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Menstruation Cycles And The Impact On A Female Athlete's Performance And Perception Of Performance, Mckenzie Mcaloon

Honors Projects in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

This two-part study investigates the impact of menstrual cycle hormone levels on performances and perception of performance among division I athletes. A survey was given to the captains of all Bryant University female sports teams for the dispersal amongst their teams. Each of the 13 female sports teams participated and contributed. A total of 107 survey responses were collected. Data regarding the perception of menstrual cycle on specific aspects of their athletic lives were collected, as well as whether they were on contraception, their age of menarche and heaviness of flow. The results indicate that 83% of athletes surveyed believe …

Key Diagnostic Factors In Steatotic Liver Disease And Their Longitudinal Impact On Overall Mortality, Do Han Kim Md, Donghyun Ko Md, Pojsakorn Danpanichkul, Meena B. Bensal Md, Mazen Noureddin, Karn Wijarnpreecha, Mark Muthiah

Posters

This study evaluates the effect of diagnostic criteria on overall mortality across the SLD spectrum.

The Impact Of Prenatal Yoga On Hip Mobility And Delivery Outcomes, Zoe Avery

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Yoga has been shown to decrease lumbar pain, improve maternal mental health, and improve delivery outcomes. While there are many well-established benefits of yoga, the mechanism by which yoga elicits these improvements is unclear. One potential mechanism that has not been studied is through improvements in hip mobility. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the effect of prenatal yoga on hip mobility. The secondary aim was to determine the relationship between hip mobility and pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Hip mobility via hip internal and external range of motion and hip flexor muscle length was measured in pregnant females …

Examination Of Language Sample Analysis In Children Who Are D/Hh Using Clan, Caroline G. Stewart

Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hearing is the building block of developing receptive and expressive oral language skills used to effectively communicate. Children who experience hearing loss typically experience delays in phonological, morphological, semantic, and even pragmatic development. Understanding the specific language challenges faced by deaf and hard of hearing (D/hh) young preschool-age children is crucial for developing targeted intervention strategies aimed at optimizing their language development. This research aims to analyze the nuanced aspects of phonological, morphological, semantic, and pragmatic language development among D/hh children, shedding light on areas that may require specialized support. The preliminary research will inform best practices in language assessment …

Promotion Of Women’S Preventative Health Behaviors For Breast And Cervical Cancer, Shelby Lopez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

Women’s health prevention is typically not a significant topic for discussion. Health prevention measures are often discussed after a new diagnosis, rather than being a proactive approach toward improving women’s health. Breast and cervical cancer continue to be prevalent today and, to decrease the number of women diagnosed with late-stage cancer, this scholarly project will focus on improving the participation in prevention behaviors among women 18-45 years of age, but also acknowledge the role self-efficacy and perception of health behaviors has on the participation in prevention measures. Pender’s Health Promotion Model will help acknowledge how social-behavioral factors affect prevention behaviors. …

Promoting Increased Consumption Of Fruits And Vegetables In Older Adults Through Self-Efficacy And Social Cohesion, Ashley Lynn Nelson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

The purpose of this scholarly project was to design and offer a nutrition education program on fruit and vegetable consumption to a group of rural adults aged 65 and older. It was hypothesized that the nutrition program would directly motivate older adults to increase dietary consumption of fruits and vegetables. The project utilized the Health Promotion Model as the theoretical framework. To incorporate this project into a quantitative design, the methodological design that was applied is a non-experimental or observational design. This project included a four-week educational program in the Spring of 2023 that provided information on the importance of …

Racial Disparity And Environmental Influences On Perinatal Health In Jefferson County, Kentucky., Felicia A Pugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) risk has tripled over the past 30 years. Adverse infant birth outcomes in the U.S. have also increased with substantial Black-White disparities. Objectives: This work compares the frequency of adverse maternal and infant birth outcomes by maternal race (Black vs White) and examines associations between maternal ambient heavy metal exposures and birth outcomes in Jefferson County, Kentucky, 2017-2022. Methods: Jefferson County inpatient hospital delivery and birth certificate records of self-identified Black or White birthing parents were used. Incidence of SMM, stillbirth, preterm birth (PTB), and small for gestational age (SGA) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) …

