Digital Commons Network^™

Recipe Modification For Cardiovascular Health, Meg Tolbert

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. CVDs affect the heart and blood vessels. The most prominent CVDs are coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions. More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes.

The most important behavioral risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, but also include harmful abuse of tobacco and alcohol. These lifestyle factors display themselves as phenotypes like high blood pressure, high blood glucose and blood lipids, diabetes, and obesity. These risk factors, outside of genotype …

Native And Non-Native Ant Impacts On Soil Microbes, Hannah A. Stewart

Biology Theses

Organisms produce chemical weapons for defense, but target organisms can develop resistance. In their introduced range, non-native species may bring “novel weapons” against which native organisms have not co-evolved resistance. The invasive European fire ant (Myrmica rubra) may have brought antimicrobial secretions to the Northeastern United States that are novel weapons against native fungal and bacterial soil organisms. I hypothesized that M. rubra would better inhibit seed pathogens resulting in greater emergence of native myrmecochorous Viola sororia seeds and, as a side effect, more strongly inhibit arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi than a native seed dispersing ant (Aphaenogaster picea …

Adopting Lactobacillus And Organic Acids As Alternative Treatments To Necrotic Enteritis, Javad A'Arabi

Honors Theses

From the Introduction:

"The hypothesis of this study was that the use of Lactobacillus species can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the chicken gut and promote gut health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of probiotics bacteria, Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus salivarius, to protect chickens against Clostridium perfringens."

Reestablishing A New Normal: Addressing The Social Injustices At The Heart Of Cardiovascular Disease Epidemic And Examining The Role Of Feutin-A As A Potential Therapy, Christopher Robinson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Accuracy And Quality Of Microgreens Training Materials Available On The Internet: A Content Analysis, Supun Chathuranga Nabadawa Hewage

All Theses

Microgreens are the young, edible seedlings of various vegetables, spices, herbs, and considered as the intermediate stage of sprouts and mature greens, suggesting microgreens may share similar food safety risks with both of these produce. Even though there are no known outbreaks due to contaminated microgreens, multiple product recalls have been reported, indicating food safety risks associated with microgreens should not be underemphasized. A recent national survey of the U.S. microgreens industry reported that almost half of growers (48.3% of 176) learned to grow microgreens by viewing websites and videos on the internet.¹ However, it is unknown whether the …

Characterization Of A Potential Glucose Transporter In Trypanosoma Brucei, Matthew Morgan

All Theses

Trypanosoma brucei, the African trypanosome, is an organism heavily dependent on glucose for ATP production during the infectious stage of its life cycle. Here, we have explored the role of an uncharacterized protein designated “novel glucose transporter” (NGT) as a potential glucose transporter. Sequence analyses suggests that NGT shares similarities (either at the primary sequence level or structurally) with Trypanosome Hexose Transporters 1 (TbTHT1), and human GLUT3, both of which are membrane sugar transporters. NGT was localized by fluorescence microscopy to subcellular structures consistent with lysosomes. Silencing NGT expression with RNA interference in parasites resulted in a growth defect …

Effects Of Forest Management On Early-Successional Avian Species In The Southern Blue Ridge Ecoregion, Michael J. Adams

All Theses

Early-successional habitats are a critical habitat type for Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera). In the Southern Blue Ridge Ecoregion, early-successional habitats have declined over the last 70 years, and the extent of which Ruffed Grouse and Golden-winged Warblers occupy these habitats at the edge of their ranges is unknown. Understanding the factors that drive the presence or absence of these species in this region is critical to inform quality management of early-successional forests. Additionally, increased knowledge of these species will likely benefit other species of conservation concern that rely on early-successional forests, …

Use Of 14c-Pfoa To Study Uptake And Biological Effects Of Pfoa In Brassica Juncea, Bryanna Dawn Wattier

