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Development And Validation Of The Policies, Opportunities, Initiatives And Notable Topics (Points) Audit For Campuses And Worksites, Tanya M. Horacek, Mariel Simon, Elif Dede Yildirim, Adrienne A. White, Karla P. Shelnutt, Kristin Riggsbee, Melissa D. Olfert, Jesse Stabile Morrell, Anne E. Mathews, Wenjun Zhou, Tandalayo Kidd, Kendra Kattelmann, Geoffrey Greene, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Sarah Colby, Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Onikia Brown

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Background: Workplace or campus wellness/obesity-prevention policies and initiatives can improve health. Research tools to assess worksite or campus policies/initiatives are scarce. Thus, the aim of this research is to develop and validate the policies, opportunities, initiatives, and notable topics (POINTS) audit. Methods: POINTS was developed and refined via expert review, pilot-testing, and field testing. Trained researchers completed a web-based review from a student-focus or employee-focus regarding 34 health-promoting topics for colleges. Each topic was evaluated on a 0–2 scale: 0 = no policy/initiative, 1 = initiatives, 2 = written policy. When a written policy was detected, additional policy …

Maternal Vegetable Intake During And After Pregnancy, Alison Tovar, Jill L. Kaar, Karen Mccurdy, Alison E. Field, Dana Dabelea, Maya Vadiveloo

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Background: Improved understanding of vegetable intake changes between pregnancy and postpartum may inform future intervention targets to establish healthy home food environments. Therefore, the goal of this study was to explore the changes in vegetable intake between pregnancy and the postnatal period and explore maternal and sociodemographic factors that are associated with these changes. Methods: We examined sociodemographic, dietary, and health characteristics of healthy mothers 18-43y from the prospective Infant Feeding Practices II cohort (n = 847) (2005–2012). Mothers completed a modified version of the diet history questionnaire, a food-frequency measure, developed by the National Cancer Institute. We created …

Parenting Practices That May Encourage And Discourage Physical Activity In Preschool-Age Children Of Brazilian Immigrant Families: A Qualitative Study, Ana Cristina Lindsay, Carlos André Moura Arruda, Gabriela Perreira De Andrade, Márcia Maria Tavares Machado, Mary L. Greaney

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Brazilians are a rapidly increasing Latino immigrant group in the United States (US), yet little research has examined factors influencing physical activity (PA) levels and behaviors of children growing up in Brazilian immigrant families. This information is needed to develop culturally sensitive interventions tailored to this population. Therefore, this qualitative study explored PA parenting practices used by Brazilian immigrant mothers living in the US. Thirty-seven Brazilian immigrant mothers with at least one child between the ages of 2 and 5 years participated in 1of 7 focus group discussions. Thematic analysis identified seven parenting practices that mothers employ that may encourage …

Female Headship And Women’S Work In Nepal, Pratistha Joshi-Rajkarnikar, Smita Ramnarain

Economics Faculty Publications

Literature on household headship has, by and large, tended to homogenize female-headed households (FHHs). We present a mixed methods approach to disaggregating the experiences of female-headed households (FHHs) in the post-conflict period in Nepal. One of four households in Nepal is estimated to be female-headed, either as a result of conflict-related male deaths (de jure, or widow heads) or due to male out-migration (de facto, or wives of migrants). We examine similarities and differences in the work responsibilities and labor market participation of de jure and de facto female heads using quantitative data from the Nepal …

Affective Response As A Mediator Of The Association Between The Physical And Social Environment And Physical Activity Behavior, Holly K. Boyle, Shira I. Dunsiger, Lauren Connell Bohlen, Jessica A. Emerson, Harold H. Lee, Courtney J. Stevens, David M. Williams

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Perceptions of the physical and social environment have been shown to be predictive of physical activity (PA) behavior. However, the mechanisms of this association have not been examined. Affective response to PA was examined as a putative mediator of the association between perceptions of the PA environment and subsequent PA behavior. As part of a PA promotion study, 59 low-active overweight or obese but otherwise healthy adults completed real-time assessments of the perceived physical and social PA environment, affective response to PA, and PA behavior over a 6-month period. As hypothesized, decreased latency to and greater duration of subsequent PA …

University Manual 2018-2019, Uri Faculty Senate

University Manual Archive

No abstract provided.

