Digital Commons Network^™

Comparison Of Methods Used To Estimate The Global Burden Of Disease Related To Undernutrition And Suboptimal Breastfeeding, Alexander C. Mclain, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Sonja Y. Hess, Ellen G. Piwoz

Faculty Publications

The Global Burden of Disease study (GBD) is an ambitious effort to estimate the disease burden attributable to various risk factors. The results from the GBD are used around the world to monitor the UN established Sustainable Development Goals, set health policies and research strategies, among others. The GBD along with other studies, such as those from the Maternal Child Epidemiology Estimation Group and the Lancet Breastfeeding Series Group, produce estimates of the nutrition-related global burden of disease that exhibit considerable differences. These differences are difficult to reconcile due to the estimation methods, which in recent years have substantially increased …

Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Postpartum Depression Within One Year After Birth In Urban Slums Of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Rashidul Azad, Rukhshan Fahmi, Sadichhya Shrestha, Hemraj Joshi, Mehedi Hasan, Abdullah Nurus Salam Khan, Mohiuddin Ahsanul Kabir Chowdhury, Shams El Arifeen, Sk Masum Billah

Faculty Publications

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious pubic health concern and known to have the adverse effects on mother’s perinatal wellbeing; and child’s physical and cognitive development. There were limited literatures on PPD in Bangladesh, especially in urban slum context. The aim of this study was to assess the burden and risk factors of PPD among the urban slum women. A cross-sectional study was conducted between November-December 2017 in three urban slums on 376 women within first 12 months of postpartum. A validated Bangla version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to measure the depression status. Respondent’s socio-economic characteristics and …

Perspective: Challenges In Use Of Adolescent Anthropometry For Understanding The Burden Of Malnutrition, Alison Tumilowicz, Ty Beal, Lynnette M. Neufeld, Edward A. Frongillo Jr.

Faculty Publications

Improving nutritional status during adolescence is an opportunity to improve the lives of this generation and the next. Estimating the burden of malnutrition at a population level is fundamental to targeting interventions and measuring progress over time, and for adolescents, we usually depend on survey data and the 2007 WHO Growth Reference to do so. There is substantial risk of misguided conclusions regarding adolescent prevalence estimates, however, when underlying methodological limitations of the indicators and reference are not adequately considered. We use national prevalence estimates among girls and young women 10-22 y of age from the 2014 State of Food …

Association Between Inflammatory Potential Of Diet And Bone-Mineral Density In Korean Postmenopausal Women: Data From Fourth And Fifth Korea National Health And Nutrition Examination Surveys, Woori Na, Susan Park, Nitin Shivappa, James F. Thrasher, Mi Kyung Kim, Cheongmin Sohn

Faculty Publications

Post menopause is considered a critical period for bone-mass loss. Impaired bone metabolism during this phase can increase the risk of fractures in old age. Inflammation is a risk factor for bone health, and diet is a potential source of inflammation. However, few studies have examined the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII^®) and bone-mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women in Korea. The objective of this study was to determine, by means of a Korean cross-sectional investigation, whether higher DII scores are associated with decreased BMD in postmenopausal women. To that end, the raw data from the …

The Effects Of Teacrine® And Caffeine On Endurance And Cognitive Performance During A Simulated Match In High-Level Soccer Players, Marissa L. Bello, Alan J. Walker, Bridget A. Mcfadden, David J. Sanders, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak

Faculty Publications

Background: Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric-acid) is a pure alkaloid with a similar structure to caffeine and acts comparably as an adenosine receptor antagonist. Early studies have shown non-habituating effects, including increases in energy and focus in response to Teacrine®, the compound containing pure theacrine. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the effects of Teacrine® and caffeine on cognitive performance and time-to-exhaustion during a simulated soccer game in high-level male and female athletes. Methods: Male and female soccer players (N = 24; M Age = 20.96 ± 2.05y, M MaleVO2max = 55.31 ± 3.39 mL/O 2 /kg, M FemaleVO2max …

The Inflammatory Potential Of Diet In Determining Cancer Risk; A Prospective Investigation Of Two Dietary Pattern Scores, Stina Bodén, Robin Myte, Maria Wennberg, Sophia Harlid, Ingegerd Johansson, Nitin Shivappa, James R. Hébert, Bethany Van Guelpen, Lena Maria Nilsson

Faculty Publications

Purpose Inflammation-related mechanisms may contribute to the link between diet and cancer. We sought to investigate the inflammatory impact of diet on cancer risk using the Dietary inflammatory index (DII) and an adapted Mediterranean diet score (MDS).