All Theses

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a surfactant, is a member of the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) family and is a contaminant of emerging concern for human and environmental health. PFOA is a persistent organic pollutant but currently little is known about (1) the potential ecological and toxicological effects of PFOA and (2) how PFOA moves in the environment. This study employs a radiotracer (¹⁴C-PFOA) to study the uptake and effects of PFOA in hydroponically grown Brassica juncea, a representative crop species. Plants were exposed in quadruplicate over the course of seven days (with plants sampled on day 4 and day 7) …

Identification Of Critical Points For Bacterial Contamination In The Microbrewery Environment, Alex Ryan Thompson

All Theses

There are 8,884 craft breweries producing over 23 million barrels of beer in the United States as of 2020. These 23 million barrels of craft beer account for 12.3% of the United States beer consumption in 2020. The American craft beer industry is substantial and needs to protect its product from bacterial contamination.

Overall, beer is a microbially stable product. Beers pH, ethanol levels, CO₂ concentrations, the presence of hop-derived antimicrobial compounds, and low levels of O₂ make beer a highly unfavorable environment for most bacterial species. Furthermore, the brewing process, which involves heat treatments and chemical sanitizers …

Engagement Of Families In The Care Of Hospitalized Pediatric Patients: A Scoping Review, Teresa Jerofke-Owen, Natalie S. Mcandrew, Karen Gralton, Joan P. Totka, Marianne E. Weiss, Alissa V. Fial, Kathleen J. Sawin

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This scoping review was conducted to examine the range, nature, and extent of the published family engagement literature specific to the pediatric acute care setting to highlight future research and practice development opportunities. Included studies (N = 247) revealed global relevance. Engagement strategies ranged from more passive such as allowing/encouraging families to be present at the bedside to more active strategies aimed at promoting mutual and reciprocal nurse–patient interactions. Family engagement is distinguished by a mutually beneficial partnership of families with health care team members and care organizations. Future research in the area of family engagement in pediatric nursing …

Providencia Rettgeri Infection Compromising Post-Burn Recovery: A Lesson In The Importance Of Follow-Up Care., Mallorie L Huff, Sigrid A. Blome-Eberwein Md

Department of Surgery

Early burn excision and skin grafting have been essential to improving patient outcomes following a burn injury. However, there remain significant barriers to recovery for burn patients, especially in the post-discharge period, as follow-up care is essential to the timely identification of complications. While the infection is a common complication of a post-burn wound,

Temporal Dynamics And Seed Dispersal In Plant-Frugivore Communities Of The Dominican Republic, Spencer Christian Schubert

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Plant-animal mutualisms are a foundational component of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems. Most tropical forest plants have adapted to produce fleshy fruits to attract frugivorous animals to disperse seeds. Interaction patterns among plant taxa and their seed dispersers are driven by a complex suite of factors involving their evolutionary history and environmental context, and the structure of these mutualistic networks are theoretically tied to their ecological function. I carried out a series of field studies to investigate the temporal dynamics of mutualistic interactions of plant and avian frugivore communities in the central Dominican Republic and how their characteristics affect seed dispersal …

Corporate America Gives Back: Exploring The Best Practices And Implemented Programs That Help Combat Food Insecurity In America, Emily Uvaney

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

As businesses of all types become more self-aware and responsive to consumers’ interests, they are quickly adapting their business models to include pillars of philanthropy. Philanthropic qualities are especially important in regards to the CPG industry (consumer packaged goods) since they often produce food products. Many consumers and analysts believe that CPGs have a moral obligation to cater to people with various types of dietary needs, restrictions, and preferences while also helping customers meet their nutritional minimums. Companies can aid consumers in a plethora of ways. Beneficial programs can include initiatives like fundraising, food drives, internal employee assistance programs, and …

Colgate-Palmolive Customer Development Year-Long Internship Project, Maggie Johnson

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

From June 2021 to May 2022, I had the privilege of being the Customer Development Intern in the home care department at Colgate-Palmolive. In this thesis I will unpack the experience of working with Colgate Palmolive, specifically as it pertains to my largest project for the company.

