepiness, Maricel Schuler

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Sleep complaints in women emerge at menarche and coincide with reproductive hormonal fluctuations throughout the monthly menstrual cycle. To our knowledge, we are the first study (N = 44) to utilize a validated algorithm that uses actigraphy-derived light and activity data in a novel approach to estimate circadian phase, referred here as the photobehavioral phase. We hypothesize that women will have earlier photobehavioral phases, larger phase angles, poorer perceived sleep quality, and greater sleepiness compared to men. In addition, we hypothesize that the perimenstrual phase will be associated with poorer sleep within a subsample of women (N = 15). Contrary …

Examining Values In The Treatment Of Borderline Personality Disorder: A Single-Case Experimental Design, Nicole Stumpp

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Borderline personality disorder impacts roughly 1.6% of the general population yet only a quarter of people with BPD are able to access treatment. Understanding the mechanisms that promote behavior change in treatment is crucial for improving care for this population. Experiential avoidance has been linked to risky behaviors, a prevalent and debilitating symptom observed in BPD. Values identification may be a fruitful avenue for engaging experiential avoidance in treatment. The goal of the present study is to understand the unique and combined effects of values identification and behavior change skills (i.e., opposite actions, exposure) on experiential avoidance (target), maladaptive behavior …

Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Single-Session Mechanism-Focused Intervention For Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors, Martina Fruhbauerova

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Suicide remains a critical public health concern, with increasing rates and millions experiencing suicidal ideation annually. Although evidence-based treatments exist, many are time-intensive, underutilized, and often inaccessible to high-risk individuals, especially those recently discharged from inpatient psychiatric care. Brief, scalable interventions targeting core psychological mechanisms implicated in suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are needed. This study evaluated a novel Single Session Mechanism-Focused Intervention (SSMFI) designed to reduce hopelessness and negative perceptions of social relatedness among adults hospitalized for STBs. In a randomized controlled trial (N = 38) conducted on two inpatient psychiatric units, participants were assigned to either the SSMFI …

Utilizing Evisits To Increase Access To Genetic Services For The Hearing Loss Population: A Tailored Service Delivery Model, Ansley Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Patients referred for genetics services have specific barriers decreasing accessibility, such as communication difficulties, long wait times, and misconceptions about the utility of genetic testing. We assessed a new tailored service delivery model used by the Greenwood Genetic Center to evaluate patients referred for hearing loss to determine if this model increases access to genetics services for individuals with hearing loss. Methods: Data points such as wait times, testing plan, and diagnostic yield were compiled from patient medical records. Comparison and analysis of data was completed by visit type, in-person, virtual, and electronic visits (eVisits), between October 2023 – …

Invention Beyond The Author, Jonathan Brent Butler

Theses and Dissertations

The following dissertation examines how what Michel Foucault calls the “author function” affects contemporary students of writing and examines some historical alternatives to this way of conceptualizing the writing process and the writer’s role in it. Chapter 1: Author (Dys)function describes the author function and its discontents, the problems of the Romantic conception of “genius,” and summarizes the following chapters. Chapter 2: Early Writing Instruction focuses on classical approaches to rhetorical instruction that emphasize habit and aim at the cultivation of a particular subjectivity characterized by the capacity to respond to shifting rhetorical situations; this chapter draws on the work …

Emotions And Cognition, Krystal D. Becks

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Cognitive functioning is linked to emotional processes, with this relationship shaped by various biological (e.g., age, sex, diseases, and genetics), psychological (e.g., emotional well-being, coping strategies, mental health), and sociological (e.g., income and education) factors. Understanding these interactions is critical for advancing research on cognitive-emotional health across diverse populations. Purpose: To examine the relationship between positive and negative emotions and cognitive functioning among healthy adults. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Aging Brain Cohort (ABC) study (n=434). The independent variables were subsets from the NIH toolbox emotional battery. The dependent variables were from the NIH …

Self-Regulation In Children With Fragile X Syndrome: Biobehavioral Underpinnings, Familial Predictors, And Outcomes, Erin Evelyn Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

Self-regulation is a multifaceted construct that occurs on biological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral levels. Self-regulatory abilities typically emerge in the first years of life and continuously develop through early adulthood. There is considerable interindividual variability in developmental trajectories of self-regulation which are associated with numerous adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Factors influencing the development of self-regulation include interacting genetic and social environmental factors. Given the high heritability of self-regulation, within-family associations are common.

Individuals with Fragile X syndrome (FXS), an inherited, single-gene neurodevelopmental disorder, have heightened vulnerability for self-regulation deficits that are evident in early infancy; however, the developmental trajectories and …

Association Of Prenatal Exposure To Phthalates And Phenols With Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, Misa Hayasaka, Diana Aboukhater, George Saade, Tetsuya Kawakita

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the association between prenatal exposures to phthalates and phenols and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth weight, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS:

This study analyzed data from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes consortium, which harmonized longitudinal data on more than 30,000 pregnancies and 57,000 children from 69 cohorts across the United States and Puerto Rico. Pregnancy outcomes included PTB, SGA, and GDM, identified from medical records or self-reports. Generalized estimating equations models with Poisson distribution and robust variance were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs per interquartile …

Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma In A Nonsmoker Presenting With Pathological Humeral Fracture, Nicholas Fuerstenau, Grant Cookson, Smit Jani

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Maternal Retinoblastoma And Fetal Surveillance During Pregnancy: Is This Hereditary Or Not?, Bethany Bowling, Shea Mcgrinder, Amanda Royek, Reese Groover, Anthony B. Royek

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Case Series Of Psychiatric Patients With Hypothermia: A Clinical Review, Amy Mackenzie, Brianne Kimmet, James Free, Ubaid Khokhar, Barbara Gracious

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Evolution Of Bacteria: The Subsequent Relationships Between Different Species And Their Hosts, Helen Appleberry

Dissertations

To explore the relationship between two recently identified bacterial species (S. anginosus and S. urinae), three aims were designed. First, niche ranges were identified via two metagenome databases. Different niche ranges were identified between the two groups. S. urinae was more specific to the urogenital tract. S. anginosus appeared to be present across human anatomical niches. Secondly, specific genes to the S. urinae group were identified. This gives insight into the genomic and phenotypic differences previously identified. Thirdly, a temporal study was created to view S. urinae in female urine over 8 weeks. This showed stability in the urinary microbiome …

Analyzing The Population Structure Of The Rhizobia Associated With Astragalus Lentiginosus, Joshua Adam Melnick

Dissertations

Legumes are an incredibly diverse and agriculturally important family of plants. They have a special relationship with symbiotic bacteria known as rhizobia which fix nitrogen into ammonia within nodules on their roots. Astragalus is the largest plant genus on Earth, and the species Astragalus lentiginosus is extraordinarily diverse, consisting of approximately 40 varieties. However, the rhizobia of A. lentiginosus have never been studied. In this study, root nodules were extracted from 17 varieties of A. lentiginosus to obtain rhizobial strains and metagenomes. A. lentiginosus primarily associates with rhizobia from the genera Mesorhizobium and Allomesorhizobium. There was little evidence of horizontal …