National Trends In The Treatment Of Urinary Tract Infections Among Veterans’ Affairs Community Living Center Residents, Haley J. Appaneal, R. Caffrey, Vrishali V. Lopes, Christopher J. Crnich, David M. Dosa, Kerry L. Laplante

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective: To describe urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment among Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Community Living Centers (CLCs) nationally and to assess related trends in antibiotic use.

Design: Descriptive study.

Setting and participants: All UTI episodes treated from 2013 through 2017 among residents in 110 VA CLCs. UTI episodes required collection of a urine culture, antibiotic treatment, and a UTI diagnosis code. UTI episodes were stratified into culture-positive and culture-negative episodes.

Methods: Frequency and rate of antibiotic use were assessed for all UTI episodes overall and were stratified by culture-positive and culture-negative episodes. Joinpoint software was used for regression analyses of trends …

Uri Undergraduate And Graduate Course Catalog 2019-2020, University Of Rhode Island

URI Course Catalogs Archive

This is a downloadable PDF version of the University of Rhode Island course catalog.

Effect Of Exercise On Cognitive Function In Persons With Dementia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Southey F. Saul

Open Access Dissertations

As the population ages, the number of people suffering from dementia will rise significantly. Current estimates of total societal cost of dementia exceed $8 billion dollars (US). Epidemiological studies have shown that increased lifetime engagement in exercise reduces cognitive decline and the incidence of dementia in normal older adults. While existing research suggests that lifelong exercise may be preferable, the adoption of exercise at any age and stage of dementia-onset to delay or reverse cognitive decline is worthwhile given the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle, and the increasing proportion of older adults and dementia incidence. Recently, trials have started to explore …

An Exploratory Investigation Into The Structure Of Eating Disorder Diagnosis, Juliana Steffes

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation first provides the current conceptualization of the most common Eating Disorders (EDs) as well as other disordered eating conditions currently recognized within the research community. The current literature regarding the epidemiology, risk factors, existing evidence of indicators of overlap, and commonalities in treatment and prevention efforts among these disorders is identified. Researchers have mentioned the concept of a continuum of eating disordered behaviors or a spectrum of eating pathology, either using it in a paper title or within a research paper, yet few have conducted statistical analyses to illustrate that these concepts have more than face validity. This …

How Birds Respond To Antioxidant Capacity, Oxidative Damage, And Fuel Stores During Migration, Clara Cooper-Mullin

Open Access Dissertations

During migration, birds have an elevated metabolic rate and rely heavily on fat for fuel, creating a state where oxidative stress may be high if not counterbalanced by antioxidants. However, no previous studies have examined how birds utilize different aspects of the antioxidant system to combat oxidative damage during flight training, whether dietary antioxidants are absorbed and transported to the site of reactive species generation, the mitochondria, or how oxidative status interacts with fuel stores to shape decisions birds make during migratory stopovers. In this dissertation, I first introduce the physiological challenges of increased production of reactive species confronted by …

Predictors Of Clostridioides Difficile Recurrence Across A National Cohort Of Veterans In Outpatient, Acute, And Long-Term Care Settings, Haley J. Appaneal, R. Caffrey, Maya Beganivic, Sanja Avramovic, Kerry L. Laplante

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Purpose: The greatest challenge in treating Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is disease recurrence, which occurs in about 20% of patients, usually within 30 days of treatment cessation. We sought to identify independent predictors of first recurrence among a national cohort of veterans with CDI.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study among acute and long-term care Veterans Affairs (VA) inpatients and outpatients with a first CDI episode (positive stool sample for C. difficile toxin[s] and receipt of at least 2 days of CDI treatment) between 2010 and 2014. Cases experienced first recurrence within 30 days from the end of …

Small Food Stores Assessment In Low Income Low Access Communities In Providence, Rhode Island, Yuyao Huang

