Life Sciences Commons^™

Examination Of Energy Needs And Female Athlete Triad Components In Competitive Cheerleaders, Allison Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The sport of cheerleading has grown immensely over the recent decades. The current sport requires full body athletic abilities like gymnastics, ballet, and swimming and diving. These sports have previously reported high rates of eating disorder (ED) risk, body image dissatisfaction, and Female Athlete Triad (Triad) components (low energy availability with or without and eating disorder, menstrual cycle dysfunction, and low bone mineral density). Scientific research examining these factors within cheerleaders has been limited. The purpose of this study was to examine overall ED risk across cheerleading team type (All-Star, college), squad type (all-girl, coed), and by position (flyer, base, …

Applications And Mechanisms Of Near Infrared Spectroscopy For Age Estimation In Otoliths Of Red Snapper Lutjanus Campechanus, Michelle S. Passerotti

Theses and Dissertations

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a light spectroscopy method useful for non-invasively discriminating and quantifying chemical composition of a wide variety of substances. Recently-developed applications of NIRS to fish age estimation across a range of taxa have sparked intense interest in exploring the feasibility of its use for rapid age estimation in fisheries population management. In this pursuit, development of species-specific calibration models relating traditionally-derived age estimates (i.e., those estimated from growth band counts) to NIR spectral signatures from ageing structures is required to derive predictive models that can then estimate age from rapid scans of whole ageing structures alone. …

The Interactive Effects Of Nontoxic Levels Of Microplastics - Textile Microfibers And Tire Wear Particles, On The Acute Toxicity Of Bifenthrin In The Estuarine Grass Shrimp, Palaemonetes Pugio, Xiaoxuan Fan

Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary pollution issues are primarily focused on Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) which may include Brominated and Fluorinated flame retardants, Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs), Contemporary Use Pesticides (CUPs), nanomaterials and microplastics (Muraya et al., 2014). Tire wear particles and textile microfibers are examples of CECs which may gradually increase in the environment and may cause adverse effect on the health of some aquatic species (Marwood et al., 2011; Taylor et al., 2016). Microplastic particles are so small that they can be ingested by many marine species such as filter feeders and small particle feeders including mollusk and crustaceans, …

Plasmids Bring Novel Functions To Caulobacter Genomes, Taylor Howell Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Caulobacter is a well-studied bacterial genus, but little is known about the plasmids that are found in some wild Caulobacter isolates. I identified nine plasmids from seven different Caulobacter strains and grouped them based on their size and the similarity of their repABC, parAB, and mobAB genes. Protein pathway analysis of the genes on the K31p1, and K31p2 plasmids showed many metabolic pathways that would enhance the metabolic versatility of the host strain. In contrast, the CB4 plasmid contained 21 heavy metal resistance genes organized into 9 operons. The majority of the CB4 heavy metal resistance genes code for …

A Study Of The Social, Cultural, And Environmental Influences On Appalachian Agriculture, Morganne May

Senior Theses

Appalachia, despite its rich history and abundant biological and cultural diversity, is commonly associated with a generalized notion of ignorance, resistance to progress, and "backwardness." This study aims to shed light on the socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental influences which have shaped the present food systems of Appalachia through a review of relevant literature. This history provides the necessary context to strategize a region-specific, socioeconomically and environmentally sustainable food system moving forward.

Lions, Tigers, And Hemes - Oh My! A Dynamic Look At The Electronic Effects Of Porphyrin Substitution On Cytochrome P450 Olet, Alexis J. Holwerda

Senior Theses

OleT, a member of the CYP152 family of cytochrome P450s (CYPs), decarboxylates fatty acids using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. The resultant products are a terminal alkene and carbon dioxide. This C–C cleavage reaction is highly atypical for CYPs, which prototypically oxygenate substrates, and provides a potential means to enzymatically produce drop-in fuels. OleT contains a heme-iron cofactor that facilitates decarboxylation through the activation of hydrogen peroxide. The catalytic cycle, as determined by transient kinetics, includes two ferryl intermediates known as Compound I (Ole-I) and Compound II (Ole-II). Ole-I performs substrate hydrogen abstraction and subsequent single electron transfer to Ole-II …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Ionizing Radiation On Wild Boar Populations In The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone And The Fukushima Exclusion Zone, Victoria Bosch

