Digital Commons Network^™

Forest Schools, Ecofeminism, The Gender Binary, And Androcentrism, Jana Elizabeth Schwai

Theses and Dissertations

Gender in forest schools is a topic that should be at the forefront of discussion when creating a forest school, its pedagogy, curriculum, and principles. Gender is a large part of who we are as humans and having teachers aware of its complexities, presentation, and presence in the forest school setting is imperative. This study consists of interviews and focus group data collected at a midwest United States public forest preschool and an eastern United States private forest preschool. The teachers at these schools were cisgender, as were the students ages three through five who were observed. This paper analyzes …

Exploring Mesolimbic Circuitry Modulation By Opiates, Interleukin-10, And Psychostimulants, Joakim W. Ronström

Theses and Dissertations

The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system originates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and projects to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and other areas including the basolateral amygdala (BLA), prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus. Drug use induces reward and leads to dysregulation in these brain areas and eventually to substance use disorders (SUDs). Chapter 1 introduces the mesolimbic DA system and its relationship to drug use and their relevance to each chapter. Chapter 2 explores opioid effects on BLA circuitry which is known to play a role in the emotional response including anxiety and stress in SUDs. We showed that morphine induced …

The Relationship Between Cognitive Impairment In Psychiatric Patients And Readmission Rate To An Inpatient Facility, Cherilyn Isis Schuff

Theses and Dissertations

The primary intention of this study was to further understand the impact of assessing cognitive impairment in psychiatric patients, as a mediating factor on readmission rates. Mild cognitive dysfunction impacts a patient’s functional outcomes (Bowie & Harvey, 2006; Davis et al., 2012; Marcantonio, et al., 2001). Little information exists to guide best practices in the treatment of adults with cognitive impairment who are hospitalized for acute conditions (Davis et al., 2012). A cognitive impairment may impact patient prognosis and ability to function outside of a setting focused on stabilization. Neuropsychological testing is a valuable tool in predicting a patient’s cognitive …

Determination Of Genetic Variation In Opioid-Resistant Hospice Patients Using A Pharmacogenomics Approach, Daniel Bianculli

Theses and Dissertations

Managing pain requires a delicate balance between the advantages of opioid analgesia and the possible adverse effects. This balance becomes even more difficult in hospice and palliative care environments where dosage regimens are frequently ambiguous. Some hospice patients experience opioid resistance, in which opioids no longer produce an analgesic effect on a patient. Evidence-based analyses frequently omit this vulnerable population, resulting in a need for concrete procedures. The emergence of pharmacogenomic analysis and personalized treatment presents a solution to this problem by using each patient's genomic data to interpret opiate dosing. This pharmacogenomic study aimed to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) …

Effect Of Timing Of Energy Intake On Blood Glucose And Body Composition In Women With Overweight Or Class One Obesity, Michael Wade Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Overweight and obesity has increased in the U.S. Unfortunately, this increases the risk of metabolic dysfunction, such as diabetes. Meal timing has recently shown promise as viable options to minimize the risk of overweight or obesity and metabolic dysfunction. The primary purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate the effect of timing of energy intake on blood glucose in females with overweight or class one obesity (BMI=27-35 kg/m2). This study utilized crossover design with two conditions counterbalanced in random order. Participants completed two 2-week 1500kcal dietary interventions: 1) a big breakfast diet or BB (50% of energy intake between …

The Effects Of Intermittent Fasting On Female Athletes: A Systematic Review, Courtnie Scarbrough

Theses and Dissertations

The intermittent fasting diet has a historical past, but recently, it has regained popularity as a weight loss strategy for the general public. Athletes have also picked up this specialized diet in search of a competitive edge. There are ample studies testing athletes of all levels, but most do not include females or report sex-specific results. This systematic review aimed to identify current research on the effects of intermittent fasting in the understudied population of female athletes. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in three databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, …

Rage In Chronic Pulmonary Inflammation And Obstetric Complications, Katrina Lynn Curtis

