Digital Commons Network^™

Full Issue, Digressions

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Stuck In Freedom, Maheen Dhanani

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Collaborative Course Design And Inquiry-Based Approaches In Geoscience Education, Paul E. Baldauf, Robert Hill

Quadrivium: A Journal of Multidisciplinary Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Transition Experiences Out Of Intercollegiate Athletics: A Meta-Synthesis, Rhema D. Fuller

The Qualitative Report

Given the renewed focus as to the degree in which institutions of higher education are preparing their student-athletes for life after sports, this study used a qualitative meta-synthesis research method design to examine the transition experiences of college athletes out of intercollegiate sport. The researcher synthesized data from nine qualitative studies, leading to the identification of six themes characteristic of the transition experience: athletic identity, anticipation and preparation, branching out, satisfaction with athletic performance, loss of camaraderie and support systems. Finally, the manuscript discusses the results of the meta-synthesis in light of their theoretical and practical implications.

"I'D Rather Dance Outside": A Phenomenological Examination Of Youth Experiences In Outdoor, Noncompetitive Physical Activity, Richard W. Christiana, Marsha Davis, Melissa Freeman

The Qualitative Report

Research has shown that youth with low levels of fitness or little interest in organized sports and traditional physical education are more likely to participate in noncompetitive outdoor physical activity. However, little is known about what influences youths’ decisions to participate in these activities. This study examined rural young adolescents’ experiences of participating in noncompetitive outdoor physical activity. In depth qualitative interviews were conducted with young adolescents aged 11-13 years (N = 24) from one rural middle school to elicit detailed descriptions of experiences of participation in outdoor physical activities. Interview transcripts were analyzed inductively and emergent themes related to …

Two Distinct Microbial Communities Revealed In The Sponge Cinachyrella, Marie L. Cuvelier, Emily Blake, Rebecca Mulheron, Peter J. Mccarthy, Patricia Blackwelder, Rebecca Vega-Thurber, Jose V. Lopez

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Marine sponges are vital components of benthic and coral reef ecosystems, providing shelter and nutrition for many organisms. In addition, sponges act as an essential carbon and nutrient link between the pelagic and benthic environment by filtering large quantities of seawater. Many sponge species harbor a diverse microbial community (including Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryotes), which can constitute up to 50% of the sponge biomass. Sponges of the genus Cinachyrella are common in Caribbean and Floridian reefs and their archaeal and bacterial microbiomes were explored here using 16S rRNA gene tag pyrosequencing. Cinachyrella specimens and seawater samples were collected from the …

The Effects Of An Extended Power Plant Shutdown On The Florida Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris) In Port Everglades, Florida, Christopher Grissett

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) seek out warmer waters during winter months when ambient water temperatures drop below 20 degrees Celsius. Over time, manatees have discovered artificial warm water sites from power plant discharges in addition to natural sites such as springs and passive thermal refugia (PTRs). The Florida Power and Light (FPL) Port Everglades power plant in Broward County is one such artificial warm water refuge used by manatees. This plant was shutdown on July 16, 2013, and is expected to remain off line for at least three years during demolition and construction of a new facility. …

Locus Of Control And Obesity, Florence Neymotin, Louis R. Nemzer

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

In the developed world, the hazards associated with obesity have largely outstripped the risk of starvation. Obesity remains a difficult public health issue to address, due in large part to the many disciplines involved. A full understanding requires knowledge in the fields of genetics, endocrinology, psychology, sociology, economics, and public policy - among others. In this short review, which serves as an introduction to the Frontiers in Endocrinology research topic,we address one cross-disciplinary relationship: the interaction between the hunger/satiation neural circuitry, an individual's perceived locus of control, and the risk for obesity. Mammals have evolved a complex system for modulating …

Innovations Volume 1: Issue 1, Ron And Kathy Assaf College Of Nursing

Innovations Magazine

No abstract provided.

Allied Health Student Clinical Placements In Residential Aged Care Facilities: Staff Opinions, Attitudes, And Support Needs, Catherine Johnston, Clint Newstead, Sarah Walmsley, Lesley Macdonald

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: As the population ages, the incidence and prevalence of chronic health issues requiring allied health management is increasing. Currently, there is an undersupply of appropriately skilled allied health professionals working in aged care. This has also been identified as a setting in which many beginning health practitioners are reluctant to seek employment. In order to address this workforce shortage, it is imperative that students are prepared for a possible future career within aged care facilities. Early clinical experience within this setting may increase student confidence, raise awareness of the need for services, and encourage students to consider working in …

“Finishing Business” The Important Role Of The Psychosocial Worker In The Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Team: A Hypothetical Case, Merridy Rowe, Catherine Turnbull

