Digital Commons Network^™

Determination Of Cholesterol In Foods By Flow Injection Analysis With Perroxyoxalate Chemiluminescence., Abisake Feleke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cholesterol is an important biological molecule with many important functions. However, high serum cholesterol is a health hazard. Thus analysis of cholesterol is important and many analytical techniques have been developed. The objectives of the proposed research are to develop an economical, rapid method for the determination of total cholesterol with good selectivity and enhanced sensitivity. For evaluation of proposed flow injection analysis with peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (FIA-POCL) method, figures of merit such as accuracy, precision, and linear dynamic range will be assessed. The proposed procedure was then applied to the determination of total cholesterol in foods. The procedure was linear …

Connecting Health Concepts And Health Behavior : The Construction Of Health Identity., Valerie French

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an historical, theoretical and empirical examination of women's health concepts and health behavior in contemporary consumer-oriented American society. It begins with an historical overview of social health movements to illustrate how health concepts are shaped by cultural, social, political, and moral beliefs and practices. It then traces the socio-cultural construction of "health" to understand how this concept is shaped by various social and individual factors. The qualitative methodology of grounded theory was used to examine empirically how a sample of women defines "health" and what behaviors they engage in related to "health." Non-random convenience sampling was employed …

Father Absence And Early Family Composition As A Predictor Of Menarcheal Onset: Psychosocial And Familial Factors That Are Associated With Pubertal Timing., Amanda Christel Healey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Father absence and the introduction of a stepfather before menarche have been shown to contribute to the early onset of menarche. The present study analyzes the effects of father absence situations that tend to result on the onset of menarche. Presence of a related male in a father-absent homes is also considered as a protective factor for menarcheal onset. Participants consisted of 342 female students enrolled in undergraduate work at a southeastern university. The mean age of participants was 20.7 years. Participants completed a survey consisting of 12 questions pertaining to their family environment before menarche. Participants were asked to …

Reproductive Delay In The Female Cape Ground Squirrel (Xerus Inauris), Beth Pettitt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Cape ground squirrel, Xerus inauris, is a highly social cooperative breeder that forms groups containing multiple breeding females. While the distribution of reproduction among group members is fairly even (i.e. exhibits low reproductive skew), previous studies of Cape ground squirrels suggest the reproductive development of sub-adult females is inhibited by the presence of adult breeding female group mates. As reproductive delay is known to be influenced by a number of different parameters, my goal was to determine if other factors affected the timing of sexual maturity, and if so, which factors are the most influential. In this study, I …

Monitoring A Potentially Stressful Situation In Captive Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla) Through Analysis Of Behavior And Urinary Cortisol, Douglas Skurski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The concept of quantifying animal welfare has received much discussion, in various industries such as agriculture, laboratory, and zoological facilities. Behavioral, physical, and physiological indicators of welfare have previously been used to assess animal welfare; each having advantages and disadvantages, ranging from the practicality of data collection, to the validity of the data and how it is interpreted. Concurrent assessment of multiple measures is a more robust way to examine animal welfare, which utilizes the advantages of each measure, and provides additional information on which to base conclusions and animal care management decisions. This study used measures of behavior and …

Wikipdf - A Tool To Help Scientists Understand The Literature Of The Biological, Health, And Life Sciences, David Calloway

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biological sciences literature can be extraordinarily difficult to understand. Papers are commonly filled with terminology unique to a particular sub-discipline. Readers with expertise outside that sub-discipline often have difficulty understanding information the author is trying to convey. The WikiPDF project that is the subject of this thesis helps readers understand the biological sciences literature by automatically generating a customized glossary for each page of any technical paper available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) format. WikiPDF relies on the Wikipedia®, an on-line encyclopedia created and supported by a host of volunteers, as a source of definitions used in its glossaries. …

The Impact Of "Parents Feeling Capable" Treatment On The Self-Efficacy Of Low Socio-Economic Parents, L. Robert Furman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parental involvement in a student's life has been a topic that has inspired much research in the past and continues to be a major research focus in the field of both psychology and education. Many studies exist confirming the lack of parental involvement of low socio-economic persons due to their low self-efficacy as it relates to their ability to help their children with schoolwork. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of parent workshops (Parents Feeling Capable) specifically designed to enhance the self-efficacy of parents of preadolescent children identified as being of low socio-economic status. To perform …

Community And The Meal: A Rhetorical Investigation, Richard J. Mills Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From ancient Greece to post modernity, the meal as a focal point of community life and a cultural practice, and the meaning of eating, have been the focus for numerous scholarly studies and their rhetorical significance. This dissertation will define how interpersonal communication and the enactment of the meal are rhetorical partners within a community. Cultural differences, communication style, and values affect one's perception of the culture's narrative structure, inclusion and exclusion, private and public space, and civility and incivility practices in relationship to the community. These differences impact the meal, food choices, tastes, and communication style and ultimately shape …