Long-Term Changes In Bolus Parameters During Swallowing Post-Chemoradiation Treatment., Brittany Rebecca Smiley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current treatment for oropharyngeal cancer involves chemoradiation, which can have profound effects on swallowing function. Submental muscle activity is critical for airway protection and bolus transit but is highly susceptible to radiation-related swallowing impairments. This study examined whether chemoradiation targeting the submental muscles leads to measurable changes in esophageal distension during swallowing in a rodent model. We hypothesized that rats receiving chemoradiation would exhibit aberrant esophageal distension compared to chemotherapy-only controls. Twenty male rats underwent four cycles of cisplatin concurrently with either radiation or sham radiation. High-speed videofluoroscopy swallow studies were conducted pre- and post-treatment with thin liquids to analyze …

Analyzing The Association Of Competitive Food Policy On Competitive Food Content In U.S. Schools., Mary E. Curnutte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVES: School food can have a profound effect on the population’s health. Thirty million children receive food at school and consume half their daily calorie intake at school. Competitive foods are foods sold outside of school breakfast and lunch, such as those sold in vending machines. A new ruling for Smart Snacks Standards, a set of competitive food guidelines, started in the school year 2014-2015. It is known that competitive foods undermine school lunch participation, and a decrease in school lunch consumption is associated with poorer student health. Additionally, an increase in competitive foods tends to be of nutrient-poor …

The Association Of Discrimination, Inflammation, And Coping Style On Self-Rated Health Among South Asian Individuals In The Masala Study, Raji Pillai, Sahiti Myneni, Constance M Johnson, Nilay S Shah, Alka M Kanaya, Jennifer E S Beauchamp

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: South Asian individuals (SAs) may have heightened levels of inflammatory markers, such as C reactive protein (CRP), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), leptin, and resistin, and decreased levels of anti-inflammatory adiponectin, contributing to higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence. Social determinants of health, like discrimination, are also associated with risks for CVD in SAs. This study examined the associations between discrimination and inflammation and whether coping styles moderated the association between discrimination and self-rated health (SRH) among SAs in the United States.

Design: Secondary analysis of data obtained from 1164 SAs (mean age = 57 years, SD = 9.4, 48% women) …

Personalizing Intermittent Fasting: The Role Of Microbiome Diversity And Fiber Intake In Shaping Health Outcomes, Jana Gjini, Robin Moore, Venkateswar Venkataraman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

BACKGROUND: Intermittent fasting (IF) has been linked to improved metabolic health, reduced inflammation, and increased longevity in animal models. These effects are thought to be mediated through changes in the gut microbiome. Murine studies consistently show that IF enhances microbial diversity and promotes beneficial species like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, improving metabolic profiles and gut barrier function. However, human studies reveal inconsistent results, suggesting that individual-level factors such as baseline microbiome composition and fiber intake may influence response to IF.

HYPOTHESIS: Baseline gut microbiome diversity and habitual dietary fiber intake modulate the metabolic and inflammatory benefits of intermittent fasting in humans. …

Investigating Fatty Acid Influence On West Nile Virus In Mosquitoes And Birds, Hayley Moree

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Vector-borne diseases, including Zika virus (ZIKV), Dengue virus (DENV), and West Nile virus (WNV), pose considerable global health threats, accounting for over 400 million infections and more than 700,000 deaths annually. Many vector-borne diseases are within the Flaviviridae family. Despite this, effective treatments have not been found for some flaviviruses. Flaviviruses exploit host cellular machinery to facilitate their replication and survival, reprogramming metabolic pathways, including lipid metabolism. Lipids play essential roles in the viral life cycle, providing structural components for the viral envelope, enabling membrane rearrangements for replication complexes, and supplying energy resources necessary for particle assembly.