The genesis of the project was informed by observations of the company over the course of the internship. The company had a noticeable gap in the data collection tools it was utilizing. I, along with the manager and analyst of the home care team, identified a solution by using Walnut in Google Data …

Comparative Effects Of Eccentric Overload Training On Muscle Function Measures When Combined With Aquatic Plyometric Training, Cassidy Weeks

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Although there is a growing body of knowledge on eccentric resistance training and aquatic plyometric training on muscle function measures alone, no research to date has investigated the effects of a mixed training model. Aquatic plyometrics and overload eccentric training are two different training models which could work synergistically because the shortcomings of one model are the virtues of the other (i.e., plyometrics are not as effective at producing large muscle size and strength gains and eccentric-only training largely lacks the functional SSC component). The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the effects of a combined eccentric …

Weight Management Program Using Myfitnesspal© In A Rural Primary Care Setting, Taylor Rittman

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP Capstone Projects

Obesity is a growing health concern that is linked to the development of chronically debilitating physical and mental illnesses. Obesity is a result of a long-term positive imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Evidence has shown more than one third of U.S. adults suffer from obesity. Primary care providers in the United States report being overburdened in treating obesity, citing a lack of time, structured approach, and structured resources. Furthermore, the disparities in obesity are even more prevalent in rural areas where older adults are the fastest growing part of the population at risk for this disease. Evidence indicates …

Effectiveness Of A Frailty Assessment Index To Predict Early Readmission Rates In Frail And Older Adult Renal Transplant Patients, Marilyn Barnett

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP Capstone Projects

Background: Renal transplantation is a complex intervention integrating both medical and surgical modalities, and is considered the treatment of choice for many individuals with end-stage renal disease. The complicated care of patients undergoing renal transplantation puts them at risk for adverse outcomes including infection, allograft loss, and a greater risk for some types of cancer. Evaluating patients to ensure they have the ability and support to cope with the stress of surgery and recovery, is an important part of determining the most appropriate candidates to receive the limited supply of organs available. Frailty has increasingly been identified as a predictor …

Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Health Behaviors And Feelings Of Career Preparedness Of Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Mary Haggard

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The aim of this study was to determine if the COVID-19 pandemic affected the health behaviors and feelings of career preparedness of undergraduate nursing students. Participants were recruited from the pre-licensure program at the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville during the Fall 2021 semester. The final sample consisted of 92 participants. This study used a cross-sectional design, retrospectively measuring behaviors and attitudes pre-pandemic and during the lockdown period. Two-tailed paired t-tests were run on the health behavior sections and feelings of career preparedness sections independently. Results were deemed significant with an alpha value set …

Mitochondrial Sirtuin-3 (Sirt3) Prevents Doxorubicin-Induced Dilated Cardiomyopathy By Modulating Protein Acetylation And Oxidative Stress, Mateusz M Tomczyk, Kyle G Cheung, Bo Xiang, Nahid Tamanna, Ana L Fonseca Teixeira, Prasoon Agarwal, Stephanie M Kereliuk, Victor Spicer, Ligen Lin, Jason Treberg, Qiang Tong, Vernon W Dolinsky

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: High doses of doxorubicin put cancer patients at risk for developing dilated cardiomyopathy. Previously, we showed that doxorubicin treatment decreases SIRT3 (sirtuin 3), the main mitochondrial deacetylase and increases protein acetylation in rat cardiomyocytes. Here, we hypothesize that SIRT3 expression can attenuate doxorubicin induced dilated cardiomyopathy in vivo by preventing the acetylation of mitochondrial proteins.

