Digital Commons Network^™

Transitioning Teens With Diabetes To Adult Healthcare, Rebecca Ann Meyer

Dissertations

Adolescents must enter adult health care services at age 18, yet most are not ready and have not mastered daily self management of their type 1 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of a transition planning intervention, focused on educating adolescent/parent dyads about diabetes self management in preparation for the transition from pediatric to adult health care, using a newly developed transition plan and framework. The setting was a diabetes endocrinology clinic where 95% of young type 1 diabetics in the metropolitan area are seen. The intervention included supporting the parent in the relinquishing of …

The Life And Academic Experiences Of Teenage Mothers And Expecting Teenage Mothers Attending High School In Missouri, Angelo R. Buchanan

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover and understand the life and academic experiences of high school teenage mothers and expecting teenage mothers. The research questions was, How do these teenage mothers and expecting teenage mothers describe their life and academic experiences in a Missouri high school; What challenges do they face to successfully continuing their education; and What would they want and/or need in a high school-based child-care center if it were to be implemented as part of the high school’s intervention with this at-risk population? The study was conducted at a medium-sized Midwestern Urban High School. The …

A Mixed Method Study Of The Effectiveness Of Gaining Early Awareness And Readiness For Undergraduate Programs (Gear Up) Federal Incentive Program In Southern Mississippi Public Secondary Schools, David Micah Maxwell

Dissertations

The Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) incentive program has been in place since the late 1990s nationally. This grant, which covers a time span of six years and offers up to eighteen million dollars in federal funds, is designed to increase college readiness and decrease dropout rate among high school students. This study examines the effectiveness of this grant in southern Mississippi for the graduating class of 2014. Utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods to determine the effectiveness of this grant, this study draws some conclusions and recommendations for this incentive program.

School Psychologists' Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Attitudes And Parent Communication About Complementary Health Approaches To Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Sara Beth Knickerbocker

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Purchase Behaviors In A Cross-National Analysis Of Sponsorship Effectiveness, Noni Zaharia

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Prekindergarten Impact On Early Literacy Readiness, Lakeisha Shantae Stokes

Dissertations

The awareness of the positive impact of prekindergarten programs on the success of early literacy of students has heightened due to the research performed on the topic (Barnett et al., 2003; Cohen, 1996; Magnuson & Waldfogel, 2005). The purpose of this study was to evaluate prekindergarten student gains in the development of early literacy skills, depending on their prekindergarten program experience. The study further examined Head Start and public school prekindergarten teachers’ knowledge of early literacy skills.

Results from the prekindergarten teacher survey indicated that public school prekindergarten teachers had higher levels of education than Head Start prekindergarten teachers. The …

Preferences For Intrinsic And Extrinsic Sport Motivators Of Mississippi's Public Sschool Teachers, Jason Hugh Rayborn

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if Mississippi’s teachers teach for the same motivational reasons that athletes practice their sport. Certified teachers (N=380) from Mississippi were asked to complete a modified version of the Sport Motivation Scale-II (SMS-II) survey. This modified version of the instrument, the SMS-II-ED, included 18 questions from 6 different extrinsic, intrinsic, and a-motivational subgroups and one qualitative question for a total of 19 questions. Preliminary demographic items included teacher’s grade level taught (K-5, 6-8, 9-12), years’ experience (1-10, 11-19, 20+), and previous high school or collegiate sport participation (yes or no).

Descriptive statistics were …

Efficacy Of Behavioral Interventions In African-Americans With Type Ii Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Analysis, Tangela Nicole Hales

Dissertations

Context: The efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare system are prime foci for nursing research.

Objective:The purpose of this study was to review and critically appraise the current state of the evidence in the treatment of African American adults with type II diabetes. To address this objective, a systematic review was undertaken that investigated the comparative effectiveness of behavioral interventions in improving glycemic control.

Methods: Robust methodological approaches to comparative effectiveness research (CER) serve to improve the transparency, consistency, and scientific rigor of the research. The methods for this systematic review of literature followed those recommended in the Agency …

Comparison Of Item Response Theory Models For Data Fit Of Quality Control Measurements For Maillard Reaction Browning In Foods, Polly Barrett

Dissertations

In foods, browning is a complex set of reactions known as the Maillard Reaction (MR). As food is cooked, MR yields flavor, color and changes to the chemical properties of the initial food item. It is possible to undercook or overcook the food item, resulting in a less browned or burnt product. Item response theory (IRT) is often used to place subjects and instruments on the same continuum of the measured latent trait. IRT has been widely used in the fields of educational measurement and psychology, but few studies combine IRT and food science. This research tested IRT modeling for …

Describing And Understanding Factors Related To Implementing Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs By Physical Educators, Catherine Price Berei

Dissertations

Recent recognition related to the importance of physical activity participation in living a healthy lifestyle (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010b; Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, 2008), as well as the rise in obesity rates (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2012), and physical inactivity (Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness and Council on School Health, 2006) has led to increased attention to the physical activity levels of children. In response, the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) model (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance [AAHPERD], 2011b; CDC, 2013) and a “whole-of-school” approach (Institute of Medicine, …

