Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding The Mechanisms Of Bio-Effects Of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials In Planta Using “Omics” Approach, Sajedeh Rezaei Cherati

Theses and Dissertations

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) are recognized as versatile and promising nanomaterials for various applications across multiple fields, including medicine, genetic engineering, plant biology, and agriculture. Notably, carbon nanotubes have been identified as effective in regulating plant growth, reducing plant diseases, and facilitating the targeted delivery of molecules such as DNA and proteins into plant cells and tissues. Despite these advancements, the comprehensive understanding of CBNs' biological impacts, particularly their role in enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance, remains incomplete. Moreover, the use of CBNs in agriculture raises concerns regarding the safety of consuming contaminated plant products and the implications of CBNs …

Changing Landscape Of Liver Transplant In The United States—Time For A New Innovative Way To Define And Utilize The “Non-Standard Liver Allograft”—A Proposal, Rashmi Seth, Kenneth Andreoni

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Since the first liver transplant was performed over six decades ago, the landscape of liver transplantation in the US has seen dramatic evolution. Numerous advancements in perioperative and operative techniques have resulted in major improvements in graft and patient survival rates. Despite the increase in transplants performed over the years, the waitlist mortality rate continues to remain high. The obesity epidemic and the resultant metabolic sequelae continue to result in more marginal donors and challenging recipients. In this review, we aim to highlight the changing characteristics of liver transplant recipients and liver allograft donors. We focus on issues relevant in …

Preventing Hospitalization-Associated Disability, Elizabeth M. White

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Hospital-associated disability (HAD) affects one-third of hospitalized adults, diminishing post-discharge independence and contributing to high mortality rates. Identifying at-risk patients through early assessment of nutritional and functional status upon admission is critical to personalizing care and improving discharge outcomes.

Context: A 24-bed adult medical-surgical unit in a 173-bed suburban hospital in Northern California is part of a large not-for-profit healthcare organization. Interventions: Nursing staff received education on the Enhanced Recovery Medicine (ERM) pathway designed to prevent HAD. A visual display board, maintained and updated by unit champions, gave staff performance feedback. Nursing leadership reviewed admission assessments and addressed barriers …

Loss Of Transient Receptor Potential Channel 5 Causes Obesity And Postpartum Depression, Yongxiang Li, Tessa M Cacciottolo, Na Yin, Yang He, Hesong Liu, Hailan Liu, Yuxue Yang, Elana Henning, Julia M Keogh, Katherine Lawler, Edson Mendes De Oliveira, Eugene J Gardner, Katherine A Kentistou, Panayiotis Laouris, Rebecca Bounds, Ken K Ong, John R B Perry, Inês Barroso, Longlong Tu, Jonathan C Bean, Meng Yu, Kristine M Conde, Mengjie Wang, Olivia Ginnard, Xing Fang, Lydia Tong, Junying Han, Tia Darwich, Kevin W Williams, Yongjie Yang, Chunmei Wang, Shelagh Joss, Helen V Firth, Yong Xu, I Sadaf Farooqi

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Hypothalamic neural circuits regulate instinctive behaviors such as food seeking, the fight/flight response, socialization, and maternal care. Here, we identified microdeletions on chromosome Xq23 disrupting the brain-expressed transient receptor potential (TRP) channel 5 (TRPC5). This family of channels detects sensory stimuli and converts them into electrical signals interpretable by the brain. Male TRPC5 deletion carriers exhibited food seeking, obesity, anxiety, and autism, which were recapitulated in knockin male mice harboring a human loss-of-function TRPC5 mutation. Women carrying TRPC5 deletions had severe postpartum depression. As mothers, female knockin mice exhibited anhedonia and depression-like behavior with impaired care of offspring. Deletion of …

The Dna Methylome Of Pediatric Brain Tumors Appears Shaped By Structural Variation And Predicts Survival, Fengju Chen, Yiqun Zhang, Lanlan Shen, Chad J Creighton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Structural variation heavily influences the molecular landscape of cancer, in part by impacting DNA methylation-mediated transcriptional regulation. Here, using multi-omic datasets involving >2400 pediatric brain and central nervous system tumors of diverse histologies from the Children's Brain Tumor Network, we report hundreds of genes and associated CpG islands (CGIs) for which the nearby presence of somatic structural variant (SV) breakpoints is recurrently associated with altered expression or DNA methylation, respectively, including tumor suppressor genes ATRX and CDKN2A. Altered DNA methylation near enhancers associates with nearby somatic SV breakpoints, including MYC and MYCN. A subset of genes with SV-CGI methylation associations …