Senior Theses

Humans are usually evacuated following a nuclear power plant (NPP) accident; however, the wildlife remains in the surrounding area that is blanketed in radionuclides. Despite the known effects of exposure to ionizing radiation on an individual’s health, the effects on wildlife remain unclear. The exclusion zones surrounding the Chernobyl NPP and Fukushima NPP accident sites provide an ideal study system to examine how mammal populations are influenced by chronic, low-dose radiation exposure. The present study examines wild boar abundance and reproductive success in both locations to determine how not only radiation exposure but also the sudden changes in human disturbance …

Resrouce Allocation And Visual Communication In Lepidoptera, Linda Nicole Fipps

Theses and Dissertations

Visual signals in the form of wing color, size, shape, pattern, and UV reflectance play an important role in the mating and reproductive strategies of diurnal butterflies. Wing-based visual signals are linked to different functions and can be acted on by a variety of selective pressures. In a comprehensive look at the literature on the visual communication strategies of lepidopteran species, I look at how visual signals, most notably color, are used, generated, and perceived. I discuss the costs and benefits of those strategies for the fitness of butterflies and moths and look at lepidopteran visual communication through the lens …

Health Communication Blindspot: A Case Study Of Harmful Algal Blooms In The South (Habits), Jaron Hoani King

Theses and Dissertations

A Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) is a complex natural event that occurs when algae is in its growth stage and creates a harmful toxin as waste. HABs create both ecologic and public health challenges. The hypothesis of this thesis is that state and federal governments have different readability scores when compared side-by-side as measured by Simple Measures of Gobbledygook (SMOG). Because governments are the entity that most often claims responsibility for shared resources, this case study represents a snapshot of current governmental messaging about HABs in the South Atlantic states. These states have a long history of HAB events in …

Protocols For Assessing Transformation Rates Of Nitrous Oxide In The Water Column, Annie Bourbonnais, Claudia Frey, Xin Sun, Laura A. Bristow, Amal Jayakumar, Nathaniel E. Ostrom, Karen L. Casciotti, Bess B. Ward

Faculty Publications

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas and an ozone destroying substance. Yet, clear step-by-step protocols to measure N2O transformation rates in freshwater and marine environments are still lacking, challenging inter-comparability efforts. Here we present detailed protocols currently used by leading experts in the field to measure water-column N2O production and consumption rates in both marine and other aquatic environments. We present example 15N-tracer incubation experiments in marine environments as well as templates to calculate both N2O production and consumption rates. We discuss important considerations and recommendations regarding (1) precautions to prevent oxygen (O2) contamination during low-oxygen and anoxic …

What Is Refractory Organic Matter In The Ocean?, Federico Baltar, Xosé A. Alvarez-Salgado, Javier Arístegui, Ronald Benner, Dennis A. Hansell, Gerhard J. Herndl, Christian Lønborg

Faculty Publications

About 20% of the organic carbon produced in the sunlit surface ocean is transported into the ocean’s interior as dissolved, suspended and sinking particles to be mineralized and sequestered as dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), sedimentary particulate organic carbon (POC) or “refractory” dissolved organic carbon (rDOC). Recently, the physical and biological mechanisms associated with the particle pumps have been revisited, suggesting that accepted fluxes might be severely underestimated (Boyd et al., 2019; Buesseler et al., 2020). Perhaps even more poorly understood are the mechanisms driving rDOC production and its potential accumulation in the ocean. On the basis of …

Characterization, Bio-Uptake And Toxicity Of Polymer-Coated Silver Nanoparticles And Their Interaction With Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells, Sahar Pourhoseini, Reilly T. Enos, Angela E. Murphy, Bo Cai Ph.D., Jamie Lead

