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Articles 1 - 29 of 29
Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Monitoring The Leaching Of Bisphenol-A From Feminine Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Madison Easley
Monitoring The Leaching Of Bisphenol-A From Feminine Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Madison Easley
Honors Theses
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a compound commonly used as a stabilizer in plastic products, including food storage containers and thermal paper receipts. Because BPA can bind to and activate estrogen receptors, it is linked to reduced fertility, altered development, and hormone-related cancers. A recent study at NYU Medical School confirmed the presence of BPA in pantyliners, pads, tampons, feminine washes and deodorants. This is concerning due to the high absorption capacity of the vulvar skin.
For the research performed in our lab this summer, the goal was to determine if fluorescence spectrophotometry could be used to determine the presence of BPA …
Education Opportunities For The Aspiring Aquatic Professional: A Qualitative Analysis Of Experience-Based Building Blocks For Success, Hannah Hickman
Education Opportunities For The Aspiring Aquatic Professional: A Qualitative Analysis Of Experience-Based Building Blocks For Success, Hannah Hickman
Honors Theses
While recent growth in the aquatics industry requires professionals to be more skilled and knowledgeable than ever before, educational opportunities for students pursuing this career are limited. There is not an all-encompassing course or degree program titled, "How to be an Aquatic Professional." This study utilizes interviews from 10 aquatic professionals regarding their experiences and opinions on this topic to explore the need for promoting aquatics education to students and to help outline a series of building blocks that students could potentially take to pursue a career as an aquatic professional. It attempts to answer the question: How do educational …
The Effects Of Light Intensity And Cell Structure On The Cultivation Of Arthrospira Platensis, Taylor Barnhart
The Effects Of Light Intensity And Cell Structure On The Cultivation Of Arthrospira Platensis, Taylor Barnhart
Honors Theses
As scientists explore further into space, more cost-effective resources are needed for long-term space travel. An interesting solution is Arthrospira platensis, a filamentous cyanobacteria high in proteins and nutrients, and known for its helical structure. In unfavorable conditions, coiled spirulina cells become straight. Spirulina converts carbon dioxide gas into pure oxygen and the different cell structures stimulate different responses in oxygen production and cultivation. In these experiments, 2.3 L containers of pure coiled spirulina and mixed (coiled and straight) spirulina were placed into 3 incubators with different light intensities: 51μmol/m2/s, 25μmol/m2/s, 12μmol/m2/s. Each experiment length was 72 hours and the …
The Effects Of Exercise On Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Addison Bates
The Effects Of Exercise On Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Addison Bates
Honors Theses
Exercise is essential for a healthy life and many people are unable to participate due to barriers. One population that seems to be extremely impacted by these barriers are persons with disabilities. People with disabilities are more likely to become obese and suffer from serious, chronic illnesses. There is a need for exercise programs catered to this population. There is a lack of exercise programs focused on people with disabilities, so through this research we are interested to see the impact of a 12-week exercise program and what results might occur from this lifestyle change. With the 12-week virtual program …
Effects Of Red Light Intensity On Cultivation And Oxygen Production In Arthrospira Platensis, Abigail Roberts
Effects Of Red Light Intensity On Cultivation And Oxygen Production In Arthrospira Platensis, Abigail Roberts
Honors Theses
Maintaining life sustaining resources during long-term space travel has encouraged scientists to turn their attention to the potential benefits of a cyanobacteria named Arthrospira platensis, commonly known as Spirulina algae. This experiment measures the oxygen production and cell population growth of two structurally different Spirulina cultures under two different levels of red light intensities, 8 µmol/m2/s (high); 3 µmol/m2/s (low). The cell population, oxygen produced, and oxygen produced per cell measurements were observed and recorded at three 24 hour intervals. It was found there was not a significant difference between high and low light intensities when considering the cell concentration …
