Digital Commons Network^™

The Importance Of Education About Juvenile Diabetes, Sarah Cutcher

Honors College Theses

Juvenile diabetes occurs when a patient under the age of 18 has an abnormally low amount of insulin in his/her body. This is due to the destruction of the insulin producing cells. There are two different types of diabetes, but they both have different risk factors that could lead to the diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. A diagnosis of diabetes does not only mean that one has to manage this chronic disease, but the patient will now have an increased risk of developing complications later in life. Some examples of these complications are heart disease, skin integrity …

Comparison Of Two Reminder Interventions To Achieve Adequate Water Intake And Hydration In Women: A Pilot Study, Brenda Reeves, Ben Carter, Lauren Roberson, D. Gage Jordan

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Introduction: This pilot study examined the effectiveness of 2 different 5-week reminder interventions to achieve adequate water intake and hydration in women as well as the effects of body composition and self-efficacy on hydration.

Methods: Twenty-two apparently healthy adult women were randomly assigned to the 64 oz. motivational water bottle group (n = 11), or the water reminder – daily tracker app group (n = 11). Body composition, predicted VO_2max, and self-efficacy were assessed at baseline, post 5-week intervention, and after a 30-day follow-up period. Urine markers (color, specific gravity, and pH) were reported at baseline, weekly …

The Importance Of Educating Adolescent Mothers In The Postpartum Period, Sydney Price, Madelyn Travis, Reagan Schwable

Scholars Week

Due to the lack of policy or procedure for individualized education for adolescent mothers, we concluded that a educational checklist in the charting system would be the most effective way to properly educate young mothers during this confusing stage in their life. Specific education helps to improve perceived quality of care, safety/wellbeing in the young mother and newborn, and reducing the risks of complications such as postpartum depression or issues with pregnancy later on. In summary, ensuring that teenage mothers are fully educated before discharge will provide for better mother and baby outcomes.

Characterization Of The Principal And Secondary Islets During Pancreatic Development In Zebrafish With A Crispr-Mediated Glis3 Knockout, Caleb Harsin

Honors College Theses

The Krüppel-like transcription factor, Gli-similar 3 (Glis3) has been implicated in several human pathologies including neonatal diabetes, congenital hypothyroidism, and polycystic kidney disease. Numerous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have additionally identified Glis3 as a risk locus for the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our previous data suggest possible roles for Glis3 in endocrine pancreas specification in mice, but despite its clinical significance, much remains unknown about the role(s) Glis3 plays during development. To elucidate Glis3 gene function, a CRISPR-mediated knockout line of zebrafish was developed by deleting a segment of the Glis3 coding region …

Pharmacokinetics Of Single Feeding Of Cannabidiol In Cattle: A Pilot Study, Haley Cornette

Honors College Theses

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance that has been used in complementary medicine for many years. However, modern medicine has little knowledge of how this substance is utilized and metabolized in ruminant animals. Regulations on quality assurance and use in animals are lacking, and CBD supplementation in livestock is not approved. If CBD supplements can be shown to be safe and effective, detection in the animal will be important for determining regulation of use. A withdrawal period can then be established to allow time for deterioration of product to safe levels before livestock products enter human markets. This study sought to …

"Barriers Between Client Education/Communication And Exotic Animal Husbandry", Caileigh M. Linton

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to quantify the knowledge gap between clientele and veterinary staff about exotic animal husbandry corresponding to housing and diet specifically. With the rise of social media platforms and influencers, the spread of misinformation and stigma revolving around the mistrust of veterinary staff has created strife between clients and veterinary professionals. Misinformation influences pet owners to implement aspects of care into their pets lives that may be unnecessary or harmful. Consequently, as veterinary professionals attempt to educate their clients they are not always trusting of the information being provided to them. This can lead to …

Home Visitation To Prevent And Reduce Postpartum Depression, Anna Bauer, Madison Polley, Laura Boesken Dnp, Msn, Rn

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in 13-19% of women worldwide, and is a stigmatized medical condition affecting maternal and infantile long term outcomes. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to determine if women at high risk for PPD are affected by home visitation programs from discharge up to three years postpartum. CINHAL Ultimate, Google Scholar, and Medline databases were used. Current evidence supports the use of home-visitation programs for postpartum women to decrease the prevalence and the symptoms of PPD by allowing nurses access into homes to provide early intervention for PPD. In addition to providing care for prevention …