Targeting lipid metabolism …

Enhancing The Eden Alternative Model With Well Standards: A Case Study Analysis, Mariah Stoner

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

This thesis investigates the potential for improving the Eden Alternative Model, a person-centered approach to elder care that emphasizes creating a homelike environment and meaningful relationships, using WELL Standards, a building certification system focused on enhancing human health and well-being through improvements in environmental quality. Through a mixed-methods approach involving quantitative data analysis and qualitative case studies, this research examines how WELL Standards, which cover aspects such as air quality, water quality, lighting, and thermal comfort, can improve environmental quality and resident satisfaction within the Eden Alternative Model. This research introduces a tailored approach to elder care by combining these …

Sketching Moments: Improving Quality Of Life For Individuals With Dementia By Engaging The Senses Through Environmental Modifications, Marie E. Mclaughlin

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

An estimated 1.2 million direct dementia care workers will be needed between 2020-2030 to meet the needs of persons living with dementia (PLWD) (AHCA/NCAL, 2021). The solutions come in the form of creating a site that promotes engagement in meaningful activities without the leadership of a staff member. By creating space for residents to engage in activities safely without staff guidance, a site allows residents to independently engage in a meaningful activity while freeing staff to help with other caregiving tasks. Increasing physical activity for those living with dementia helps to promote continued independence and maintenance of body control (Lam …

Mealtime Mastery: A Quality Improvement Project For Pediatric Feeding Therapy, Jada D. Cunningham

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Among the pediatric population, feeding problems are common. Feeding challenges can be addressed by several professions including occupational therapists. The purpose of this capstone is to conduct a quality improvement project of feeding evaluation forms while also gaining clinical practice skills at Piller Child Development in Phoenix, Arizona. A needs assessment determined the feeding evaluation form, feeding parent questionnaire, and feeding report template would benefit from being updated. A thorough literature review was completed to analyze current feeding assessments being used across multiple fields of healthcare. To determine the validity of the feeding evaluation, interviews were conducted with practitioners employed …

Social Media Use In Health Education: National Children's Dental Health Month Social Media Toolkit, Jazmin Pelayo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) was created by the American Dental Association and is celebrated annually by local oral health programs all around the country. The celebration began as a one-day event on February 8, 1949, expanded to a week-long observance in 1955, and was later extended to a month-long celebration in 1981. Today local oral health programs celebrate NCDHM in a variety of ways but the one I will be focusing on is a social media tool kit. A social media tool kit consists of videos or posts that are posted on different platforms such as the www.smilesbc.org …

Development Of A Jamaican-Inspired Cookbook And Nutrition Resources For Prevention And Management Of Diabetes, Stacy Ann J. Cameron-Roberts

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background & Aims: Diabetes disproportionately affects minority populations, including Jamaicans affected by dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles, and socioeconomic factors. Culturally relevant interventions are essential for promoting sustainable health behaviors to prevent diabetes. This project developed a Jamaican-inspired cookbook with nutrition education to improve dietary habits among Jamaicans to avoid diabetes.

Methods: The project titled Authentic Flavors: Healthy Jamaican Dishes for People with Pre-Diabetes, a cookbook and resources featuring 34 modified Jamaican recipes with nutrient-dense, low-glycemic ingredients to prevent rapid spikes in blood glucose. Participants were recruited from Jamaican community; and they completed an online nutrition education with pre- and …

The Impact Of Social Media On Dietary Choices Among Young Adults, Celeste Martin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background and aims: For decades, the field of nutrition has been influenced by advertising, fad diets, and celebrity endorsements, often leading to confusion. Social media has introduced a new level of influence, potentially leading to more misinformation about health and nutrition. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook may serve as a primary source of news and information for young adults, drastically changing how nutrition advice is shared. Research suggests that social media can positively and negatively impact people’s views on health and nutrition, such as a poor relationship with food and a negative body image. This study aimed to …

