Digital Commons Network^™

Perspectives About Food Safety In Diverse Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Sejla Isanovic

Theses and Dissertations

Concerns about unsafe food influence food choice, and consumption of unsafe foods increases morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Actions to ensure safety of food are dominated by mitigation of biological and chemical hazards through supply-side risk management, disregarding individuals’ experiences and perspectives of food safety. We aimed to identify and categorize perspectives about food safety in five countries. Five Drivers of Food Choice projects provided transcripts from 17 focus groups discussions and 303 interviews in Kenya, Ghana, India, Guinea, and Vietnam. We analyzed transcripts using a priori and emergent codes. Individuals constructed meaning about food safety …

Understanding The Genomic Influence And Virulence Capabilities Of Environmentally Isolated Vibrios, Shannon Elizabeth Pipes

Theses and Dissertations

The genus Vibrio consists of Gram-negative bacteria that possess a curved rod shape and are routinely isolated from estuarine and coastal salt water. Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus are the major three species that contribute to human disease worldwide, and a variety of other Vibrio species contribute to persistent problems in the aquaculture and fishing industries. The CDC estimates that vibrios cause 80,000 cases of disease each year in the United States alone, however, this number is thought to be underestimated, since some disease is only self-limiting, meaning patients may not seek medical treatment and have …

Predicting Lower Body Soft Tissue Injuries In American Football With Gps Data, Nicholas Tice

Theses and Dissertations

It is of utmost importance to sports organizations that they keep their players as healthy as possible and contributing to the success of the team. Advancements in technology and investments by sports clubs have allowed researchers to better understand the role of load management in high-level athletes to mitigate injury risk. Through GPS tracking data provided by a collaborating Division I American college football team, we seek to predict lower body soft tissue injuries in future training sessions and reduce the number of potentially avoidable injuries within the organization. The difficulty of analyzing the injury data set is that the …

S-Equol: A Novel Therapeutic For Hiv-1 Induced Gut Dysbiosis, Mason T. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

HIV-1 infection affects approximately 38 million people around the world. The advent of cART has greatly improved the quality of life of infected individuals; however, roughly 50% of these individuals will still experience HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Additionally, the gut microbiome has been reported to be dysbiotic in HIV-1 infected individuals, regardless of adherence to cART. Current research has pointed to the gut-brain-microbiota axis as a potential target to treat both cognitive deficits and microbial changes. The present study investigated S-equol (SE) as a potential therapeutic for HAND by modulating the gut microbiome. The study included 21 HIV-1 Tg …

Mining For Progress: Copper, Conflict, And Corporate Social Responsibility, Fritz Culp

Theses and Dissertations

My dissertation examines how transnational mega-mines efface non-Western ways of knowing and being from the Andes. A growing branch of research is questioning the socio-environmental impacts of mining and the influence of regulatory institutions. Despite remarkable scholarship on the ongoing environmentalism of modern-mining, little critical attention has been given to the industry’s pivot to ‘sustainable’ development and its objectives that remain epistemologically centered on the West. My project addresses these gaps by examining Las Bambas—a large-scale copper mine located in South-Central Peru—and its contrasting objectives that emphasize both environmental ‘conservation’ and the ‘modernization’ of non-Western spaces. Building upon the critical …

Promoting Cognitive Complexity Among Violent Extremist Youth In Northern Pakistan, Feriha Peracha, Sara Savage, Raafia Khan, Asma Ayub, Andleeb Zahra

Journal of Strategic Security

This article reports on the results of an intervention to promote cognitive complexity (measured by integrative complexity, IC) and perspective taking for youth detained for violent extremism at the Sabaoon Center for Deradicalization and Rehabilitation in northern Pakistan. Participants are sixty-four males (mean age 19.77, SD = 3.26) comprising three cohorts: CVE Detained, CVE Reintegrated, and PVE At-risk.