Open Access Master's Theses

Inventory requirements for authorized Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers have undergone several revisions to increase the availability of healthful foods. A proposed rule of 84 staple food items was not implemented due to concerns that stores would not withstand this expansion, resulting in a final rule requiring 36 items. This study used the Food Access Research Atlas data to characterize food provisions in 30 small retailers in areas with high and low proportion of SNAP and racial minority residents in Providence, RI. Stores were assessed with an audit instrument to tally variety, perishability and depth of stock of four …

An ‘Omics Approach To Diet & Structure Impact On Perfluoroalkyl Substance Induced Liver Disease, Marisa Pfohl

Open Access Dissertations

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a family of environmental toxicants, are ubiquitous in the environment and the human population. PFAS are manmade chemicals that have been widely used in manufacturing since the 1940s. PFAS are extremely resistant to degradation leading to their accumulation within the environment and the general population. The most concentrated PFAS member present in the general population, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), has been linked to suppressed vaccine response, high serum cholesterol, low fetal birth weight, thyroid disease, increased markers of liver injury, and even certain types of cancers. PFOS was voluntarily phased out of manufacturing due to its bioaccumulutive and …

Maternal Restricted- And Over-Feeding During Gestation Result In Distinct Lipid And Amino Acid Metabolite Profiles In The Longissimus Muscle Of The Offspring, Dominique E. Martin, Amanda K. Jones, Sambhu M. Pillai, Maria L. Hoffman, Katelyn K. Mcfadden, Steven A. Zinn, Kristen E. Govoni, Sarah A. Reed

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Maternal over- and restricted-feeding during gestation have similar negative consequences for the offspring, including decreased muscularity, increased adiposity, and altered metabolism. Our objective was to determine the effects of poor maternal nutrition during gestation (over- and restricted-feeding) on the offspring muscle metabolite profile. Pregnant ewes (n = 47) were fed 60% (RES), 100% (CON), or 140% (OVER) of NRC requirements starting at day 30.2 ± 0.2 of gestation. Offspring sample collection occurred at days 90 and 135 of gestation, and within 24 h of birth. C2C12 myoblasts were cultured in serum collected from offspring at birth (n = …

Relationship Between Physical Activity, Screen Time, And Sleep Quantity And Quality In Us Adolescents Aged 16–19, Furong Xu, Sue K. Adams, Steven A. Cohen, Jacob E. Earp, Mary L. Greaney

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Despite the health benefits associated with physical activity (PA), screen time reduction, and sleep quantity and quality, the relationships between PA, screen time, and sleep quantity and quality remain unclear in adolescents. The present study is a cross-sectional analysis of data from adolescents aged 16–19 years who participated in the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 542). Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for confounders, examined the relationship between objectively measured PA, self-reported screen time, and sleep quantity and quality. Respondents who met the current PA recommendation had 50% lower odds of having sufficient sleep (≥8 h) …

Effectiveness Of Surf Therapy For Children With Disabilities, Emily D. Clapham, Linda S. Lamont, Minsuk K. Shim, Shabnam Lateef, Courtney N. Armitano

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Background: Few researchers have examined the effects of surf programs on children with disabilities. Due to previous research findings, surfing is being used, as the focus of physical activity intervention due to its numerous health and therapeutic benefits.

Objective/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of an eight-week surfing intervention on various physical fitness measures in 71 children with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, down syndrome, global developmental delays, and cerebral palsy. The study also sought to compare the differences in overall fitness levels between the surf therapy group and an unstructured pool playgroup. Researchers …

Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Us Adolescents’ Dietary Quality And Its Modification By Weight-Related Factors And Physical Activity, Furong Xu, Steven A. Cohen, Mary L. Greaney, Disa L. Hatfield, Geoffrey W. Greene

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

There are well-known disparities in the prevalence of obesity across racial-ethnic groups, although the behavioral and psychological factors driving these disparities are less well understood. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (1) to examine differences in dietary quality by race/ethnicity and weight-related variables [body mass index (BMI), weight loss attempt, and weight dissatisfaction] and physical activity (PA) using the Health Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015); and (2) to investigate the interactions and independent associations of race/ethnicity, weight-related variables and PA on dietary quality. Data for adolescents aged 12–19 years (n = 3373) were abstracted from the 2007–2014 National Health and Nutrition …

