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Articles 1 - 30 of 120
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Dietitians’ Self-Efficacy For Implementation Strategies And Evidence-Based Practice Guideline Implementation Behaviors: A Mixed Methods Study, Lisa Moloney
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines are valuable tools that can help promote the implementation of research into practice. Implementation of EBP guidelines can improve the standardization and quality of healthcare, but unfortunately, they are not routinely used in daily practice. Evidence-based practice is a core component of nutrition and dietetics practice, yet little is known about registered dietitian nutritionists’ (RDNs’) implementation of EBP guidelines. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate RDNs’ reported self-efficacy for using implementation strategies and their reported implementation behaviors for EBP guidelines. Methods: An explanatory mixed methods study guided by the Theory of Planned …
Food Security, Factors Influencing Food Acceptance, And Preferred Food Assistance Delivery Modalities: A Survey Of Students Attending A Medium Sized, Primarily Residential Emerging Research Institution, Amy Caroline Martin
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Food pantries are the most common form of food assistance provided on college campuses. However, there are several barriers that prevent college students from utilizing pantry resources, leading to low campus food pantry utilization and awareness. Barriers, poor pantry utilization, and awareness have been well documented. However, there is little information currently available regarding factors that facilitate college students’ acceptance of food assistance, and the food distribution modalities that food insecure college students prefer. The purpose of this study was to determine these factors and preferences so they may be used to improve food assistance programs on college campuses.To investigate …
Characterizing Vhh Domains As Stabilization And Oligomeric Control Modules, Niyati Patel
Characterizing Vhh Domains As Stabilization And Oligomeric Control Modules, Niyati Patel
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
The biophysical properties of the VHH domain from heavy-chain-only antibodies obtained from the Camelidae family has expanded opportunities for novel antibody applications. The small, single domain nature of VHH domains makes them attractive modules for fusion proteins. Here, two VHH fusion systems were evaluated, RNase A-anti-RNase A VHH and GFPMut3aR80Q-anti-GFP VHH, to investigate how antigen-VHH fusions may enhance protein thermostability. The introduction of various length flexible linkers was hypothesized to play a role in stability, as well as influence the oligomeric state. Bovine Pancreatic Ribonuclease A, or RNase A, is an enzyme belonging to the ribonuclease A superfamily, which is …
Bioanalytical Studies Of Disease Protein Profiles: Maldi-Tof Ms, Prajkta Satish Chivte
Bioanalytical Studies Of Disease Protein Profiles: Maldi-Tof Ms, Prajkta Satish Chivte
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has ravaged the world for the past 3 years. Even today, there still exists a need for rapid, accurate, economical and non-invasive diagnostic testing platforms that yield high specificity and sensitivity towards the constantly mutating SARS-CoV-2. Research has consistently indicated saliva to be a more amenable specimen type for early detection of SARS-CoV-2, compared to the oral and nasopharyngeal swabs. Considering the limitations and high demand of the existing COVID-19 testing platforms, this dissertation work studies used MALDI-ToF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of …
A State Space Modeling Approach To Eeg Artifact Removal, Patrick B. Rafael
A State Space Modeling Approach To Eeg Artifact Removal, Patrick B. Rafael
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
In this work, a state space modeling approach is applied to an Electroencephalography(EEG) recording for the purpose of artifact removal, and is compared against Independent Components Analysis (ICA), the current gold standard. Issues of model identifiability are touched on, and Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) is used to estimate a linear non-Gaussian state space model. Results show that estimating such a model is a nontrivial matter, and the full utility of the state space approach remains to be demonstrated.
