Life Sciences Commons^™

Experiences Participating In Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs During The Early Months Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study In Vermont, Emma Haven Spence

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

For many Americans, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have extended far beyond its overt health risks, spanning from economic shocks to new social realities. Elevated rates of both novel and continued food insecurity during the pandemic have been well-documented, and this burden has not been equally shared. Examination of food insecurity at the present moment offers a unique opportunity to give voice to those affected during this unprecedented time and understand the ability of existing social services to meet increased needs. This research aims to delve into the experiences of individuals at risk for food insecurity. Specifically, (1) to …

Association Of Sickle Cell Trait With Exertional Rhabdomyolysis And Atrial Fibrillation., Daniel R. Douce

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Sickle cell trait (SCT), sickle cell disease’s carrier status, is a common genetic variant found in many people of African, South Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean descent. While overall considered a benign carrier status, it has been associated with an increased risk of several diseases, including exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER), and chronic kidney disease. While epidemiological evidence links SCT with ER, the actual pathophysiological mechanism less understood. Additionally, while there is an increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) documented in people with sickle cell disease, studies in individuals with SCT are lacking.

The objectives of this thesis are twofold: The first …

An Analysis Of Beverage Consumption In The United States Using The National Health And Examination Survey 2007-2017, Sean Morris

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) are liquids sweetened with various forms of added sugar. They are the leading source of calories and added sugar in the American diet (Drewnowski & Rehm, 2014; National Cancer Institute, 2016; Powell, Chriqui, Khan, Wada, & Chaloupka, 2013). The health and nutrition literature has increasingly identified added sugars and SSBs as a key potential contributor to a host of public health issues including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (Johnson et al., 2009; Malik, Popkin, Bray, Despres, & Hu, 2010; Vartanian, Schwartz, & Brownell, 2007). Concern about these public health crises has recently animated regional …

21st Century Approaches To Addressing Childhood Diarrhea In Low And Middle-Income Countries: Zinc As A Cornerstone Of New Prevention Strategies, Elizabeth Ross Colgate

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

During the 20th century, significant strides were made in curtailing the burden of childhood diarrhea, including advances in vaccine research, the advent of antibiotics, improved water and sanitation, and expanded access to health information across the globe. Despite this progress, today diarrhea ranks second only to pneumonia as a leading cause of mortality in children under five years, with a disproportionate burden of 90% of diarrheal deaths in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, substantial morbidity due to diarrhea persists in young children, with more than 45 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to diarrhea in 2015. Long-term consequences …

Genotypes And Phenotypes Of Staphylococci On Selected Dairy Farms In Vermont, Robert Mugabi

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The genus Staphylococcus contains at least 47 species and 23 subspecies. Bacteria in this genus are ubiquitous; many are commensals on human and animal skin and can be opportunistic pathogens. In dairy cattle, staphylococci are the leading cause of intramammary infections (IMI) and mastitis. Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary gland, and is one of the leading infectious diseases causing production losses in the dairy industry. Based on the ability to clot blood plasma in vitro, members of the genus can be divided into two groups: coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) and coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS). In the dairy industry, …

Assessing Community Dynamics And Colonization Patterns Of Tritatoma Dimidiata And Other Biotic Factors Associated With Chagas Disease Prevalence In Central America, Lucia Consuelo Orantes

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by multiple triatomine vectors across the Americas. In Central America, the predominant vector is Triatoma dimidiata, a highly adaptable and genetically diverse Hemiptera. In this research, we used a novel reduced-representation DNA sequencing approach to discover community dynamics among multiple biotic factors associated with Chagas disease in Central America, and assess the infestation patterns of T. dimidiata after seasonal and chemical disturbances in Jutiapa, Guatemala. For our first study, we used a hierarchical sampling design to obtain multi-species DNA data found in the abdomens of 32 T. dimidiata …

The Cardiovascular Epidemiology And Genome-Wide Associations Of Biomarkers Of Innate And Adaptive Immunity: Scd163 And Sil2ra, Jon Peter Durda

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and worldwide. Atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries, is a common cause of CVD. For many years, research in atherosclerosis was focused on lipid metabolism and the accumulation of low-density lipoprotein in the arteries. While this research set public health guidelines for lipid management, lipid concentration was not the only factor influencing atherosclerosis and CVD events. Many scientists, as far back as the 1850’s recognized the role of inflammation in the progression of atherosclerotic disease. The continuous low levels of immune activation in the …

Defining Food Agency: An Ethnographic Exploration Of Home And Student Cooks In The Northeast, Maria Carabello

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

According to popular and academic sources, home cooking is in decline. Nutrition and public health scholars concern that a loss of cooking abilities may diminish individuals' control over their food choices, thus contributing to poor health outcomes. Yet, there are still many unanswered questions. What skills, strategies, and knowledge sets are required to cook a meal on any given occasion? What capacity separates those who cook with ease from those who struggle to incorporate cooking into their daily routines? I propose that this difference is determined by an individual's capacity to employ a range of cognitive and technical skills related …