Translational Potential Of Mouse Models Of Human Metabolic Disease, I Sadaf Farooqi, Yong Xu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Obesity causes significant morbidity and mortality globally. Research in the last three decades has delivered a step-change in our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that regulate energy homeostasis, building on foundational discoveries in mouse models of metabolic disease. However, not all findings made in rodents have translated to humans, hampering drug discovery in this field. Here, we review how studies in mice and humans have informed our current framework for understanding energy homeostasis, discuss their challenges and limitations, and offer a perspective on how human studies may play an increasingly important role in the discovery of disease mechanisms and identification …

Development Of Pork Meatballs Supplemented With Commercial Soluble Dietary Fibres And Mimic In Vitro Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion, Chonlada Srikamwang, Pirawan Chaiwan, Sarana Rose Sommano, Malaiporn Wongkaew

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

This study investigated the effects of supplementing tapioca starch with commercially soluble dietary powder in meatballs to develop a low-glycaemic index (GI) food for people with high blood sugar levels. This work evaluates the physicochemical characteristics, texture profile analysis (TPA), proximate composition, and digestibility of carbohydrate in meatballs supplemented with commercial soluble dietary powder using 3x3 factorial completely randomised design. The physicochemical characteristics findings indicate that the colour values of GI meatballs, including L*, a*, and b*, ranged from 63.60 to 68.49, 1.52 to 3.05, and 13.86 to 16.56, respectively. The colour difference values of meatballs containing dietary fibre in …

Determination Of Value Adding Macromolecules From Ok-Rong Mango Peel Biomass, Pirawan Chaiwan, Piyachat Sunanta, Cholada Srikawang, Shashanka K. Prasad, Sarana Rose Sommano

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Mango is a significant economic fruit in Thailand, with an annual production of up to 500,000 tonnes. Ok-Rong is a popular mango type in Thailand, known for its higher price compared to other varieties. However, during the processing, biomass accounts for over 50% of the overall weight and causes a serious environmental problem. However, it has the potential to serve as a source of nutritional components, commonly used as additives in functional food. This study aimed to investigate the nutritional value of the peel, including proximate analysis, amino acid profile, and polysaccharide profile. The proximate analysis results indicate that the …

Effect Of Repeated Heating On Chemical Properties Of Selected Edible Plant Oil And Its Health Hazards, J Prarthana, Nischitha Nischitha, Shraddha Shraddha, Ramith Ramu

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Increase in the cost price of edible oil, has forced to reuse the cooking oil especially in frying. Repeated cooking of oil brings about lot of structural changes ideally not suitable for consumption. The present study aims at comparing the structure and chemical changes like acid value, peroxide value, saponification, iodine value of three different commonly used edible oil viz sunflower oil, coconut oil & rice bran oil after successive heating & cooling. Oils were heated four times for 45 minutes, followed by repeated cooling for 2 hours. The results indicates that the acid values of all three oils (0.32- …

Influence Of Attachment Styles On Oral Hygiene Status Of 9e12 Year Old Children - A Cross Sectional Study, Svsg Nirmala, Supriya Thambireddy, Sivakumar Nuvvula

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Background: Oral hygiene, which is measured by the status of plaque-free tooth surfaces, is essential for the promotion of oral health. Bowlby suggests that children develop internal working models in earlier stages depending on their attachment relationships with parents.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of attachment styles in 9-12-year-oldschool children and also to note the oral hygiene status of children based on their attachment style.

Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on three eighty-four 9–12-year-old school children in the Nellore district using the cluster sampling method. Attachment style was measured using 15-item questionnaires developed from the Attachment …

The Prevalence Of Stress Fractures And The Associated Leaf-Q Responses, Self-Reported Exercise Volume And Dietary Behaviors In Female Recreational Runners, Malorie Wilwand, Kelly Pritchett, Marissa Miles, Robert Pritchett, Abigail Larson

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(2): 1092-1104, 2024. Previous research suggests a high prevalence of low energy availability (LEA) and stress fractures (SF) among competitive female endurance athletes. However, much less is known about these issues among recreational female runners. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and number of self-reported SF and risk of LEA among noncompetitive, recreationally active female runners, aged 18 – 25 years. Additionally, it compared characteristics between females with a history of multiple SF vs. one or no SF, and between those ‘at risk’ vs. ‘not at risk’ of LEA. Female recreational runners (n=485) completed …