Impact Of Water Quality On The Nutritional And Phytochemical Properties Of Culinary Herbs, Genesis Arroyo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Water quality significantly affected food safety, especially since contaminated water impacted crop growth and the nutrient composition of foods. Nitrates occur naturally in vegetables. However, when introduced into the food supply through water contamination, excessive levels disrupted the natural physiological processes of vegetables and other agricultural plants. These excessive levels eventually led to nutrient imbalances, decreased phytochemical concentrations, and potential health risks such as the formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds in humans. This study evaluated the effects of nitrates on the nutritional outcomes of food crops, focusing on commonly used culinary herbs. While synthesizing findings from relevant peer-reviewed articles, I …

Effectiveness Of Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance Administered To Newly Received, High-Risk Stocker Calves, Elle Johnston

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Stocker cattle purchased at auction can be susceptible to disease due to the stressors associated with the auction process. These cattle are labeled “high-risk” due to their compromised immune system during transportation, handling, and vaccination processes. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a maternal bovine appeasing substance, FerAppease, on growth performance and behavior of stocker cattle. Male beef calves (n=80) were purchased at auction and transported to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Savoy Research Complex Beef Stocker Unit. Steers and bulls were of varying age, breed, and temperament. Upon arrival to the facility …

The Role Of Responsive Feeding In Childhood Development And Clinical Implications: A Comprehensive Literature Review, Alexander Burbach

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Responsive feeding refers to caregiver-infant feeding interactions that encourage healthy eating behaviors and support the child’s autonomy by responding to their hunger and satiety cues. Responsive feeding supports healthy early childhood development, influencing self-regulation in eating behaviors and long-term health outcomes, particularly in obesity prevention. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the impact of responsive feeding practices on childhood development in the United States and its clinical implications. The objectives were to explore the role of parental feeding practices in shaping childhood eating behaviors, understand the relationship between responsive feeding and obesity, and determine literature daps. Articles for …

Optimizing Case Management Manuals: A Ryan White Quality Improvement Project For Northwest Missouri, Megan Mcbane

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Act, established in 1990, has played a critical role in providing essential services for individuals living with HIV, including medication access, adherence support, health coverage, housing, and transportation. In rural Missouri, particularly in the northwest region, HIV case management under the Ryan White program is guided by four separate manuals, creating inefficiencies and burdens for case managers. This paper presents a process evaluation plan utilizing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework to address these challenges and improve service delivery. The aim of this quality improvement project is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of HIV case management in …

A Research Report: What Are The Challenges That Refugee Women Experience When Seeking Healthcare Related To Pregnancy In The United States?, Manuela Krieger-Adi

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background

Refugees in the United States, including African refugee women, face many challenges in seeking healthcare after moving to the United States to resettle. It is urgent and essential to look into some of the health challenges the refugee community faces here in Omaha, Nebraska, that prevent them from seeking healthcare, especially when pregnant. This Capstone research project aims to focus on African refugee women, specifically in Omaha, Nebraska, and the challenges they face seeking healthcare related to pregnancy.

Methods

This research report involved five in-depth interviews conducted over Zoom. The target population was refugee mothers who had given …

Assessing The Association Between Total Cholesterol And Hospitalized Myocardial Infarction In Women Ages 32-70: An Analysis Of The Framingham Heart Study, Jolene L. Stapleton Duree

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women that may go undiagnosed due to unexpected symptoms. The purpose of this analysis was to assess the effect of total cholesterol on the odds of hospitalized myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods

This analysis used a sample of 2,445 women from the Framingham Heart Study, an observational prospective cohort study. The exposure was total cholesterol, and the outcome was hospitalized MI. Logistic regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR). The adjusted models controlled for age, blood pressure, and diabetes. Effect modification by diabetes status was evaluated in …

Prediabetes In Rural Primary Care: Screening, Diagnosis And Treatment, Rebecca M. Bodle-Shingu

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background

Prediabetes affects one in three US adults. Over 80% of individuals with prediabetes are unaware of having the condition. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPG) recommend screening adults 35 to 70 years old with a BMI of 25 or higher. Prediabetes treatment consists of lifestyle modification, referrals to nutrition counseling, and metformin for individuals who cannot make lifestyle changes. Diagnosis and treatment of prediabetes reduces the risks or delays the progression to type 2 diabetes.