Effects Of Red Light Intensity On Cultivation & Oxygen Production In Arthrospira Plantensis, Abigail Roberts
Effects Of Red Light Intensity On Cultivation & Oxygen Production In Arthrospira Plantensis, Abigail Roberts
Honors Theses
Maintaining life sustaining resources during long-term space travel has encouraged scientists to turn their attention to the potential benefits of a cyanobacteria named Arthrospira platensis, commonly known as Spirulina algae. This experiment measures the oxygen production and cell population growth of two structurally different Spirulina cultures under two different levels of red light intensities, 8 µmol/m 2Js (high); 3 µmol/m2/s (low). The cell population, oxygen produced, and oxygen produced per cell measurements were observed and recorded at three 24 hour intervals. It was found there was not a significant difference between high and low light intensities when considering the cell …
Effects Of Storage Conditions On Bpa Leaching From Infant Oral Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Emma Bynum
Honors Theses
Infants are at the highest risk of BPA exposure compared to any other stage of life. Because an infant’s endocrine system is developing, exposure to an endocrine-disruptor, such as BPA, can be especially harmful. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a structural component in many plastic products, which acts as an endocrine-disruptor mimicking estrogen. This hormonal disruption has been linked to obesity, reproductive issues, cardiovascular problems, and the neurodevelopment disorders. While the FDA monitors things like baby bottles, canned goods, and plastic containers for BPA, infantile oral hygiene products are not closely monitored. Previous research tested infant toothbrushes on the market using a …
Bacteriophages: Paving The Road For The Future Of Medicine, Luke Brinkerhoff
Bacteriophages: Paving The Road For The Future Of Medicine, Luke Brinkerhoff
Honors Theses
Bacteriophages are a possible solution to antibiotic resistance, which is predicted to be detrimental world-wide by the year 2050. Personal field research was also conducted for a project studying the characteristics of two bacteriophages on a single bacterial host.
A Meta-Analysis On The Differences In Neuroplasticity Between Women And Men After Traumatic Brain Injuries, Victoria A. Martin
A Meta-Analysis On The Differences In Neuroplasticity Between Women And Men After Traumatic Brain Injuries, Victoria A. Martin
Honors Theses
The current meta-analysis investigates the differences in neuroplasticity between women and men after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Research on the differences in neuroplasticity between women and men is relatively new and few studies have reported outcome variables by gender after TBIs. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt and change particularly because of learning or brain injuries. TBI is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide; because of this, learning more about these differences can give scientists and clinicians more information on how to better treat people with brain injuries. Current research is inconsistent on whether there is …
Developing Novel Water-Soluble Porphyrins For Potential Use As Photosensitizers In Photodynamic Therapy, Kayla R. Whittington
Developing Novel Water-Soluble Porphyrins For Potential Use As Photosensitizers In Photodynamic Therapy, Kayla R. Whittington
Honors Theses
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality for various illnesses, including some types of cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The prevalence of lung cancer in certain gender, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups add to existing health disparities in the United States. For this reason, it is necessary to address the social determinants underlying lung cancer disparities, as well as improve treatment options. These treatment options should be cost effective, convenient, and increase survival rates. This research focused on synthesizing novel water-soluble porphyrin compounds for use as photosensitive agents in PDT for …
Rock Climbing Therapy For Individuals With Disabilities, Grace Loftin
Rock Climbing Therapy For Individuals With Disabilities, Grace Loftin
Honors Theses
This thesis explores what it means to be living with a disability, the background of cerebral palsy, and how participating in a climbing program can benefit these individuals and improve their quality of life. These advantages are discussed in detail and how further research on this topic may be conducted is expanded upon