The Role Of Machine Learning And Network Analyses In Understanding Microbial Composition In An Experimental Prairie, Ali Eastman Oku
The Role Of Machine Learning And Network Analyses In Understanding Microbial Composition In An Experimental Prairie, Ali Eastman Oku
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Machine learning and network analyses are powerful modern tools can process and map out connections between large amount of ecological data from complex environmental communities. Random forests, an ensemble machine learning algorithm, are particularly powerful as they can capture complex patterns in data while remaining easily interpretable. These tools are specifically useful in experimental settings where different types of data are collected. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the utility of machine learning models and network analyses at analyzing diverse ecological data from dynamic plant-soil microbial communities in a prairie ecosystem. Our experimental system is an experimental prairie …
Metabolic Engineering Of Escherichia Coli For N-Acetyl-Glucosamine Production, Anica Tasnim Protity
Metabolic Engineering Of Escherichia Coli For N-Acetyl-Glucosamine Production, Anica Tasnim Protity
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Glucosamine (GlcN) and GlcN-based supplements, such as N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc), are commonly used by osteoarthritis patients to relieve pain and maintain the health of bone joints. However, the current production methods for GlcN-based products are not eco-friendly and pose risks to individuals with shrimp allergies. Microbial cell-based systems have been explored to address these issues as an eco-friendly alternative for GlcN and GlcNAc production. This study focused on developing an Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain for GlcNAc fermentation. E. coli has an endogenous pathway for peptidoglycan biosynthesis involving GlcNAc-1-P. However, altering this pathway could affect cell growth and integrity. Therefore, two …
Effects Of Weight Bias Internalization On Disordered Eating, Dieting, And Intuitive Eating In College Students, Stacia Tietje
Effects Of Weight Bias Internalization On Disordered Eating, Dieting, And Intuitive Eating In College Students, Stacia Tietje
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Weight bias internalization (WBI) is the tendency to blame oneself for negative weight-based stereotypes and external influences. WBI has been shown to have negative effects on both physical and mental health. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between WBI, disordered eating, and dieting and whether intuitive eating moderates these relationships in a sample of college students. This study utilized a cross-sectional survey design to gather quantitative data. College undergraduate students (N = 652) from a Midwestern university were recruited via email. Data were analyzed in SPSS, using descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, ordinal, and binary logistic …
Food Fan Academy: Boosting Informal Educators Abilities To Use Food As A Teaching Tool, Kelly Furr
Food Fan Academy: Boosting Informal Educators Abilities To Use Food As A Teaching Tool, Kelly Furr
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Introduction: Food, fitness, and nutrition (FAN) professional development (PD) for informal educators can serve to impact science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics, and medicine (STEAM+M) learning environments. Using food as a teaching tool in shaping the development of informal educators and education of students offers a unique opportunity for the acquisition of scientific knowledge and essential skills. The purpose of this study was to develop a Food FAN Academy for informal educators and evaluate the effectiveness of the PD. Methods: Case study method was utilized for the research study and the Food FAN Academy PD was a two-hour session designed in …
Exploring Beaver-Facilitated Restoration In Grassland Channelized Streams, Jessica L. Sikora
Exploring Beaver-Facilitated Restoration In Grassland Channelized Streams, Jessica L. Sikora
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Freshwater streams provide vital ecosystem services, but their ecological function is gravely impacted by agricultural practices especially in grassland ecosystems. Though there is evidence that the re-introduction of beavers can help restore the ecological function of streams, little is known about their restorative impacts in grasslands. At Nachusa Grasslands Preserve in Franklin Grove, IL, we investigated the presence and impact of beaver dams on their waterways. With increasing beaver dam volume, we found an increase in sediment retention and less sediment retention with increasing beaver dams upstream from a dam. Though we did not find evidence that beaver dam volume …
The Effects Of Prenatal And Perinatal Alcohol Exposure On Adult Mouse Behavior, Ericka Ann Schaeffer
The Effects Of Prenatal And Perinatal Alcohol Exposure On Adult Mouse Behavior, Ericka Ann Schaeffer
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a prevalent phenomenon conserved across cultures which can result in a heterogeneous set of symptoms associated with offspring development. Although there is much research characterizing the extent of disruptions in spatial and motor performance, there appears to be conflicting results dependent on the type of PAE model. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate a more reliable and translatable model of symptoms associated with fetal alcohol syndrome disorders. The current set of experiments evaluated the effects of alcohol exposure in mice during prenatal (gestation day 4-18) and early postnatal (postnatal day 4-12) development on organization …
Examination Of Food Allergy Accommodations, Barriers, Improvements, And Food Service On College Campus Dining Services, Krista Stawarz
Examination Of Food Allergy Accommodations, Barriers, Improvements, And Food Service On College Campus Dining Services, Krista Stawarz
