Digital Commons Network^™

Developing Disinfection Strategies For Controlling Human Norovirus, Sars-Cov-2, And Clostridioides Difficile Endospores In Long-Term Care Facilities, Jinge Huang

All Dissertations

Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) provide an environment favorable for the transmission of three critical human pathogens: human norovirus (HuNoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and Clostridioides difficile. Given residents in LTCFs are susceptible to infections due to their advanced ages and compromised immune systems, effective environmental surface disinfection plays a crucial role in controlling the spread of human pathogens within these settings and, therefore, mitigates the risk of infections caused by these pathogens. This dissertation aimed to assess the efficacy of various types of disinfectants against two HuNoV surrogates [feline calicivirus (FCV) and Tulane virus (TuV)], two …

Mapping Variability Of Soybean Leaf Potassium Concentrations To Develop A Sampling Protocol, Carrie C. Ortel, Trenton Roberts, Kyle A. Hoegenauer, Aurelie M. Poncet, Nathan A. Slaton, W. Jeremy Ross

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

The spatial variability of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] leaf-K (potassium) concentrations must be considered when collecting samples to monitor crop K status. Five commercial soybean fields were sampled at a 0.4-ha grid resolution at two reproductive growth stages to quantify the trifoliolate tissue-K concentration. The objectives of this study were to identify the potential field variability of soybean leaf-K concentrations in typical Mid-south US soybean production fields, evaluate interpolation methods, and develop a sampling protocol for in-season soybean tissue monitoring. No consistent spatial dependencies were found in the leaf-K concentrations across the fields and sample times, indicating that …

Improving Learning Environments In Schools Through Evidence Based Strategies, Brenda Cabrera

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Blue Zones Project is a community led well- being initiative serving all of Monterey County. When a school participates it must earn a specific number of points by implementing and enforcing recommended policies and programs. Currently in Monterey County, 45 percent of adults have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. A big focus of Blue Zones Project is diabetes education for students and their families. The approval process of a middle school in Salinas, Ca is currently in progress and will not be completed by the end of December 15, 2023. School Approval signifies a commitment to creating environments that prioritize …

Too Many Seniors In Santa Cruz County Are Food Insecure, Erica Santoyo

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Since 1977, Community Bridges has been a catalyst for a brighter future by delivering fundamental resources for the people of Santa Cruz County. According to the Seniors Council of Santa Cruz County, “40% of all older Santa Cruzan's (age 65+) do not have enough income to meet their basic needs, food being one of them.” (Bratten, 2021) The majority of these seniors are on fixed incomes and don't have enough resources to afford nutritious food. This number has continued to increase in the past months for those who are homebound, as access to food is especially difficult and the cost …

Implications Of California State Standards In Relation To Disordered Eating For School Aged Children, Jessica De Mott

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Food is a part of people’s lives, even when it is not acknowledged. It is distinctly tied to various cultures, ethnicities, and religions; with elements of restriction and gluttony abundant. Then, there is the complication of modern nutrition and health education that is taught in American, and more specifically in Californian schools. But, the education received on this issue has failed some students. Many school aged children reported that they experienced disordered eating, and learning content has further exacerbated this issue. This senior capstone research will examine the implications of California State Standards in relation to disordered eating for school …

Single-Cell Dna Methylome And 3d Multi-Omic Atlas Of The Adult Mouse Brain, Hanqing Liu, Qiurui Zeng, Jingtian Zhou, Anna Bartlett, Bang-An Wang, Peter Berube, Wei Tian, Mia Kenworthy, Jordan Altshul, Joseph R Nery, Huaming Chen, Rosa G Castanon, Songpeng Zu, Yang Eric Li, Jacinta Lucero, Julia K Osteen, Antonio Pinto-Duarte, Jasper Lee, Jon Rink, Silvia Cho, Nora Emerson, Michael Nunn, Carolyn O'Connor, Zhanghao Wu, Ion Stoica, Zizhen Yao, Kimberly A Smith, Bosiljka Tasic, Chongyuan Luo, Jesse R Dixon, Hongkui Zeng, Bing Ren, M Margarita Behrens, Joseph R Ecker