Autism Resources In Rural America, Amanda Long

Integrated Studies

The topic of this final project centers around the lack of services that are available to autistic children and adults in rural America and the steps that should be taken the ensure services are available as the growing population of children grow older and need full-time care. Our modern society as well as the current healthcare system are not prepared for the growing need of an ageing disabled population. Will these disabled children and young adults flood the current long-term care facilities that are already established? Will the already stretched thin Medicare and Medicaid system cover the costs associated with …

Navigating An Infodemic: Methods For Teaching Critical Reading In The Health Sciences, Candace K. Vance

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

In difficult times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more important that students recognize and question their assumptions regarding how knowledge is recognized as legitimate in their disciplines. “When there is no time for proper peer review, each of us must be our own reviewer.” How can we teach students to recognize flawed methods and data, even when the research may be presented in the top journals as the current best evidence? How do we teach future clinicians to look past the name of the journal or the reputation of the author and learn to discern quality evidence? This …

Teaching Strategies For Diverse Learning Styles, Angela Daniel

Integrated Studies

Abstract

Students tend to perform best when they are taught, at least in part, with the learning style that they favor. There are three major learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Students that favor a visual learning style prefer to have content delivered in a way that contains many visual elements. If a student prefers an auditory style, they respond best with a style that’s delivery is given in a lecture or discussion format. Kinesthetic learners need to have movement incorporated within the content. Teachers need to explore a variety of teaching strategies to best accommodate these broad learning styles. …

Evaluating Gizzard Shad Dorosoma Cepedianum And Threadfin Shad D. Petenense Populations In Two Kentucky Reservoirs Recently Invaded With Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix, Nathan Klein

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum and Threadfin Shad D. petenense are ecologically important fish species found in many reservoirs throughout the southeastern United States, such as Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. One current challenge that Gizzard Shad and Threadfin Shad may face in these two reservoirs is competition with the invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. However, quantifying the effects of this competition may be difficult because of limited baseline population data for Gizzard Shad and Threadfin Shad in these two reservoirs. Gizzard Shad and Threadfin Shad were collected by boat electrofishing and surface trawling in cove and main channel locations …

Comparison Of Corticosterone Concentrations Between Serum And Fecal Samples As A Measure Of Stress In Male Broilers., Kayla Weinacht

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Stress has long been a topic of interest in the poultry industry due to its potential negative effects on chicken health and production of both eggs and meat. With increased global growth in egg and broiler production, more attention has been paid to the stressors that affect chickens in modern poultry operations, particularly environmental temperature and stocking density. Improving quantitative measurement of stress is always needed in poultry welfare research. In most studies, blood serum is measured for corticosterone, one of the biomarker hormones associated with stress in chickens. Methods of collecting blood serum are by their nature disruptive to …

The Effect Of An Afterschool Makerspace Program On Academic Achievement Of Sixth-Eighth Grade Students, Teresa Lampe

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effect of participation in an afterschool makerspace program on middle school students' academic achievement, grades, and school attendance. An experimental group of 237 sixth-eighth grade students participated in an afterschool makerspace program during the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years. A control group was selected using stratified random sampling of students from the same schools, grades, and special education designation who did not participate. The data included science and math NWEA scores, science and math grades, program attendance, school attendance, and gender. The data were analyzed using an independent t test with a 95% confidence …

An Exploratory Study Of Ergonomics In College Students, Wesley Ryan Tinker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between poor ergonomic conditions and student physiological discrepancies. This examination provided great insight into students’ daily experiences and concerns for their futures. The methodology used for this study was quantitative as two source data sets were collected and analyzed. The tool REBA was used to measure the specific body angles while students sat working. A survey yielded great results, giving the students an opportunity to subjectively choose options.

This exploratory study allowed the researcher to use quantitative data to answer this study’s research questions. The research questions asked from this study were …

The Effects Of Early Identification And Intervention On Reading Scores At The Kindergarten Level, Cara Milby

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that reading fluently is the key to success: academically, economically, socially, as well as to a healthier lifestyle (Forrest, 2018; Wanzek et al., 2018). While research has shown that Response to Intervention (RTI) is a positive instructional program that will increase primary students’ academic abilities at grades 1 and 2 (Richards et al., 2007), there is a need for more research regarding RTI with kindergarten students. This quasi-experimental quantitative research study examined if early identification and intensive intervention through the addition of Response to Intervention (RTI) at the kindergarten level will lead to increased reading scores and better …

