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Evaluating Yield And Quality Of Heat-Tolerant Broccoli Varieties For Rhode Island Farmers, Calla Pederson

Open Access Master's Theses

In the United States, broccoli is a popular vegetable, important for its nutrition and economic contributions alike. However, its future production is at risk as broccoli prefers cooler climates, with an optimal temperature range of 15 - 23°C (59 - 73°F) for growth, especially in the weeks leading up to harvest. Temperatures above this threshold lead to failure to develop, damage, and unmarketability. There has also been an emphasis on bringing broccoli production back to the East coast from California, as climate events threatened Californian agriculture and local food has become popular, necessitating outside of season broccoli production during times …

Geochemical And Sedimentological Signals Of Bottom Water Oxygen Dynamics From Lake Tanganyika (Zambia), Njahi Mwangala

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Lake Tanganyika is a large, ancient freshwater body with exceptional biodiversity that is located in the East African Rift System. Lake Tanganyika’s size and longevity make its sedimentary record useful for understanding environmental changes that cross spatial and temporal boundaries. Lake Tanganyika is known to be susceptible to global warming given its tropical location. Over 12 million people living within Lake Tanganyika’s watershed rely on fishing for their income and nutrition. Changes to limnological function driven by climate could therefore have serious implications for human health and biodiversity conservation. This study focuses on using geochemical properties of modern lake bottom …

Plastic Gerontologies: Epigenetic Clocks As Instruments Of The Profitable Medicalization Of Aging, Hans T. Purisch

Theses and Dissertations--Geography

Epigenetic clocks are algorithms that use epigenetic biomarkers of aging to calculate an organism’s ‘biological age.’ Through discursive analysis of commercially available epigenetic clock marketing materials, scientific articles, and interviews with actors in the longevity biotechnology industry, this study examines the commercialization of epigenetic clocks in the form of consumer test-kits. The study argues that longevity biotechnology companies leverage the malleable and fluid qualities of epigenetic markers of biological age to extend the domains of profitable therapies. It shows that epigenetic clock companies market the dynamic qualities of epigenetic biological age measurements to redefine health around the project of optimizing …

Leveraging Clinical Standards To Improve The Translational Relevance Of Therapies For Experimental Spinal Cord Injury, Aaron L. Silverstein

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Efforts to improve treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) often use animals to develop effective therapeutics, intending to improve the survival and the quality of life of persons with SCI. Over half of all SCIs in the United States occur at the cervical level and often cause locomotor deficits and life-threatening breathing dysfunction. Thus, my dissertation is focused on this important patient population.

After beginning with a description of translational research and surveying SCI from a clinical standpoint, I turned to describe experimental models of cervical SCI and more detailed neuroimmunological findings relevant to my work. Then, I conducted a …

Practicing Clinicians' Views Of The Life Participation Approach To Aphasia Therapy, Stephanie H. Mays

Theses and Dissertations--Communication Sciences and Disorders

The Life Participation Approach to Aphasia therapy (LPAA) aligns with a person-centered, functional approach to speech therapy. Past research has demonstrated that persons with aphasia (PWA) benefit from this approach and prefer it when compared to the traditional medical model to therapy. However, a disconnect between PWA preferences and SLP treatment approaches in therapy persists. This study aims to identify both barriers and facilitators that SLPs face when implementing LPAA. Five CCC-SLPs practicing in the state of KY with experience working with PWA were recruited as participants. Participants were placed into two focus groups, with each group meeting for 2-3 …

Zebrafish Models To Uncover Targetable Mechanisms Of Self-Renewal In T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Majd Al-Hamaly

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Relapsed T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) patients have dismal prognosis, with 5-year overall survival rates of 10% for adults and 36% for children. Relapse is attributed to the inability of chemotherapy agents to eliminate Leukemia Stem Cells (LSCs) that can repopulate the leukemia. Those cells exist with a unique genetic, transcriptomic, and metabolic profile compared to the rest of the leukemia and thus, finding targeted therapies toward this population of cells can result in disease eradication and elimination of relapse. However, investigating LSCs is challenging-particularly in T-ALL- for two reasons: 1) the lack of robust surface markers that define LSCs …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of A Modified Cook Together Eat Together Program On Food Resource Management Behaviors In A Rural Setting, Johanna K. Poysti

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a modified, hybrid Cook Together, Eat Together (CTET) program on food resource management behaviors in a rural setting. A six-week intervention combining virtual and in-person sessions aimed to improve health behaviors, food resource management skills, and self-efficacy. Although most behavioral changes were not statistically significant, participants reported increased confidence in cooking healthy meals on a budget. Positive qualitative feedback from focus group discussions indicated program feasibility and engagement. Strengths and limitations of the study were discussed as well as recommendations for future research were given.

