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A Socioeconomic And Spatial Analysis Of Obesity In West Virginia: Policy Implications, Anura Kumara Amarasinghe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation integrates both theoretical and empirical insights to facilitate understanding of the current obesity epidemic in WV given heterogeneity in socioeconomic, demographic and built environment characteristics of the state. In meeting this objective, county-level and individual-level health demand analyses using secondary data sources were conducted. County-level obesity differences were studied using spatial and non-spatial random and fixed effects frameworks under a panel data structure. Individual health demand was investigated by recursive estimation of individual health responses to ordered self-assessed health (SAH) in terms of lifestyle choices, socioeconomic, demographic and built environment characteristics using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) …

The Effect Of A Diet Supplemented With Flaxseed Oil On The Lipid Content And Fatty Acid Profile Of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Muscle Tissue, Jason P. Nguyen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This experiment examined the effect of nine diets supplemented with varied combinations of flaxseed oil and vitamin E on the total lipid content and fatty acid profile of rainbow trout over four months. Mean values were tested for significant differences between groups using one-way analyses of variance.;The most flaxseed oil supplementation, 23.5%, resulted in the highest concentration of total omega-3 fat in fillets (P<0.05). This was due to the increased (P<0.05) concentration of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The 23.5% flaxseed oil trout had the lowest (P<0.05) proportion of saturated fatty acids and the highest amount of total unsaturated fatty acid. Unexpectedly, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contents significantly decreased as the experiment progressed. No significant differences were seen among total fat contents. The results indicate that feeding a diet supplemented with flaxseed oil and vitamin E produces omega-3 enhanced trout with higher ALA but lower EPA and DHA.

Analysis Of The Mechanisms Mediating The Regulation Of Acetyl -Coa Carboxylase Transcription By The Liver X Receptor And Chenodeoxycholic Acid, Saswata Talukdar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Agonists of the liver X receptor (LXR) prevent and decrease arterial plaque formation in experimental models of atherosclerosis. The anti-atherosclerotic effects of LXR agonists are mediated by an increase in expression of genes involved in cholesterol export. Currently, the therapeutic utility of LXR agonists is limited by the fact that these agents increase triglyceride levels in the blood and liver. These undesired effects are caused by an increase in transcription of genes controlling triglyceride synthesis, such as acetyl CoA carboxylasealpha (ACCalpha). We have demonstrated that a synthetic LXR agonist, T0-901317 increases ACCalpha via both a direct mechanism involving the activation …

Connecting Wv Fee-Fishing Businesses With The Larger Tourism Market Through The Development Of Tourism Package, Zongxiang Mei

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There is substantial demand for fishing packages in West Virginia. Fee-fishing businesses in West Virginia are often characterized as small businesses, and they could benefit from connecting with larger travel packages that are more likely to attract out-of-state anglers. The objectives are: (1) identify mini-market segments based on fee-fishing experiences; (2) examine how fee-fishing mini-markets can better connect with the larger outdoor recreation markets; and (3) to use this information to identify gaps in recreational offerings and develop tourism packages in a West Virginia test market. Six fee-fishing mini-markets were identified. Regression analysis results indicate that it is possible to …

Aluminum Resistance Of Mycorrhizal Plants, Katrina R. Klugh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Aluminum (Al) in acidic soils is toxic to plants, affecting growth, water uptake, and nutrient assimilation. Aluminum resistance of plants has been ascribed to organic acid exudation from roots and changes in plant physiology resulting from the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal symbiosis. This dissertation describes four studies that address questions regarding Al resistance of mycorrhizal plants.;In chapter 2, Liriodendron tulipifera, a common tree species in northeastern U.S. forests, was inoculated with several species of AM fungi and exposed to Al. Biomass and plant nutritional data showed that the AM species Glomus clarum conferred the most benefit to plant hosts. Organic …

Pasture Forage Quality In West Virginia - 1999 To 2001, Edward Barrow Rayburn, Rodney M. Wallbrown, Edward C. Prigge

