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Ecology Of The Evening Bat (Nycticeius Humeralis) At The Northern Edge Of The Range, Olivia Maya Munzer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Only a single colony of evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis) is known to occur in Michigan, and it is the northernmost colony on the North American continent. In mid-May, only female evening bats migrate to Michigan to raise their pups, and in late August, evening bats migrate to southern portions of their range, where they are ubiquitous. I studied the roosting and dietary ecology of the evening bat in southeastern Michigan. Evening bats roosted in cavities, crevices, and under exfoliating bark of older trees located in a bottomland forest, interlaced with waterways and surrounded by agricultural fields. These habitats …

A Survey Of Registered Dietitians' Perceptions Of Constructivist And Behaviorist Instructional Approaches And Delivery Methods In Accredited Dietetics Programs, Martha A. Smith

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This purpose of this research study was to test learning theories and models of teaching (constructivist vs. behaviorist) used in dietetic education programs. Additionally, the focus of accreditation for dietetics education is the quality and integrity of a program regardless of its instructional delivery method. Therefore, this study examined the variations between on-line and on-campus delivery methods.

Research questions that guided this study included:

1) To what extent do educators use constructivist or behaviorist theoretical approaches during instructional delivery?

2) What are the differences in learning between on-line education and oncampus delivery methods?

3) As far as constructivist and behaviorist …

Rapid Measurements Of Periphytic Responses To Nutrients Using Pam Fluorimetry, Sarah Brooke Whorley

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Water quality monitoring has traditionally been done by measuring periphytic algal biomass that has grown on fertilized or unfertilized patches of habitat produced by nutrientdiffusing substrata (NDS). This method requires the destruction of the accumulated periphyton communities and thus does not allow for convenient monitoring through time. Optical fluorometric methods of estimating biomass and photosynthetic activity have been used in saline environments, but generally not over different nutrient treatments and not for a substantial duration. This study evaluated the use of a pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometer for measuring biomass and photosynthetic activity in conjunction with NDS over several weeks. …

Annual Secondary Production Of Fungal And Bacterial Decomposers Associated With Standing And Benthic Litter Of The Freshwater Emergent Macrophyte, Typha Angustifolia , Brian Matthew Ohsowski

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Fungi and bacteria are significant decomposers of plants within wetlands, but annual secondary production investigations are lacking. Microbial carbon assimilation into biomass and CO₂ mineralization may contribute considerably to wetland biogeochemical cycling and energy flow. Naturally-occurring Typha angustifolia detritus was collected to determine annual areal carbon flow through secondary decomposers. Two decay phases, standing-dead and benthic litter, were analyzed concurrently to determine fungal (¹⁴C-acetate incorporation) and bacterial (³H-leucine incorporation) production estimates. Gradual collapse of the 2004 cohort standing-dead stocks resulted in lowest litter biomass at study's end while benthic detrital stocks displayed little biomass fluctuation. …

Comparison Of Body Fat Reduction In Overweight And Obese Subjects Utilizing Personalized Low-Fat Meal Plans And Non-Personalized Low-Fat Meal Plans, Stacy Dawn Buzan

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Obesity is an epidemic and studies are needed to provide recommendations for more effective strategies to increase self-efficacy and long-term adoption of healthy nutritional habits in individuals who are obese.

Objective: To compare the use of personalized low-fat meal plans vs. non-personalized low-fat meal plans and body fat reduction in overweight and obese subjects 25 to 45 years of age.

Design: A 2-month comparative randomized block experimental study, in which subjects were randomly assigned to either Treatment 1 Group, receiving non-personalized low-fat meal plans, or Treatment 2 Group, receiving personalized low-fat meal plans with two 30-minute dietetic consultations.

Subjects/Setting: …

A School-Based Approach To Increasing Fruit And Vegetable Intake Of High School Students, Rebecca Larson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to establish whether nutrition education would increase high school student consumption of fruits and vegetables, increase knowledge and self-efficacy, and advance students through the stages of change. Additionally, factors that influence intake were studied.

Students (n=260) enrolled in Health and Nutrition & Wellness classes were randomly assigned to intervention or control by class. Intervention consisted of 1 ½ hours for five days of fruit and vegetable focused education. Students completed pre- and post-surveys.

