Development of the cat-owner relationship scale (CORS)

Characteristics of the human-animal bond can be influenced by both owner-related and pet-related factors, which likely differ between species. Three studies adapted the Monash Dog-Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS) to permit assessment of human-cat interactions as perceived by the cat's owner. In Study 1293 female cat owners completed a modified version of the MDORS, where 'dog' was replaced with 'cat' for all items. Responses were compared with a matched sample of female dog owners. A partial least squares discriminant analysis revealed systematic differences between cat and dog owners in the Dog (Cat)-Owner Interaction subscale (MDORS subscale 1), but not for Perceived Emotional Closeness or Perceived Costs (Subscales 2 and 3). Study 2 involved analysis of free-text descriptions of cat-owner interactions provided by 61 female cat owners. Text mining identified key words which were used to create additional questions for a new Cat-Owner Interaction subscale. In Study 3, the resulting cat-owner relationship scale (CORS) was tested in a group of 570 cat owners. The main psychometric properties of the scale, including internal consistency and factor structure, were evaluated. We propose that this scale can be used to accurately assess owner perceptions of their relationship with their cat. A modified scale, combining items from the CORS and MDORS (a C/DORS), is also provided for when researchers would find it desirable to compare human-cat and human-dog interactions. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

The Role of Social Support and Social Integration in Explaining Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Unmet Healthcare Need

It is increasingly clear that healthcare outcomes are greatly rooted in social determinants of health, as social resources may influence how likely one is to receive care. Given the stark racial/ethnic health disparities in the United States, this study aims to provide a greater understanding as to how social relationships may help explain racial/ethnic gaps in unmet healthcare need. Specifically, this thesis uses measures of social integration and social support in order to study how structural and functional aspects of social networks are related to unmet healthcare need. Using survey data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and a series of logistic regression models, I found that black respondents have 23% higher odds of having unmet healthcare need compared to white respondents. However, controlling for measures of socioeconomic status and health factors eliminates this racial gap in unmet need. Moreover, results show intergroup differences in social relationship characteristics among racial/ethnic groups, most notably between Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics. Surprisingly, the disparity in unmet need between Blacks and Whites is only resolved when controlling for marital status, although taking into account measures of social integration and social support in combination through index scores additionally eliminates disparities in unmet healthcare need. Ultimately, this knowledge may help healthcare professionals and policy officials connect socially isolated individuals at high risk for poor health outcomes to social resources and support groups. Given the multifactorial causes of health disparities, this thesis may serve to help improve health outcomes for racial/ethnic minority patients in a unique way.Bachelor of Art

Prebiotic Modulation of Intestinal Permeability

The maintenance of a functional intestinal barrier is critical to overall health, as a “leaky gut”, often a result of age-associated defects in intestinal barrier integrity, can lead to systemic health problems, including dysregulated inflammation and infections. The gut barrier is modulated by host factors, including mucin and tight junction proteins, and by members of the gut microbiota that may influence the expression of genes associated with intestinal permeability. While use of dietary prebiotics is becoming a popular method to beneficially modulate the gut microbiota, it is unclear how these complex carbohydrates can improve gut physiology. In this study, we characterized the effects of dietary prebiotics galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and LacNAc-enriched galacto-oligosaccharides (humanized, hGOS) on intestinal permeability in mice. FITC-dextran assays showed that GOS and hGOS restored intestinal barrier function in aging animals. However, a histology approach to visualize and quantify mucin within intestinal sections, revealed that GOS-fed animals had more mucus than hGOS or control-fed animals. Finally, reverse transcription qPCR assays were performed to determine gene expression of permeability associated genes, including mucin and tight junction proteins in prebiotic-fed animals. This work provides valuable insights into how intestinal permeability can be modulated by dietary prebiotics.Bachelor of Scienc

Spain's demographic crisis and its implications for the Spanish welfare state

Spain is currently undergoing a demographic crisis with less than replacement fertility rates and an aging population. This crisis can be traced back to the organization and formation of the welfare state and will hold serious challenges for the future of the Spanish welfare state. The low fertility rate has many roots within the welfare state, especially the preference for familial care within the home, the precariousness of the job market for part time workers, and the cost of housing. Gender issues also affect the fertility rate in Spain as women are choosing to work and have a career rather than have children. The aging of the population and staggeringly high immigration rates also contribute to Spain's demographic crisis. The welfare state will feel the challenges of the demographic crisis in the near future unless it amends its family and work policies to accommodate couples who wish to start families

Activation of the Bile Acid Pathway and No Observed Antimicrobial Peptide Sequences in the Skin of a Poison Frog

The skin secretions of many frogs have genetically-encoded, endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Other species, especially aposematic poison frogs, secrete exogenously derived alkaloids that serve as potent defense molecules. The origins of these defense systems are not clear, but a novel bileacid derived metabolite, tauromantellic acid, was recently discovered and shown to be endogenous in poison frogs (Mantella, Dendrobates, and Epipedobates). These observations raise questions about the evolutionary history of AMP genetic elements, the mechanism and function of tauromatellic acid production, and links between these systems. To understand the diversity and expression of AMPs among frogs, we assembled skin transcriptomes of 13 species across the anuran phylogeny. Our analyses revealed a diversity of AMPs and AMP expression levels across the phylogenetic history of frogs, but no observations of AMPs in Mantella. We examined genes expressed in the bile-acid metabolic pathway and found that CYP7A1 (Cytochrome P450), BAAT (bile acid-CoA: amino acid N-acyltransferase), and AMACR (alphamethylacyl- CoA racemase) were highly expressed in the skin of M. betsileo and either lowly expressed or absent in other frog species. In particular, CYP7A1 catalyzes the first reaction in the cholesterol catabolic pathway and is the rate-limiting step in regulation of bile acid synthesis, suggesting unique activation of the bile acid pathway in Mantella skin. The activation of the bile acid pathway in the skin of Mantella and the lack of observed AMPs fuel new questions about the evolution of defense compounds and the ectopic expression of the bile-acid pathway