Causes And Consequences Of Reproductive Plasticity In The Seed Beetle, Callosobruchus Maculatus, Josiah P. Ritchey

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Competition for resources has direct effects on traits that can influence an individual’s reproductive success in competitive mating environments. When population density is high during development, competition for resources can reduce growth and body size at maturation, influencing resources available for reproduction. In this thesis, I investigate how the developmental environment affects plasticity in male reproductive traits, as well as the consequences of male reproductive plasticity on female reproductive behavior, in the seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus. My results show that increasing larval density causes male beetles to emerge small and transfer small ejaculates to females. However, small males transfer …

Dinotefuran Resistance In The German Cockroach (Blattella Germanica L.), Hannah F. Blevins

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

German cockroaches (Blattella germanica L.) are one of the most prevalent and pervasive indoor pest species in the world. Infestations can lead to many negative impacts on humans, including sensitization to allergens, increase in asthmatic symptoms, mental health declines, and potentially, the spread of diseases. While insecticides remain the most effective and affordable option for German cockroach control, resistance to many commonly used insecticide active ingredients (AIs), such as pyrethroids, has been observed globally at high levels across different populations. Given such resistance to pyrethroids, inclusion of insecticides with alternative modes of action into insecticidal treatments could potentially improve cockroach …

Bed Bugs: Health Risks And Control, Simona Principato

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Bed bugs are blood-feeding hemipterans strongly associated with humans. Their detection in indoor environments, such as homes, hotels, trains, and public facilities, has increased gradually over the past 20 years. The exact cause of their resurgence is still unclear, but the increase of international travel and insecticide resistance are thought to have contributed to it.

Although bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, the EPA, CDC, and USDA have classified them as a pest of significant public health concern, mainly due to the dermatitis that they can cause. Beyond the dermatological burden of the bites, other health implications often …

The Role Of Nutrition In Managing Honey Bee Viral Pathogen, Caroline Wylie Kane

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

This study evaluated the impact of nutritional supplements on viral infections in honey bee colonies, focusing on Lake Sinai Virus 2 (LSV2), Deformed Wing Virus A (DWVA), and Deformed Wing Virus B (DWVB). I partnered with 32 hobbyist beekeepers across Kentucky, who volunteered 138 colonies for a month-long field study. Half of the colonies received weekly commercial supplements, while the other half served as controls. Viral titers were measured before and after the supplementation period using qPCR. Supplements did not significantly reduce viral titers for any of the three viruses, suggesting that short-term supplementation may not be effective in lowering …

Gene Expression In Relation To Bone Fractures In Throughbred Racehorses, Anna M. Rauber-Ramos

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Evidence that fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses are outcomes of chronic bone microdamage has led to extensive research into identifying horses at increased risk of fracture. This includes the use of biomarkers and messenger RNA (mRNA) as a measure of bone turnover. Previous research has found expression differences in horses with fractures compared to controls. Utilizing pre-race whole blood samples collected over an 18-month period from Thoroughbred racehorses in Southern California, RNA-sequencing was conducted on horses with bone fractures and race-matched controls to identify differences in gene expression. Focusing on third metacarpal (MC3) and proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fractures, differentially expressed …

Engineering Novel Biomimetic Models Of Equine Host-Microbe Interactions, Lynn M. Leedhanachoke

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

One major limitation to the study of equine disease is the lack of in vitro models that accurately reflect the dynamic physiology of the horse. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop in vitro systems that recapitulate diverse equine tissue and organ microenvironments. To overcome this deficiency, we developed multiple biomimetic equine organoid systems that can be employed for a variety of investigations aimed at resolving outstanding questions in infectious disease pathogenesis, therapeutic development and drug metabolism, host defense mechanisms, immune-modulated disease, and equine developmental biology. Our innovative platform incorporates novel equine intestinal enteroid and airway organoid models derived …

Development Of A Cultivation System For Producing Pure Mycelium Materials From Distillers' Spent Grains, Keya Rani Roy

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Stillage is a byproduct of distilleries which is rich in organic matter, minerals, and acidic components. It is commonly used as animal feed and has high potential for use as an alternative substrate for microorganisms. Filamentous fungi are saprophytes that can utilize stillage solids to grow as threadlike mycelium. The structure and composition of the filamentous mycelium has shown promise to produce pure mycelium materials (PMM), which might have many potential applications, for instance as a leather-like material or alternative protein food ingredient. Basidiomycota fungi (including true mushrooms) species are presently used in industry to produce PMM due to the …

Development Of Non-Destructive Methods For The Detection And Quantification Of Gluten Sources In Foods, Adewale Abiola Oloyede