The Effects Of Animal Assisted Therapy On Tantrums And Aggressive Behaviors Of Children With Autism, Rebecca L. Jesionowicz

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Motives Underlying Active Sport Tourist Behavior: A Market Segmentation Approach, Eric Michael Hungenberg

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Effects Of A Twelve-Week Aerobic And Cognitive Training Intervention On Cognitive Function In Cancer Survivors, Brent Michael Peterson

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Physical Education Teachers' Perceptions Of The Role Of Support Mechanisms Within Contemporary Professional Development, Erica A. Pratt

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Biofilm Production By Food-Transmitted Bacteria And Their Control By Selected Nanoparticles, Mariam Al Shamsi

Dissertations

Biofilm is a population of bacteria attached to any types of surfaces and impeded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. Biofilm exhibit up to 1000 fold antibiotic increased resistance to a broad range of antimicrobial agents. Several food-transmitted microorganisms are capable of forming biofilms and considered as a major source of contamination, transmission and infection. In the last few decades, nanoparticles has gained a great attention for their potential applications as antimicrobial agents. The aim of this work was to assess the biofilm formation capacity of food-transmitted bacteria under various environmental conditions and to investigate the efficacy of …

Attendance Motivators And Constraints: An Investigation Of Students At The Football Championship Series Division, Kurt C. Mayer

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Validation Of The Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute Multistage Treadmill Protocol For Cancer Survivors, Daniel Shackelford

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Predicting Multi-Trophic Consequences Of An Emerging Disease, Adam D. Chupp

Dissertations

There are numerous examples of how exotic insect pests and pathogens have altered the dominance of native tree species and the ecological processes and function related to those species. While targeted species may persist in a functionally altered state via vegetative sprouting, the widespread decimation of a species can have dramatic direct and indirect consequences for organisms in multiple trophic levels. Devastation due to alien insect herbivores poses the greatest threat to native insect larvae that specialize on the impacted host species. The loss of pollinators whose larvae feed on impacted species and provide services for native plants may also …

Hispanic Mothers’ Narratives: Experiences Of Parenting A Child With Cystic Fibrosis, Health Beliefs, And Health Care Experiences Related To Cystic Fibrosis, Linda Tirabassi-Mathis

Dissertations

The Hispanic population is the fastest growing minority in the United States and is also a minority in the cystic fibrosis (CF) community. Therefore, an increase in CF in the U.S. might be anticipated. This study explored stories of Hispanic mothers’ perspectives of parenting their child with CF, health beliefs, and health care experiences. The study interviewed 10 mothers of which half were English speaking. Narrative structural and thematic analyses were applied through a critical feminist lens. The major themes that emerged were mothering, growing and growth, mother talk, and connected; all informed by Ruddick’s (1995) framework on maternal thinking. …

Development And Functioning Of Mycorrhizal Root Systems Under Non-Uniform Rootzone Salinity, Asha Christopher

Dissertations

Arbuscular mycorrhiza are obligate symbionts that live in association with most plant roots. The fungal mycelium extracts nutritional elements from the soil, and supplies these to plants in exchange for plant photoassimilates. The present study investigated the effects of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and nutrient uptake of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and Sudan grass (Sorghum bicolor L.) exposed to topsoil salinity through a horizontal split-root set-up. Roots in the upper compartment were exposed to substrate salinity, while lower compartment roots had access to non-saline nutrient solution. Despite roots being well-colonized by mycorrhizal fungi, there was no …

American Indian Women’S Health Perceptions And Health Promotion Behaviors, Sharon Boothe-Kepple

Dissertations

Background: Most problems affecting the health of American Indian women are related to lifestyles and health-related behaviors (Carter, Morse, Giruad, & Driskell, 2008; Linsley, Kane, & Owen, 2011). Understanding health promotion behaviors could decrease or prevent a number of chronic diseases that afflict the American Indian population; however, little is known about how American Indian women perceive illness, how they promote their health within the context of their culture, and the barriers they face.

Purpose: This study was designed to develop knowledge about the health perceptions and health promoting behaviors of American Indian women residing within the Chickasaw …

An Investigative Study Into The Beneficial Use Of Seaweed In Bread And The Broader Food Industry., James A. Griffin

Dissertations

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the beneficial use of seaweed in bread and the broader food industry. The author began the thesis by reviewing Japan’s consumption of seaweed (the highest, per capita, in the world, with the lowest incidence of obesity and cancer). The author introduced a new Irish seaweed product and examined how seaweed could be integrated more effectively into the Western diet. Using the literature reviewed in Chapter Two, the author explored the nutritional aspects of how seaweed is used both in Asian cuisine and in Western culture, in addition to how seaweed use …

An Examination Of Middle School Readiness Variables For Students From Two K-5 Elementary Sending Schools In Missouri, Walter James Belcher