Purpose

The purpose of this DNP quality improvement project was to impact primary care providers beliefs, knowledge, and practices in identifying, diagnosing, and treating …

Is The Price Of Organic Foods Worth The Potential Benefits To Your Health?, Jenna C. Warren

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

What foods are healthier for you? This study will determine this based on where the food comes from, including the meat, dairy, and farming industries and how they treat animals and plants, and the nutrients these foods contain. From these findings, this study will choose foods for an average American’s three meals in a day for a organic and non-organic option. Then, it will compare the prices of a typical day’s worth of food and determine whether the price is worth the quality of food you are consuming.

Implementing Online Evidence Based Educational Program In Diabetics., Michele Lynn Gervase

DNP Projects

Background: Educational online videos about diabetes can significantly improve patient outcomes by enhancing understanding and promoting effective self-management practices. These videos provided by the CDC provide a visually engaging and easily accessible content that simplifies complex medical information, making it more relatable for individuals living with diabetes. Online videos cater to various learning styles and can be watched multiple times to reinforce key diabetes management concepts and strategies. This awareness and competency improve adherence to treatment plans, creates a supportive community, and enhances health outcomes and quality of life.

Project Goals: To trial online evidence-based educational videos in patients with …

Managing Refractory Epilepsy In A Resource Limited Setting—Doing More With Less, Ruta Yardi, Kurupath Radhakrishnan, Pauline Samia, Janet Wilson, Amza Ali

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) disproportionately affects individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where access to affordable and effective care remains a significant challenge. Patients with DRE face high healthcare costs, inadequate access to epilepsy surgery, and limited availability of trained professionals. This review explores a multifaceted approach to managing DRE in resource-constrained settings. Key strategies include rational polypharmacy with cost-effective antiseizure medications (ASM), implementation of dietary therapies like the ketogenic diet, and cost-conscious presurgical evaluations. Enhancing emergency care systems, particularly for conditions like status epilepticus, is critical, as is the development of standardized diagnostic and treatment protocols and training programs …

Small For Gestational Age Sub-Groups Have Differential Morbidity, Growth And Neurodevelopment At Age 2: The Interbio-21st Newborn Study, Aris T. Papageorghiou, María C. Restrepo-Méndez, Rose Mcgready, Fernando C. Barros, Francois Nosten, Shama Munim, Roseline Ochieng, Rachel Craik, Hellen C. Barsosio, James A. Berkley

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background :Small for Gestational Age (SGA) is a complex perinatal syndrome associated with increased neonatal morbidity, mortality, and impaired childhood growth and neurodevelopment. Current classifications rely primarily on birth weight, which does not capture the heterogeneity of the condition nor predict long-term health outcomes. Here we aim to identify and characterise distinct SGA sub-groups and assess their neonatal and early childhood health trajectories.

Objectives: To refine the classification of SGA by identifying sub-groups based on maternal, fetal, and environmental factors and evaluating their associations with neonatal morbidity, growth, and neurodevelopment at age 2.

Study Design: Prospective Cohort Study. In six …

Acceptability And Competency Of Motivational Interviewing (Mi) Training And Mi Spirited Communication In An Undergraduate And Graduate Nursing Program, Grace Koons

Honors Theses

Problem- There is a move towards patient-centered care in nursing and Motivational Interviewing (MI) has been one approach to accomplish positive communication. While the use of MI has been increasing in healthcare settings, undergraduate and graduate nursing programs have been slow to incorporate it into their curricula.

Aims- This study aimed to determine the acceptability and MI competency for the use of MI Spirited Communication (MISC) among undergraduate and graduate nursing students at a university in the Southeast region of the U.S. Methods- The design of this pilot study was a descriptive, quasi-experiment with no control group. The …