Digital Commons Network^™

Are Natural Killer Cells Novel Mediators Of The Effects Of Cannabidiol On Mental Health, Sleep Quantity, Sleep Quality, And Immune Function?, Jacob Norbert Kisiolek

Dissertations

Cannabidiol (CBD) has increased in popularity since the United States Farm Bill legalized hemp production in 2018 and is now projected to become a $24.4 billion dollar industry by 2025. Since its legalization, CBD is thought to be an antiepileptic, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic, as well as an agent to improve mental health, quality of life, aspects of sleep and immune function. However, many of these claims lack scientific evidence. The purpose of this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial was to determine the effects of an 8-week CBD intervention on measures of mental health, sleep quantity, sleep quality, and natural killer …

Developing Hydrogel-Based X-Ray Visualized Implantable Sensors To Non-Invasively Measure Ph For Tracking Tumor Response And Detecting Peritoneal Infections, Kiridena Mudiyanselage Sachindra Dulashini Kiridena

All Dissertations

The goal of my dissertation research is to develop injectable and implantable biosensors to measure tumor pH to study cancer pathophysiology and effectiveness of treatments and peritoneal infections using plain radiography. The pH in cancer tissues plays an important role in determining cancer progression and treatment. Local acidosis is believed to be an indicator of dormant regions that are more resistant to therapies, a contributor to metastasis, and influence immune responses. We are designing a hydrogel-based sensor that can be injected into tumors during needle biopsy procedures and/or procedures to add markers for image-guided therapies. The pH response of the …

Effects Of Reciprocal Inhibition And Whole-Body Relaxation On Persistent Inward Currents Estimated By Two Different Methods, Ricardo N.O. Mesquita, Janet L. Taylor, Gabriel S. Trajano, Jakob Škarabot, Aleš Holobar, Basílio A. M. Gonçalves, Anthony J. Blazevich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Persistent inward currents (PICs) are crucial for initiation, acceleration, and maintenance of motoneuron firing. As PICs are highly sensitive to synaptic inhibition and facilitated by serotonin and noradrenaline, we hypothesised that both reciprocal inhibition (RI) induced by antagonist nerve stimulation and whole-bodyrelaxation (WBR) would reduce PICs in humans. To test this, we estimated PICs using the well-established paired motor unit (MU) technique. High-density surface electromyograms were recorded from gastrocnemius medialis during voluntary, isometric 20-s ramp, plantarflexor contractions and decomposed into MU discharges to calculate delta frequency (ΔF). Moreover, another technique (VibStim), which evokes involuntary contractions proposed to result from PIC …

Becoming Stewards Of Attention: A Theological Appeal, Joshua Gorenflo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The widespread compromising of attention currently taking place in our digital age is, at least in part, a theological issue necessitating a theological response, which invites an examination of the human person in relation to God. Familiar within the biblical narrative and throughout Christian tradition, I suggest that when the role of steward functions as the operative paradigm for humans, the claims made upon their lives have profound implications for attending within the digital age. More specifically, the steward’s attention becomes a tangible expression of authority and accountability in representation of God’s image to the rest of creation. In pursuit …

Challenge And Development Strategy For Colon-Targeted Drug Delivery System, Raditya Iswandana, Kurnia Sari Setio Putri, Fathia Amalia Putri, Maxius Gunawan, Sekar Arum Larasati

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Colon-Targeted Drug Delivery System (CTDDS) is able to improve local therapeutic effects in the treatment of colon-specific diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis (UC), and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). A colon can also be a suitable site for systemic delivery of drugs susceptible to extreme gastric pH, such as peptides and protein therapeutics. The physiological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and the physicochemical properties of drugs are being considered to develop strategies and approaches to overcome emerging challenges. This review will discuss factors, challenges, strategies, and approaches to developing a colon-targeted drug delivery system.

The Role Of Free Radicals In The Activation Of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors In Murine Microglial Cells, Eliana John

Honors Theses

Regulation of cellular processes is important for proper functioning. Environmental factors, including stress, can interfere with cellular regulation. One of the diseases caused by cellular regulation disturbance is cancer and mutations in EGF-related genes highly correlate with worse outcomes in cancer. The Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) pathway is involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Phosphorylation of the receptors activates this pathway, leading to cell growth and regulation. This study examines the impact of oxidative stress on EGF pathway activation. Previous studies using breast cancer lines have indirectly shown a decrease in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) activation …

Bibliometric Analysis Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Medical Research Production From Saudi Arabia, Amr A. Jamal, Samar Binkheder, Raniah N. Aldekhyyel, Jwaher Almulhem, Shabana Tharkar, Afaf Ali Batis, Layal Hneiny

