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Oncomodulin-induced morphological and transcriptomic changes in acutely stressed HEI-OC1 cells.
No full textAge-related sensorineural hearing loss is one of the most common functional deficits observed in elderly populations worldwide. In the inner ear, the sensory organ of hearing, the organ of Corti, contains inner hair cells (IHCs) and outer hair cells (OHCs), which are essential to hearing. IHCs help mediate the transmission of sound stimuli to the central nervous system, while OHCs amplify sound-induced vibrations, which enable hearing sensitivity, and protect from excessive noise exposure. Despite their essential function, however, OHCs are more vulnerable to stress-induced damage than other sensory cells. Beyond functional properties that distinguish OHCs from IHCs, a specific protein, oncomodulin (OCM), is preferentially located in OHCs, and its absence has been shown to increase OHC susceptibility to damage. OCM is a calcium binding protein, buffering calcium ion concentration gradients. Its precise role in maintaining OHC resilience, however, remains unclear; thus, examining the effects of its presence under cellular stress response pathways may help elucidate its role in the preservation of OHCs. This thesis examines the potential mechanisms involving the protective role of OCM, particularly in response to oxidative stress, which has been implicated in many forms of cellular aging. To study the role of OCM in cellular mechanisms associated with oxidative stress, we utilized a cell culture line derived from sensory cells in the inner ear. House Ear Institute organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1) cells were transiently transfected with Ocm-GFP plasmids and treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), to induce oxidative stress. Following treatment, control cells displayed apoptotic morphology and transcriptional profiles. Ocm-GFP cells, on the other hand, displayed morphological properties consistent with senescence as well as improved viability. These findings indicate that OCM may redirect the cellular response from apoptosis toward senescence, suggesting a potential mechanism by which OCM may both preserve OHC viability and delay the onset of age-related hearing loss
How do dietary factors, including nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, and dietary patterns, influence the symptoms and development of autism spectrum disorder?
No full textAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to its development, with diet emerging as a potential modifiable influence on symptom severity. This thesis systematically reviews human, and animal studies published between 2010 and 2025 to examine how nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, and dietary patterns affect ASD symptoms and development. Findings indicate that deficiencies in vitamin D, B vitamins, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids are associated with more severe behavioral and cognitive symptoms. Dietary interventions, such as glutenand casein-free diets, show mixed effects but may benefit children with gastrointestinal sensitivities. Gut microbiome composition and broader dietary patterns also appear to influence neurodevelopment and behavior. Mechanistic evidence from rodent studies demonstrates that maternal high-fat or low-protein diets can induce ASD-like behaviors in offspring, alongside hormonal and gene expression changes, highlighting potential biological pathways. Overall, while dietary quality and individualized interventions may affect ASD outcomes, inconsistencies in study design and limited human data restrict definitive conclusions. Future research should prioritize longitudinal, mechanistically informed human studies to guide clinical recommendations and optimize nutritional strategies for individuals with ASD
The roots of dentistry : traditional remedies and their chemical foundations.
Get PDFThis thesis examines the dental care practices of the Ancient Egyptians, the Ancient Maya, and medieval European practitioners, with a focus on the natural materials they used to treat various dental diseases. It investigates the active compounds within locally sourced substances—such as plant-based resins, minerals, and herbs—employed in traditional oral treatments. By analyzing the pharmacological properties of these materials, this research explores how their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and other restorative effects contributed to managing oral infections and preventing tooth decay. Ultimately, the thesis provides insight into the biochemical components of these remedies and emphasizes their potential relevance to modern dentistry. It concludes by considering how these findings could inform contemporary approaches to dental care in missionary and global health settings
Cardiac-related physician availability and rural-urban disparities in premature cardiovascular mortality in U.S. counties.
No full textCardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States, with premature mortality increasingly becoming a critical public health concern. This study examines how disparities in cardiology workforce availability and socioeconomic conditions contribute to differences in premature CVD mortality (ages 35-64) across U.S. counties from 2019 to 2023. County-level data from the Area Health Resource File and CDC WONDER were analyzed using negative binomial regression models to estimate rate ratios representing the relative change in mortality associated with physician density. Results indicate that higher densities of cardiovascular specialists, including cardiologists, thoracic surgeons, and vascular physicians, were associated with lower premature CVD mortality (p < 0.001). Smaller but significant effects were also observed for primary care and emergency medicine physicians. These associations persisted after adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic factors, emphasizing the need for equitable distribution of healthcare resources to reduce preventable cardiovascular deaths
The sound of resilience : song and story in the Black theological tradition.
No full textThis thesis examines how the Black theological tradition offers a mode of human flourishing amid unjust suffering through narrative meaning-making and sacred music. Challenging conventional Christian theodicies that frame suffering as inherently redemptive, it argues that Black theology transforms experiences of oppression into sources of resilience, hope, and dignity. Drawing on the work of James Cone and Delores Williams, the study shows how stories, testimony, and reinterpretations of biblical texts, together with spirituals, gospel, and freedom songs, create communal frameworks for interpreting suffering and reclaiming agency. By centering Black communal experience, this research demonstrates that narrative and song function as intertwined mechanisms that preserve dignity, sustain joy, and generate theological insight, revealing a God intimately present in human suffering and active in the pursuit of liberation and human flourishing
Child trafficking in the United States and the effects of transportation.