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cytosine DNA methylation is essential in brain development and is implicated in various neurological disorders. Understanding DNA methylation diversity across the entire brain in a spatial context is fundamental for a complete molecular atlas of brain cell types and their gene regulatory landscapes. Here we used single-nucleus methylome sequencing (snmC-seq3) and multi-omic sequencing (snm3C-seq)1 technologies to generate 301,626 methylomes and 176,003 chromatin conformation–methylome joint profiles from 117 dissected regions throughout the adult mouse brain. Using iterative clustering and integrating with companion whole-brain transcriptome and chromatin accessibility datasets, we constructed a methylation-based cell taxonomy with 4,673 cell groups and 274 …

Plastic, It's What's For Dinner: A Preliminary Comparison Of Ingested Particles In Bottlenose Dolphins And Their Prey, Leslie B Hart, Miranda Dziobak, Randall S Wells, Elizabeth Berens Mccabe, Eric Conger, Tita Curtin, Maggie Knight, John Weinstein

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Microplastic ingestion was reported for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting Sarasota Bay, FL, USA, a community that also has prevalent exposure to plasticizers (i.e., phthalates) at concentrations higher than human reference populations. Exposure sources are currently unknown, but plastic-contaminated prey could be a vector. To explore the potential for trophic exposure, prey fish muscle and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) tissues and contents were screened for suspected microplastics, and particle properties (e.g., color, shape, surface texture) were compared with those observed in gastric samples from free-ranging dolphins. Twenty-nine fish across four species (hardhead catfish, Ariopsis felis; pigfish, Orthopristis …

Effects Of Antiresorptive Medications On Tooth Root Formation And Tooth Eruption In Paediatric Patients, Yuki Arai, Jeryl D English, Noriaki Ono, Wanida Ono

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tooth eruption is a pivotal milestone for children's growth and development. This process involves with the formation of the tooth root, the periodontal ligament (PDL) and the alveolar bone, as the tooth crown penetrates the bone and gingiva to enter the oral cavity. This review aims to outline current knowledge of the adverse dental effects of antiresorptive medications. Recently, paediatric indications for antiresorptive medications, such as bisphosphonates (BPs), have emerged, and these agents are increasingly used in children and adolescents to cure pathological bone resorption associated with bone diseases and cancers. Since tooth eruption is accompanied by osteoclastic bone resorption, …

Exploratory Analysis Of Medication Adherence And Social Determinants Ofhealth Among Older Adults With Diabetes, M. L. Blakely, F. Sherbeny, T. J. Hastings, L. Boyd, Omolola A. Adeoye-Olatunde

Department of Pharmacy Practice Faculty Publications

Background

Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States (US), affecting approximately 27%, or 15.9 million adults 65 years of age and older. Diabetes is the most expensive chronic condition in the US and accounts for the second largest avoidable healthcare cost. Adherence to long-term medication treatment plans is crucial among patients with diabetes because it decreases risk of developing comorbid conditions and improves quality of life. Greater exposure to adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) over an individual's lifespan can result in worse health outcomes. Hence, it is important to obtain a better understanding of …

Longitudinal Lipidomic Profiles During Pregnancy And Associations With Neonatal Anthropometry: Findings From A Multiracial Cohort, Yiqing Song, Ruijin Lu, Guoqi Yu, Mohammad L Rahman, Liwei Chen, Yeiyi Zhu, Michael Y Tsai, Oliver Fiehn, Zhen Chen, Cuilin Zhang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Maternal lipidomic profiling offers promise for characterizing lipid metabolites during pregnancy, but longitudinal data are limited. This study aimed to examine associations of longitudinal lipidomic profiles during pregnancy with multiple neonatal anthropometry using data from a multiracial cohort.

METHODS: We measured untargeted plasma lipidome profiles among 321 pregnant women from the NICHD Fetal Growth Study-Singletons using plasma samples collected longitudinally during four study visits at gestational weeks (GW) 10-14, 15-26, 23-31, and 33-39, respectively. We evaluated individual lipidomic metabolites at each study visit in association with neonatal anthropometry. We also evaluated the associations longitudinally by constructing lipid networks using …

Association Of The Covid-19 Pandemic With Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) Receipt Among Pregnant Individuals: United States, 2016-2022, Savannah Busch, Jennifer A Andersen, Don E Willis, Pearl Anna Mcelfish, Sharon Reece, Dominique Dubois, Clare C Brown

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives. To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) receipt among pregnant individuals overall and by race/ethnicity.