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Background: Food allergies are an increasingly prevalent medical concern in college age students who live on campus and rely on campus dining services to accommodate them. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers along with current dining accommodation services that were available to students with food allergies at Northern Illinois University (NIU).Methods: Twenty-six students who had at least one food allergy and utilized the dining facilities were recruited to complete a cross-sectional survey. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used in this study. Results: The two most common barriers faced were lack of information and communication. Additional barriers …
Effectiveness Of The Catch (Coordinated Approach To Child’S Health) Rainbow Program In Elementary Schools For Change In Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Ashley M. Valinskas
Effectiveness Of The Catch (Coordinated Approach To Child’S Health) Rainbow Program In Elementary Schools For Change In Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Ashley M. Valinskas
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Background: There is currently a lack of nutrition education programs that effectively increase fruit and vegetable (FV) intake among children. Not meeting the recommendations for fruits and vegetables increases the risk for poor academic achievement, obesity, and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, asthma, and more. Nutrition, cooking, and gardening lessons individually and together have shown to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in school-aged children.Methods: Two-Hundred Twenty-five 4th and 5th graders participated in six cooking and six gardening lessons between September 2021 and May 2022 at Genoa Elementary school. Each nutrition education session was 25-minutes long, …
Nutritional Considerations In The Care Of Transgender And Gender-Diverse Individuals: Exploring The Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, And Roles Of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists And Nutrition Professionals, Jennifer Madeleine Waters
Nutritional Considerations In The Care Of Transgender And Gender-Diverse Individuals: Exploring The Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, And Roles Of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists And Nutrition Professionals, Jennifer Madeleine Waters
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Within the past few years, various nutrition-relevant considerations related to the care of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals have been emphasized. However, the preparedness of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) to provide nutrition care to this highly marginalized group with unique health concerns is unknown. Available research on the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of RDNs as it relates to the care of the TGD community is scarce. It is unknown how frequently transgender-specific health and nutrition topics are being taught to emerging RDNs and nutrition professionals. Further, the potential barriers that nutrition and dietetics educators perceive or face as it relates …
Comparing The Effectiveness And Appeal Of Delivering A Pilot Text Message And An In-Person Whole Body Approach (Wba) Program To Northern Illinois Food Bank Clients., Ashley Rae Werner
Comparing The Effectiveness And Appeal Of Delivering A Pilot Text Message And An In-Person Whole Body Approach (Wba) Program To Northern Illinois Food Bank Clients., Ashley Rae Werner
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Background: The Whole-Body Approach (WBA) is a program created by Northern Illinois Food Bank in partnership with Northern Illinois University (NIU) Nutrition and Dietetics Graduate students and faculty. This program has been delivered over the course of six years to various food pantries around the Northern Illinois area and modified in response to participants’ feedback. The topics that are discussed throughout the program include stress management, relationship with food, mindful eating, healthy body image, and enjoyable movement. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was adapted to a delivered via text messages for Northern Illinois Food Bank My Pantry …
Understanding The Invasion History And Dispersal Patterns Of The Faucet Snail, Bithynia Tentaculata, Emma B. Grindle
Understanding The Invasion History And Dispersal Patterns Of The Faucet Snail, Bithynia Tentaculata, Emma B. Grindle
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Invasive species pose a major threat to biodiversity and are becoming increasingly common across the globe. The success of these invasive species often comes down to an ability to disperse effectively into novel environments over time and at multiple scales. Aquatic invasive species can be particularly challenging as they are not readily visible and are often well established before being formally observed. In the Upper Mississippi River region, an invasive European snail species, the faucet snail (Bithynia tentaculata) has invaded from Europe via the Great Lakes. The snail serves as an intermediate host for several species of trematode parasites that …
Microbial Community And Soil Responses To Land Management Practices In Remnant And Restored Tallgrass Prairies, Desirae Marie Klimek
Microbial Community And Soil Responses To Land Management Practices In Remnant And Restored Tallgrass Prairies, Desirae Marie Klimek
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Critical ecosystem functions, such as decomposition and nutrient cycling, are driven by microbial communities within soil. As such, it is important to examine the effect of restoration practices, such as the presence of native grazers and prescribed burning, on these microbes and the soil they inhabit. The Nachusa Grasslands provides a chronosequence of restored tallgrass prairies ranging in restoration age from 5 to 33 years, as well as remnant prairies, and agricultural fields. These sites were sampled seasonally from 2013-2020 and microbial ribosomal RNA genes were surveyed to characterize soil microbial communities and assess how common restoration practices affect these …