The Sabaoon IC intervention consists of eight sessions with action learning contextualized according to an assessment of the push, pull and personal factors that shape the life experience of the youth. Pre and post testing results show significant gain in IC in …

The Impact Of Plant Cell Wall Lignin On Energy Utilization In Lactating Jersey Cows, Jason D. Stypinski

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Fiber from forages comprises a significant proportion of dairy cattle rations and by extension, it contributes largely to the energy concentration of the diet. While the proportion of fiber in the diet is important, the composition of fiber is probably more important as the different constituents of this fraction vary in their contributions to the nutritive value of the feed. Lignin has been described as an important factor limiting the digestion of NDF, reducing intake, and compromising milk production. Although lignin’s effects on these responses have been well characterized, the literature lacks data on the use of indirect calorimetry to …

Assessing Satisfaction With Bi-Weekly Produce Deliveries As A Means To Reduce Food Insecurity On College Campuses, Sophie Crosby

Senior Theses

Background: As food insecurity disproportionately affects college students and students are often unable to receive government nutritional assistance, more lasting, sustainable interventions are needed to decrease food insecurity on college campuses. The purpose of this study was to measure the satisfaction of the FoodShare program, a low-cost, biweekly fresh produce delivery, at the University of South Carolina. The purpose of this study was to pilot FoodShare’s program with adaptations to the University of South Carolina and examine participants’ experience with the program. Methods: Forty-three students, faculty, and staff purchased boxes over a three-month period. FoodShare boxes were purchased and delivered …

Peppermint Oil Effects On The Gut Microbiome In Children With Functional Abdominal Pain., Santosh Thapa, Ruth Ann Luna, Bruno P. Chumpitazi, Numan Oezguen, Susan M. Abdel-Rahman, Uttam Garg, Salma Musaad, James Versalovic, Gregory L. Kearns, Robert J. Shulman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Peppermint oil (PMO) is effective in the treatment of functional abdominal pain disorders, but its mechanism of action is unclear. Evidence suggests PMO has microbicidal activity. We investigated the effect of three different doses of PMO on gut microbiome composition. Thirty children (7-12 years of age) with functional abdominal pain provided a baseline stool sample prior to randomization to 180, 360, or 540 mg of enteric coated PMO (10 participants per dose). They took their respective dose of PMO (180 mg once, 180 mg twice, or 180 mg thrice daily) for 1 week, after which the stool collection was repeated. …

Factors Affecting Seasonal Variation Of Surf Zone Assemblages In Central California, Gammon Koval

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The surf zone is an important and highly dynamic ecosystem situated at the land-sea interface; however, this habitat is relatively understudied in California. Beaches and surf zones are among the most intensely used coastal resources by humans (e.g., recreation, fishing, development). The dual threats of habitat modification and climate change can alter these ecosystems, affecting the composition and abundance of species that reside there. In addition, oceanographic conditions such as upwelling, water temperature, and storm-generated waves have a predictable seasonality that may drive shifts in surf zone species assemblages throughout the year. This study investigated the factors influencing spatial and …

Inhibiting Type I Arginine Methyltransferase Activity Promotes T Cell-Mediated Antitumor Immune Responses, Andrew Fedoriw, Leilei Shi, Shane O'Brien, Kimberly N Smitheman, Yunfei Wang, Jiakai Hou, Christian Sherk, Satyajit Rajapurkar, Jenny Laraio, Leila J Williams, Chunyu Xu, Guangchun Han, Qin Feng, Mark T Bedford, Linghua Wang, Olena Barbash, Ryan G Kruger, Patrick Hwu, Helai P Mohammad, Weiyi Peng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT) are a widely expressed class of enzymes responsible for catalyzing arginine methylation on numerous protein substrates. Among them, type I PRMTs are responsible for generating asymmetric dimethylarginine. By controlling multiple basic cellular processes, such as DNA damage responses, transcriptional regulation, and mRNA splicing, type I PRMTs contribute to cancer initiation and progression. A type I PRMT inhibitor, GSK3368715, has been developed and has entered clinical trials for solid and hematologic malignancies. Although type I PRMTs have been reported to play roles in modulating immune cell function, the immunologic role of tumor-intrinsic pathways controlled by type I …

Prevalence Of Metabolic Syndrome Among The Adult Population In Western China And The Association With Socioeconomic And Individual Factors: Four Cross-Sectional Studies, Xinyin Xu, Jing Zeng, Wei Yang, Ting Dong, Xin Zhang, Shuwen Cheng, Xiaobo Zhou, Maigeng Zhou, Ling Niu, Guanghui Yi, You Li, Lishi Zhang, Yin Deng, Xianping Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: This study explored the prevalence of and individual influencing factors for metabolic syndrome (MS) as well as associated socioeconomic factors and regional aggregation.