Dissertations

The transition process from elementary school to middle school has created numerous obstacles for all stakeholders. Early adolescents encounter emotional and physiological challenges as their bodies mature (Lester, Waters, & Cross, 2013). These challenges have a major impact on the academic achievement of the students (Musoleno & White, 2010). There is a direct connection between a student’s successes in middle school and how well the student will do in high school, making the transition process even more important (Andrews & Bishop, 2012). The purpose of this study was to identify predictors which could aid in easing the transition into middle …

The Impact Of Poverty On Elementary Academic Achievement In One Rural Elementary School In Missouri, Seth Allen Huddleston

Dissertations

The impact of poverty on one rural elementary school’s student achievement was measured based on formative and summative assessment data. Student assessment data were examined to determine if strong relationships can be linked between students living in poverty and academic achievement. Additionally, parental perceptions were addressed as to whether or not parents are engaged in their child’s education, and if so, does this engagement impact student achievement. The topic was chosen for the relevancy of determining students’ instructional needs and how best to move the elementary in a positive direction academically. The socio-economic levels of families in the area studied …

Achievement Gap In Reading: A Study Of School Practices And Effectual Results, Christina S. Brown

Dissertations

While it is important to recognize the economic background of students and home factors contributing to their achievement, the purpose of this study was to discover what best practices schools were implementing with low socioeconomic students to narrow the achievement gap in communication arts (Darling-Hammond & Richardson, 2009; Gorski, 2013; Snell, 2003). The research design incorporated mixed-methods by employing data collected from surveys, interviews, and secondary data sources. A triangulation of data was used to increase the credibility and validity of the study (Fraenkel et al., 2012; Mills, 2014). For this study, the quantitative data were collected using a survey …

Perinatal Depression And Preterm Birth, Elizabeth C. Light

Dissertations

Purpose/Aims: Despite the notable 15 year low in overall preterm birth (PTB), a 10% improvement since the 2006 peak with declines for each of the largest race and Hispanic origin groups, the United States has the highest rate of PTB of any industrialized country with estimates of 11.5% or approximately 500,000 infants annually. The Institute of Medicine (2006) recommends researchers focus on PTB causes including reasons for health disparities. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with PTB among a sample of racially and ethnically diverse women with depressive symptomatology (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS], score …

Knowledge Of Stroke Symptom And Risk Factors And Acculturation Among Cambodian Immigrants Living In Southern California, Samantha N. Sangsanoi-Terkchareon

Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to describe and examine the relationships between age, gender, educational level, health insurance status, and income to level of acculturation and knowledge of stroke symptom and risk factors recognition among Cambodian immigrants (n=200) living in Southern California. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, Kendal Tau, Chi-Square, and multiple regression to the determine relationship between depend and independent variables. The results of this study were that Cambodian participants’ mean age was 46.07 (SD= 17.51), average years of education were 8.95 (SD=5.26) and the mean number of people in each household was …

Parental Expectations And Perspectives As They Relate To Their Children With Special Education Needs (Sen) During Transition From Early Intervention/Preschool To Kindergarten, Arika Spencer-Brown

Dissertations

Parental Expectations and Perspectives as They Relate to Their Children with Special Education Needs (SEN) During Transition From Early Intervention/Preschool to Kindergarten

By Arika Spencer-Brown

The purpose of this study was to define parent perspective and expectation as it pertains to their children with special needs transition process using a descriptive method. This study was designed to assess the perception and expectation of third year and first year Head Start families and provide insight into how effective their special needs transition was from preschool into kindergarten and the individuals related to the overall development of an Individualized Family Service Plan …

Influence Of Maternal Prior Life Adversity On The Psycho-Neuroendocrine-Immune Profile During Pregnancy, Karen J. Kotz

Dissertations

Pregnancy is accompanied by a multitude of physical and psychological changes. Adaptation to these changes through reduced anxiety and attenuated stress responsiveness is necessary across gestation and into the postpartum period for optimal maternal-infant health. In contrast, exposure to higher amounts of stressors during pregnancy can disrupt neuroendocrine-immune processes required for successful pregnancy outcomes. Evolving evidence demonstrates that exposure to adversity early in life has long-lasting effects on stress response systems that alter stress reactivity during adulthood. Given this evidence, it is posited that women who experience greater pre-pregnancy adversity during their childhood are at greater risk for negative maternal-infant …

Negotiating Diabetes: Professional Diabetes Care Work In The U.S., Melissa Marie Gesbeck

Dissertations

The rising incidence of diabetes mellitus (types 1 and 2) transcends national borders, creating a global pandemic. The U.S. leads the world in diabetes prevalence, despite its wealth and access to sophisticated medical technologies. Within health care, there is an increasing focus on lifestyle and behavioral interventions that research suggests may be the key to reversing this trend, but thus far their effectiveness in practice is uneven at best. In order to gain a better understanding of the other factors involved in professional diabetes care work that might support or inhibit effective diabetes management, this research treats diabetes as a …