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Cross-contamination of food with gluten-rich grains such as wheat, barley, and rye remains a significant challenge in gluten-free food production, posing health risks to individuals with gluten-related disorders. Traditional detection methods are often time-consuming and labor-intensive, highlighting the need for rapid and reliable alternatives. This study investigates the use of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques for the detection and quantification of gluten contamination in grain-based foods through three main approaches: (i) classification of gluten source contaminants in gluten-free flour, (ii) quantification of gluten content from wheat, rye, and barley flours, and …

Sex Life Post Childbirth And The Role Of The Partner Relationship: A Qualitative Study, Agata Kopacz

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Sexual problems are common among postpartum women, and sexual functioning during the postpartum period is affected by biological, psychological, and social factors. There is limited research exploring women’s experiences within their romantic relationships and sex lives during the postpartum period. This qualitative study utilized the phenomenological approach to gain a better understanding of the experiences of postpartum women in their romantic relationships and their sexual functioning after childbirth. A total of eight eligible postpartum women were interviewed individually. Data from the interviews were analyzed utilizing the phenomenological data analysis approach and grouped into emerging themes. Four themes were extracted for …

Get Ready With Me For Court: Increasing Ftc Enforcement In Influencer Marketing, Rosalena Morrell

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Prisoner’S Rluipa Claims: Access To Religious Exercise Behind Prison Walls, Jill Campione

Student Works

No abstract provided.

An Ailment I Will Fight With: Differential Diagnosis And Methodology Evaluation Of Possible Treponemal Infection At Dayr Al-Barsha, Egypt, Lindsey D. Lefebvre

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Treponemal diseases, including bejel, yaws, pinta, and venereal syphilis, have long plagued human populations and continue to pose public health challenges today. Despite their persistent global presence, the origins, transmission pathways, and archaeological identification of these diseases—caused by various subspecies of Treponema pallidum—remain contested. This study explores the utility of standardized diagnostic criteria, as proposed by Baker et al. (2020), in assessing the presence of treponemal disease in highly fragmentary skeletal remains from the Roman-period necropolis at Dayr al Barsha, Egypt. Through the examination of 14 individuals, this research seeks to (1) identify indicators consistent with bejel (T.p. …

Exploring The Experience Of Heart Disease Among Burmese Immigrants In The United States, Khup S. It

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The ongoing political and military turmoil in Myanmar has resulted in a significant increase in the migration of Burmese individuals to the United States in recent years. This demographic shift has brought attention to the health challenges faced by Burmese immigrants, particularly with regard to heart disease (heart attack). The complexities of the U.S. healthcare system, compounded by legal and social barriers, place immigrants at greater risk for health disparities. This study examines the health challenges of Burmese immigrants in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a specific focus on their perceptions and experiences related to heart disease, as explored through illness narratives. …

An Integrated Approach To Waste Management And Development Of Data Driven Decision Support Tools, Mert Gokgoz

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Municipal solid waste management requires balancing environmental performance, operational efficiency, and community participation. Proper recycling contamination in single-family units is a persistent barrier to material recovery, reducing the effectiveness of local programs by increasing recycling contamination. This dissertation develops an integrated, data-driven framework that combines behavioral modeling of communities via statistical analysis and machine learning (ML), and life cycle assessment (LCA) to support decision-making in residential waste management. The first component examines household recycling behavior using data from Orange County, Florida’s Recycling Quality Improvement Program (RQIP). Cart-tagging results were integrated with socio-demographic data from the U.S. Census to predict contamination …

Paleoethnobotany And Starch Grain Residue Analysis Collected From Ceramics At The White Marl Site, Jamaica, Lydia E. Kiernicki

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The White Marl site represents the largest known Taíno settlement and archaeological site in Jamaica. Road construction in the eighteenth century first disturbed the site, followed by further damage during Mandela Highway construction in the 1940s. The site now faces renewed threats from a proposed highway expansion that has divided it into two zones. In response, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust began archaeological investigations in 2016 to assess and document the land before development and preserve any recoverable material remains and cultural heritage. Field seasons from 2016 to 2019 recovered of several ceramic burial vessels from inhumation contexts, providing valuable …

Discontinuing Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists And Body Habitus: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Sara Berg, Hannah Stickle, Suzanne J. Rose, Eric C. Nemec

Physician Associate Studies Faculty Publications

Research on Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) has mainly focused on the efficacy of weight loss and not the long-term efficacy of weight loss maintenance. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the sustainability of weight loss of patients taking GLP-1RAs following the discontinuation of the drug. EBSCOhost was used to simultaneously search Academic Search Premier, CINHAL Ultimate, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE with full text, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and separate PubMed search was systematically investigated using a predetermined search strategy from inception to February 1st, 2024. The authors extracted data regarding body weight …

Foraging Substrates Of Insect-Eating Birds In The Delaware Piedmont During The Fall, Ian Stewart, Jim White

Delaware Ornithologist

No abstract provided.