Theses and Dissertations

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a transmembrane cell surface protein of the immunoglobulin superfamily that acts as part of both the innate and adaptive immune system. RAGE is highly expressed in lung tissue and is therefore of interest in the pulmonary immune response. Specifically, RAGE mediates several cell-signaling responses such as inflammation and apoptosis. This work sought to elucidate the role of RAGE in the setting of chronic pulmonary irritation such as that found in long-term exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). This irritation has several shared characteristics with lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) …

Replenishment Of Essential Natural Resources: An Assessment Of The Ability Of Freshwater Algae To Enhance Crop Quality And Soil Health, Lala Christina Ek

Theses and Dissertations

Disregard for soil, an essential natural resource, hinders global food production. Food insecurity is a major concern for both public health officials and environmental scientists due to soil quality decline, pollution, and climate change. Alternatives or targeted additions to chemical fertilizers can bolster soil quality, improve crop yields, lengthen crop shelf life, and mitigate environmental pollution. One potential alternative to chemical fertilizers is replacement of them with biological soil amendments, including algae, to enhance crop growth and improve soil health. Research was conducted at the University of South Carolina-Columbia campus garden to determine impacts of non-toxic freshwater algae on crop …

Infection Intensity And Prevalence From Perkinsus Marinus In The Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica (Gmelin 1791) And Their Association With Salinity, Temperature, And Sex In South Carolina Estuaries, Deja E. Best

Theses and Dissertations

This project aimed to identify the associations between the infection intensity and prevalence of Perkinsus marinus infection (i.e., Dermo ) in the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin), with extrinsic environmental factors such as changes in salinity and temperature along with oyster host factors such as sex ratio. The objectives of the study were to: (1) identify significant associations between the dependent variables, P. marinus prevalence and infection intensity, in relation to salinity and water temperature which may be affected by climate change; and (2) identify any intrinsic factors related to sex (i.e., male, female, intersex, and indeterminant) that may affect …

"The Trees Act Not As Individuals"--Learning To See The Whole Picture In Biology Education And Remote Sensing Research, Rebeka A.F. Greenall

Theses and Dissertations

To increase equity and inclusion for underserved and excluded Indigenous students, we must make efforts to mitigate the unique barriers they face. As their knowledge systems have been historically excluded and erased in Western science, we begin by reviewing the literature on the inclusion of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in biology education and describe best practices. Next, to better understand how Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHPI) students integrate into the scientific community, we used Social Influence Theory as a framework to measure NHPI student science identity, self-efficacy, alignment with science values, and belonging. We also investigated how students …

Effectiveness Of Intervention Studies Based On Diet And/Or Physical Activity In Treatment, Prevention, And Management Of Diabetes Among South Asians: A Systematic Review, Ishaan Arora

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe diet and/or physical activity-based interventions and their control in cardiometabolic risk factors of diabetes for the South Asian (SA) population. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Seventeen randomized control trials meeting the inclusion criteria were included for analysis. Interventions with type-2 diabetic SA showed significant improvements in HbA1c% (4/5 studies), fasting blood glucose (3/4 studies), and postprandial glucose (2/2 studies). Interventions with at-risk/prediabetic and non-diabetic SA showed a modest change in overall outcomes, with significant change reported for post-prandial insulin (3/4 studies), BMI and weight (2/4 studies), …

Investigating Specialty Crop Farmers’ Preferences For Contract Design And Attitudes Towards Blockchain-Based Smart Contracts, Esther Mmenaa Agyemang-Duah

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines small and medium scale specialty crop growers’ preferences for marketing contract attributes and willingness to adopt blockchain-based smart contracts. The data used were collected using an online survey and discrete choice experiment. Findings indicate that farmers prefer higher average prices, cash, check or electronic bank payment over cryptocurrency, and immediate payment upon product delivery over delayed payment. When choosing a contract, farmers viewed traditional text-based contracts and digital platforms with automated smart contracts equivalently, on average. On average, farmers showed no preference for providing and not providing traceability lot codes to buyers, and between choosing a contract …