Methods. We measured changes in WIC receipt among Medicaid-covered births (n = 10 484 697) from the US National Center for Health Statistics Natality Files (2016–2022). Our interrupted time series logistic model included a continuous monthly variable, a binary post-COVID variable, and a continuous slope shift variable. We additionally fit separate models for each race/ethnicity relative to White individuals, using interaction terms between the time series variables and race/ethnicity.

Results. We found decreases in …

Epidemiology Of Musculoskeletal Injury In Military Recruits: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Myles C. Murphy, Joanne Stannard, Vanessa R. Sutton, Patrick J. Owen, Brendon Park, Paola T. Chivers, Nicolas H. Hart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Injuries are a common occurrence in military recruit training, however due to differences in the capture of training exposure, injury incidence rates are rarely reported. Our aim was to determine the musculoskeletal injury epidemiology of military recruits, including a standardised injury incidence rate. Methods: Epidemiological systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Five online databases were searched from database inception to 5th May 2021. Prospective and retrospective studies that reported data on musculoskeletal injuries sustained by military recruits after the year 2000 were included. We reported on the frequency, prevalence and injury incidence rate. Incidence rate per 1000 training …

Serum Biomarkers Of Nociceptive And Neuropathic Pain In Chronic Pancreatitis, Jami L Saloman, Yan Li, Kimberly Stello, Wenhao Li, Shuang Li, Anna Evans Phillips, Kristen Hall, Evan L Fogel, Santhi Swaroop Vege, Liang Li, Dana K Andersen, William E Fisher, Christopher E Forsmark, Phil A Hart, Stephen J Pandol, Walter G Park, Mark D Topazian, Stephen K Van Den Eeden, Jose Serrano, Darwin L Conwell, Dhiraj Yadav, Consortium For The Study Of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, And Pancreatic Cancer (Cpdpc)

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Debilitating abdominal pain is a common symptom affecting most patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). There are multiple underlying mechanisms that contribute to CP-related pain, which makes successful treatment difficult. The identification of biomarkers for subtypes of pain could provide viable targets for nonopioid interventions and the development of mechanistic approaches to pain management in CP. Nineteen inflammation- and nociception-associated proteins were measured in serum collected from 358 subjects with definite CP enrolled in PROspective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for EpidEmiologic and Translational StuDies, a prospective observational study of pancreatitis in US adult subjects. First, serum levels of putative biomarkers were …

Dietary And Supplemental Intake Of Vitamins C And E Is Associated With Altered Dna Methylation In An Epigenome-Wide Association Study Meta-Analysis, Amena Keshawarz, Roby Joehanes, Jiantao Ma, Gha Y. Lee, Ricardo Costeira, Pei-Chien Tsai, Olatz M. Masachs, Jordana T. Bell, Rory Wilson, Barbara Thorand, Juliane Winkelmann, Annette Peters, Jakob Linseisen, Melanie Waldenberger, Terho Lehtimäki, Pashupati P. Mishra, Mika Kähönen, Olli Raitakari, Mika Helminen, Carol A. Wang, Phillip E. Melton, Rae-Chi Huang, Craig E. Pennell, Therese A. O’Sullivan, Carolina Ochoa-Rosales, Trudy Voortman, Joyce B.J. Van Meurs, Kristin L. Young, Misa Graff, Yujie Wang, Douglas P. Kiel, Caren E. Smith, Paul F. Jacques, Daniel Levy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

BACKGROUND: Dietary intake of antioxidants such as vitamins C and E protect against oxidative stress, and may also be associated with altered DNA methylation patterns. METHODS: We meta-analysed epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) results from 11,866 participants across eight population-based cohorts to evaluate the association between self-reported dietary and supplemental intake of vitamins C and E with DNA methylation. EWAS were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, caloric intake, blood cell type proportion, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and technical covariates. Significant results of the meta-analysis were subsequently evaluated in gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and expression quantitative trait methylation (eQTM) analysis. RESULTS: …