Faculty Publications

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and as an attempt to fill the knowledge gap related to this topic, extensive research in this area has been published. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as one of the countries affected by the pandemic, has contributed to the growing body of scientific literature related to COVID-19. To measure research contribution produced by Saudi Arabian affiliated researchers, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 research across two databases: the Web of Science and Scopus. Analysis was conducted on February 2, 2021 and included all relevant COVID-19-related publications (n = 1510). …

Conquer And Prevail Issue 109 April 28 2022, Wofford College. Office Of Marketing And Communications

Conquer and Prevail Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Robustness Of Muscle Synergies In Upper Limb Rotational Motion, Ashar Turky Abd

Theses and Dissertations

Muscle synergies (MS) are defined as the specific co-activation of muscle groups to accomplish functional movements. The hypothesis of muscle synergies helps simplify the motor coordination problem by decreasing the numbers of central nervous system signals. The purpose of this research was to investigate the number and the structure of muscle synergies for the upper limb 1) across participants for one power level 2) when the power levels increased and at a constant speed [50 r.p.m] and 3) including the synergies for pull and push for each participant during arm cycling on a stationary hand-cycle ergometer. We asked eight healthy …

Products Of Gut Microbial Toll/Interleukin-1 Receptor Domain Nadase Activities In Gnotobiotic Mice And Bangladeshi Children With Malnutrition, James S Weagley, Mark Zaydman, Siddarth Venkatesh, Yo Sasaki, Neha Damaraju, Alex Yenkin, William Buchser, Dmitry A Rodionov, Andrei Osterman, Tahmeed Ahmed, Michael J Barratt, Aaron Diantonio, Jeffrey Milbrandt, Jeffrey I Gordon

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Perturbed gut microbiome development has been linked to childhood malnutrition. Here, we characterize bacterial Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) protein domains that metabolize nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a co-enzyme with far-reaching effects on human physiology. A consortium of 26 human gut bacterial strains, representing the diversity of TIRs observed in the microbiome and the NAD hydrolase (NADase) activities of a subset of 152 bacterial TIRs assayed in vitro, was introduced into germ-free mice. Integrating mass spectrometry and microbial RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) with consortium membership manipulation disclosed that a variant of cyclic-ADPR (v-cADPR-x) is a specific product of TIR NADase activity and a …

The Effects Of Dynamic Versus Static Stretching On Lower Body Power, Lauren Boyer, Nicholas Harris, Grant Euteneuer, Evelynn Hodges

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Dynamic and static warmups have both been used to prepare for exercise and sport. Previous researchers indicate that dynamic stretching is the best warmup before performing exercise because it involves moving joints through their full range of motion throughout the stretch. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in dynamic stretching versus static stretching in an athlete’s lower body explosiveness. METHODS: A convenience sample of twelve physically active college students completed the study (age: 20.25 ± 0.75 years; height: 176.69 ± 8.09 cm; weight: 76.74 ± 17.92 kg; mean ± SD). Three participants identified as female …

Bms 202: Human Anatomy And Physiology Laboratory Oer Curation, Chealsye Bowley

Curated OER Collections

This OER curation is an annotated bibliography of prospective OER for the GVSU course BMS 202: Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory, assembled by request from the instructor.

Clinical Nursing Faculty Perceptions Of Undergraduate Baccalaureate Nursing Student Stress In The Clinical Environment, Catherine A. Stubin

Dissertations

High stress levels are experienced by student nurses throughout their professional education, with the chaotic ever-changing clinical environment being a predominant source of stress. Clinical nursing faculty have a critical role to recognize the stress their students experience in the clinical environment and understand its significance.

A qualitative descriptive design was used to provide a rich description of clinical nursing faculty perceptions of undergraduate baccalaureate nursing student clinical stress. A purposive sample of 14 clinical nursing faculty with at least 4 semesters of clinical nursing faculty experience from accredited, generic baccalaureate nursing programs in the Northeast region of the United …

Animal Companions During Covid-19, Kelcie Lynne Meador

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Working At The Intersections: Critical Race Scholarship And Pedagogy Today, Avery C. Edenfield, Isaiah Jones, Emma Mecham, Christy M. Glass

Intersections on Inclusion: Critical Conversations about the Academy

Recent conversations in Utah and nationwide highlight the debate and division surrounding Critical Race Theory (CRT) in education. The purpose of this event is to celebrate the ways CRT informs and deepens our teaching, research, and community engagement in higher education. Panelists will explore how they use CRT in the classroom and in their research, and discuss how doing so advances USU’s mission of “cultivating diversity of thought and culture" and “serving the public through learning, discovery, and engagement.” Join us for an engaging—and celebratory—discussion that will reenergize our shared purpose in this work and build connections across our university.