The Impact Of A Body Self-Compassion Program On Body Image And Experiences Of Exercise, Gretchen Paulson

Theses and Dissertations

Body image concerns are a prevalent and pervasive issue among young adult women and are associated with a host of physical and psychological consequences including disordered eating, depression, and anxiety. Body image concerns play a role in physical activity and exercise behavior, where negative body image is related to lower levels of exercise engagement. Self-compassion is a way of relating to oneself with kindness and understanding, particularly in the presence of suffering or feelings of inadequacy. Self-compassion consists of three interrelated components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness, and has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing body image concerns, while fostering positive body …

The Effects Of Task Complexity On Knee Mechanics And Joint Coordination Variability During A Side-Step Cutting Task, Carter Michael Schmitz

Theses and Dissertations

Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a very common and debilitating injury suffered by athletes of all ages, genders, and abilities. Practitioners attempt to minimize risks by implementing ACL prevention programs designed to physically prepare athletes for the demands of sport, however, the success of these programs is very inconsistent. The majority of past ACL prevention programs prioritize constrained run and cut activities, the removal of motor variability - attempting to “idealize” mechanics - and limited task complexity. Due to the inherent complexities that exist within sport, it is possible that more task complexity and motor variability is …

Biochar Reduces The Pupation And Eclosion Of A Specialist (Manduca Sexta) And A Generalist Pest (Spodoptera Frugiperda), Nischal Wagle

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1: This chapter incorporates detailed information about the biochar concept, its production, composition, and properties, harmful arthropods and their damage, the effect of soil on the arthropod community, and the application of biochar on arthropod control.

Chapter 2: The comprehensive lab experiment was conducted with modified pupation media enriched with walnut shell biochar (Chapter II) to evaluate the effects of biochar on the pupation and eclosion success rates of a specialist (Manduca sexta) and a generalist pest (Spodoptera frugiperda). We found that the biochar treatment led to a significant reduction in pupal mass, adult mass, adult wingspan, body length, …

Effects Of Caffeine On Measures Of Clinical Outcome And Recovery Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury In Adolescents, Jacob Michael Eade

Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: The overarching purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of habitual caffeine consumption on mTBI outcomes in adolescents. BACKGROUND: Adolescents who suffer an mTBI have an increased risk for neurological impairment and symptomology. Thus, it is important to elucidate modifiable lifestyle factors that have the potential to influence injury outcomes and recovery. Caffeine is a legal psychoactive compound prevalent among the adolescent population. Marketed as an ergogenic aid caffeine coincides with recreational activities where incidence of mTBI is high. However, no human study has explored the influence of caffeine consumption on mTBI pathology. It was hypothesized that …

Variability Among Individual Male Runners Influences Cumulative Loading More Than Foot Strike Type, Tamarie Trotter

Theses and Dissertations

Foot strike type affects running mechanics and may influence overuse injury occurrence. Measuring the interaction between cumulative load and foot strike type may provide additional information that could eventually help with understanding injury mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to determine how foot strike type affects cumulative loading in runners, and to determine if individual metrics change throughout a 5-kilometer sub-maximal run. 30 participants ran on an instrumented treadmill for 5 km at 3.15 m/s with their preferred foot strike type (14 rearfoot strike, 16 non-rearfoot strike). Stride rate, foot strike angle, loading rate, per stride and per km …

Nutrient Optimization For Vegetable Production Under Decoupled Aquaponics Using Brackish Water, Salma Walid Hany Ahmed Abdelfattah

Theses and Dissertations

As the world moves to more sustainable agriculture methods in the agribusiness industry, decoupled aquaponics is recognized as one of the newest techniques currently being utilized to achieve more local food security. As the topic is still freshly new within the industry, a finite number of publications and studies have been made that address the topic hands-on with its many variables. Subsequently, in this paper, an experiment was conducted to assess the most optimized production conditions of both lacinato kale (Brassica oleracea var.palmifolia) and Swiss chard Bright Light (Beta vulgaris ssp. Cicla var. flavescens) plants through the utilization of a …