Design: Four cross-sectional surveys were analysed for trends in MS and associations with socioeconomic and individual factors through multilevel logistic regression analyses. The risk associated with nutrient intake was also assessed through a dietary survey in 2015.

Setting: From 2010 to 2018, 8-15 counties/districts of West China were included.

Participants: A total of 28 274 adults were included in the prevalence analysis. A total of 23 708 adults were used to analyse the related factors.

Results: …

Development And Characterization Of Anti-Galectin-9 Antibodies That Protect T Cells From Galectin-9-Induced Cell Death, Riyao Yang, Linlin Sun, Ching-Fei Li, Yu-Han Wang, Weiya Xia, Boning Liu, Yu-Yi Chu, Laura Bover, Long Vien, Mien-Chie Hung

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Antibodies that target immune checkpoint proteins such as programmed cell death protein 1, programmed death ligand 1, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 in human cancers have achieved impressive clinical success; however, a significant proportion of patients fail to respond to these treatments. Galectin-9 (Gal-9), a β-galactoside-binding protein, has been shown to induce T-cell death and facilitate immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment by binding to immunomodulatory receptors such as T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 and the innate immune receptor dectin-1, suggesting that it may have potential as a target for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we report the development of two …

Pharmacological Extension Of Lifespan Via Mitochondrial Uncoupling In Drosophila Melanogaster, Analisa Taylor

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Temperature And Plant And Animal Diets On Metabolic Rate In The Juvenile Red Eared Slider (Trachemys Scripta Elegans), Taylor Macdonald, Sarah Bouchard

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Specific dynamic action (SDA) is the energy expended during ingestion, digestion, absorption, and assimilation of a meal, and is influenced by meal (type, size, composition, and temperature) and environmental temperature. Understanding the effect of meal type and environmental temperature on SDA in turtles is important in describing how T. s. elegans may acclimate with changing environmental temperatures. In this study, we conducted feeding trials in which we fed juvenile T. s. elegans duckweed and mealworm diets at 25°C and 30°C. We measured the rate of oxygen consumption as a proxy for metabolic rate after feeding for four 30 minute consecutive …

Nutritional Quality Of Four Novel Porridge Products Blended With Edible Cricket (Scapsipedus Icipe) Meal For Food, Nelly C. Maiyo, Fathiya M. Khamis, Michael W. Okoth, George O. Abong, Sevgan Subramanian, James P. Egonyu, Cheseto Xavier, Sunday Ekesi, Evanson R. Omuse, Dorothy Nakimbugwe, Geoffrey Ssepuuya, Changeh J. Ghemoh, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Currently, no data exist on the utilization of the newly described cricket species (Scapsipedus icipe) meal as additive in food products, though they have high protein (57%) with 88% total digestibility as well as a variety of essential amino acids. This article presents the first report on the effects of processing techniques and the inclusion of cricket meal (CM) on the nutrient and antinutrient properties of four porridge products compared to a popularly consumed commercial porridge flour (CPF). Porridge enriched with CM had significantly higher protein (2-folds), crude fat (3.4–4-folds), and energy (1.1–1.2-folds) levels than the CPF. Fermented cereal porridge …

Effect Of Different Levels And Sizes Of Walnut Seed Residues On Phosphorus Availability And Alkaline Phosphatase Activity In Calcareous Soil, Sakar Abdulqadr Saheed, Shakar Jamal Aweez, Snowber Muhamad Ahmed

Baghdad Science Journal

A laboratory experiment has been carried out in the College of Science-University of Salahaddin to study the effect of different levels (0,5,10 and 15%) and sizes(250 and 1000µm) of walnut seeds residues and (160mg.kg-1) phosphorus fertilization on the concentration of phosphorus availability and alkaline phosphatase activity in calcareous soil during 15 and 30 days period of incubation, the experimental design in factorial complet randomize design (C.R.D) with three replications. The results indicated that the application of different levels of walnut seed residues decreases the concentration of phosphorus availability and alkaline phosphatase activity, however the results revealed that combination between levels …

Combination Of Sulindac And Eflornithine Delays The Need For Lower Gastrointestinal Surgery In Patients With Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: Post Hoc Analysis Of A Randomized Clinical Trial, Francesc Balaguer, Paul E Wise, Et Al

Open Access Publications

BACKGROUND: Colectomy and proctocolectomy are the initial standard of care for patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Pharmacotherapy to prevent the progression of polyposis and surgeries in the lower GI tract would be beneficial to patients with this disease.