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

The assessment of the palliative client and family caregivers by an interdisciplinary team comprising medical, nursing, and allied health allows for all aspects including the physical, social, and psychological and spiritual needs to be incorporated into care planning. This comprehensive level of planning for the care of the client and family caregivers can allow for a client to fulfil their own definition of a good death, or dying well. Whilst the provision of psychosocial support can be the seen as the role of the social worker in the team, all members of the palliative care team, especially in rural and …

Relationships Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders And Their Fathers, Terry Keller, Julie Ramisch, Marsha Carolan

The Qualitative Report

This phenomenological study investigated the relationships between 7 fathers and their sons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Seven major themes emerged: Shared Activities, Developmental Sensitivity, Emotional Understanding, Fighting the Label, Fatherhood Expectations, Parent Responsibility, and Fatherhood Isolation. Fathers were sensitive to their sons’ emotional needs and developmental milestones. Clinicians can help fathers to develop appropriate relationships with their children that involve shared activities. Clinicians can also assist fathers in coping with isolation and expectations regarding fatherhood, developing desired fatherhood roles, and finding appropriate shared activities with their children.

Reducing Confusion About Grounded Theory And Qualitative Content Analysis: Similarities And Differences, Ji Young Cho, Eun-Hee Lee

The Qualitative Report

Although grounded theory and qualitative content analysis are similar in some respects, they differ as well; yet the differences between the two have rarely been made clear in the literature. The purpose of this article was to clarify ambiguities and reduce confusion about grounded theory and qualitative content analysis by identifying similarities and differences in the two based on a literature review and critical reflection on the authors’ own research. Six areas of difference emerged: (a) background and philosophical base, (b) unique characteristics of each method, (c) goals and rationale of each method, (d) data analysis process, (e) outcomes of …

A Qualitative Evaluation Of Blood Pressure Screening Procedures In The Illinois Wisewomen Program, James Broadbear, Barbara Broadbear, Adrian Lyde, Sharon Mills

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and various other conditions. Approximately 70 million Americans are hypertensive. Among women age 18 and over, 31.7% have high blood pressure (BP) and only about 60% of those women have it under control. The purpose of this evaluation was to understand blood pressure screening procedures among Illinois WISEWOMAN Program (IWP) providers. Procedures at primary care providers (PCP) compared to obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYN) were of interest. A qualitative approach was used featuring interviews with allied health staff members who conduct blood pressure screenings. The focus of the interviews included the use and …

Health Promotion Strategies Derived From A Metropolitan Police Weight Loss Competition With Weight Loss Comparisons By Gender And Bmi Category, Robert Boyce, Tyler Willett, Allen Mullins, Glenn Jones, Randy Cottrell

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Weight management is critical in police work. It can have both legal and life-saving implications as it is linked to the health and physical readiness of the officers. A weight loss competition is one way to address weight management in police work. Among the factors to consider is gender impact, as females forge forward within a male environment. Also, assessing weight loss among obesity categories is essential for designing effective programing. Purpose: To compare mass changes among body mass index (BMI) categories and between genders at biweekly weigh-ins during a 12-week competition with recommendations for professionals. Methods: Before the …

The Adolescent Female's Lived-Experience Of Obesity, Jamie L. Randall-Arell, Rose Utley

The Qualitative Report

For adolescent girls, negative messages about obesity and body image from society, media, school, family, and peers are plentiful. Yet the lived-experience of obese adolescent girls has rarely been reported in scientific literature. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived-experience of the obese adolescent female and understand the impact of the messages received. A descriptive phenomenological approach was used to conduct face-to-face interviews with eight adolescent girls, age 11-18. Participants were recruited through network sampling and had a body mass index of 30 or more. Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy of embodied perception guided interpretation and data analysis. Seven themes …

Trading Responses To Negative Signals, Mark W. Zikiye, Rebecca Abraham, Charles Harrington

HCBE Faculty Articles

Mergers may be undertaken by giving shareholders of the target firm the right to exchange their stock for stock in the combined firm. Such stock mergers release the negative signal that the acquiring firm lacks cash. Informed traders seeking immediate gain may short sell acquirer stock or buy puts and sell calls. Liquidity traders, desiring longterm gain, may purchase stock or call options to benefit from lower stock prices, or sell stock or buy put options to maintain liquidity. This paper constructs a theoretical model in which option volume forms the bounds of the final stock price for informed traders …

The Effects Of Consuming A High Protein Diet (4.4 G/Kg/D) On Body Composition In Resistance-Trained Individuals, Jose Antonio, Corey Peacock, A. Ellerbroek, B. Fromnoff, Tobin A. Silver

Department of Health and Human Performance Faculty Articles

BACKGROUND:

The consumption of dietary protein is important for resistance-trained individuals. It has been posited that intakes of 1.4 to 2.0 g/kg/day are needed for physically active individuals. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of a very high protein diet (4.4 g/kg/d) on body composition in resistance-trained men and women.