Atomistic Assessment Of Drug-Phospholipid Interactions Consequent To Cancer Treatment: A Study Of Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity, Yara Elsayed Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

Despite being one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents developed to date, Anthracyclines are notorious for their cardiotoxicity. Their clinical use is frequently limited both in dosage and in prescription due to the severe cardiac damage they cause. The mechanism of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is not yet fully understood. However, it is hypothesized that interactions with the myocardial membrane play an important role in imparting cardiotoxicity. In this study, we use molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations to study the anthracycline drug molecules and the interactions that they have with the myocardial membrane. We construct a myocardial membrane model …

Estimating Energy Cost Of Physical Activities From Video Using 3d-Cnn Networks, Pragya Shrestha Chansi

Theses and Dissertations

This research proposes a machine learning model that can estimate the energy cost of physical activities from video input. Currently, wearable sensors are commonly used for this purpose, but they have limitations in terms of practicality and accuracy. A deep learning model using three dimensional convolutional neural network (3D-CNN) architecture was used to process the video data and predict the energy cost in terms of metabolic equivalents (METs). The proposed model was evaluated on a dataset of physical activity videos and achieved an average accuracy of 71% on energy category prediction task and an root mean squared error (RMSE) of …

Does State Of Mind Predict Prototype-Based Category Learning In Older Adults?, Kana Kimura

Theses and Dissertations

Category learning plays an important role in day-to-day lives across all ages, allowing us to organize related experiences, develop expectations, and determine how we behave given those expectations. Despite its importance, the current body of literature on category learning in older adults is much smaller than that of other memory domains. Thus, little is known about how well older adults learn new concepts and what factors best promote learning novel categories. One factor that may affect category learning abilities is an individual’s state of mind. A number of studies demonstrate the effects of sleep, stress, affect, and motivation on cognition, …

Can Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate Serve As A Feed Ingredient For Feeding Juvenile Yellow Perch (Perca Flavescens)?, William J. Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the potential of alfalfa nutrient concentrate (ANC) used in feed for yellow perch. We assessed the quality of ANC based on pellet functionality, digestibility, and growth performance of perch fed with diets including various levels of ANC (0-20 g/100 g diet) to replace fishmeal protein in a control diet based on a 9-week feeding with three replications per diet. Pellet bulk density, durability, water stability, and oil retention capacity increased with fishmeal replacement. Growth rate, feed conversion ratio, satiation feed intake, and protein retention were similar for fish fed different diets (P>0.05). Fish fed ANC-20 had …

Development Of A Valid And Reliable Survey To Assess Personal, Behavioral, And Environmental Factors Surrounding Food Insecurity In A College Population, Jennette Kilgrow

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The aims of our present study were to develop a valid and reliable survey framed around the social cognitive theory, which would evaluate internal and external factors associated with food insecurity from the student's perspective, and to test the survey with a multi-state population. Design: The College Perspectives around Food Insecurity (CPFI) survey was developed through several revision and improvement steps using a mixed methods approach. In Phase 1 (2018-2019), data were translated into survey items and assigned to a theoretical concept (personal, behavioral, or environmental) in the social cognitive theory. In Phase 2 (2019-2020), content validity testing occurred …

Prevalence And Predictors Of Intern-Related Burnout In Dietetics Preceptors, Holly Hopkins

Theses and Dissertations

Dietetics preceptors are at risk for abandoning the role of preceptor because of potential burnout. Quantifying the prevalence of burnout and identifying the predictors of burnout can help key stakeholders identify and implement strategies that prevent or mitigate burnout in dietetics preceptors. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of intern-related burnout in dietetics preceptors and to identify the predictors of this burnout. This study used a cross-sectional study design. A survey instrument that included burnout and precepting measures, and items about the respondents’ personal and work characteristics was distributed to a random sample of 10,000 dietetics …