“If You Let Them, They Will Be On It 24 Hours A Day”: Qualitative Study Conducted In The United States Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs, Attitudes, And Practices Related To Screen Time Behaviors Of Their Preschool-Age Children, Ana Cristina Lindsay, Carlos André Moura Arruda, Márcia M. T. Machado, Mary L. Greaney

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Background: The increasing prevalence of excessive screen time (ST) among children is a growing public health concern, with evidence linking it to an increased risk of overweight and obesity among children.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the beliefs, attitudes, and practices of Brazilian immigrant mothers living in the United States related to their preschool-age children’s ST behaviors.

Methods: A qualitative study comprising 7 focus group discussions (FGDs) was conducted with Brazilian immigrant mothers living in the United States. All FGDs were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed verbatim. The Portuguese transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: In total, 37 women …

From Breast Pump To Best Pump: A Human-Centered Evaluation, Rachel L. Bartels

Open Access Master's Theses

Mothers can experience breastfeeding challenges, and the breast pump is often at the center. Existing literature outlines the range of mothers’ negative experiences with breast pumps, though there is a gap in which breast pump characteristics are important to mothers. Identifying which breast pump characteristics (i.e., portability, ease of use, low-weight, fast milk extraction, comfortability, low-noise, discreet) are important to breast pumping mothers, and whether or not this importance varies between mothers who do or do not work outside of the home will help identify user needs. Collecting user needs informs future breast pump designs in a user-centered design …

Maternal Blood Pressure In Relation To Low Birth Weight And The Effect Of A Nutritional Supplement, Alyssa Abreu

Open Access Master's Theses

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy impact over 10% of pregnancies worldwide, while increasing the risk of low birth weight. Research is conflicting on the effect of nutrient supplementation on hypertension during pregnancy. The cutoffs to define hypertension have also recently changed to include a lower systolic blood pressure, and little research has examined the association between the newly proposed blood pressure cutoffs and low birth weight.

Objectives: Our objectives were to 1) evaluate the impact of prenatal lipid-based nutrient supplement consumption on maternal blood pressure; and 2) assess the association between maternal blood pressure during early and late …

Evaluation Of A Policy, System, And Environmental School-Based Fruit And Vegetable Intervention, Caterina Marie Morgera

Open Access Master's Theses

Objectives: To determine the effect of a policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) intervention, Students Take Charge! (STC), among 4th and 5th grade students from low-income communities on 1) fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, and 2) PSE and FV knowledge, and self-efficacy (SE) to ask for FV at school and home.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used involving six schools over two years. Schools were purposely selected; two schools each year either received STC or standard instruction. The study sample includes students (n=326 intervention; n=351 comparison) providing pre and post data (baseline and post-assessment at week 18). Supplemental …

Pilot Testing A Nutrition And Motivational Interviewing Curriculum For Nursing Students, Taylor Benson Berlinsky

Open Access Master's Theses

Background: Nurses are often overlooked as resources for childhood obesity prevention efforts. Although some studies have focused on educating nurses about obesity prevention, few have included training in motivational interviewing (MI). The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot a nutrition and MI curriculum and assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy with undergraduate nursing students.

Methods: The curriculum included three 2.5-hour sessions and one follow-up session. Using a non-experimental pre-post study design, nutrition and MI knowledge, self-efficacy, and curriculum satisfaction were evaluated via self-reported surveys. During the follow-up session, participants practiced their MI skills with …

Role Of Critical Nutrition Literacy In Making Informed Decisions About Dietary Behavior, Janette Nazeli Bedoyan

Open Access Master's Theses

Statement of the Problem: Nutrition literacy, derived from health literacy, is the ability to understand basic information needed to make appropriate nutrition decisions. Critical nutrition literacy (CNL), the highest level of nutrition literacy, is defined as the ability to critically analyze and apply nutrition information. Although studies have explored the lower levels of nutrition literacy (functional and interactive), CNL has seldom been investigated. One instrument developed to measure CNL, the Critical Nutrition Literacy Tool (CNLT), was found to have strong psychometrical validity and reliability; however, the external validity of the instrument is unknown. Thus, the purpose of this research …