Methods This population-based, prospective cohort study used self-reported dietary data from the Västerbotten Intervention Programme, including 100,881 participants, of whom 35,393 had repeated measures. Associations between dietary patterns and cancer risk were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression. We also used restricted cubic splines to test for potential non-linear associations.

Results A total of 9,250 incident cancer cases were diagnosed during a median …

Lack Of Association Between Dietary Inflammatory Index And Low Impact Fractures In The Brazilian Population: The Brazilian Osteoporosis Study (Brazos), Melissa Morimoto, Nitin Shivappa, Patricia De Souza Genaro, Ligia Araujo Martini, Natielen Jacques Schuch, James R. Hebert, Marcelo Medeiros Pinheiro

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Adequate nutrition, including intake of dietary calcium and vitamin D, is important to maintain bone health. Evidence suggests that a deficiency in micronutrients may contribute to bone loss during aging and exert generalized effects on chronic inflammation. Recently, the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was developed to assess the inflammatory potential of individual diets. Our aim was to evaluate the DII in a representative sample and verify its association with low-impact fractures.

Methods: Individuals from The Brazilian Osteoporosis Study (BRAZOS) database had their DII calculated. BRAZOS is an important cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out with a representative sample of men …

Moderating Effect Of The Neighborhood Physical Activity Environment On The Relation Between Psychosocial Factors And Physical Activity In Children: A Longitudinal Study, Natalie Colabianchi, Morgan N. Clennin, Marsha Dowda, Kerry L. Mciver, Rod K. Dishman, Dwayne E. Porter, Russell R. Pate

Faculty Publications

Background Few studies have examined the moderating role of neighbourhood environments on the relation between psychosocial factors and physical activity, and results of these studies are mixed. This study examined this relationship in 636 fifth to seventh graders from South Carolina, USA.

Methods From 2010 to 2013, children and their parent/guardian completed annual self-reported surveys assessing psychosocial factors, and children wore accelerometers for 1 week each year. Neighbourhood environments were classified as supportive or non-supportive for physical activity (PA) based on in-person audits of facilities near children’s homes and windshield surveys of children’s streets. Growth curve analyses were completed to …

Understanding Wellness In A University Setting: Insight Through The Experiences Of Frequently, Physically Active Students Engaged In Resistance Training, Alia T. Sadek, Payal Shah, Michael Lagomarsine

Senior Theses

The health and wellness of undergraduate students at the local and national level is a growing public health concern, especially as college enrollment rates increase. Although wellness-based approaches are utilized to improve undergraduate health, current methods and adopted frameworks vary and lack conformity across universities making it difficult to identify effective means to improving this issue. One aim of this study was to explore a novel method of understanding wellness at the undergraduate level using both a traditional wellness questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Using these methods, the wellness of undergraduate students attending a large, south-eastern university was evaluated across two …

Justice From The Perspective Of The Poor And Homeless, Jacob Swanstrom

Senior Theses

Justice from the Perspective of the Poor and Homeless is a report that reflects both an academic review of homelessness and qualitative reporting on how the Columbia homeless and poor populations interact with society. The aim of the thesis is to provide a wider look of just what homeless people face as they move through life in Columbia. To do this, I look through the lens of “rule of law” and use qualitative interviewing of homeless/poor and provide the conversations as a foundation to explain how homeless people interact with medical rights, employment rights and other areas of interest. As …

Bringing Truth To The Table: An Evidence Review To Dispell Common Dietary Myths, Madison Pierce