Faculty Publications

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in medical applications due to their antibacterial and antiviral properties. Despite the extensive study of AgNPs, their toxicity and their effect on human health is poorly understood, as a result of issues such as poor control of NP properties and lack of proper characterization. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined characterization, bio-uptake, and toxicity of well-characterized polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated AgNPs in exposure media during exposure time using primary human cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)). AgNPs were synthesized in-house and characterized using a multimethod approach. Results indicated the transformation of NPs …

Validation Of Modified Sofit+: Relating Physical Activity Promoting Practices In Physical Education To Moderate-To-Vigorous Physical Activity In 5-6 Year Old Children, Matteo Crotti, James Rudd, Robert Glenn Weaver Med, Phd, Laura O'Callaghan, Katie Fitton Davies, Lawrence Foweather

Faculty Publications

To validate the modified System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time to measure teacher practices related to physical activity promotion (SOFIT+) in physical education (PE) amongst 5–6-year-old-children. Participants (n = 162, 53% female, 6.0 ± 0.3 yrs) were recruited from 9 schools. Video-recordings of 45 PE lessons from 9 teachers/coaches were coded using a modified SOFIT+. Accelerometers measured children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Validity was assessed via multinomial regression measuring the relationship of both SOFIT+ index score and individual teaching practices with children’s MVPA. Inter-rater reliability was examined. A 1 unit increase in the SOFIT+ index was associated with increased …

Coastlines, Coastal Cities, And Climate Change: A Perspective On Urgent Research Needs In The United States, Paul A. Sandifer, Geoffrey I. Scott Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This paper builds upon Friedman et al. (2020) and other reviews and statements but provides an explicit focus on research needed to improve the resilience and survivability of coastal communities as they face existential threats from climate change. It does not attempt a prescriptive analysis of potential research emphases, but instead recommends some key research areas that we believe will help provide a solid foundation for community adaptation. Our perspective is based on our experiences over a combined nearly 95 years of work in research, management, and policy, much of it related to coastal environments and their communities, rather than …

Examination Of Eating Disorder Risk Among University Marching Band Artists, Nancy A. Uriegas, Dawn M. Emerson, Allison B. Smith, Melani R. Kelly, Toni M. Torres-Mcgehee

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Marching band artists are a physically active population, composed of approximately 27,000 people in the United States. University marching band artists face many of the same physically active demands and mental stressors as student athletes, potentially predisposing them to injury, illness, and risk for eating disorders (EDs). The purpose of this study was to examine ED risk across sex in university marching band artists, and to determine the type of risk based on the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) and Eating Disorder Inventory-3 Symptom Check List (EDI-3 SC). A secondary aim examined marching band artists and pathogenic weight control behavior …

Personal Activity Intelligence And Mortality - Data From The Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, Javaid Nauman, Xuemei Sui, Carl J. Lavie, Chi Pang Wen, Jari A. Laukkanen, Steven N. Blair, Patrick Dunn, Ross Arena, Ulrik Wisloff

Faculty Publications

Importance Personal activity intelligence (PAI) is a novel activity metric that can be integrated into self-assessment heart rate devices, and translates heart rate variations during exercise into a weekly score. Previous studies relating to PAI have been conducted in the same populations from Norway where the PAI metric has been derived, limiting generalizability of the results.

Objective: To test whether PAI is associated with total and cause-specific mortality in a large cohort from the United States.

Design: Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS) – a prospective cohort between January 1974 and December 2002 with a mean follow-up of 14.5 years.