Qt Interval And Short-Term Outcome In Acute Heart Failure, Òscar Miró, Oriol Aguiló, Joan Carles Trullàs, Víctor Gil, Begoña Espinosa, Javier Jacob, Pablo Herrero-Puente, Josep Tost, María Luísa López-Grima, Pere Comas, Carlos Bibiano, Lluís Llauger, Enrique Martin Mojarro, María Pilar López-Díez, Julio Núñez, Zubaid Rafique, Kelly R Keene, Frank Peacock, Pedro Lopez-Ayala, Christian Mueller, Manuel Montero Pérez-Barquero, Lluís Mont, Pere Llorens

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To investigate the association of corrected QT (QTc) interval duration and short-term outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods: We analyzed AHF patients enrolled in 11 Spanish emergency departments (ED) for whom an ECG with QTc measurement was available. Patients with pace-maker rhythm were excluded. Primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality and secondary outcomes were need of hospitalization, in-hospital mortality and prolonged hospitalization (> 7 days). Association between QTc and outcomes was explored by restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves. Results were expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95%CI adjusted by patients baseline and decompensation characteristics, using a …

Multi-Domain Interventions For Dementia Prevention–A Systematic Review, C. B. Castro, L. M. Costa, C. Max B. Dias, J. Chen, H. Hillebrandt, Samantha L. Gardener, B. M. Brown, R. L. Loo, M. L. Garg, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Ralph N. Martins, Hamid R. Sohrabi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: There is a growing incidence of cognitive decline and dementia associated with the ageing population. Lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and cognitive activities may individually or collectively be undertaken to increase one’s odds of preventing cognitive decline and future dementia. This study will examine whether clinical trials using multidomain lifestyle intervention can significantly decrease the risk of cognitive decline and therefore dementia. Design, Setting and Participants: This systematic literature review of multidomain lifestyle interventions for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia followed the PRISMA guidelines. Clinical trials involving multidomain intervention (i.e., diet and physical activity, or …

Oxalic Acid: A Blooming Organic Acid For Postharvest Quality Preservation Of Fresh Fruit And Vegetables, Mahmood Ul Ul Hasan, Zora Singh, Hafiz Muhammad Shoaib Shah, Jashanpreet Kaur, Andrew Woodward, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Aman Ullah Malik

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Oxalic acid (OA) is a unique organic acid that commonly occurs in plants with distinct functions in modulating metabolic processes. To date, the role of OA has primarily been studied in the deactivation of copper-containing preservatives, detoxification of aluminium toxicity and remediation of organic pollutants. During the last two decades, OA has been considered as an antioxidant compound with focus on its potential to enhance crop yield, improve fruit quality, boost nutritional profile, and delay postharvest senescence in fruit and vegetables. It has been established that pre- and postharvest OA application delays ripening and senescence by down-regulating physiological processes such …

Blastocyst Quality And Reproductive And Perinatal Outcomes: A Multinational Multicentre Observational Study, Haowen Zou, James M. Kemper, Elizabeth R. Hammond, Fengqin Xu, Gensheng Liu, Lintao Xue, Xiaohong Bai, Hongqing Liao, Songguo Xue, Shuqin Zhao, Lan Xia, Jean Scott, Vincent Chapple, Masoud Afnan, Dean E. Morbeck, Ben W. J. Mol, Yanhe Liu, Rui Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

STUDY QUESTION: Does the transfer of single low-grade blastocysts result in acceptable reproductive and perinatal outcomes compared to the transfer of single good-grade blastocysts? SUMMARY ANSWER: The transfer of single low-grade blastocysts resulted in a reduced live birth rate of around 30% (14% for very low-grade blastocysts) compared to 44% for single good-grade blastocysts, but does not lead to more adverse perinatal outcomes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: It is known that low-grade blastocysts can result in live births. However, the current studies are limited by relatively small sample sizes and single-centre designs. Furthermore, evidence on perinatal outcomes after transferring low-grade …