Common History Of Osteoradionecrosis Patients And Zip Code Impacts Onset, Michael W. Vouffo, Zaphanlene Y. Kaffey, Sarah Mirbahaeddin, Sydney Thomas, Irin Luke, Parshawn Gerafian, Rishabh Gaur, Sonali Joshi, Kyle Spier, Mohamed A. Naser, Amy C. Moreno, Laia Humbert-Vidan, Clifton D. Fuller

CATALYST Summer Training Program 2024

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Sustainable Cultivation Of Organic Bell Pepper Through Fulvic Acid (Fa) Application: Impact On Phytochemicals And Antioxidant Capacity Under Open-Field Conditions, Pinkky Kanabar, Ying Wu, Dilip Nandwani

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Fulvic acid (FA) is an eco-friendly solution for reducing the reliance on agrochemicals and enhancing crop quality. The study aimed to investigate the impact of soil and foliar application of FA on the phytochemical content and antioxidant properties of organically grown bell peppers at both the green and red stages. Bell pepper cv. Revolution was grown under open-field conditions at the certified organic farm at Tennessee State University, Nashville, with nine treatments and three replications. FA was applied as a soil drench and foliar spray at four different rates (0, 2.3, 5.5, 7.8, 10.9 mL L−1). The fruits were harvested …

The Inclusive Movement: An Examination Of High-Poverty And Low-Poverty School Districts In Arkansas, Latrenda Miller-Mills

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Since the inception of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as the national educational policy in 2015 (U.S. Department of Education, 2023), the Arkansas Department of Education has planned and implemented different initiatives to increase inclusive education in schools across the state. This quantitative research sought to examine the progress of public school districts in the state of Arkansas by determining if there were differences, particularly among high-poverty school districts across the state of Arkansas, that meet or exceed the state target percentage (58.07%) of students with disabilities being taught in general education classrooms for 80% or more of the …

Waste Management Process And Malaria-Induced Child Mortality In Côte D’Ivoire., Kouame N'Guessan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria-induced child mortality is a Sub-Saharan African phenomenon, and Côte d'Ivoire, in West Africa, has one of the highest rates. This general qualitative study investigates waste management as a potential factor of malaria-induced child mortality to inform policy changes and fill a gap in the body of knowledge. The study is grounded in Skocpol's policy feedback theoretical framework. The research question explored aspects of waste management in Côte d'Ivoire which contribute to the high rate of malaria-induced child mortality. Eighteen participants, equally divided into three groups, were purposely recruited via email and WhatsApp messages for semi-structured interviews using a smartphone …

Covid-19 Fear, Self-Regulation, Coping, And Eating Behaviors, Marlina Macblane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) impacted the world at an alarming rate, including the United States, near the end of 2019. Uncertainty, fear, anxiety, and unanswered questions spread rapidly with COVID-19. The media shared the most devastating outcomes of the virus while the harsh reality of fear and unknowns seemed to stop life as people knew it and began what seemed to be a new normal with social isolation and home confinement. This quantitative correlational study examined whether fear of contracting COVID-19 was associated with coping and self-regulation of eating behaviors. Lazarus’s transactional theory of stress and coping provided the framework …

Discovering And Characterizing Conserved Anthelmintic Targets In The Early Parasitic Stages Of Gastrointestinal Nematodes, Hyeim Jung

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) collectively infect 1.5 billion people, leading to mortality and various forms of morbidity in humans and hindering normal development in children. GINs also diminish the productivity of food animals, which are crucial for economic and nutritional well-being, particularly in developing countries. Currently, the world still primarily relies on only a few drug classes for global de-worming of GINs in humans and animals. However, the high rate of reinfection, disappointing treatment success rates, and increasing drug resistance make GINs one of the most important contributors to promoting and maintaining global poverty. This highlights the urgent need for more …

Variability And Error In Measurement Of Infant Formula Powder And Water: An Experimental Study, Richard R. Rosenkranz, Ana Gonzalez-Alvarez, Chris Acosta, Andrew Hooyman, Jose R. Hidalgo, Cindyromina Ballasteros-Paniagua, Sara K. Rosenkranz

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Formula feeding is the only viable nutrition alternative for infants 0–6mos who cannot breastfeed. Among the drawbacks of formula feeding, however, is potential dilution or concentration errors in the formula during preparation that may lead to infant health issues. The present study aimed to investigate the accuracy of caregiver measurements as they prepared infant formula under multiple conditions, compared with manufacturer specifications.

