An experimental apparatus is modified to allow measurements of the Seebeck coefficient and resistivity to be taken simultaneously. This apparatus is designed for bulk and thin film samples between temperatures of 10 K and 300 K. The apparatus is constructed such that these simultaneous measurements do not interfere with each...
Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB) is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for infections in immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients. Even with long-term treatment with multiple antibiotics, MAB pulmonary infections have high rates of treatment failure. Within the host, MAB is phagocytosed by key innate immune cells macrophages. The TLR2 and TLR4 are two critical...
Myxobolus squamalis is a Myxozoan parasite of salmonids, which contributes to lowered fitness of hatchery and wild fish in the Pacific Northwest of North America. The only GenBank DNA sequence of M. squamalis is from Oncorhynchus tschawytscha (Chinook), but is not linked to a published morphological description. There is a...
Monitoring the concentration of phenolic compounds is important for environmental regulation, health diagnostics, and bioenergy fermentation. Vanillin is a phenol compound used as a food flavoring that can cause allergies and inhibits biofuel production. The phenol m-cresol is a toxic compound that is regulated in the environment and in human...
Low-Income urban African American (LIU-AA) youth are at high risk for HIV/STIs and adolescent pregnancy. Sexual health websites (SHWs) offer an inexpensive, easy-to-disseminate, and potentially highly-accessible method of improving sexual health knowledge, awareness, and help-seeking. The present study examined engagement regarding sexual health websites for at-risk, LIU-AA youth. We conducted...
People are increasingly staring at device screens which emit predominantly blue light. Because LED technology is relatively new, we do not know what effects blue light has on our long-term health. Blue light exposure leads to a dramatic decrease in longevity in Drosophila, thus this study aims to explore possible...
Previous research on WWII veterans in their 70’s and 80’s has shown that positive and negative appraisals of military service mediate between combat exposure and PTSD symptoms in late life. This thesis extends this research in two ways, first by determining how these variables relate to functional health in later...
This study aimed to determine the efficacy of baking to reduce bacterial populations (an unknown contaminant or Salmonella) in cookie dough. Baking conditions (time and temperature parameters) were selected based on conditions commonly used in industry. The first study (Chapter 2), “Baking as Validation for Control of Coliform Counts in...
Type-2 diabetes (T2D) has become a pandemic. The main impairment in T2D is skeletal muscle insulin resistance (IR) and is often associated with obesity. Despite decades of study, the mechanisms of IR have not been fully resolved. Evidence has implicated mitochondrial dysfunction as a potential cause and/or consequence of IR....
Sperm acrosome associated 3 protein (SPACA3) is a unique, intra-acrosomal, conventional-type lysozyme-like protein of mammalian spermatozoa. SPACA3 is present in all stages of ovarian follicles and is localized to granulosa cells and ooplasma in humans, mice, cows, dogs, and cats. The objective of this study was to determine if equine...
School-based comprehensive sex education (CSE) can reduce adolescent sexual health problems. However, only 49-55% of adolescents receive CSE that meets national standards. African American youth (AAY), particularly males, are less likely to receive CSE. AAY evidence a high prevalence of STIs/teen pregnancy. Internet-based CSE offers a supplemental option. We examined...
Post-mortem examinations were performed on 29 deceased Persian kittens from 13 different litters, and 30 deceased Devon Rex kittens from 18 different litters in order to identify gross anatomical abnormalities. Fifteen kittens were stillborn (8 Devon Rex, 7 Persian), 17 kittens died during the first day of life (16 Devon...
Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzukii) is an invasive fruit fly species native of Southeast Asia. In vineyards, SWD lays eggs in damaged and intact fruit of the most soft-skinned varieties, and feeds on damaged fruits during the harvest period. Feeding and oviposition activities increase the likelihood of vectoring spoilage bacteria,...
Innovative nanoelectromechanical switches (NEMS) have the prospects to reduce device actuation voltages as compared to traditional semiconductor devices. Current research on NEMS seeks to avoid irreversible adhesion at the nanoscopic level, which results in device failure. Minimizing leakage currents and increasing device longevity are additional goals of this approach. The...
The legal landscape surrounding the prosecution of white-collar criminals has changed drastically over time, as has the media’s rhetoric, but the resulting sentence lengths have been inconsistent. This study utilizes historical newspaper articles to review the changes in media rhetoric over time and how this relates to the sentencing of...
Drone strikes have become a defining strategy in the US War on Terror. Since the first combat drone strike in 2001, the executive branch has intentionally increased the deployment of drones for counterterrorism operations throughout the Middle East and North Africa. This thesis explores the moral and legal justifications for...
Microplastics (<5mm) are a ubiquitous environmental pollutant that have the potential to cause significant harm in many fish species. Therefore, understanding the quantities at which they are being consumed by living organisms is crucial for characterizing risk. There are currently gaps in the microplastic literature regarding microplastic data from finfish...
Artificial Intelligence has gained resurgence in popularity through machine learning methods. This thesis investigates the current use of AI, the impact it will have on the economy and the ethical considerations for developing this technology. In the coming decade AI could increase global economic output over $10 Trillion. AI will...
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic condition that impairs insulin stimulated glucose absorption in skeletal muscle, a characteristic phenomenon denoted as insulin resistance. Lipid overload of the mitochondria is linked to the development of insulin resistance and the progression of Type 2 Diabetes. As lipids accumulate there is...