Doctoral Students’ Experiences Of The Pandemic And Their Perceptions Of Grit, Josie Bryant

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The pandemic has significantly changed societal structures and individuals’ lives. The early tragedies and stress of the pandemic affected health, relationships, families, education, work, travel, and immigration. Students who entered doctoral programs in 2020 chose a unique time to pursue an already arduous goal amidst unprecedented challenges. Using a phenomenological approach, this study explored doctoral students’ experiences during the pandemic and sought to understand their perspectives of grit. The study aimed to offer first-hand insight into the pandemic’s effects on doctoral students, and add critical contributions to understanding the necessary actions, support systems, and policies for a life in a …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Georgia Agricultural Education Elementary Standards Of Excellence: A Qualitative Study, James Judson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines teacher perceptions of the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSEs) in elementary agricultural education. The study involved a qualitative research design with a sample of 10 elementary agriculture education teachers across multiple schools in Georgia. The research aimed to explore teachers' perceptions of the GSEs, their implementation, and the impact of the standards on their teaching practices and student outcomes. The findings indicate that while teachers generally have positive perceptions of the GSEs, there are also concerns related to the standards' flow from year to year, the use of hard-to-understand vocabulary, and the inclusion of FFA-related content. Additionally, …

Georgia End Of Pathway Assessments, Lindsey Garner

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Georgia End of Pathway Assessments (EOPAs) are given to students by every Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) teacher across the state yearly. CTAE programs are awarded federal funding based on the results of the EOPAs. EOPA’s are designed to provide students with an assessment after they complete a CTAE pathway and provide the student with an industry certification. This qualitative study was designed to determine if the current EOPA’s for Georgia Agriculture Education pathways are in alignment with the current state standards for those courses. Six high school agriculture teachers from across the state of Georgia participated in this …

Effects Of Plasma Sample Handling On Equine Insulin Assays, Lauren Willett

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Often, the assumption is made that the results of the various laboratory tests being run are accurate, and that abnormal results reflect a physiologic change occurring in the patient. Unfortunately, this assumption is not always true. Inaccurate results, for various reasons, are an inherent part of diagnostic testing. Having inaccurate results is often worse than having no results at all, because they can lead to an incorrect diagnosis or result in unnecessary testing, wasting the client’s financial resources, or potentially expose the patient to unnecessary risks in pursuit of the cause of an abnormality that does not exist. With appropriate …

Bayesian Structural Time Series Methods For Modeling Cattle Body Temperature In Heat-Stressed Animals, Lacey Quandt

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Climate change has had devastating effects globally, most commonly talked about during natural disasters and rising temperatures. Notably, the climate concern is turning towards agriculture and livestock. With rising temperatures, the prolonged amount of heat stress put on animals, specifically cattle, is becoming more apparent. Heat stress has been linked to a reduction in cattle growing and fattening, feed intake, productivity, reproduction, and fertility; increased heart rates and respiration; changes in behavior; and mortality in severe cases. There are abatement strategies put in place to lower heat stress in cattle, such as improvements in shading and cooling, nutritional management, and …

Habitat Use And Diel Movements Of Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix In Two Southeastern Reservoirs, Levi Umland

Honors College Theses

Bigheaded carp have spread rampantly throughout the Mississippi watershed and continue to spread by navigating through rivers, locks, and dams. The long-term effects these species will have on our ecosystems and natural resources is unknown. Their movements, behavior, and general seasonal patterns are well studied within rivers. However, their movements and behavior within reservoirs is poorly understood due to their initial numbers within reservoirs being lower than in rivers. To address this gap, I investigated the distribution and movement rates of Silver Carp within two reservoirs, Kentucky Reservoir and Barkley Reservoir, and possible correlative variables, including wind, temperature, residency, sex, …

Occupational Therapy Program Research Seminar, Kelly L. Taylor Otd, Ms, Otr/L, Cbis

Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Occupational Therapy Program Research Seminar

December 7, 2022 │ 8:30AM – 12:30PM

Murray State University, Paducah Regional Campus

Diversification Of Suffering: An Analysis Of The Historiography Of The Home Fronts Of First World War Germany And Austria-Hungary Of The Past Quarter-Century, Gage Overton

Student Scholarship & Creative Works

The scholarship analyzing the home fronts of Germany and Austria-Hungary during the First World War has grown sharply in the past quarter-century. These studies revealed many details that were scarcely known to many historians and introduced perspectives of the home front that were largely ignored beforehand. The scholars highlighted in this analysis all provide discussions which have deepened our understanding of the war, like the German government's punishment of women for "sexual treason," the extent of Vienna's devastation caused by hunger and disease, and the relationship between theatre and Austrian identity. Overall, the recent scholarship on this subject has demonstrated …