Methods: A diverse sample of caregivers (N = 84) participated in this cross-over experimental study. Participants hand-scooped infant formula powder and poured water to prepare 4oz. and 7oz. feedings, using both a standardized set of …

Cohen, Marsha, Reyna Lee Stovall

Bronx Jewish History Project

Summarizer: Sophia Maier

Marsha Cohen’s parents grew up in New York City, her mother living in the Highbridge area of the Bronx and her father living first in East Harlem then the South Bronx. Her grandparents had immigrated from Eastern Europe. Her parents married in 1939 and, by the time Cohen was born in 1946, the family lived at 3050 Decatur Avenue, on the north side of Mosholu Parkway. The neighborhood had five and six story apartment buildings, like theirs, and private houses and was mixed Irish, Italian, and Jewish. Cohen describes her building as primarily Jewish, with all boys …

The Impact Of Viet Nam’S Socialization Policy On Education And Health Equity Among Disadvantaged Children, Trang Quynh Nguyen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Xa hoi hoa (socialization) policy was officially adopted by the government of Viet Nam in the late 1990s as a coping strategy for its acute funding shortage in public services with the intent of improving social equity. There was hardly any assessment on the policy to learn its impact on social equity as documented in its key document. Using secondary data from UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys conducted in Viet Nam and Viet Nam Household Living Standards Surveys, this study examined the policy’s impact on education and health outcomes among disadvantaged children’s cohorts: the rural, the ethnic minorities and …

Disparities And Protective Factors In Pandemic-Related Mental Health Outcomes: A Louisiana-Based Study, Ariane L. Rung, Evrim Oral, Tyler Prusisz, Edward S. Peters

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide-ranging impact on mental health. Diverse populations experienced the pandemic differently, highlighting pre-existing inequalities and creating new challenges in recovery. Understanding the effects across diverse populations and identifying protective factors is crucial for guiding future pandemic preparedness. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the specific COVID-19-related impacts associated with general well-being, (2) identify protective factors associated with better mental health outcomes, and (3) assess racial disparities in pandemic impact and protective factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of Louisiana residents was conducted in summer 2020, yielding a sample of 986 Black …

Diapers At The Doctors: A Qualitative Study Of Socioeconomic Needs And Diaper Insecurity, Brooke Kelly Kaplan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract:

This study aimed to explore the perspectives of participants enrolled in a clinic-based diaper distribution program (Diapers at the Doctor) and to assess the impact of the program on their overall well-being and socioeconomic needs. The methods of this study consisted of in person interviews conducted in both English and Spanish. There were a total of 27 participants. The interview transcripts were coded and a thematic analysis was created by the research team. The findings indicate that programs such as Diapers at the Doctor (DATD) can serve as a crucial intervention to address broader socioeconomic needs, reducing the burden …

Molecular Mechanisms Behind Methionine-Derived Glucosinolate Diversity In Brassica Plants, Vivian Kitainda

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

In Brassica plants, glucosinolates are a diverse class of natural products that serve as plant defense molecules. Their structural diversity comes from the use of amino acids as precursors and elongation of side chains by up to nine carbons, as well as further chemical modifications. Aliphatic methionine-derived glucosinolates are the most abundant form of these compounds. Although both elongation and chemical modification of amino acid sidechains are important for methionine-glucosinolate diversity, its elongation process has not been well described. The chain elongation enzyme methylthioalkylmalate synthase (MAMS) functions as the glucosinolate pathway gatekeeper through its substrate specificity. The x-ray crystal structure …

The Effects Of Simulated Predation And Nursery Structure On Post-Outplant Survival And Growth Of Sexual Juveniles Of Six Caribbean Coral Species, Jarrod Little

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Over the past few decades, increasing frequency and severity of direct and indirect anthropogenic stressors have resulted in reef degradation and decreased coral cover and diversity. In South Florida, coral propagation ex situ has gained popularity as a means to restore coral cover. Outplanting sexually propagated corals on the reef is particularly important as it contributes to greater genetic diversity and potentially overall reef resilience. However, these corals typically experience high levels of predation following outplanting, significantly reducing coral survival, and thus constitute a major bottleneck to the success of restoration efforts. This study assessed if simulated predation events on …

A Machine Learning Model For Risk Stratification Of Postdiagnosis Diabetic Ketoacidosis Hospitalization In Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes: Retrospective Study, Devika Subramanian, Rona Sonabend, Ila Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D), occurring in approximately 20% of patients, with an economic cost of $5.1 billion/year in the United States. Despite multiple risk factors for postdiagnosis DKA, there is still a need for explainable, clinic-ready models that accurately predict DKA hospitalization in established patients with pediatric T1D.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop an interpretable machine learning model to predict the risk of postdiagnosis DKA hospitalization in children with T1D using routinely collected time-series of electronic health record (EHR) data.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control …