Development And Validation Of A Spanish Nutrition Screening Tool For Hispanic American 3 To 5-Year-Olds, Denisse Arias Olivas

Theses and Dissertations

Latinos comprise 18.9% of the population in the United States and are the largest and fastest growing minority group. Obesity prevalence was 26.2% among Hispanic children compared to 16.6% among non-Hispanic White children. The obesity epidemic among Latino children has been growing rapidly over the past three decades. Multiple barriers, such as lack of culturally appropriate screening tools, language, and lack of access to nutritional assessment and expert consultation, prevents screening of Latino children and further nutritional guidance. For this reason, prevention efforts such as the use of nutritional screening tools is required for early intervention, more so with populations …

Genetic Testing For Autism: The Autistic Adult Perspective, Thomas Scott Dent

Theses and Dissertations

Many professional medical organizations recommend some level of genetic testing as standard of care for those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. However, genetic testing related to the diagnosis of autism is seen as controversial by many in the autistic community. While opinions about genetic testing have been well-documented from the perspective of the parents of autistic children, our understanding of the autistic adult perspective remains limited. We implemented a descriptive, web-based survey of autistic adults to assess their awareness of, attitudes towards, and interests in genetic testing for autism (n = 145). Our data demonstrated that half of our participants …

Face Validation Of A Spanish Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening Knowledge Scale, Kenya Michelle De Leon

Theses and Dissertations

Non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) provides risk assessment for chromosome aneuploidy in pregnancy. Previous studies in the United Kingdom and United States have attempted to measure patient knowledge, decisional conflict, and informed choice in cohorts of English-speaking pregnant patients who elected NIPS (Griffin et al., 2023; Lewis et al., 2016). However, knowledge scales utilized in these studies have not been validated. The current study was conducted in order to assess face validity of a Spanish NIPS knowledge scale that was originally written in English. This scale was developed as part of a larger project to ultimately provide more validated research measures …

Exercise And Mental Health Over The Course Of A Semester, Jamie Alexis Whitney

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction and purpose: Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health struggles in the United States each year. There has been promising research noting the positive effects of exercise on lowering symptoms of both anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent on college campuses, especially during high stress portions of the semester. The purpose of this study was to observe the changes in mental health over the course of the semester and if exercise level mediated any of these changes in the university population. Methods: Participants scanned a QR code or followed a link to …

A Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Double-Blind, Crossover Study To Evaluate The Effects Of Two Novel Hydration Beverage Formulas On Rehydration In Healthy Adults, Nathaniel David Rhoades

Theses and Dissertations

Intro: Dehydration is common in athletes and can lead to reductions in cognitive and physical performance. While there are many commercially available hydration beverages, most contain high amounts of CHO and are marketed as functional beverages. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of two novel hydration beverage formulas (HMAA, HM) on hydration, cognitive performance, and time to exhaustion (TTE). Methods: Sixteen subjects (n=8 women, n=8 men) completed three experimental days where they consumed one of three conditions (HMAA, HM, or placebo) assigned randomly. The experimental protocol was completed in a heat chamber at 30-32℃ and 45-50% …

An Examination Of Inter-Limb Functional Asymmetry After A Fatiguing Bout Of Exercise In High Level Soccer Players, Nestor Urrea

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Inter-limb functional asymmetries greater than 15% have been linked to a greater incidence of injury. Moreover, asymmetries greater than 10% have shown greater risk of injury and worsened sport performance, especially for strength and power capabilities, in athletes of multiple sports. Fatigue and sex are factors that seem to influence injury rates as well as greater asymmetries between limbs. This research project aims to investigate the effects of a fatiguing bout of exercise in strength and power inter-limb functional asymmetries in male and female soccer players. It was hypothesized that strength and power asymmetries are negatively affected after a …