Comparison Of Water-Soluble Cbd And Cbd Oil As An Anti-Inflammatory In Canines With Osteoarthritis, Sadie Sims, Tara Joiner, Dr. Laura Ken Hoffman, Barbie Papajeski

Honors College Theses

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis in canines. Osteoarthritis affects the entire joint, and typically results in pain, inflammation, decreased range of motion and development of bone spurs. The purpose of this study was to provide clinical research comparing Water-Soluble Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabidiol (CBD) oil as an anti-inflammatory in arthritic dogs by using gait analysis on the Tekscan Strideway System, Canine Brief Pain Inventory owner surveys, and analysis of blood test results. One clinical trial was conducted with thirteen privately owned dogs. Participants were split into three treatment groups by listing them by last names …

Pick Your Plate: A Nutrition Education Study, Emmalyn Tucker

Honors College Theses

Childhood obesity has become a cause for concern among many nutrition experts. Childhood obesity can contribute to several health problems such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure. The large percentage of children affected with childhood obesity suggests a lack of essential nutrition education in our country. Junk food consumption and inadequate intake of the USDA’s MyPlate food groups have become essential areas for intervention. Multiple school-based nutrition education interventions have been explored to improve both children’s nutrition knowledge and improve healthy eating behaviors. “Pick Your Plate” is a nutrition education study designed to improve nutrition knowledge regarding junk …

Subepidermal Moisture Measurement: Preventing Pressure Injury In Acute Clinical Settings, Allen Neese, Natalie Embry

Scholars Week

No abstract provided.

Sugar Shenanigans: Curbing The Added Sugar Epidemic In Children And Adolescents, Amy Krazl, Tonia Mailow

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Background: The consumption of added sugar is one of the most dangerous problems regarding the health of society’s youngest generation. Children today consume added sugar at an alarming rate, on average surpassing the daily limit recommended by the American Heart Association. This study aims to educate and empower the child and adolescent population for the purpose of increasing knowledge and improving dietary practices. Methods: An educational program, entitled “Sugar Shenanigans” was delivered to groups of children between the ages of 8 and 13. Data was gathered from pre- and post-tests and “Impact Level Questionnaire” surveys for both participants and parents/guardians …

The Unintended Effects Of Tamper-Evident Food Closures, Marissa Orlowski, Sarah Lefebvre, Laura Boman

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Restaurant-to-consumer food delivery has experienced disruption with the growth of third-party services such as DoorDash and Uber Eats. However, this platform-to-consumer delivery method introduces increased opportunities for food tampering and contamination due to additional touchpoints in the delivery process. To mitigate these concerns, more restaurants are implementing tamper-evident closures such as seals attached to the food containers used for delivery items. Drawing on signaling theory, we examine the effect of tamper-evident closures in the third-party delivery context through two experimental studies and a focus group. Our results revealed a negative effect of tamper-evident seals on willingness to pay through lowered …

Exploring The Self-Care Practices And Needs Of Entry-Level Nursing Students: A Pilot Project, Nancy Armstrong, Kristin M. Reid, Dana Todd

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Self-care is often lacking in nursing students worldwide. The objectives for this study were to discover the current self-care practices of one group of entry level undergraduate nursing students, the students’ understanding of self-care, and the students’ preferences for self-care interventions aimed at improving self-care. Quantitative and quantitative measures were used to measure the students’ current self-care practices, needs, and recommendations for interventions to be used in future semesters to improve nursing student self-care. The students were found to generally be deficient in areas related to nutrition, obtaining healthcare information or guidance, pacing themselves to avoid exhaustion, and performing relaxation …

Blue Zones: Unlocking Key Themes In The Centenarian's Life, Grace Beer, Grace O. Beer

Honors College Theses

Longevity has been sought after in certain areas of the world, and there are specific regions where this has been achieved. There is an American average life expectancy of 72 years old, but individuals in “Blue Zones” here in America and other areas of the world are expected to and have proven to live well beyond 100. The areas of Okinawa, Sardinia, Nicoya, Ikaria, and Loma Linda are classified as Blue Zones, and there could be more of an understanding of how these people live the way they do to have such healthy physical outcomes. To deeply understand the strategy …