The Cadet Athlete Physical Training Intervention (Capti): A 16-Week Periodized Program To Remediate Underdeveloped Tactical Athletes At A Senior Military College, Margaret T. Thornton, Amy S. Welch, Scott Caulfield, Rachele M. Pojednic

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 1083-1091, 2024. Approximately half of military recruits fail the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), and 70% of all injuries in the US military are musculoskeletal in nature. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether underdeveloped musculoskeletal and cardiovascular fitness levels and subsequent APFT scores of senior military college cadets could be improved by a novel, evidence-based Cadet Athlete Physical Training Intervention (CAPTI) compared to the current Remedial Physical Training program (RPT). Cadets failing the APFT (total score < 180, or < 60 in scored sit-ups, pushups or run time, respectively) participated in a 16-week remedial training program including either CAPTI (periodized full body calisthenic and varied-technique cardiovascular training, along with mobility training and mental health and wellbeing sessions), or a traditional, event-specific remedial training program (RPT). CAPTI was randomly assigned to one of three battalions, while the others received RPT. One hundred and thirty-eight cadets (n = 70 CAPTI, n = 68 RPT) participated in the study. After training, 82.9% …

Science Of Hemp: Production And Pest Management Meeting Proceedings (2023)

Science of Hemp Annual Meeting

The fourth meeting of the Science of Hemp: Production and Pest Management Conference was held on November 13-15, 2023 at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. Agricultural scientists from 13 different universities across the United States attended a series of scientific presentations. Topics included agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, weed science, and controlled environment production. The abstracts for presentations and posters are included within this publication.

International Consensus On Fasting Terminology, Daniela A. Koppold, Carolin Breinlinger, Etienne Hanslian, Christian Kessler, Holger Cramer, Anika Rajput Khokhar, Courtney M. Peterson, Grant Tinsley, Claudio Vernieri, Richard J. Bloomer, Michael Boschmann, Nicola L. Bragazzi, Sebastian Brandhorst, Kelsey Gabel, Alan C. Goldhamer, Martin M. Grajower, Michelle Harvie, Leonie Heilbronn, Benjamin D. Horne, Spyridon N. Karras, Jost Langhorst, Eva Lischka, Frank Madeo, Sarah J. Mitchell, Ioannis Eleemon Papagiannopoulos-Vatopaidinos, Maria Papagiannopoulou, Hanno Pijl, Eric Ravussin, Martha Ritzmann-Widderich, Krista Varady, Lilian Adamidou, Melika Chihaoui, Rafael De Cabo, Mohamed Hassanein

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Although fasting is increasingly applied for disease prevention and treatment, consensus on terminology is lacking. Using Delphi methodology, an international, multidisciplinary panel of researchers and clinicians standardized definitions of various fasting approaches in humans. Five online surveys and a live online conference were conducted with 38 experts, 25 of whom completed all 5 surveys. Consensus was achieved for the following terms: “fasting” (voluntary abstinence from some or all foods or foods and beverages), “modified fasting” (restriction of energy intake to max. 25% of energy needs), “fluid-only fasting,” “alternate-day fasting,” “short-term fasting” (lasting 2–3 days), “prolonged fasting” (≥4 consecutive days), and …

Bio-Enriched Soil Technologies (Best), Norma Arcelia Alcantar

USF Patents

A bio-enriched soil and method of production is presented. If water supply is scant, bio-enriched soil technologies (BEST) are able to attract, store, and transport water and nutrient molecules to a plant in a controlled way. If the water or nutrient resources are excessive, BEST can release the excess and supply only what is needed. Hence, bio-enriched soil can function in climates in which crops normally are under stress by increasing the bioavailability of nutrients and water.

Corporate Philanthropy: Catalyst For Sustainable Alignment Or Mere Gesture? Unveiling The Impact On People, Planet, And Profits, Cameron L. Cleveland

Masters Projects

Corporate philanthropy and sustainability initiatives have become pivotal components of modern business strategies, underscoring the increasing importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR). As businesses face mounting pressure to address global challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality, their commitment to CSR reflects a broader recognition of their role in fostering sustainable development. This research paper conducts an in-depth examination of the philanthropic and sustainability efforts of several major corporations, including Chevron, Steelcase, MillerKnoll, Ikea, Sherwin Williams, Whirlpool Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Stryker Corporation, General Motors Company, and Kellogg Company. These companies were selected for this research study …