Crimson And Black Spring 2022, Central Washington University

Crimson and Black

No abstract provided.

Functional Profiling Of Human Commensal Metabolites In Colorectal Cancer And Pain Sensation, Yiyun Cao

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

The gastrointestinal tract contains the largest number and greatest diversity of microbes which are referred to collectively as the gut microbiota. Alterations in microbiota dysbiosis are associated with diverse disease states, including colorectal cancer (CRC), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, the causative mechanisms mediated by the gut microbiota are still to be illustrated. Particularly, the gut commensals encode ~150 times more genes than the human genome and thousands of metabolites that mostly lack functional annotations or structural identification. Therefore, the functional profiling of human commensal metabolites is promising to reveal the molecular mechanisms of the …

Under-Oil Autonomously Regulated Oxygen Microenvironments: A Goldilocks Principle-Based Approach For Microscale Cell Culture, Chao Li, Mouhita Humayun, Glenn M. Walker, Keon Young Park, Bryce Connors, Jun Feng, Molly C. Pellitteri Hahn, Cameron O. Scarlett, Jiayi Li, Yanbo Feng, Ryan L. Clark, Hunter Hefti, Jonathan Schrope, Ophelia S. Venturelli, David J. Beebe

Faculty and Student Publications

Oxygen levels in vivo are autonomously regulated by a supply–demand balance, which can be altered in disease states. However, the oxygen levels of in vitro cell culture systems, particularly microscale cell culture, are typically dominated by either supply or demand. Further, the oxygen microenvironment in these systems is rarely monitored or reported. Here, a method to establish and dynamically monitor autonomously regulated oxygen microenvironments (AROM) using an oil overlay in an open microscale cell culture system is presented. Using this method, the oxygen microenvironment is dynamically regulated via the supply–demand balance of the system. Numerical simulation and experimental validation of …

Extracellular Elastin Assembly And Vascular Hyperproliferation: Connections For Treatment And Tissue Engineering, Matthew Ellis

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Elastin is the load-bearing extracellular matrix protein complex that endows the aorta with the recoil necessary to propagate blood to the peripheral circulation following systolic ejection from the heart. The assembly of the elastin complex occurs early in perinatal development and degrades over the course of a human lifetime, leading to arterial stiffening and elevated blood pressure. Although this complex assembly process occurs seamlessly in vivo, it has been a large obstacle in the field to replicate this process in vitro, hampering efforts to engineer elastin-rich grafts for transplantation and to study and develop curative treatments for elastin-associated pathologies. Herein, …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Food And Housing Insecurities At A Historically Black College, Melissa Massey Lockard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine the prevalence of food and housing insecurities at one historically Black college and explore whether these insecurities influence students’ academic performance or their mental health quality. The study also explored possible predictors of students at risk of experiencing these basic needs challenges. A convenience sample of 175 participant surveys was collected in the fall 2021 semester at the small, private, liberal arts college in urban South Carolina. The instruments used in the survey included the USDA’s 6-item Household Food Security Survey Module, the Housing Insecurity and Homelessness Module, the …

Oxygen Deprivation Masks For Training, Brittany M. Hanlon

Student Publications

Oxygen deprivation masks are being advertised towards athletes as a piece of fitness equipment that can simulate the effects of high altitude, as well as a respiratory muscle training device. Studies that investigated the claims as to whether ODMs increased VO2max and improved endurance were looked into. Experimental data did not find that the use of these masks increased VO2max, nor was there any supporting data to prove that it improved endurance. The function of ODMs as a training tool to increase respiratory muscle strength was also examined. There were contradicting results between the three different studies examined. One study …

Determining The Role Of High-Sugar Diets On Ovarian Function In Drosophila Melanogaster, Emma Otey

Senior Theses

The prevalence of obesity in the United States has increased drastically and the effects of obesity on human physiology are not fully known at this point. It has been noted that there is a significant decrease of fertility rates in obese women. In order to study how exactly these high-sugar or high-fat diets are impacting fertility, Drosophila can be used as a model organism. The use of Drosophila as a model organism for humans is due to the many conserved molecular and systematic mechanisms, namely ovarian function, as well as conserved physiological responses to obesity and obesogenic diets. This study …

Faculty Open Educational Resources (Oer) Needs Assessment, Shayna Pekala

Foley Library Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Biology (Nucleo)Tidings- Spring 2022, Biology Department Staff

Biology (Nucleo)tidings

News from the Biology Department at Northeastern Illinois University

Molecular Architecture Of Cardiometabolic Responses To Regular Exercise, Jacob L. Barber

Theses and Dissertations

Background: To investigate the molecular mechanisms, determinants, and predictors of cardiometabolic responses to regular exercise, this dissertation had two primary aims: 1) Examine the molecular architecture of cardiometabolic responses to exercise training (unsupervised approach) and 2) Identify molecular signatures of responsiveness to regular exercise within clinically relevant lipoprotein traits (supervised approach).