Senior Theses

Background/Significance

Nurses are most directly involved with patient care and are in an excellent position to be patient educators. Patients are more likely to actively listen after establishing rapport, especially for loaded topics such as lifestyle choices. While nurses have general nutrition knowledge, they may lack current, scientifically-based information to help patients implement a healthy diet. Nurses can both educate and be an example of health habits that patients should emulate, and therefore need to be adequately informed about topics like dietary misconceptions.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to provide current evidence-based information regarding dietary misconceptions to nurses …

The Impact Of Nutritional Changes On Dietary Inflammatory Index: New Soul Study, Callie Mclean

Senior Theses

The Impact of Nutritional Changes on Dietary Inflammatory Index: NEWSoul

Callie McLean; Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy, PhD, MS, RD; Michael Wirth, PhD; Anthony Crimarco, MS

Background: Historically, a soul food diet consisted of mainly plant-based foods in West Africa and evolved to a mostly meat-based diet in the Southeastern United States. As a result, many soul foods today often exceed the recommended dietary guidelines for saturated fats and cholesterol. This is important to consider for dietary interventions focusing on African American populations, since they are at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease and chronic illness compared to all other ethnic groups. One …

The Place In Displacement: Stories Of Loss From The Chan-75 Dam, Patrick Daniel Mckenzie

Senior Theses

In 2008, AES (a U.S.-based, Fortune 500 power company) began construction on the Chan-75 dam in Nance del Risco, Panama. This dam flooded and displaced four indigenous Ngobe communities. However, this displacement represents more than just a relocation of people; it represents a fracturing of families and communities. While some impacts of displacement are obvious, other aspects of day-to-day loss are often ignored. Changes in family relations and sense of control, for example, cannot possibly be compensated by a corporation. This thesis examines both the history of the Chan-75 dam and the impacts its construction has had on one family.

Hangry For School Lunch Guidance, Ilana L. Linder

The Journal of Law and Education

No abstract provided.

Purification Of Ara6, Ara7, And Hopaa1-1 For Enzymatic Activity Study, Alexandra M. Koberlein

Senior Theses

This thesis project details the purification of proteins HopAA1-1, ARA6, and ARA7 for enzymatic analysis via the use of a phosphate detection assay. The results of the purification process and phosphate assay suggest that HopAA1-1 is a novel GAP protein found in plant models that may exhibit GAP activity on RAB GTPase protein ARA6.

The Pharmabiotic For Phenylketonuria: Development Of A Novel Therapeutic, Chloé Elizabeth Lebegue

Senior Theses

Phenylketonuria, now known as phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency, is a genetic disorder of metabolism affecting approximately one in every 15,000 infants born in the United States. Patients have nonfunctional PAH enzyme secondary to one or more genetic mutations. The enzyme deficit results in destructive supraphysiologic blood phenylalanine levels upon consumption of the essential dietary amino acid phenylalanine. Current standards of care mitigate signs and symptoms of the disorder, but do not approach a cure. The methods for creating a prototype pharmabiotic as an innovative treatment strategy for PAH deficiency are described herein.

DNA molecular cloning techniques were utilized to engineer …

Identification Of Factors Contributing To Musculoskeletal Injuries In Military Basic Trainees, Amy Fraley Hand

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the physical activity requirements of the United States (U.S.) Armed Forces, there is a concerning incidence rate of musculoskeletal injuries in military personnel. In the basic trainee population specifically, multiple studies have reported a range of exercise- related injury incidence from 14% to 42% in males and 27% to 61.7% in females. Depending on the severity, these injuries can exclude basic trainees from participation, ultimately altering career trajectory and creating the possibility of long-term disability. The studies of this dissertation examine variations in muscle strength, flexibility, and dynamic postural control as a means to identify those basic trainees …

Expanding Immediate Postpartum Contraceptive Options: South Carolina’S Medicaid Policy, Amy Mattison-Faye

Theses and Dissertations

Offering contraceptives is essential to allow women the opportunity to plan for pregnancy and help prevent mistimed or unintended pregnancy. Intrauterine devices and implants, also known as long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), are the most effective methods of contraception. South Carolina Medicaid in 2012 launched an innovative policy expanding contraceptive access and coverage for women delivering in hospitals to have the option to receive a LARC immediately postpartum. However, in order for this policy to be successful, it relies on the capacity of hospitals and providers to adopt and implement without assistance. Identifying the provisions necessary in order for successful policy …