Nutritional Strategies To Optimise Musculoskeletal Health For Fall And Fracture Prevention: Looking Beyond Calcium, Vitamin D And Protein, James Webster, Jack Dalla Via, Christina Langley, Cassandra Smith, Craig Sale, Marc Sim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Falls and osteoporotic fractures are a major public health problem, particularly among older adults. A third of individuals aged 65 years and over fall at least once each year, with up to 20 % of these resulting in serious injury, including fracture. In conjunction with regular exercise, the importance of diet for musculoskeletal health has largely focused upon calcium, vitamin D, and protein, particularly in the context of preventing falls and fractures. Whilst there is evidence for the benefits of these nutrients for musculoskeletal health, other aspects of the diet remain largely underexplored. For example, vegetables are rich sources of …

The Kneeling Isometric Plantar Flexor Test: Preliminary Reliability And Feasibility In Professional Youth Football, John J. Mcmahon, Nicholas J. Ripley, Paul Comfort, Francisco J. Robles-Palazón, Jack T. Fahey, Andrew J. Badby, Christopher Bramah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Calf injuries are common in professional football; thus, the establishment of reliable and time-efficient methods of measuring the peak force capabilities of the plantar flexors with equipment that is accessible to football practitioners is valuable. In this study, we determined the preliminary reliability and feasibility of a new test, termed the kneeling isometric plantar flexion test (KIPFT), for footballers. Twenty-one male youth footballers (age = 17.8 ± 1.1 years, height = 182 ± 5 cm, weight = 77.6 ± 5.9 kg) from English League One football clubs completed three trials of the KIPFT on a wireless force plate at the …

Comparing Bone Histology, Topography, And Other Physical Attributes To The Presence Of Viable Dna After Interval Cremation, Eldad Cano Jr

Student Theses

This research aims to compare the resulting characteristics caused by thermal exposure to bone samples – such as physical composition, microscopic histology, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis – to the qualitative and quantitative DNA analysis within the samples. By using kilns to cremate sus scrofa domesticus bone samples at five different temperatures, cortical and cancellous bones of the tibia, humerus, femur, and fibula will be analyzed and compared to determine any correlation with these factors and the presence of viable DNA. This contribution to research within the realm of forensic anthropology can grant a better understanding of how bone …

Conquering And Combating Isolation, Nicholas Deanda

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Conquering and Combating Isolation initiative, implemented by an OMNI Resource Center intern, addressed severe isolation issues among individuals with mental health disabilities in Salinas, California. The macro-level problem encompassed the adverse effects of isolation on mental health and well-being. At the micro-level, the agency-specific issue was the heightened risk of unhealthy habits, depression and anxiety, and suicidal ideation among OMNI clients due to loneliness caused by homelessness, stigma, and a lack of social skills. The project entailed facilitating weekly peer support group discussions to minimize impacts of isolation, aiming for increased knowledge and skill-building. Findings revealed positive outcomes as …

Support Families’ Increased Access To Dental Care, Carmen Barron

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Monterey County Oral Health Program is a program of the Monterey County Health Department housed under the Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Unit. The Oral Health Program focuses on providing educational workshops to parents and classroom presentations to Kindergarten and first graders students. They provide services to schools that have a rate of 80% or higher of students enrolled in Free or Reduced-Price meals (FRPM). Studies show that minority students with low socioeconomic status (SES) have higher rates of untreated cavities in their primary teeth than non-Hispanic White students. The purpose of this project is to provide and educate …

Expanding Recognition And Inclusion Of Animal-Free Organic Agriculture In The Sustainable Agriculture Movement, Mona Seymour

Urban and Environmental Studies Faculty Works

Animal-free organic agriculture resides at the margins of sustainable agriculture discourse, practice, and imaginaries, which center animal-based forms of farming. However, the concerns and goals of sustainable agriculture are overwhelmingly consistent with those of many forms of animal-free organic agriculture (AFOA), described as organic farming sans animal production, labor, and byproducts. Despite this sidelining, AFOA has great potential to contribute to a more robust sustainable agriculture movement. In order to emphasize the continuities between animal-based and animal-free sustainable agriculture, this Perspective identifies a number of key similarities between animal-free and animal-based sustainable farming, including mutual foci on soil health and …

The Quiet And Other Fantastical Tales, Emily Nicole Cerda

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis briefly discusses the genres and subgenres of speculative fiction—focusing on fantasy, horror, and science fiction—and is primarily a short story collection that also includes a few novel chapters. The critical introduction delves into the present and overly complex subgenre categorization methods, how and why new subgenres are created, and provides simple definitions for the main genres of speculative fiction and fantasy subgenres.