Setting: …

A Pilot Study Of A Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program In Elementary Schools: Be A Champion!, Justin B. Moore, Robert Glenn Weaver Med,Phd, Beverly J. Levie, Camelia R. Sngletary, Russell L. Carson, Michael W. Beets Med, Mph, Phd, Darla M. Castelli, Aaron Beighle, Russell R. Pate Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Objective: In the present study, we sought to determine if a comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP) delivered using the Be a Champion! (BAC) framework was effective in increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and decreasing sedentary time in elementary school youth. Methods : We implemented a CSPAP in 3 elementary schools to determine its effectiveness to youth behaviors compared to 2 control schools. Youth physical activity was assessed via accelerometry in spring 2015 and spring 2016 during school hours on school days. Implementation of the BAC components and youth behavior was assessed through direct observation from fall 2015 through winter …

Diversity And N2o Production Potential Of Fungi In An Oceanic Oxygen Minimum Zone, Xuefeng Peng, David L. Valentine

Faculty Publications

Fungi in terrestrial environments are known to play a key role in carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry and exhibit high diversity. In contrast, the diversity and function of fungi in the ocean has remained underexplored and largely neglected. In the eastern tropical North Pacific oxygen minimum zone, we examined the fungal diversity by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) and mining a metagenome dataset collected from the same region. Additionally, we coupled ¹⁵N-tracer experiments with a selective inhibition method to determine the potential contribution of marine fungi to nitrous oxide (N₂O) production. Fungal communities evaluated by …

Perspective On Multi-Scale Simulation Of Thermal Transport In Solids And Interfaces (Vol 23, Pg 1785, 2021), Ming Hu, Zhonghua Yang

Faculty Publications

Correction for ‘Perspective on multi-scale simulation of thermal transport in solids and interfaces’ by Ming Hu et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021, 23, 1785–1801, DOI: 10.1039/D0CP03372C.

Efforts On Changing Lifestyle Behaviors May Not Be Enough To Improve Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Adolescents: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial, Alexsandra Da Silva Bandeira, Michael Beets Med, Mph, Phd, Pablo Magno Da Silveira, Marcus Vinicius Veber Lopes, Valter Cordeiro Barbosa Filho, Bruno G.G. Da Costa, Kelly Samara Silva

Faculty Publications

Schools have been the main context for physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) interventions among adolescents, but there is inconsistent evidence on whether they also improve dimensions of the health−related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a school-based active lifestyle intervention on dimensions of HRQoL. A secondary aim was to verify whether sex, age, and HRQoL at baseline were moderators of the intervention effect. A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted at three control and three intervention schools in Florianopolis, Brazil. All students from 7th to 9th grade were invited to …

The Effect Of Barometric Pressure, Temperature, And Precipitation On Preterm Labor In Expecting Women In South Carolina, Allison K. Fletcher

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Each year, approximately 9.9% of infants in the United States are born prematurely at less than 37 weeks of gestation with unidentified causes. From 2014 to 2016, the total preterm birth rate rose 3%, and late preterm birth rates rose almost 4%. One source of preterm labor that has been examined in recent years is its potential correlation with meteorological phenomena, including barometric pressure, temperature, and precipitation. In September of 2019, birth data recording 322 deliveries from two South Carolina hospitals was collected along with weather data on the given dates. The changes in temperature, barometric pressure, and precipitation for …

The Effect Of Biochar Feedstock On The Remediation Of Acidic Soils And Improvement Of Pisum Sativum V. Saccharatum Growth, Ridha Fatima

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Alcalase Concentration On The Proteins From The Shells Of Litopenaeus Setiferus (White Shrimp), Liam T. Quan

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Chitin is a naturally abundant polymer that also happens to be biodegradable. Chitin can be used in a variety of different products such as biodegradable plastics, papers, medical products, foods, and medical treatments. To extract chitin, shells must be demineralized and deproteinized. The goal of this experiment was to examine the effect of the protease Alcalase in the deproteinization of litopenaeus setiferus shells. The hypothesis was that if the concentration of Alcalase increased, then the absorbance of proteins in the spectrophotometer reading would increase. The null hypothesis was that if the concentration increased there would be no change in absorption. …

The Effect Of Whey, Azadirachta Indica, And Powdered Whole Milk On Monilinia Fructicola, Evelyn Plakal

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Assessing Intervals Of Epigallocatechin Gallate (Egcg) And Cannabidiol (Cbd) On Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Cell Reproduction As A Possible Application On Cancer Cell Proliferation, Spandana Anchoori