Vietnamese Family Caregivers’ Adjustment Process To Their Caregiving Roles For Family Members With Dementia, Trang Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the psychological process that Vietnamese family members go through to adjust to the caregiving role for their relatives with dementia. Adopting constructivist grounded theory, 30 face-to-face, semi-structured interviews, including 10 follow-up interviews, were conducted with 20 Vietnamese primary family caregivers of relatives with dementia from the National Geriatric Hospital in Vietnam. The study results reveal that Vietnamese family caregivers held limited understanding of dementia. They used a mixed explanatory model, combining both folk (e.g., dementia as normal aging) and biomedical approaches (e.g., dementia as a brain-related disease) to explain causes of dementia. Family cohesion and responsibility are …

Examining Perceptions And Sensemaking Of Wellness Among African American Women Who Manifest The Archetype Of The Strong Black Woman, Donya D. Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Furthering a strengths-based approach to mental health and wellness requires researchers to explore the role of cultural systems, sociohistorical factors and the intersectionality of race and gender as factors impacting wellness. To fill the existing gap in the literature describing perceptions of wellness through a cultural lens, I examined experiences of wellness among African American women who manifest the archetype of the Strong Black Woman. Working within the client’s perspective, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed to analyze data collected during semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus groups. I conducted the interviews to explored participant personal and social experiences with wellness. Super-ordinate …

Characterizing Aft1/2-Grx3/4 Interaction And The Role Of Bol2 During Iron Regulation In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, William Rivers

Senior Theses

Iron dysregulation has been linked to a variety of human diseases, such as anemia, Friedreich’s ataxia, X-linked sideroblastic anemia, sideroblastic-like microcytic anemia, and myopathy. Thus, it is vitally important to understand the mechanisms for regulating intracellular iron. Here, we use fluorescence microscopy techniques in live cells to study interactions of the yeast proteins Grx3/4, Aft1/2, and Bol2, which have been shown to be involved in turning off iron import when the cell has adequate iron. Modified versions of genes encoding these proteins have been incorporated into several yeast backgrounds to use fluorescence to monitor interactions under varying iron levels.

Effect Of Severe Economic Recession On The Psychological Distress: Evidence Of Modifying Effect Of Risky Behaviors And Insurance Status, Lumi Bakos

Theses and Dissertations

The investigation identified the effect of the 2007-2009 economic recession on the level of psychological distress (PD) as modified by engaging in risky behaviors and insurance status. The objective was to determine if engaging in risky behaviors and insurance status had an impact upon the level of psychological distress experienced during a recession; the timeframe for the study is 2007 representing pre-recession to beginning of recession year, to 2009 representing the recession year, to 2012-2013 representing post-recession years. The study involved the use of a nationwide non- institutionalized adult population, the Mental Health and Stigma optional module found in the …

Factors Associated With Advance Care Plans And End-Of-Life Care Choices Among Elderly Americans: An Analysis Of Health And Retirement Study Data, Agha Ajmal

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

Advance care plans (ACP) allow people to plan for their end-of-life care before they become incompetent to make their treatment decisions. The umbrella term Advance Care Plans (ACP) includes the three most commonly used end-of-life care plans: Advance Care Planning Discussions (ACP discussions) and two advanced directives: living will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPAHC). The ACP discussions are the verbal discussions about end-of-life plans, whereas the advance directives are written documents.

ACPs are distinct nuances of end-of-life care planning. ACP discussions address a wide array of end-of-life care issues, including terminal care, funeral, burial and …

The Intersections Of Health And Wealth: Socioeconomic Status, Frailty, And Mortality In Industrial England, Samantha Lee Yaussy

Theses and Dissertations

Socioeconomic status (SES) is considered one of the most powerful predictors of mortality today. However, studies of health in living populations and bioarchaeological studies of health in the past often oversimplify the connection between SES and mortality and overlook heterogeneity in frailty within a population and the potential for multiple types of marginalization to be layered within a single individual. This dissertation project uses skeletal samples to examine the interactions of SES, demographic characteristics (e.g., age and sex), exposure to physiological stressors, and mortality in the context of industrialization in 18th- and 19th-century England. Skeletal data from four industrial-era cemeteries …