METHODS:

Thirty healthy resistance-trained individuals participated in this study (mean ± SD; age: 24.1 ± 5.6 yr; height: 171.4 ± 8.8 cm; weight: 73.3 ± 11.5 kg). Subjects were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: Control (CON) or high protein (HP). The CON …

Does Size Matter In The Field?: Female Police Bodies In Online Television, Carmen M. Cusack

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study is to investigate how female officers’ body sizes are depicted on the TV show, “Police Women of Broward County.” Little literature examines the media’s depiction of bodies belonging to women who are involved in traditionally masculine professions. However, feminist and masculinist literature, along with biophysical literature, tends to suggest that women are smaller and weaker than men or are perceived that way in society. It stands to reason that media may portray female officers this way or portray women attempting to overcome this stigma personally and professionally to appeal to viewers or as a reflection …

The Detection Of Amazonian Manatees (Trichechus Inunguis) Using Side-Scan Sonar And The Effect Of Oil Activities On Their Habitats In Eastern Ecuador, Caitlin E. Brice

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Substantial hunting pressure and habitat destruction caused by oil extraction has critically endangered the Amazonian manatee in Ecuador. The current population status is unknown because an effective method to observe them in the wild has yet to be developed. This study explored whether the Amazonian manatee persists or has been extirpated in the eastern Ecuadorian Amazon utilizing side-scan sonar to increase odds of detection. Spatial differences in probability of detection were quantified if manatees were observed. The level of chemical contamination was determined and compared spatially and temporally against historical data. Data were collected using opportunistic transect surveys and grab …

Progress Of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy For Neural And Retinal Diseases, Tsz Kin Ng, Veronica R. Fortino, Daniel Pelaez, Herman S. Cheung

Biology Faculty Articles

Complex circuitry and limited regenerative power make central nervous system (CNS) disorders the most challenging and difficult for functional repair. With elusive disease mechanisms, traditional surgical and medical interventions merely slow down the progression of the neurodegenerative diseases. However, the number of neurons still diminishes in many patients. Recently, stem cell therapy has been proposed as a viable option. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a widely-studied human adult stem cell population, have been discovered for more than 20 years. MSCs have been found all over the body and can be conveniently obtained from different accessible tissues: bone marrow, blood, and adipose …

Intraspecific Variation In Vertical Habitat Use By Tiger Sharks (Galeocerdo Cuvier) In The Western North Atlantic, Jeremy J. Vaudo, Bradley M. Wetherbee, Guy Harvey, Richard S. Nemeth, Choy Aming, Lucy A. Howey-Jordan, Mahmood S. Shivji

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) are a wide ranging, potentially keystone predator species that display a variety of horizontal movement patterns, making use of coastal and pelagic waters. Far less, however, is known about their vertical movements and use of the water column. We used pop-up satellite archival tags with two data sampling rates (high rate and standard rate tags) to investigate the vertical habitat use and diving behavior of tiger sharks tagged on the Puerto Rico–Virgin Islands platform and off Bermuda between 2008 and 2009. Useable data were received from nine of 14 sharks tagged, tracked over a …

Qualitative Research By A Non-Hierarchical Team, José G. Rigau-Pérez, Silvia E. Rabionet, Annette B. Ramírez De Arellano, Wilfredo A. Géigel, Raúl Mayo-Santana, Alma Simounet

The Qualitative Report

In this and subsequent issues, The Qualitative Report will publish eight articles about a journal written by Edward B. Emerson (1805-1834), a younger brother of American philosopher and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. This introduction will describe the origins of the project, the sources, the process and the outcomes of the collaboration. The authors hope to document and illustrate the richness and value of interdisciplinary qualitative inquiry, while providing specifics of how the Emerson Journal Project evolved. We provide examples to illustrate the characteristics of effective teamwork, but also present the challenges along the way and how they were surmounted. The …

The Edward Bliss Emerson Journal Project: Qualitative Research By A Non-Hierarchical Team, José G. Rigau-Pérez, Silvia E. Rabionet, Annette B. Ramírez De Arellano, Wilfredo A. Géigel, Alma Simounet, Raúl Mayo-Santana

The Qualitative Report Books

Edward Bliss Emerson (1805-1834), a younger brother of the renowned essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, lived in the Caribbean for the final three years of his life. His journal and letters are a rich manuscript source for the history of the Danish Virgin Islands (1831-1832) and Puerto Rico (1831-1834). The texts also reflect the contemporary political and cultural situation in the United States, and Edward's search for health, economic independence, intellectual stimulation and metaphysical fulfillment.