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

WVU-Extension fact sheet

Knowledge And Attitudes Of West Virginia Extension Agents And High School Agricultural Educators With Regard To Meat Goats And The Meat Goat Industry, Angela L. Kirk

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes on meat goats and the meat goat industry in West Virginia by West Virginia Extension agents and high school agricultural teachers. A descriptive research design was selected for the study. A mailed questionnaire was sent to 51 Extension agents and 88 agriculture teachers who were the accessible population. Of the 139 agriculture educators 99 responded to the survey, for a response rate of 71.2%. A majority (67.1%) of Extension agents and high school agricultural teachers have noticed an increase in the meat goat industry in their areas and …

Instructors' Self -Perceived Pedagogical Principle Implementation In The Online Environment, Jinsong Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experience of undergraduate faculty members who participated in the practice of online distance instruction. This study explored instructor's perception of their implementation of pedagogical principles in the online environment, identified factors that influenced their implementation of the principles, and explored the relationship between the influencing factors and the online implementation of the Seven Principles.;Research shows that the implementation the Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education (Chickering & Gamson, 1987) varied significantly from one principle to another. Overall the least endorsed of the Seven Principles were Encourage Cooperation …

Analysis Of Different Class Sizes On Decision Making Processes And Teaching Behaviors Of Highly Experienced Teachers (Hets) And Less Experienced Teachers (Lets), Ha Young Kim

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives. This study examined the decision making process employed by two highly experienced teachers (HETs) and two less experienced teachers (LETS) as they planned for and taught lessons with two different class sizes; n=15-16 and n=30-31. A secondary purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of class size on teaching behaviors and student learning. Finally, this study used in-depth interviews to describe concerns associated with teaching and preparing lessons for classes of different size.;Design and setting. This was a mixed-methods study that utilized both behavioral analysis and qualitative methods of investigation. Qualitative methods included think-aloud, stimulated-recall techniques and …

The Relationship Between Body Mass Index (Bmi) And Beverage Consumption Among 5th Grade Students In West Virginia, Jill A. Kloss

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A large portion of the childhood population in the US is overweight, and beverage consumption may be a contributing factor. A total of 125 students participated in both Healthy Hearts and CARDIAC over two school years. Beverage consumption data from Healthy Hearts and cardiovascular risk factors data (BMI, total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, and acanthosis nigricans) from CARDIAC were analyzed. One percent milk was consumed the least and 100% fruit juice was consumed the most. When separated into BMI categories, 69 students were at a healthy weight (BMI85th percentile). Soft drink consumption was significantly different (p=0.02) between the two groups, with …

Soft Drink Intake, Television, Video Viewing And Video Game Playing Compared Among Normal Weight And Overweight Preschool-Aged Children In Rural West Virginia, Meredythe Barrick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recently, there has been a rise in overweight in children. Overweight in children is associated with chronic diseases in childhood and adulthood. This study aimed to analyze factors that may influence weight of children. Specifically, average soft drink consumption, average hours of television/video viewing/video game playing, and mothers' BMI were compared among overweight and normal weight preschool-aged children in rural West Virginia.;Children, mean age 52 months, residing in McDowell or Mercer counties in West Virginia. Parents or other caregivers completed 24-hour dietary recalls. They also provided average hours of TV/video viewed/video games played by children. Subjects consisted of overweight, BMI …

High School Football Player's Nutritional Knowledge And Application, Kimberly A. Molnar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objective. The purpose of this study is to determine the nutritional knowledge of high school football players and to determine the application of this knowledge through their food choices. A total of 56.1% participants (n=32) answered 17 or more questions correctly on the nutritional knowledge questionnaire. There was a significant difference between the number correct on the nutritional knowledge questionnaire and year in school between freshman and sophomores. A significant difference was found between year in school and responses for question number seven on the diet recall between freshman and seniors, and juniors and seniors. High School football players lack …