Tenth-Grade Student–Participants’ Perceptions Of A Growth Mindset Curriculum: An Action Research Study, Jennifer Jo L. Dufort

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to describe nine tenth-grade student-participants’ perceptions of a growth mindset curriculum based on the educational theory developed by Dweck (2006). The curriculum focused on the core aspects of Dweck’s (2006) theory: (a).understanding brain growth and neuroplasticity, (b) having a productive attitude about making mistakes and experiencing failure, and (c) expending effort and developing perseverance (Dweck, 2006). The teacher-researcher implemented the Growth Mindset Unit in a small high school in a coastal town in southern Maine during the teacher- researcher’s advisory class. The school has a proficiency-based grading system in which students benefit …

The Impact Of Intelligent Tutoring Software On Geometry Students, Simela Oueini

Theses and Dissertations

This purpose of this paper is to deepen the understanding for a problem of practice in the mathematics educators’ classroom of low retention of information thus leading to poor mathematics achievement. The identification of the problem of practice led to a development of a research focus examining the effects of using intelligent tutoring software in the mathematics classroom and the impact it has on mathematics achievement, student motivation as it relates to self-efficacy, student engagement and attitudes towards mathematics. Using a convergent mixed methods approach (Creswell, 2012), this paper elaborates on the research questions addressing “What effects does the integration …

Role Of Resources For Care In Improving Care Behaviors, Children’S Nutritional Status And Early Childhood Development In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Sulochana Basnet

Theses and Dissertations

Poor child growth and suboptimal early childhood development are global health problems. Provision of appropriate care may help to achieve optimum child growth and development. Maternal resources for care such as education, knowledge, health, autonomy, reasonable workload, and social support may be needed to provide appropriate care behaviors, and improve children’s nutritional status, and early childhood development. The overall goal of this research was to understand the role of resources for care in improving care behaviors, child nutritional status, and early childhood development. The baseline Alive & Thrive household surveys from Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Ethiopia were used. We examined the …

Parenting And Child Self-Regulation As Mechanisms For The Relationship Of Household Food Insecurity With Child Dietary Behavior, Hoa Thi Mai Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Food insecurity is both a nutritional problem and a stressful life experience of adults and children in households dealing with food shortage. Potential mechanisms of the associations between food insecurity and adverse outcomes in children’s health and development are through parenting and child self-regulation.

Objectives: We investigated parenting and child self-regulation as potential mechanisms for the relationship of food insecurity with child dietary behaviors with two specific aims. Specific aim 1 was to understand how food insecurity and its change over time relate to parenting in early childhood. Specific aim 2 was to understand the relationship of parenting in …

The Perspectives Of Emerging Adults With Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Carrie Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) caused by a CDH1 mutation have a high lifetime risk of developing gastric cancer. National guidelines recommend CDH1 carriers undergo a prophylactic total gastrectomy (PTG)— a surgery that greatly reduces the risk of developing gastric cancer but has significant comorbidities. This study explores the impact of a diagnosis of HDGC in the transitional life stage between the ages of 18-29 deemed “emerging adulthood.” We surveyed 21 CDH1 carriers and conducted semi-structured phone interviews with 6 CDH1 carriers between the ages of 18-29 to learn about their life experiences regarding education, career, relationships, and …

Nutrient Limitation Of Phytoplankton In Lake Wateree, South Carolina: Implications For Future Water Quality Management, Kara M. Clyburn

Theses and Dissertations

Cultural eutrophication is a primary contributor to phytoplankton production in freshwater lakes from excess anthropogenic nutrient inputs, and resulting impacts on water quality, aquatic ecosystems, human and animal health are increasing worldwide. Understanding the factors that limit phytoplankton growth is an important strategy for identifying and managing nutrient sources and successfully controlling the over- enrichment of nitrogen (N) and/or phosphorus (P) in freshwater lakes. The Redfield molecular ratio of carbon (C), N and P maintains that the C:N:P molar ratio is 106:16:1 when nutrients are not limiting, and the ecosystem is balanced. A N:P molar ratio > 20:1 tends to be …