Defying The Darkness: Countering Cancer With Light, Travis Hankins
Defying The Darkness: Countering Cancer With Light, Travis Hankins
Honors Theses
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) accounts for upwards of 15% of reported breast cancer cases. This subtype of breast cancer poses a greater threat to those diagnosed as compared to other types of breast cancer due to the lack of treatment options available. Additionally, TNBC grows and spreads faster, tends to be more aggressive, and has a greater chance of recurrence than its counterparts. Altogether, TNBC cases generally have a worse prognosis over other types of breast cancer. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is currently being researched as a way to treat TNBC. Photodynamic therapy agents are light-activated materials used for localized disease …
Honokoil Treatment On Glioblastoma Cells, Julianne Weaver
Honokoil Treatment On Glioblastoma Cells, Julianne Weaver
Honors Theses
Glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor without effective treatment options available because of its resistance to chemotherapy and radiation. This specific type of cancer is difficult to treat because the cancer stem cells that are not actively growing. These cells are dormant, which means they will not react to treatment because they are not dividing, and it is these cells that result in the high prevalence of relapse. Honokiol is a Chinese magnolia species that is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and proapoptotic effects which make it an optimal candidate for glioma cell treatment. Honokiol was used in this experiment …
Effectiveness And Mechanism Of Action Of Modified Porphyrins For Photodynamic Therapy Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Hannah Brandon
Effectiveness And Mechanism Of Action Of Modified Porphyrins For Photodynamic Therapy Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Hannah Brandon
Honors Theses
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer that lacks the three molecules typically targeted for treatment. Standard treatment methods leave much to be desired--the rates of metastasis and recurrence are high and the prognosis for most patients with TNBC is poor. One potential treatment for TNBC is photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses compounds called photosensitizers that are taken up by all tissues in the body. The tumor is exposed to light, activating the photosensitizer and creating reactive oxygen species that cause cell death. This method is relatively pain-free, effective, and does not harm cells …
Killing Breast Cancer One Porphyrin At A Time, Taylor C. Lymburner
Killing Breast Cancer One Porphyrin At A Time, Taylor C. Lymburner
Honors Theses
New treatments for cancer are continuously being developed and improved. One such treatment is Photodynamic Therapy, more commonly referred to as PDT. PDT is quickly becoming more popular due to its relative lack of side effects that are present in other treatments. In PDT, light-sensitive agents are required and are activated by light in the targeted cells. There are many types of PDT agents but the one focused on in this research is a four-pyrrole ring structure known as a porphyrin. The combination of H2 TPPC with 3- amino-oxetane-3-yl-methanol created the final product ofH2TPP-Oxo-MeOH. Once the porphyrin was formed, it …
Killing Cancer With Light, Kaitlyn Thomas
Killing Cancer With Light, Kaitlyn Thomas
Honors Theses
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new treatment option in medicine including treating some types of cancers. PDT utilizes light to activate small molecules for treatment. Some of these molecules used as PDT agents are porphyrin derivatives. While PDT is currently being used in the fight against cancer, it has several limitations and is currently being used in conjunction with chemotherapy and/or radiation in order to be effective. This research focused on synthesizing a new zinc (II) porphyrin and incorporating a fluorescent sulfocycline and testing the compound on the MB 231 breast cancer cell line.
Once the metallated porphyrin was …
Testing Bacterial Antibiotic Production Under Carbohydrate And Protein Starvation, Briley Baird
Testing Bacterial Antibiotic Production Under Carbohydrate And Protein Starvation, Briley Baird
Honors Theses