Effects Of Environmental Factors On The Paternal Brood Pouch And Sound Production In Two Sympatric Pipefish Species From The Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, Jennifer L. Ripley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pipefishes and seahorses of the family Syngnathidae are important inhabitants of diminishing grass beds threatened by excessive nutrient loads, sedimentation, and chemical contaminants. This research examined the influence of these environmental factors on two sympatric pipefishes from the Chincoteague Bay, Virginia. Syngnathids are characterized by a unique mode of reproduction in which the male carries developing embryos in a placenta-like ventral brood pouch until the fry are free-swimming. Interspecific comparisons revealed differences in parental nutrient allocation to embryos. In Syngnathus fuscus, females produce nutritionally poor eggs and males implant developing embryos adjacent to blood vessels. The loose connection between eggs …

West Virginia Business & Economic Review, March 2006, George Hammond, Mehmet Tosun, Pavel Yakovlev, Scott Murdoch

Bureau of Business & Economic Research

No abstract provided.

Genomic Structure And Expression Of Uncoupling Protein 2 Genes In Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss), Issa Coulibaly, Scott A. Gahr, Yniv Palti, Jianbo Yao, Caird E. Rexroad Iii

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background

Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) belongs to the superfamily of mitochondrial anion carriers that dissociate the respiratory chain from ATP synthesis. It has been determined that UCP2 plays a role in several physiological processes such as energy expenditure, body weight control and fatty acid metabolism in several vertebrate species. We report the first characterization of UCP2 s in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Results

Two UCP2 genes were identified in the rainbow trout genome, UCP2A and UCP2B. These genes are 93% similar in their predicted amino acid sequences and display the same genomic structure as other vertebrates (8 …

Nucleolin Links To Arsenic-Induced Stabilization Of Gadd45Α Mrna, Yadong Zhang, Deepak Bhatia, Hongfeng Xia, Vince Castranova, Xianglin Shi, Fei Chen

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The present study shows that arsenic induces GADD45α (growth arrest and DNA damage inducible gene 45α) mainly through post-transcriptional mechanism. Treatment of the human bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B, with arsenic(III) chloride (As 3+ ) resulted in a significant increase in GADD45α protein and mRNA. However, As 3+ only exhibited a marginal effect on the transcription of the GADD45α gene. The accumulation of GADD45α mRNA is largely achieved by the stabilization of GADD45α mRNA in the cellular response to As 3+ . As 3+ is able to induce binding of mRNA stabilizing proteins, nucleolin and less potently, HuR, to the …

Interaction Between Rax And Pkr Modulates The Effect Of Ethanol On Protein Synthesis And Survival Of Neurons, Gang Chen, Cuiling Ma, Kimberly A. Bower, Zunji Ke, Jia Luo

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Signaling Pathways Involved In Regulation Of Glucose -6 -Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6pd) By Arachidonic Acid, Indrani Talukdar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the rate-limiting enzyme of pentose phosphate pathway and provides NADPH for de novo fatty acid biosynthesis. For the later reason, G6PD is known as a lipogenic enzyme. Insulin induces expression of G6PD mRNA via activating the PI3 kinase pathway in primary rat hepatocytes. Addition of arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, in the medium interferes with the PI3 kinase pathway, and thus inhibits the insulin-mediated induction of G6PD. Arachidonic acid in the presence of insulin induces p38 MAP kinase pathway over insulin treatment alone. Activation of p38 MAP kinase by arachidonic acid interferes with the insulin …

An Exonic Splicing Silencer Is Involved In The Regulated Splicing Of Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Mrna, Wioletta Szeszel-Fedorowicz, Indrani Talukdar, Brian N. Griffith, Callee M. Walsh, Lisa M. Salati

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Cyanidin-3-Glucoside, A Natural Product Derived From Blackberry, Exhibits Chemopreventive And Chemotherapeutic Activity, Min Ding, Rentian Feng, Shiow Y. Wang, Linda Bowman, Yongju Lu, Yong Qian, Vincent Castranova, Bing-Hua Jiang, Xianglin Shi