These writings ignited an intellectual passion in José G. Rigau-Pérez, a physician, medical epidemiologist, and historian in Puerto Rico. Furthering access to these unique …

A Theoretical Model Of Directional Volume On Acquirer Stock In Cash Mergers, Mark W. Zikiye, Rebecca Abraham, Charles Harrington

HCBE Faculty Articles

The acquisition of a target firm in a transaction financed by cash is a cash merger. Announcements of cash mergers release the positive signal that the acquirer possesses cash reserves. As stock prices rise, informed traders may obtain abnormal returns by purchasing call options, selling put options or purchasing stock. This paper constructs a theoretical model in which call buy volume forms the upper bound of the final stock price, put sell volume forms the lower bound of the final stock price and stock purchase volume reveals the final stock price.

Evidence-Based Health Literacy Training Program For Occupational Therapy Professionals : Program Development And Evaluation, Cheryl Miller-Scott

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This capstone project is a training program development and evaluation project. The purpose of the project was to develop, pilot, and evaluate an

evidence-based health literacy training program for occupational therapy professionals. Occupational therapy strives to be a science-driven profession, which provides client-centered care. Health literacy is a client-centered factor for which occupational therapy professionals require additional training to best serve their clients in all settings and across the lifespan. A review of health literacy literature was used in this project to develop the training program and offers a science-driven approach to this client-centered factor for occupational therapists to better …

Consideration For Lumbar Disc Degeneration And Herniation In Sports, Ziva Majcen, Tanja Rauter Pungartnik, Nejc Sarabon

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Lower-back related injuries in an athletic population are common and may have severe implications for the athletes sporting career. The focus of this work was to review epidemiology, intervention strategies, and recommendations for return to practice and competition for athletes with lumbar disc degeneration and herniated disc. Conservative treatments for discogenic degeneration and lumbar spine herniation are generally sufficient for athletic populations to restore functional movement. Athletes that fail to respond to conservative measures may consider lumbar discectomy, with high levels of return to pre-competition levels observed following effective surgery. Surgical procedures such as spinal fusion and disc replacement require …

An Evaluation Of Virginia Gold: A Medicaid Program To Improve Nursing Facility Quality Of Care, Gerald A. Craver, Amy K. Burkett, Karen E. Kimsey

The Qualitative Report

A qualitative case study design employing focus groups was used to evaluate certified nursing assistant (CNA) (n = 26) and resident (n = 30) perceptions of the Virginia Gold Quality Improvement Program, a Medicaid funded 2-year quality improvement intervention piloted in five nursing facilities. As part of the program, the nursing facilities implemented quality improvement projects to develop supportive work environments in an effort to reduce CNA turnover and improve quality of care. Overall, the focus group participants viewed Virginia Gold positively and reported that CNA turnover decreased, while care quality improved during the program. These findings are supported by …

Representations Of Middle Age In Comedy Film: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Margaret Gatling, Jane Mills, David Lindsay

The Qualitative Report

The discourse of middle age includes a commonly-held perception that it is a time of crisis resulting in unusual, atypical, dramatic or extravagant behaviours. The aim of this study was to find out if the discourse of middle age, as depicted in comedy film, supports this stereotype. Three comedy films were reviewed using dispositive analysis to critically-evaluate the actions, objects and language employed to represent middle age on-screen. The findings show that crisis, sparked by a fear of ageing and with some distinct gender differences, is a frequent feature of on-screen middle age. Building on the generally accepted hypothesis that …

Academic Staff Perceptions Of Factors Underlying Program Completion By Australian Indigenous Nursing Students, Roianne West, Kim Usher, Kim Foster, Lee Stewart

The Qualitative Report

An increase in the number of Indigenous health professionals is one way to help reduce the poor health outcomes of Australia’s Indigenous people. However, while Indigenous students are enrolling in Australian tertiary undergraduate nursing courses in increasing numbers, their completion rates remain lower than non-Indigenous students and many barriers hinder course completion. This critical interpretive qualitative study explores academic staff perceptions of factors enabling successful course completions by Indigenous nursing students from universities in Queensland, Australia. Content analysis of data revealed five themes: (a) Individual student characteristics; (b) Institutional structures, systems, and processes; (c) Relationships, connections, and partnerships; (d) Family …