Methodology: Multi-omics data (17,945 muscle transcripts, 4,979 proteins, 411 metabolites) from participants (n=647) who completed 20 weeks of endurance training as part of the HERITAGE Family Study was collected before and after training. We employed an unsupervised machine learning approach (Aim 1) to identify patterns of molecular responses to …

A Feasibility Study For Utilizing A Peer-Teaching Experiential Learning Activity To Alter Student Perceptions Of Attributes Present In Effective Clinical Instructors, Susan J. Barlow, Penelope S. Elam, Stephen W. Elam, Lee Ann Eagler

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Many physical therapists are requested to assume the role of a clinical instructor (CI) after only one year of clinical practice. The purposes of this study are to assess the feasibility of an activity that introduces students to the responsibilities of a CI and to determine if this activity had any impact on student perceptions of attributes that are present in an effective CI. Methods: Second year DPT students enrolled in a course that utilizes case-based learning and peer-teaching activities participated in this study. Participants completed the McGill University Clinical Tutor Evaluation survey both pre- and post-learning activity. Survey …

Incidence Of Injuries In The Opinion Of Young Volleyball Players And Ways To Prevent Them, Monika Opanowska, Barbara Wilk, Malgorzata Kusmierczyk, Karol Opanowski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of the research was to establish the types and incidence of motor organ injuries in young volleyball players and to indicate methods of preventing them. Material/Methods: The research was carried out in a population of 70 volleyball players aged 16-19, students of the Sports Championships Schools No. 2 and 3 in Gdansk, players of the Lotos Trefl Gdansk sports club. The employed method was a diagnostic survey based on an original questionnaire entitled "The Characteristics of Motor Organ Injuries in Young People Aged 16-19 Who Train Volleyball." Results: 85.7% adolescent players experienced different motor organ injuries, the …

An Analysis Of The Correlation Between Kinesthetic Differentiation Capacity And The Maximum Force Level In Lower Limbs, Dariusz Harmacinski, Tadeusz Stefaniak, Anna Burdukiewicz, Jadwiga Pietraszewska, Aleksandra Stachon, Justyna Andrzejewska, Krystyna Chromik, Kazimierz Witkowski, Jarosław Maslinski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Among specific coordination abilities, kinesthetic differentiation capacity of movement belongs to the most crucial factors fostering rational human behavior in the surrounding environment. The capacity is universal – indispensable in nearly all sports disciplines. One of the most important constituent elements of kinesthetic differentiation is the so-called “force sense,” defined as differentiation of movement with respect to administering appropriate force. The authors of the study analyzed the correlation between the maximum force level in lower limbs and the accuracy of applying a targeted force value. Material/Methods: The study was conducted on 54 participants, students from the University School of …

Activated Carbon As Superadsorbent And Sustainable Material For Diverse Applications, Gaurav Sharma, Shweta Sharma, Amit Kumar, Chin Wei Lai, Mu. Naushad, Shehnaz (Panjab University Shehnaz (Panjab University, Jibran Iqbal, Florian J. Stadler

All Works

Activated carbon is a carbonaceous material with highly porous structure. Different functionalities can be introduced to its surface by various physical and chemical treatments. Various precursors can be used for the synthesis of activated carbon such as fossil fuels, agricultural wastes, and lignocellulosic wastes, etc. Number of papers have been reported in literature devoted to the synthesis, characterization, and various applications of activated carbon. Herein, in this review, special attention has been paid to the basic properties of activated carbon and its surface chemistry originated due to physical and chemical treatment. In addition, a general introduction to adsorption process, various …

Effect Of Training On Morphological, Physiological And Biochemical Variables Of U-19 Soccer Players, Indranil Manna, Gulshan Lal Khanna, Prakash Chandra Dhara

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of training on selected morphological, physiological and biochemical variables in soccer players under 19 years of age. Material/Methods: A total of 30 Indian male soccer players under 19 years of age (age: 16.00–18.99 yr) volunteered for this study. The training sessions were divided into 2 phases (i) Preparatory Phase (PP, 8 weeks) and (ii) Competitive Phase (CP, 4 weeks). The training programme consisted of aerobic, anaerobic and skill development, and was completed 4 hrs/day; 5 days/week. Selected morphological, physiological and biochemical variables were measured at zero level (baseline …