Impact Of Prairie Restoration On Geochemistry And Microbial Communities In Groundwater, Kayla Koenig
Impact Of Prairie Restoration On Geochemistry And Microbial Communities In Groundwater, Kayla Koenig
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Prairie restoration is important for reversing the loss of biodiversity and repairing ecosystem functions humanity is dependent on diverse ecosystems. This study looks at the impact of the beginning phases of prairie restoration on groundwater geochemistry and microbial communities the relationship between them. This research project studied the geochemistry and microbial communities in five wells before, during, and after the beginning phases of the first year of a prairie restoration on the Northern Illinois University campus. Water samples were collected bimonthly for a year and analyzed on an Ion Chromatograph. Microbial samples were collected monthly and underwent DNA extraction, amplification, …
Biomechanical Evaluation Of Hand Representation For Typing In Virtual Reality, Mobasshira Zaman
Biomechanical Evaluation Of Hand Representation For Typing In Virtual Reality, Mobasshira Zaman
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Virtual reality (VR) is becoming popular in the workplace recently. Text entry is thus now important for efficient office use and occupational use of VR, and VR paired with a conventional keyboard is suitable for long text entry. There has been a lack of research on physical demand, posture, motion, and cognitive demand, along with the performance of typing on VR. Presence of virtual hands while typing in VR may affect typing performance, physical demand, and posture. The focus of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical effect of hand representation for typing on VR using a conventional keyboard. Fifteen …
Teaching And Learning Numeracy In Health Sciences: A High School Health Classroom Case Study, Jasmina Mesic
Teaching And Learning Numeracy In Health Sciences: A High School Health Classroom Case Study, Jasmina Mesic
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
High school health science teacher professional development (TPD) is one learning environment where emphasis on numeracy and nutritional health literacy can make lifelong positive impacts on the health and wellbeing of youth. It has been estimated that only 33% of United States adults have limited numeracy skills and that only 12% are health literate. The purpose of this study was to begin the development of a high school health science TPD focused on numeracy and nutritional health literacy and to assist the teacher in delivering subject matter using brain-based learning principles. An exploratory case study design was selected as the …
Characterization And Quantification Of Far Red Oxygen Production Rates In Acaryochloris Spp., Jose Manuel Orench-Benvenutti
Characterization And Quantification Of Far Red Oxygen Production Rates In Acaryochloris Spp., Jose Manuel Orench-Benvenutti
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Oxygenic photosynthesis is one of the primary metabolisms on Earth responsible for the evolution of complex life. Its advent around the Archean steadily increased Earth’s atmospheric oxygen from negligible amounts to biologically impressive quantities. Atmospheric oxygen is the sole result of billions of years of biological oxygenation and no abiotic process can account for its high presence in the Earth’s atmosphere. Understanding its origins and evolution can lead us to better understand Earth’s biological history and the possibility of analogues elsewhere. A research path that could lead to answers is comparing distinct incorporations of photopigments in various oxygenic phototrophs. In …
A Study Of Mutations In Sars-Cov-2 Genomes, Michael Andrew Welford
A Study Of Mutations In Sars-Cov-2 Genomes, Michael Andrew Welford
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus has affected the lives of everyone around the world. There has been a rapid appearance of new variants. As the variants affected the efficacy of vaccines, it is important to study the mutations of the variants. A pipeline of tools, SARS-CoV-2 Analyzer, was created to study the mutations in the most mutated S-gene of SARS-Cov-2. Two batches of data were used in this study: all samples available at The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) were downloaded in September 2021 (before the emergence of the first omicron variant) and December 2021 (after …
The Ecology And Dispersal Of The Avian Vampire Fly In Its Native And Invasive Ranges, Carly M. Crow
The Ecology And Dispersal Of The Avian Vampire Fly In Its Native And Invasive Ranges, Carly M. Crow
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Invasive species are considered a leading threat to global biodiversity. There are three major steps in a successful invasion: 1. A species arrives to a non-native location 2. It establishes a breeding population 3. It spreads beyond the location of arrival. The need to understand what variables facilitate a successful invasion across these steps is pressing, especially when considering systems that are vulnerable to biodiversity loss such as islands. The first chapter of this thesis focuses on the arrival step of an invasion. I present research on insects found on a tourist boat traveling between islands in the Galapagos archipelago. …
Nutrient Scarcity And Cellular Cooperation In A Clonal Hydroid, Weam S. El Rahmany
Nutrient Scarcity And Cellular Cooperation In A Clonal Hydroid, Weam S. El Rahmany
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Biological complexity forms when lower-level units (e.g., genes, cells, organisms) cooperatively band together. This complexity may be exemplified by multicellularity, the cooperation between the cells of the same species, or symbiosis, cooperation between the cells of different species. This cooperation is under continual threat, as defection, the opposite of cooperation, is favored by default by lower-level units (i.e., cells). Animal cancers may be the most well-known phenomena that exemplify the concept of cellular defection. Cancer cells have been shown to feature morphological and metabolic traits, developed through differential gene expression or mutations, that favor their growth at the cost of …