The subgenres that will be discussed through either a short story, novel chapter(s), or definition include, but are not limited to: fairytales, portal fantasy, paranormal romance, dark fantasy, historical fantasy, magical realism, epic fantasy, mythic fiction, …

Aedes Aegypti Host Preference On Canines Versus Human Volatile Skin Compounds, Melissa Bernadette Rosalez

Theses and Dissertations

It is critical to understand how Aedes aegypti mosquitoes detect hosts through cues such as volatile skin compounds. In South Texas, evidence suggests that this mosquito is showing a feeding preference for canines over humans. This shift may impact the transmission of Dirofilaria immitis, canine heart worms, in local dog populations. Our study is set to explore Ae. Aegypti attraction to hosts using canine and human volatile compounds. Volatile skin compounds will be collected using a volatile collection system. Compounds will be analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. It is anticipated that the main volatile skin compounds amongst humans are nonanal, …

Comparing Socioeconomic Status To Educational Diagnosis Of Serious Emotional Disturbances: A Linear Analysis Of Texas Data, Cristina Rangel

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation was prepared to determine if a correlation existed between a student’s poverty level and an educational diagnosis of serious emotional disturbance. I hypothesize that students at or under the United States’ definition of poverty are more likely to exhibit signs and symptoms of a serious emotional disturbance and therefore be diagnosed and placed in special education. Both federal data (i.e., poverty levels) and Texas data (i.e., dx of SED) were compared to determine correlation and directionality. TEA combines districts into 20 regions. Special education placement data is publicly available on State databases. Federal poverty levels are available …

Meeting Students’ Needs To Improve Motivation And Higher Academic Achievement In Rio Grande Valley Schools, Tanya Jessica Reyes

Theses and Dissertations

Educational systems are to prepare students for future success in our ever-changing world. Administrators must realize that before a student is willing to learn, crucial needs must be met, especially in low-socioeconomic areas such as the Rio Grande Valley. Some basic needs consist of food and shelter, which are vital for survival. Other needs deal with one’s social and emotional needs that support a child's safety, sense of belonging, and their self-esteem. In this study, focus groups were conducted with sixth, seventh, and eighth grade student participants that gathered the phenomenon of their experiences and their fulfillment of needs …

Intestinal Microbiome, Fecal Fermentation Profile, And Health Indices In Hiv Infected Men Versus Non-Infected Controls, Mary Andreae, Mary C. Andreae Mrs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many HIV-positive (HIV+) males on Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) experience metabolic abnormalities, including Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and lipodystrophy. The intestinal microbiota and short chain fatty acids (SCFA), participate in bidirectional communication with their host. Dysbiosis in HIV+ males on HAART demonstrate a Prevotella-rich enterotype shaped by multiple factors including, medications, adiposity, diet, intestinal permeability, and lifestyle; our objective was to investigate these factors. 19 HIV+ and 21 HIV- males were enrolled. BMI and hip-to-waist ratio (H:W) were obtained, and FibroScan for liver health. Intestinal permeability markers Claudin-21, flagellin, and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) in …

Repeated Treatment With 5-Ht1a And 5-Ht1b Receptor Agonists: Evidence Of Tolerance And Behavioral Sensitization, Jordan Taylor

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Serotonin has been found to regulate several cognitive and physiological functions, and its role in depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders has been a focus of research. More specifically, a wealth of research regarding serotonin focuses on serotonergic medications in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, and stimulates the 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_1B receptors. Within the last decade, there has been an increase in prescriptions of psychotropic medication for children, however, the efficacy and adverse effects of these drugs have not been evaluated in younger populations. While antidepressants reduce symptoms of depression in adults, they are …