OBJECTIVE: This analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of eflornithine-sulindac combination versus monotherapy in delaying time to disease progression in the lower GI tract of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

DESIGN: This is a post hoc analysis of a randomized phase 3 trial.

SETTING: This study was conducted in 21 hospitals in 7 countries treating patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

PATIENTS: Adults …

Interactive Effects Of Major Insect Pest Of Watermelon On Its Yield In Wukari, Nigeria, Okrikata Emmanuel, Ogunwolu E. Oludele, Otabor J. Itohan, Ogunmola A. Oyewole

Baghdad Science Journal

Watermelon is known to be infested by multiple insect pests both simultaneously and in sequence. Interactions by pests have been shown to have positive or negative, additive or non additive, compensatory or over compensatory effects on yields. Hardly has this sort of relationship been defined for watermelon vis-à-vis insect herbivores. A 2-year, 2-season (4 trials) field experiments were laid in the Research Farm of Federal University Wukari, to investigate the interactive effects of key insect pests of watermelon on fruit yield of Watermelon in 2016 and 2017 using natural infestations. The relationship between the dominant insect pests and fruit yield …

Comparison Of Protein Concentration In Red And White Muscles In Two Species Of Bony Fish, Noor Makki Abd-Alsahb, Akeil Jameil Mansour, Sarmad Awad Mozan Al-Asadi

Baghdad Science Journal

The current study deals with estimating the protein concentration and the effect of fish weight on protein concentration values in red and white muscles in two different regions ( R1 : Anterior region lies 2 cm behind the head and R2: posterior region lies 2cm from caudal fin (in two types of bony fish, namely common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Samples were collected from Karmat Ali river- north of Basrah between October 2019 and February 2020. The protein was extracted using protein extraction buffer, the current study show that the average of protein concentration in red …

Determining The Mobility Of Some Essential Elements In Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.) By The Neutron Activation Analysis, Ehsan Taghizadeh Tousi

Baghdad Science Journal

The main purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the concentrations of six essential metals (Na+, Mg2+, K+, Ca2+, Fe2+ and Zn2+) in saffron and a farm soil using the neutron activation analysis (NAA) as a nuclear spectrometry method. The stratified random sampling method was used here. The NAA results showed the well uptake of Mg2+, K+, Ca2+, Fe2+, and Zn2+ in saffron, which is lower than the toxicity range. Based on the contamination factor and geoaccumulation index, soil contamination levels were determined uncontaminated by Zn, moderately contaminated by Na+ and Fe2+, and strongly contaminated by Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+. …

Body Mass Index And Shortened Telomere Length In Middle-Aged Female And Male Running Head: Middle-Aged And Shortened Telomere Length, Tahreer Mohammed Al-Thuwaini

Baghdad Science Journal

Obesity is a risk factor associated with age-related disorders that accelerate aging, and it increases the risk of metabolic diseases. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the association of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with the presence of higher body weight in middle-aged females and males. The study subjects comprised 160 (80 control and 80 higher body mass index BMI groups) with ranging ages of 30-50 years included and stratified for BMI. The physio-biochemical analysis was measured using enzymatic determination. Mean telomere length was determined by using the southern blotting technique. The association analysis revealed a significant variance (P < 0.01) in biochemical parameters between higher BMI groups and control including waist, lipid profile, and the level of estradiol, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. Mean telomere length was shorter in middle-aged males compared to the females of higher BMI groups and control groups for both age groups. LTL was shorter in the overweight and obese patients compared with the control group, and these differences in LTL obese group were shorter compared to the overweight group. In conclusion, shorter telomere length was observed in middle-aged males associated with higher body weight and lipid abnormalities. Lipid/lipoprotein abnormalities can be used as a predictor for the shortened telomere length and the reduction in adiposity indices can improvement the telomere length in both overweight and obese subjects.