Knowledge Concerning Health Factors And Cognitive Performance: Development And Expert Validation Of A Perceptions Questionnaire, Caitlin Ogram Buckley

Open Access Master's Theses

The promotion of brain health is often perceived through an illness model, as research tends to focus on risk reduction in regards to neurodegenerative disease. However, research indicates that healthy individuals can potentially improve their cognitive performance through the adoption of health-promoting behaviors such as diet, exercise, and the management of chronic medical conditions (e.g. Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol). It is less clear how well this message has been disseminated to the general public. The current study aims to advance a critical foundation for brain health research by developing a questionnaire to assess public beliefs …

Safety And Efficacy Of Whey Protein Supplementation In Teenage Athletes, Andrew Stranieri

Open Access Master's Theses

In addition to the physical aspects of training, young athletes are also mirroring the nutritional and supplementation practices of adult athletes. While research on the use of supplements among adult athletes is well known, few studies on supplement use by teenage athletes exist. Research has reported that between 22.3% to 71% of high school athletes use some form of supplementation, with whey protein being the most common. Despite the popularity of whey protein among teenage athletes, knowledge regarding its effects on health and performance in teenage athletes is currently insufficient. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the …

Childhood Emotional Maltreatment And Anxiety: The Effect Of Engaging In A Healthy Lifestyle, Hayley E. Pomerantz

Open Access Master's Theses

Childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) represents a major public health concern, and the consequences of CEM are understudied. Emotional maltreatment is comprised of both emotional abuse (EA) and emotional neglect (EN). Although the link between CEM and overall psychological distress is well established, less is known about the mechanisms through which a history of CEM can influence symptoms of anxiety. The current study hypothesized that engagement in a healthy lifestyle would mediate the relationship between CEM and symptoms of anxiety. It was also hypothesized that gender would moderate this relationship. The current study analyzed EA and EN separately. Results indicated that …

Effect Of Eating Pace Instructional Classes At The Microstructural Level Of Bites, Carolyn N. Matsumoto

Open Access Master's Theses

Problem Statement: Eating behaviors have been found to differ between overweight and lean individuals. Eating faster, taking more bites, and larger bite sizes have been associated with increased energy intake. Effective weight management interventions that target within-meal eating behaviors, such as biting, chewing, swallowing, and pausing, are limited.

Background: A five-week intervention study designed to modify within-meal eating behaviors reduced laboratory eating rate of healthy young female participants who were overweight. The effect of the Eating Pace Instructional Classes (EPIC) intervention at the level of individual bites of food was not previously examined.

Methods: Secondary data analysis of ad libitum …

A Mixed-Effects Regression Model With Application To Longitudinal Missing At Random Microbiome Data, Manushi K.V. Welandawe

Open Access Master's Theses

Gut microbiota in the human lower gastrointestinal tract can impact the health through human functions as well as triggering numerous diseases. The colonization of the microbiota occurs immediately after the birth of an infant. Early life factors can highly influence the composition of gut microbiome, which ultimately affects infant's health. Therefore, the relationship between microbiome composition and clinical outcomes of preterm infants observed in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) is of critical importance. To study this relationship, it is common to use longitudinal study designs. One of the major challenges in these designs is the huge percentage of missingness of …

The Effect Of Season Upon The Life Cycle Of Haemonchus Contortus In Experimentally Infected Lambs, Marissa Brummett

Open Access Master's Theses

This project was developed to study the life cycle of the most pathogenic gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) affecting small ruminants, Haemonchus contortus. The main goal of the study was to test the effects that the environment and the age of the adult worm have on the resulting egg’s ability to hatch in vitro and the larvae’s ability to undergo exsheathment both artificially in vitro as well as in vivo within the rumen. A secondary study objective was to compare the results from the two exsheathment assays in order to see how well they correlate.

This study was designed to run …