Results showed that fruit and vegetable intake did not change in intervention classes but significantly decreased (p<0.0484) in control classes. Knowledge significantly increased (p<0.0151) in intervention classes. No changes in self-efficacy or stage of change were observed.

Nutrition education must be …

Anaerobic And Performance Adaptations To A “Live High–Train Low” Approach Using Simulated Altitude Exposure, Ian Ratz

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a seven-day live high–train low (LHTL) simulated altitude exposure could improve (a) anaerobic and/or aerobic capacity (VO_2peak) in trained cyclists (n = 10) and (b) VO_2peak and/or 400m swimming performance in collegiate swimmers (n=8).

In procedures approved by the EMU Human Subjects Review Board, cyclists performed seven cycle ergometer trials to measure maximal mean power output (MMPO_4min), maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD), and VO_2peak, whereas swimmers completed five incremental arm ergometer trials (VO_2peak) and 400m swimming performance trials before and after LHTL. …

The Development Of Caching Behavior, Cache Site And Cache Item Defense Tactics, And Cache Site And Cache Item Sharing In Orphaned Fledgling Blue Jays (Cyanocitta Cristata) At A Songbird Rehabilitation Center, Deanna Martinez

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

One of the primary goals of songbird rehabilitators is to promote controllable factors that increase survivorship in orphaned songbirds upon to release. As caching serves an important function in corvid life, this study sought to determine if this behavior would develop with or without outside input. Eight orphaned blue jays (consisting of both hatchlings and nestlings) were brought into the care of the Bird Center of Washtenaw County, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Birds were videotaped and observed for the development of caching behavior, cache item and cache site sharing, and cache defense tactics. Caching behavior and cache defense tactics …

Comparison Of Long-Term Care Residents' Food Intake, Body Weight, And Food Costs Between Two Meal Service Styles, Dee Murphy

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if residents (n = 26) living in an Iowa long-term care facility had differences in food intake at their noon meal and body weight when served traditional tray meal service for 10 weeks compared to being served restaurant-style meal service for 10 weeks. The study also evaluated the facility’s raw food costs of the two meal service styles.

Mean meal intake scale scores improved when residents were served restaurant-style meal service (0.4±0.3) compared to traditional tray meal service. Residents did not show a significant percent weight (1.1%±3.7%) change or percent BMI (0.9%±3.7%) …

The Effect Of The Food Allergen Labeling And Consumer Protection Act (Falcpa) On The Accidental Food Allergen Ingestion Rate In Adults With Self-Reported Food Allergies, Susan Liebert

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) recently required bolded allergens or “contains” statements on food product labels. Very few U.S. studies have looked at the accidental food allergen ingestion rate in adults. Since the emotional and medical costs of allergic reactions can be high, it is important to determine if the FALCPA is helping to reduce the accidental food allergen ingestion rate in adults with self-reported food allergies.

Background: The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) recently required bolded allergens or “contains” statements on food product labels. Very few U.S. studies have looked at …

The Examination Of Control Entropy (Ce) Of Triaxial Accelerometry And Lactate Threshold In Runners During Treadmill Exercise, Michael A. Busa

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the blood lactate threshold could be identified through the visual examination of the control entropy of high-resolution accelerometry in intercollegiate endurance runners (n=7).

In procedures approved by the Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services Human Subject Review Board, runners performed two lactate threshold tests to determine the relationship between the pace of running and the blood lactate concentration. High-resolution accelerometry (HRA) data as well as the metabolic cost of exercise was also collected during these trials.

Control entropy (CE) analysis was conducted on the HRA of each individual …

Design Of A Microscopy-Based Screening Method For Stomatal Development Genes In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Mercedes Tatiana Quinteros Perez

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Stomata are microscopic pores in the epidermis of plants that regulate gas exchange and transpiration. Regulation of stomatal behavior offers opportunity for crop improvement; stomata are also useful for research into cell patterning, differentiation, and development. The purpose of this project was to create a reverse genetics, microscopy-based screening method to identify Arabidopsis genes important in guard cell development. It was hypothesized that gene coexpression analysis would facilitate identification of gene candidates involved in stomatal development. Plants harboring mutations in the candidate genes were analyzed to detect a stomatal phenotype, using dental resin impressions and light microscopy. Coexpression screening was …