Institute For Global Health And Development : Issue 3 - April - June 2022, Institute For Global Health And Development

IGHD Newsletters

• Research Highlights
• Reflections from IGHD’s Associate Faculty
• Key Publications
• Webinars and Dialogues
• Celebration
• Collaborate With U

Physical Activity/Sport Performance And The Benefits Of Virtual Reality- A Systematic Review, Madeline Rushing

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Homestead Vegetable And Poultry Production And Related Practices: An Assessment In Nepal, Shiva Bhandari

Theses and Dissertations

Consumption of nutrients-rich foods like diverse vegetables, eggs, and meat throughout a year remains a challenge in low- and middle-income countries due to poor availability, accessibility, and affordability. One important way to overcome the challenge is to promote households’ own production of these foods and encourage individuals to consume. Improving household production of the foods necessitates understanding whether active participation and performance of frontline workers in the communities and performing improved production-related practices can translate into improved production of nutrients-rich foods. This study had two specific aims. The first aim was to examine demographic, socio-economic, and programmatic determinants of active …

Moderating Effects Of Parental Feeding Practices And Emotional Eating On Dietary Intake Among Overweight African American Adolescents, Mary Quattlebaum

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of parental feeding practices and adolescent emotional eating (EE) on dietary outcomes among overweight African American adolescents. Based on Family Systems Theory, it was hypothesized that parental feeding practices, such as parental monitoring and responsibility, would buffer the effects of EE on poor dietary quality, whereas practices such as concern about a child’s weight, restriction, and pressure-to-eat would exacerbate this relationship. Adolescents (N = 127; Mage = 12.83 ۫.74; MBMI % = 96.61 ± 4.14) provided baseline data from the Families Improving Together (FIT) for a Weight Loss trial and an ancillary study. Dietary outcomes …

Associations Between Child Characteristics And Maternal Mental Health In Families Of Children With Autism, Fragile X Syndrome, And Autism Associated With Fragile X Syndrome, Tiffany Nicole Worley

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the association between various child characteristics and maternal mental health concerns in three high-risk groups of mothers ± those of children with non-syndromic autism spectrum disorder (NSASD), mothers of children with fragile X syndrome (FXS), and mothers of children with fragile X syndrome and autism (FXS+ASD). Research has shown that mothers of children with NSASD and FXS are thought to share a degree of genetic vulnerability to mental health concerns it is key to examine the various other factors that may contribute to difficulties within the family system and maternal stress, depression, and anxiety.

Participants for …

The Submission Of A Section 513(G) Request For Information, Morgan Ashley Lano

Theses and Dissertations

The Food and Drug Administration designates all medical devices into one of three general classes contingent on their intended use, indications for use, and potential risk to the user. This classification dictates the further path the device must take to be approved for the commercial market. Section 513(g) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360c(g)) is submitted in order to gain the agency’s unofficial classification and suggested regulatory requirements. The Coagulation Companion (MicroVide) is a device designed to fluorescently quantify a key enzyme involved in the coagulation cascade, plasmin, in pediatric patients. clot formation and degradation …

Community School Implementation, Melanie Blea

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

A community school model is one way that struggling schools can restructure under the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act. Schools operate under the idea that the needs of the whole child must be met before academic advancement can begin. Implementation of a community school model includes obtaining feedback from all stakeholder groups in a school community (students, staff, parents, and community organizations) and examining data to make collective decisions that generate shared responsibility and accountability. The four pillars of a community school (integrated student supports, expanded learning time and opportunities, family and community engagement, and collaborative leadership and practices) …

“That Was Denied Thee On Earth”: An Intersectional Bioarchaeology Of Institutionalized Euro-American Women Throughout 19Th And 20Th-Century America, Madeline Maria Atwell

Theses and Dissertations

In the mid 19th-century, American state-supported insane asylums, later renamed state mental hospitals in the 20th-century, were constructed to house and humanely treat individuals perceived to be socially deviant or mentally and physically ill. Women were particularly vulnerable to undue institutionalization because of the prevailing patriarchal gender ideology within medical and colloquial spheres that contributed to the perception that they were biologically pathological. This dissertation interprets the findings of combined archival, historical, and osteological analysis from two U.S. skeletal collections: The Colorado State Insane Asylum (CSIA) Collection and the Hamann-Todd Human Osteological Collection (HT), to examine the embodied, physiological impact …