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Epidemiological data suggest that consumption of fruits and vegetables has been associated with a lower incidence of cancer. Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), a compound found in blackberry and other food products, was shown to possess chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activity in the present study. In cultured JB6 cells, C3G was able to scavenge ultraviolet B-induced *OH and O2-* radicals. In vivo studies indicated that C3G treatment decreased the number of non-malignant and malignant skin tumors per mouse induced by 12-O-tetradecanolyphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-initiated mouse skin. Pretreatment of JB6 cells with C3G inhibited UVB- and TPA-induced transactivation of NF-kappaB and AP-1 and expression of …

The Influence Of Socioeconomic And Environmental Factors On Health And Obesity In Rural Appalachia, Anura Amarasinghe, Gerard D'Souza, Cheryl Brown, Hyungna Oh

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A recursive system of ordered self assessed health (SAH) and a binary indicator of obesity were used to investigate the impact of socioeconomic and environmental factors on health and obesity in the predominantly rural Appalachian state of West Virginia. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data together with county specific socioeconomic and built environment indicators were used in estimation. Results indicate that an individual’s risk of being obese increases at a decreasing rate with per capita income and age. Marginal impacts show that as the level of education attainment increases, the probability of being obese decreases by 3%. Physical inactivity …

The Impact Of County Level Factors On Obesity In West Virginia, Anura Amarasinghe, Cheryl Brown, Gerard D'Souza, Tatiana Borisova

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A panel estimation of county prevalence of obesity indicates that while the percentage of the population with a completed college degree and the number of food stores available per thousand population are negatively and significantly correlated to county obesity rates, mean commuting time, average annual wage and the total number of business establishments per thousand population positively and significantly contribute to obesity. Educational attainment that raises both human and social capital, as well as changes in the built environment can play a vital role in controlling obesity in West Virginia (WV).

A Spatial Analysis Of Obesity In West Virginia, Anura Amarasinghe, Gerard D'Souza, Cheryl Brown, Tatiana Borisova

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A spatial panel data analysis at the county level examines how individual food consumption, recreational, and lifestyle choices ― against a backdrop of changing demographic, built environment, and policy factors ― leads to obesity. Results suggest that obesity tends to be spatially autocorrelated; in addition to hereditary factors and lifestyle choices, it is also caused by sprawl and lack of land use planning. Policy measures which stimulate educational attainment, poverty alleviation, and promotion of better land use planning and best consumption practices (BCPs) could both reduce obesity and result in sustainable development of regions where obesity is prevalent and the …

Identifying Spatial Clusters Within United States Organic Agriculture., Daniel C. Eades

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although the organic market has experienced rapid growth in recent decades, growth in production has not been distributed evenly across the country, instead concentrating in certain regions. Employing measures of spatial concentration and association, we identify those counties in which organic production is clustered or represents a proportion of the agricultural economy greater than would be expected by national trends. Results show that spatial clustering of organic agriculture does exist. Large location quotients for organic production were most often found for the western U.S., the Great Plains states, and New England. Clusters measured by the local Moran’s I statistic followed …

The Mechanism Mediating The Activation Of Acetyl-Coenzyme A Carboxylase-Α Gene Transcription By The Liver X Receptor Agonist T0-901317, Saswata Talukdar, F. Bradley Hillgartner

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Nraes-172 Forage Production For Pasture-Based Livestock Production.Pdf, Edward Barrow Rayburn

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Dr. Edward B. Rayburn was the originator of this book series at the request of the director of NRAES. As a collaborator in the Northeast Pasture Consortium he recruited authors for the chapters in the books and served as the technical editor of the books.

Differential Parental Nutrient Allocation In Two Congeneric Pipefish Species (Syngnathidae: Syngnathus Spp.), J. L. Ripley

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Calves Weaned And Backgrounded On Pasture Respond To Pasture Nutritive Value And Supplements, Edward Barrow Rayburn, Marcella S. Whetsell, Phil I. Osborne

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

How forage quality and feed supplementation effect average daily gain of calves backgrounded on pasture

Evaluation In Appalachian Pasture Systems 1996 Nrc Model For Weaning Cattle, Marcella S. Whetsell, Edward Barrow Rayburn, Phil I. Osborne

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Decision To Finish Cattle On Pasture - An Ethnographic Approach, J D. Lozier, E B. Rayburn, J Shaw

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.