Bacteria produce antibiotics when they are under stress, including starvation stress. Bacteria were tested under carbohydrate and protein starvation against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli (due to the respective Gram positivity and negativity), in order to check for antibiotic production. The bacteria being tested were isolated by past Microbiology classes and stored in a -80°C freezer in the basement of Jones Science Center at Ouachita Baptist University. These test bacteria were grown on tryptic soy agar (TSA) to produce isolated bacterial colonies. Samples of isolated test colonies were then grown under conditions of carbohydrate starvation (M9 salts agar with 0.1 …
Using Light To Kill Cancer: Development Of A Novel Photodynamic Therapy, Alicia Hamilton Moore
Using Light To Kill Cancer: Development Of A Novel Photodynamic Therapy, Alicia Hamilton Moore
Honors Theses
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that uses special drugs called photosensitizing agents along with light to kill cancer cells. The specialized drugs only work after they have been activated or "turned on" by light. Photodynamic therapy may also be called photoradiation therapy, phototherapy, or photochemotherapy. In this research, I focused on the addition of four separate hydroxyl-amines to the unsubstituted porphyrin core, H2TPPC. The hydroxyl-amines attached to the porphyrin core were 5- amino-1-pentanol, 2-amino-2-ethyl-1, 3-propanediol, 3-amino-propanediol, and 5-aminovaleric acid. The novel water soluble PDT agents, H2TPP-A50H, H2TPP-2ET, H2TPP-3NH, and H2 …
Discovering New Antibiotics: Bacterial Extracts Separated By Thin-Layer Chromatography Inhibit The Growth Of Staphylococcus, Heidi Hughes
Discovering New Antibiotics: Bacterial Extracts Separated By Thin-Layer Chromatography Inhibit The Growth Of Staphylococcus, Heidi Hughes
Honors Theses
Many bacteria have become resistant to commonly used antibiotics because of antibiotic use in people and animals. Therefore, new antibiotics are needed that will inhibit these resistant bacteria. Bacteria found in soil are a likely source for new antibiotics because of the limited available nutrients found in the soil. We isolated soil bacteria and screened them for antibiotic production against Staphylococcus epidermidids. Methanol extracts were made from entire agar plates of the soil bacteria that inhibited S. epidermidis. These extracts were spotted on a lawn of Staphylococcus aureus; growth inhibition was measured to comfirm that the extracts contained the …
Simultaneous Determination Of Bpa And Bps Using Uv/Vis Spectrophotometry And Hplc, Jean Eudes Benecyo
Simultaneous Determination Of Bpa And Bps Using Uv/Vis Spectrophotometry And Hplc, Jean Eudes Benecyo
Honors Theses
Bisphenol A (BPA) has been one of the most used plasticizers with more than 4.8 million tons produced in 2012. BPA is also an endocrine disruptor that has been linked to adverse health effects such as cancer, obesity, behavioral and mood changes, lowered fertility, developmental changes and more in humans and other animals. The evidence of the toxicity of BPA, even at very low levels, has caused many countries to limit its use, especially in baby bottles and other baby-related hard plastic items. In these times, BPA has been replaced with other bisphenols, such as Bisphenol S (BPS). BPS is …
Thrilling Monotony: A Summer Of Alzheimer's Research, Baronger Dowell Bieger
Thrilling Monotony: A Summer Of Alzheimer's Research, Baronger Dowell Bieger
Honors Theses
The primary genetic risk determinant for late-onset Alzheimer's disease is the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE). Variations in this gene produce three different isoforms of the apolipoprotein E protein (ApoE): ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4. ApoE# is the most common isoform, so rates of LOAD among other genotypes are indexed to this variant. ApoE2 is rather rare, but its carriers are less likely to get LOAD; when they do, they get it later. The second most common variant is ApoE4, and its carriers are significantly more likely to get LOAD. They also tend to succumb earlier. Once developed, LOAD is characterized by …
Ten Weeks With Green Beans...And Then Some: Determination Of Bisphenol-A (Bpa) In Canned Goods From Arkansas Markets Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry, Rachel Pruett
Honors Theses
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical widely used in production of consumer goods. It has come under scrutiny recently after being labeled as an endocrine disruptor (ED), mostly causing adverse effects in infants and young children. It has been associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and abnormal maturation. Because it is so commonly used in product development, humans are exposed to BPA through various means, such as ingestion or dermal absorption. It is a concern that the combined exposure could cause serious effects even in small doses.