Analisis Situasi Masalah Penyakit Infeksi Menular Seksual Di Kota Bogor Tahun 2024, Wardiman Wardiman, Ratna Djuwita, Bai Kusnadi

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

Abstrak

Infeksi menular seksual (IMS) masih menjadi tantangan kesehatan global, termasuk di Indonesia, terutama pada kelompok usia produktif 15-49 tahun. Di Kota Bogor, angka kasus IMS mengalami peningkatan, namum belum sepenuhnya menggambarkan kondisi yang sebenarnya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis situasi IMS secara mendalam dan menetapkan prioritas masalah kesehatan menggunakan metode PAHO-adapted Hanlon, yang mengacu pada pembobotan Basic Priority Rating (BPR) berdasarkan lima kriteria utama, yaitu, A=Masalah utama; B=Keseriusan masalah; C=Efektivitas intervensi; E=Ketidakadilan; F=Kapasitas institusi dalam mengatasi masalah. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Dinas kesehatan Kota Bogor pada Oktober 2024 hingga Januari 2025, dengan pendekatan kualitatif dan kuantitatif, serta disajikan secara …

The Management Of Dietary Fiber Intake In Children With Chronic Kidney Disease - Clinical Practice Recommendations From The Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce., An Desloovere, Nonnie Polderman, José Renken-Terhaerdt, Vanessa Shaw, Caroline Anderson, Larry A. Greenbaum, Christina L. Nelms, Leila Qizalbash, Stella Stabouli, Jetta Tuokkola, Bradley A. Warady, Johan Vande Walle, Fabio Paglialonga, Rukshana Shroff, Evelien Snauwaert

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The benefits of dietary fiber are widely accepted. Nevertheless, a substantial proportion of children fail to meet the recommended intake of dietary fiber. Achieving adequate fiber intake is especially challenging in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). An international team of pediatric renal dietitians and pediatric nephrologists from the Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce (PRNT) has developed clinical practice recommendations (CPRs) for the dietary intake of fiber in children and adolescents with CKD. In this CPR paper, we propose a definition of fiber, provide advice on the requirements and assessment of fiber intake, and offer practical guidance on optimizing dietary fiber …

Grade Notes 4: How To Use Grade When There Is "No" Evidence? A Case Study Of Using Unpublished Registry Data., Ibrahim K. El Mikati, Brandy Begin, Dagmara Borzych-Duzalka, Alicia M. Neu, Troy Richardson, Rebecca G. Same, Franz Schaefer, Bradley A. Warady, Reem A. Mustafa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVES: Trustworthy guidelines rely on systematic reviews of the best available published evidence. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) Working Group has provided guidance about developing evidence-based recommendations when published direct evidence is lacking. In this article, we provide a case example as an alternate solution to generate primary data using registries prior to collecting expert evidence.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: When direct published literature was absent, a team of clinical and statistical expertise can utilize registries, when available, for primary data generation in a way that allows for answering clinically important questions.

RESULTS: Out of 54 …

Integrating A Canine Comfort Program With Occupational Therapy Services For Emerging Adults With Mental Health Diagnoses, Emily Vieth

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Mental health plays a critical role in the lives of emerging adults (ages 18-29) including how they identify, their coping strategies, and social skills (Matud et al., 2020). Occupational therapists (OTs) can play a vital role in the management of depressive and anxiety symptoms for the promotion of an individual’s well-being (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020). OT can address depressive and anxiety symptoms through the incorporation of animal-assisted therapy (AAT). AAT is a therapeutic approach that uses animals to improve overall health and well-being (Pandey et al., 2024). Though still limited in evidencebased research, emerging interventions like canine …

Enhancing Quality Of Life: Occupational Therapy’S Role In Managing Chronic Conditions, Aubrey Rude

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Chronic conditions are among the most common health concerns, and often cause disruption to daily routines, roles, self-identity, and quality of life (Fields & Smallfield, 2022). In fact, they are the leading cause of disability in the United States (Centers for Disease Control, 2019). It is estimated that 129 million adults are living with at least one chronic condition as defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Trying to manage a chronic condition is extremely time consuming, with people spending at least two hours every day on health-related activities …

Chronic Pain Management In Adults In Rural Areas And Its Effect On Health And Well-Being: An Occupational Therapist’S Guide For Clients, Kinley Jo Nordin

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Chronic pain is a common problem among individuals in the United States (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). It can affect any area of occupation including activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), health management, rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020). It can also negatively influence an individual’s overall health, well-being, and quality of life (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to address the need for additional resources for individuals living in rural areas who experience chronic pain to help manage their health and …