METHODS: Nontransgenic, M3-SIRT3 (truncated SIRT3; short isoform), and M1-SIRT3 (full-length SIRT3; mitochondrial localized) transgenic mice were treated with doxorubicin for 4 weeks (8 mg/kg body weight per week). Echocardiography was performed to assess cardiac structure and function and validated by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence (n=4-10). …

Evaluating Eosinophilic Colitis As A Unique Disease Using Colonic Molecular Profiles: A Multi-Site Study, Tetsuo Shoda, Margaret H Collins, Mark Rochman, Ting Wen, Julie M Caldwell, Lydia E Mack, Garrett A Osswald, John A Besse, Yael Haberman, Seema S Aceves, Nicoleta C Arva, Kelley E Capocelli, Mirna Chehade, Carla M Davis, Evan S Dellon, Gary W Falk, Nirmala Gonsalves, Sandeep K Gupta, Ikuo Hirano, Paneez Khoury, Amy Klion, Calies Menard-Katcher, John Leung, Vincent A Mukkada, Philip E Putnam, Jonathan M Spergel, Joshua B Wechsler, Guang-Yu Yang, Glenn T Furuta, Lee A Denson, Marc E Rothenberg, Consortium Of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases Researchers (Cegir)

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Colonic eosinophilia, an enigmatic finding often referred to as eosinophilic colitis (EoC), is a poorly understood condition. Whether EoC is a distinct disease or a colonic manifestation of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is undetermined.

METHODS: Subjects with EoC (n = 27) and controls (normal [NL, n = 20], Crohn's disease [CD, n = 14]) were enrolled across sites associated with the Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers. EoC was diagnosed as colonic eosinophilia (ascending ≥100, descending ≥85, sigmoid ≥65 eosinophils/high-power field) with related symptoms. Colon biopsies were subjected to RNA sequencing. Associations …

The Role Of Perceived Organizational Support In Anxiety And Depression, Chloe Dingens

Honors Projects

This study seeks to explore the relationships between employees’ levels of perceived organizational support (POS) and their levels of anxiety and depression. Eisenberger et al. (1986, p. 500) defines POS as an employee's perception about how much the organization they work for values them and cares about their well-being. It was hypothesized that workers who experience higher POS will report lower anxiety and depression. Survey data were collected from 494 adults who worked an average of 39.9 hours per week (SD = 8.3). Participants completed survey measures of POS, anxiety, and depression, and reported demographics (e.g., job tenure) that were …

Effects Of Branched Chain Amino Acid Supplementation On Post-Exercise Muscle Recovery And Muscle Growth, Kyla N. Marquez

Honors Projects

BCAA supplements are composed of three main essential amino acids, including leucine, isoleucine, and valine. The concept of BCAA supplementation comes from the fact that essential amino acids cannot be made by the body and must be derived from food and diet, as amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and muscle. Thus, by increasing intake of these essential amino acids, BCAAs are believed to reduce the effects of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) by increasing availability of these important compounds. However, BCAAs are not approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as the FDA does not regulate dietary …

The Effect Of One Night Of Sleep Fragmentation On Aerobic Exercise Performance, Tara L. Thompson

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Purpose: People can experience sleep fragmentation for many reasons. The negative effect this has on a person’s daytime function and sleepiness has already been studied extensively, yet there is little on the effect it has on a person’s aerobic athletic performance. Many athletes experience frequent wake-ups in the middle of the night, due to nerves and other factors, which could potentially affect their performance.

Methods: For each of the eight subjects, testing began with a VO2max test and a familiarization trial. Following this, subject’s then participated in two experimental trials, where they were randomly assigned either a night of sleep …

Addressing Public Perceptions About Cell-Based Meat And Cellular Agriculture Through Metaphors, Yvette Emma Hubbard

English Theses & Dissertations

Today’s food movement places organic, holistic, and natural foods as priority. The idea aims for better human health, a farm-to-table community, and environmental sustainability. Soon a new meat alternative will become part of the ongoing food movement. What is it? Cell-based protein. It is a protein alternative to livestock protein. It is real protein from a real breathing animal. Cell-based beef for example is grown in a lab with cells from a living cow that does not have to die or be slaughtered. It is destined to become the new protein architecture on the horizon. Parts of this paper are …