No full textChild trafficking in the United States remains a serious issue, and transportation plays an essential role in how victims are moved and controlled. This thesis addresses modern-day child trafficking, the forms it takes, and how traffickers use various means of transportation, including air travel, buses, and ride-sharing apps, to move their victims across cities and state lines, in hopes of avoiding detection. Furthermore, this research discusses government efforts to prevent trafficking through transportation-based initiatives such as airline and trucking industry training, security protocols, and collaboration with federal and local law enforcement. Laws addressing trafficking and efforts to prevent and disable its presence in the U.S. are included in the discussion of government expenditures on the matter. Although there has been progress, challenges still exist in identifying and locating victims and discouraging traffickers before they reach destinations. By understanding how transportation enables trafficking and how transport agencies can be used to counter it, this study highlights that additional policies, awareness-raising, and enforcement initiatives are needed to further protect vulnerable children from exploitation
Microplastics and fertility : evaluating the environmental influence on female reproduction and fetal development.
No full textPlastic pollution is an emerging environmental concern, and growing evidence links microplastic exposure to adverse reproductive health outcomes. This literature-based thesis synthesizes epidemiological studies, toxicological research, and policy analyses to assess how microplastics accumulate in biological tissues, disrupt endocrine function, and contribute to reproductive toxicity. Studies link microplastics and their associated contaminants, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, to hormonal imbalances, reduced fertility, and pregnancy complications. This thesis examines the scientific evidence of rodent studies on ovarian function, cell models assessing placental toxicity, and epidemiological studies on exposure patterns and fertility outcomes to address knowledge gaps. Additionally, it assesses U.S. guidance on microplastic contamination, identifying regulatory gaps and areas where additional research in environmental health is needed. By integrating findings from multiple disciplines, this thesis underscores the urgent need for more guidance, increased public awareness, and further investigation into long-term reproductive risks associated with microplastic exposure. Addressing these concerns is critical for mitigating human health impacts and developing evidence-based strategies to reduce exposure and safeguard reproductive health
Liberalism’s early discontents : critiques of classical liberalism from Joseph de Maistre and Juan Donoso Cortés.
No full textIn his book, Liberalism and Its Discontents, Francis Fukuyama argues that liberalism’s contemporary critics have been hyper-focused on modern progressivism and other “extreme” interpretations of liberal philosophy, rather than targeting classical liberalism itself. Thus, he maintains, classical liberalism as such remains unchallenged. However, when examining the thought of two major counterrevolutionary thinkers from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Joseph de Maistre and Juan Donoso Cortés, one finds that their critiques of liberalism actually resemble contemporary objections. At times, moreover, De Maistre and Donoso seem to predict the extreme interpretations that Fukuyama deems inconsistent with authentic liberal philosophy as the likely outcomes of classical liberalism. Inspired by Carl Schmitt’s conviction that “all significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts,” the aim of this thesis is to survey the alternative political theology of De Maistre and Donoso, and illuminate the timeless force of their reaction to classical liberalism
The creation of a frailty index : a health variable for future research in a versatile data set.
No full textThis thesis constructs a frailty index using longitudinal data from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) to quantify physiological vulnerability across the life cycle. Unlike prior studies that focus solely on elderly populations, this index spans all adult age groups, capturing early-onset frailty that can be linked to poverty, infrastructure deficits, and chronic illness. The index incorporates twenty-one health deficits, including chronic diseases, functional limitations, and BMI. Analysis reveals right-skewed frailty distributions, gender-based differences, and age-related trajectories, with robustness checks validating the index’s consistency with and without BMI. This work could enable scalable integration of frailty into economic models of aging, providing a tool for possibly examining how infrastructure and public health investments shape health outcomes over time. The index offers a foundation for future causal analysis and supports more precise targeting of policy interventions aimed at reducing vulnerability in developing contexts, particularly as India confronts the economic implications of an aging population
Investigating a novel solid-state oxygenating therapeutic : BUOx's influence on oxidative stress and cellular responses in BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines.
No full textHypoxia is a common pathological state found in a diverse array of diseases, including those associated with pulmonary dysfunctions such as ARDS, COPD, and emphysema. BaylorOx is a novel solid-state oxygenating therapeutic that aims to supplement current oxygenating therapies by supplying 8 to 15 times more oxygen than human hemoglobin. While increased O₂ levels can alleviate cellular damage associated with hypoxia, supraphysiological oxygen levels can also produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to oxidative stress at elevated levels. Due to BaylorOx’s high oxygen capacity, it is essential to determine whether this novel drug has any indication of causing oxidative stress. The goal of this study was, firstly, to investigate the cytotoxicity of BUOx on the human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) and adenocarcinoma human alveolar basal epithelial (A549) cell lines under standard (21% O₂, 5% C O₂, and 37ºC) and hypoxic atmospheric conditions (1% O₂, 5% CO₂, and 37ºC). Cytotoxicity was measured by performing the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and MTT cell viability assays. The second aim of this study was to determine the effects of BUOx on oxidative stress in the BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines. ROS production was measured using the DCFH-DA assay after 24 hr. exposure to BUOx and 48 hr. incubation in hypoxic or normoxic conditions. From the cell viability assays, BUOx showed no signs of cytotoxicity up to doses as high as 100 ppm. Interestingly, ROS production, as determined through the DCFH-DA assay, differed between the BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines following treatment with BUOx. While BUOx did not cause a significant increase in ROS production at either tested dose on the BEAS-2B cell line, a significant increase in ROS production was seen at a 10 ppm dose in the A549s. This suggests that BUOx’s mechanism of action may vary between different cell types and selectively cause oxidative stress in cancer cells. Overall, these findings suggest that BUOx may be an effective and safe alternative to current oxygen therapies, especially for the treatment of acute pulmonary dysfunctions associated with hypoxia. Further research is required to confirm BUOx’s effects on oxidative stress and its potential as an anti-cancer agent