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

What Can A Worm Learn? Nonlinear Categorization By Caenorhabditis Elegans Using A Hydrochloric Acid Gradient, Parth Desai

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Program Implementation And Church Members' Health Behaviors In A Countywide Study Of The Faith, Activity, And Nutrition Program, John Bernhart Ph.D., Mph, Ches, Sarah Wilcox Phd, Ruth P. Saunders Ph.D., Brent E. Hutto Msph, Jessica Stucker

Faculty Publications

Implementation research of health programs in faith-based organizations is lacking. The Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program helps churches improve physical activity and fruit and vegetable behaviors of members. This study examined associations between implementation of FAN intervention components and church members' physical activity, fruit and vegetable behaviors, and self-efficacy for improving these behaviors. FAN was implemented in 35 churches in a southeastern US county. After attending in-person training, led by community health advisors, church committees received 12 months of telephone-delivered technical assistance to implement FAN according to 4 components: increasing opportunities, increasing guidelines and policies, increasing pastor support, and …

Journal Of Water Sanitation And Hygiene For Development Use Of Single Particle Icp-Ms To Estimate Silver Nanoparticle Penetration Through Baby Porcine Mucosa, Ilaria Zanoni, Matteo Crosera, Elena Pavoni, Gianpiero Adami, Marcella Mauro, Anna Luisa Costa, Jamie Lead, Francesca Larese

Faculty Publications

Children are potentially exposed to products that contain nanoparticles (NPs). In particular, silver NPs are commonly present both in products used by and around children, primarily due to their antibacterial properties. However, very few data are available regarding the ability of silver NPs to penetrate through the oral mucosa in children. In the present work, we used baby porcine buccal mucosa mounted on vertical Franz diffusion cells, as an in vitro model to investigate penetration of silver NPs (19 ± 5 nm). Permeability experiments were performed using pristine physiologically-relevant saline solution in the receiver chamber and known concentrations of NPs …

Use Of Single Particle Icp-Ms To Estimate Silver Nanoparticle Penetration Through Baby Porcine Mucosa, Ilaria Zanoni, Matteo Crosera, Elena Pavoni, Gianpiero Adami, Marcella Mauro, Anna Luisa Costa, Jamie Lead, Francesca Larese Filon

Faculty Publications

Children are potentially exposed to products that contain nanoparticles (NPs). In particular, silver NPs are commonly present both in products used by and around children, primarily due to their antibacterial properties. However, very few data are available regarding the ability of silver NPs to penetrate through the oral mucosa in children. In the present work, we used baby porcine buccal mucosa mounted on vertical Franz diffusion cells, as an in vitro model to investigate penetration of silver NPs (19 ± 5 nm). Permeability experiments were performed using pristine physiologically-relevant saline solution in the receiver chamber and known concentrations of NPs …

Self-Assembled Thermoresponsive Nanogel From Grafted Hyaluronic Acid As A Biocompatible Delivery Platform For Curcumin With Enhanced Drug Loading And Biological Activities, Jittima Amie Luckanagul, Pahweenvaj Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, Chawanphat Muangnoi, Pranee Rojsitthisak, Qian Wang, Pornchai Rojsitthisak

Faculty Publications

A hyaluronic acid-grafted poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (HA-pNIPAM) was synthesized as a polymeric nanogel platform for encapsulation and delivery of hydrophobic bioactive compounds using curcumin as a model drug. As demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering techniques, the HA-pNIPAM was simply assembled into spherical nano-sized particles with the thermoresponsive behavior. The success of curcumin aqueous solubilization was confirmed by fluorescent spectroscopy. The resulting nanogel formulation enhanced the aqueous solubility and uptake into NIH-3T3 cells of curcumin. This nanogel formulation also demonstrates cytocompatibility against NIH-3T3 cells, which deems it safe as a delivery vehicle. Moreover, the formulation has a slight skin-protection …