Food Quality, Security, And Thermal Refuge Influence The Use Of Microsites And Patches By Pygmy Rabbits (Brachylagus Idahoensis) Across Landscapes And Seasons, Peter J. Olsoy, Charlotte R. Milling, Jordan D. Nobler, Meghan J. Camp, Lisa A. Shipley, Jennifer S. Forbey, Janet L. Rachlow, Daniel H. Thornton

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

How intensely animals use habitat features depends on their functional properties (i.e., how the feature influences fitness) and the spatial and temporal scale considered. For herbivores, habitat use is expected to reflect the competing risks of starvation, predation, and thermal stress, but the relative influence of each functional property is expected to vary in space and time. We examined how a dietary and habitat specialist, the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), used these functional properties of its sagebrush habitat—food quality, security, and thermal refuge—at two hierarchical spatial scales (microsite and patch) across two seasons (winter and summer). At the …

The Effects Of A Nutrition Education Intervention On Supervised Practice Students' Meal Preparation Attitudes And Behaviors, Kathy M. Nunez

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

Background Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who can help individuals make positive lifestyle changes, including the adoption of healthy culinary habits like meal preparation. However, many dietetic students and entry level RDNs themselves may be lacking the culinary and meal preparation knowledge, attitudes and behaviors necessary to prepare them for this role. Goal To evaluate the effect of a nutrition education intervention on the meal preparation attitudes and behaviors of supervised practice students. Methods Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) supervised program practice directors received an original email invitation for students to participate …

Understanding Depressive Symptoms Among Emerging Adults, Salvador Dominguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As societies have progressed following the industrial revolution, the transitioning into adulthood has undergone constant changes. This shift has resulted in young adults delaying traditional roles such as marriage and parenthood to pursue tertiary education and other opportunities. Emerging adulthood (ages 18-25) is a phase during an individual's life where they undergo constant changes because of newfound independence, new relationships, and other life-changing events. Currently, it has transitioned into a period where symptoms of depression are commonly experienced more than any other time in life. Given the negative impacts that depressive symptoms can have on individuals' well-being, two studies were …

The Indications And Potential Complications Of Supplementing With Fat-Soluble Vitamins, Krista Thielges

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

There is a seemingly infinite list of available formations of over-the-counter supplements, including vitamins. According to Grand View Research, the nutritional supplement industry has grown in popularity in recent years, increasing its worth to an estimated 140 billion dollars in 2020 globally, with vitamins accounting for 31.4% of the revenue. An estimated half of Americans take a daily vitamin or supplement. With the increasing number of people supplementing, the incidence of disease should be trending down. This literature review focuses on fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin A, D, E, and K. Supplementation of these vitamins proposes the prevention of chronic diseases such …

Multimodal Pain Management To Reduce Opioid Use After Cholecystectomy, Danielle Tretbar

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this research and systematic literature review is to determine effective pain management options for patients undergoing a cholecystectomy procedure while decreasing the use of postoperative narcotics. In this review, the databases searched included PudMed, Clinical Key and Dynamed Plus. A variety of key terms were used when searching. Studies chosen from this search were peer reviewed and included randomized control trials, systematic reviews and met analyses. Excluded studies did not particularly research the drug classes of interest or they dealt solely with different surgical pain interventions during the procedure. The research presented shows the use of gabapentinoids, …

Non-Pharmacologic And Alternative Management Of Chronic Pain In Multiple Sclerosis, Kylie Patian

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Chronic pain associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) is prevalent in many phenotypes. Pharmacologic therapy of this pain often fails to provide analgesia. This research is intended to determine which nonpharmacological interventions may be recommended for treatment of chronic extremity pain in individuals with MS. This research was primarily conducted through a comprehensive literature review of publications within the past five years on three databases, PubMed, EMBase, and CINAHL. Additional resources were added from “similar” sections of the databases, directly from included studies, and when used to inform background information, for a total of 26 resources. Studies were excluded if not …