An Investigation Of The Sled-Push Exercise In Older Adults: Physiological Quantification, Perceived Enjoyment And Body Discomfort, Micheal A. Baumann
An Investigation Of The Sled-Push Exercise In Older Adults: Physiological Quantification, Perceived Enjoyment And Body Discomfort, Micheal A. Baumann
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Healthy aging is defined as the process of maintaining and developing functional ability that allows a state of mental and physical wellbeing. Physical activity, particularly exercise training, has been highly recommended for individuals of all ages, especially older adults, as way to maintain, improve or restore functional ability and health. Different modalities and types of exercise have been successfully tested in older adults but not much is known about the potential of the sled-push exercise in this population, a modality that has been highly used among athletes to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and endurance, and core stability. PURPOSE: The …
Representations And Perceptions Of Sexual Pleasure In Undergraduate Anatomy And Physiology (A&P) Courses, Brenda Kucha Anak Ganeng
Representations And Perceptions Of Sexual Pleasure In Undergraduate Anatomy And Physiology (A&P) Courses, Brenda Kucha Anak Ganeng
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
The World Health Organization defines sexual pleasure as an important part of positive sexual experiences and sexual health. Despite its importance, sexual pleasure is often omitted from sexual health programming and curricula. Undergraduate human anatomy and physiology (A&P) courses serve as avenues where students who intend to go into health care learn foundational knowledge about human body systems and health; however, to our knowledge, there has been no documentation of if and how A&P students learn about sexual pleasure. A&P textbooks serve as an important resource for curriculum design and learning. I sought to answer the following research question: How …
Validation Of Prmr Equations In A Non-Caucasian Sample – Ethnicity As A Variable In Predicting Resting Metabolic Rate, Erin N. Bannister
Validation Of Prmr Equations In A Non-Caucasian Sample – Ethnicity As A Variable In Predicting Resting Metabolic Rate, Erin N. Bannister
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
This study intends to identify a predictive resting metabolic rate (pRMR) equation that is predictive of the measured resting metabolic rate (mRMR) in a sample that includes a group of Black Americans. The handful of commonly used pRMR equations, such as the Mifflin- St. Jeor or Harris-Benedict equations, were created without defining the demographics of their populations, while validation of these equations is typically done with almost exclusively Caucasian subjects. Black and brown Americans require the same evidence of precision in predictions of daily energy needs as Caucasian Americans. When applied to non-Caucasian samples, these equations appear in the literature …
Fruits Of Our Labor: Exploring The Impacts Of A Nonprofit Seed Bank On Indigenous Communities In The Southwestern United States, Rachel Mary Davis
Fruits Of Our Labor: Exploring The Impacts Of A Nonprofit Seed Bank On Indigenous Communities In The Southwestern United States, Rachel Mary Davis
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
This thesis explores the ways that the nonprofit Native Seeds/SEARCH, of Tucson, Arizona interfaces with Indigenous communities and the local seed and food systems in the Southwest United States. The thesis argues that Native seed and food sovereignty have different meanings for different Indigenous people, and that nonprofits working with Indigenous communities need to consider input from them when deciding how to catalogue, regenerate and sustain healthy grow outs for the future, especially in the light of climate change and drought.
Grassland Bird Responses To Bison And Prescribed Fire Disturbances At Nachusa Grasslands And Kankakee Sands, Antonio Del Valle
Grassland Bird Responses To Bison And Prescribed Fire Disturbances At Nachusa Grasslands And Kankakee Sands, Antonio Del Valle
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Grazing from native herbivores such as bison (Bison bison), in combination with prescribed fire, are applied to tallgrass prairies by managers to recreate important disturbance patterns in this ecosystem. Bird communities may be indirectly impacted by these disturbances through their direct impact on plants that provides critical breeding habitat for grassland birds. The objectives of this research are to determine the impacts that bison and prescribed fire have on grassland breeding birds in two tallgrass prairie preserves, Kankakee Sands and Nachusa Grasslands. Birds, vegetation structure, and bison activity were surveyed systematically at these two preserves in 2020 and 2021. Prescribed …
Wetland Restoration Efforts Result In Increasing Phylogenetic Diversity, Nicholas T. Foster
Wetland Restoration Efforts Result In Increasing Phylogenetic Diversity, Nicholas T. Foster
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Over the course of ecological restoration efforts, it has been observed that, despite restoration activities, species richness sometimes declines in a given habitat. While this response can be interpreted to mean that restoration activities are ineffective, other measures known as Phylogenetic Diversity Metrics can show that the community is actually becoming more diverse. Utilizing plant inventories collected as transect data from 1992-2021 of five wetland sites under various types of restoration in northern Illinois, a regional wetland community phylogeny was assembled. The community phylogeny was then analyzed for phylogenetic diversity measures through this 30-year period across the five sites. Additionally, …