In canned foods, the chemical is made into an epoxy resin to provide a …
Bringing Bpa To Light: Determination Of Bisphenol A In Thermal Receipt Paper Water Samples And Lake Water Samples Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry, Bailey Chitwood
Bringing Bpa To Light: Determination Of Bisphenol A In Thermal Receipt Paper Water Samples And Lake Water Samples Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry, Bailey Chitwood
Honors Theses
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that is commonly used in harder plastic products, in the lining of food cans, and in thermal receipt paper. The usage of BPA in common products has become a concern for humans, especially for infants and young children, because of its effects as an endocrine disrupter. BPA has been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and certain developmental disorders. Because of the possible effects of BPA on the development of infants and young children, the use of BPA in baby bottles and other baby products has been outlawed. However, BPA is still used in …
Protective Effects Of Aqueous Extract Of Terminalia Arjuna Bark Against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity, Sarah Elizabeth Bishop
Protective Effects Of Aqueous Extract Of Terminalia Arjuna Bark Against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity, Sarah Elizabeth Bishop
Honors Theses
The bark of Terminalia arjuna (TA), a tropical tree, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for treatment of cardiovascular disease. TA bark is known to contain various antioxidants, and recently it has been suggested to enhance function of the normal heart as an over-the-counter supplement in the USA. The mechanism underlying cardiac actions of TA bark are unknown. Doxorubicin (DOX), a commonly-used anticancer drug, is known to cause cardiotoxicity, a major concern in chemotherapy. The aim of this study is to investigate whether aqueous extracts of TA bark (TAaq) protect the heart from DOX treatment by …
My Experience Exploring The Effects Of Lead (Pb +2) Toxicity In Drosophila Melanogaster Using Sociability Interaction Testing And Microarrays At The University Of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Charlton Diaz
Honors Theses
Lead is an environmental contaminant widely dispersed throughout the world. Exposure to lead causes neurological damage in humans and may be linked to neurodevelopmental pathologies such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, antisocial behavior, and autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) have been used to understand the behavioral, synaptic, and molecular changes that occur after developmental exposure to lead and to study ASD-associated pathology. Flies were exposed through the mother and until eclosion to either a lead-laced medium or a control corn-based medium and were isolated until the beginning for the behavioral studies. Sociability testing was done using a …
Establishing A Mouse Model For The Study Of Podocyte Regeneration After Injury, John A. Gomez
Establishing A Mouse Model For The Study Of Podocyte Regeneration After Injury, John A. Gomez
Honors Theses
Podocytes are vital, specialized kidney cells that are post-mitotic and cannot proliferate. Nevertheless, regeneration of podocytes after low-level ablation from a presently unidentified stem cell pool has been observed. The objective of this study was to establish a mouse model for the study of this regeneration process. Two transgenic mice were developed, the first of which possessed a tomato-reporter transgene for the assessment of podocyte turnover. Adriamycin was used to induce podocyte damage in this mouse. The second transgenic mouse possessed the tomato-reporter transgene as well as transgene allowing for the diphtheria toxin inducible (iDTR) ablation of podocytes. Dosage tests …
Mitoxantrone Represses Markers Of Microglial Activation And Inflammation, Cameron A. Tull
Mitoxantrone Represses Markers Of Microglial Activation And Inflammation, Cameron A. Tull
Honors Theses
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by an autoimmune attack against myelin sheaths in the central nervous system (CNS). Resulting debilitations vary from sensory, motor, and coordination abnormalities to visual difficulties as well as bowel, bladder, sexual, and cognitive dysfunction (Fox, 2006). Mitoxantrone (Novantrone) is an FDAapproved drug used to treat the secondary-progressive form ofMS due to its demonstrated immunosuppressive properties. While the mechanism of action of mitoxantrone is not yet well understood, and is limited in its use due to cardiotoxicity, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of mitoxantrone on microglial and astrocyte …
Assessment Of The Nutrition Knowledge And Nutrition Practices Of Crisis Pregnancy Center Clients, Sarah Harger
Assessment Of The Nutrition Knowledge And Nutrition Practices Of Crisis Pregnancy Center Clients, Sarah Harger
Honors Theses
Nutrition affects people's health. People often suffer illnesses and premature death that are largely due to poor dietary choices. Some people are aware that they are eating foods that are harmful and others eat poorly out of ignorance. Pregnancy is a time during the lifecycle when nutritional intake is of particular importance. Good choices can promote health and prevent major health problems or even death for the mother and the baby.
Many people are unaware of the benefits or consequences caused by the food they eat. Particularly low-income people may not be exposed to nutrition education. Many young people are …
A New Me: A Study In Diet Therapy, Marsha Ellis
A New Me: A Study In Diet Therapy, Marsha Ellis
Honors Theses
Obesity is a major problem in our nation today. It Seems that we are eating too much and exercising too little. We can analyze, discuss, and write about obesity from now through eternity. However all of this is in vain, unless it causes us to lose weight.