A Quantitative Approach Towards Establishing Normal Csp Mrna Accumulation Patterns In Escherichia Coli K12, Khadijah Aisha Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The cold-shock response in Escherichia coli induces a set of 26 proteins that help ensure the efficiency of transcription, translation, and DNA replication at low temperatures. Some members of this group belong to the cold-shock protein (Csp) family. In Escherichia coli K12, there are 9 homologous csp genes named cspA-cspI. The Csp family in this strain is unusual because each gene has different mechanisms of induction and gene products. Various regulation studies have been performed on individual members of this family to help understand why so many homologues exist. No literature to date has ever looked at the mRNA expression …

Health Attitudes, Knowledge And Literacy Of Primary Caregivers With Elementary School Children, Susan Stuib

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has indicated that physical activity and healthy eating in elementary school children are the exception rather than the norm. Increased attention to the rising rates of childhood obesity, coupled with the recognition that changes in the school environment are critical to reducing this trend, has intensified the need to adopt better practices in school nutrition, physical activity and physical education. Apart from being physically active, children need to learn fundamental motor skills and develop health related physical fitness (cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition). Primary caregivers play an important part in developing and teaching …

Sauger Population Ecology In Three Missouri River Mainstem Reservoirs, Brian D. S. Graeb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sauger Sander canadensis populations have experienced widespread declines across much of their range. Factors suspected to contribute to these declines include hybridization, exploitation, loss of spawning areas, and general habitat alterations associated with regulated rivers. Several sauger populations within the Missouri River basin are also experiencing similar declines, particularly in the headwaters of Montana, and the lower basin states of Nebraska and Missouri. However, sauger populations in many of the reservoirs in South Dakota (between Montana and the lower basin) have relatively stable populations. Given the paucity of information on factors influencing sauger population ecology in general, and Missouri River …

Central Effects Of Aminopeptidase-Resistant Analogs Of Ang Ii In The Rat, Ranjita J. Kokje

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Nitrogen Use Efficiency In Cyperus Haspan, A Cγéâ Wetland Sedge, In A Six-Month Greenhouse Experiment At The University Of Mississippi Field Station, Alison Avery Faulkner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Ethanol Toxicity In Japanese Medaka Embryogenesis : A Mechanistic Study / By Xueqing Wang, Xueqing Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Microbial Transformation Of Arsenic And The Characterization Of Clostridium Sp. Strain Ohilas, Edward Fisher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of electron donor (acetate, pyruvate, lactate, formate, and hydrogen) and arsenate concentration (1, 5, 10, and 20 mM) on microbial arsenate reduction in freshwater sediments from the Ohio River, Pittsburgh PA was investigated. Hydrogen (with acetate as the carbon source) appeared to be the best electron donor and 5 mM sodium arsenate the most effective for both growth and orpiment (As2S3) production. A mesophilic, spore-forming, motile, low-mole %GC gram-positive bacterium was isolated from Ohio River sediments on medium with 20 mM lactate and 10 mM arsenate. Although pH 8 was optimal for growth, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis …

An Assessment Of The Levels Of Stress Among Beginning Counselor Education Graduate Students, Students Beginning The Counseling Practicum And Students Graduating From Their Program Of Studies, Richard Christian Hoffman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The following study examines stress among graduate level counselor education students at different stages during their training program. The students were assigned to three groups according to training level: (1) beginning, (2) practicum, and (3) graduating. The Stress Profile (Nowack, 1999) was administered to the students (N= 58). Three constructs were chosen from the survey: (1) stress, (2) cognitive hardiness, and (3) psychological well-being. The constructs were developed using the theoretical framework of Lazarus's (1999) theory of appraisal and stress. These variables were compared among the students to determine if a difference in stress levels exists at different times during …

The Effect Of Papp-A On The Proliferation And Differentiation Of Mg-63 And Human Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Shelby Hott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) plays an important role in the activity of the Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) family by proteolytically cleaving IGF-Binding Protein-4 (IGFBP-4) causing it to dissociate from IGF-I in vivo. This increases the bioavailability of IGF-I, allowing IGF-I to participate in growth and development. My goal was to evaluate the ability of PAPP-A to directly stimulate proliferation and differentiation of human adult mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSC) cells in vitro.

Commercially available PAPP-A, comprised of a heterotetrameric complex consisting of two PAPP-A subunits and two pro-MBP (proform of eosinophil major basic protein) subunits, was used in the following …

Detection And Management Of Elder Abuse: Nurse Practitioner Self-Perceptions Of Barriers And Strategies, Catherine Pearsall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Elder abuse is a serious and growing phenomenon, yet it is one of the most under-diagnosed and under-reported problems in the United States. Nurse Practitioners are uniquely positioned to identify, diagnose, and report elder abuse. Quantitative methodology underpinned by the theoretical framework of Carper's Patterns of Knowing was utilized to assess the self-perception of nurse practitioners related to the barriers of detection and strategies for management of elder abuse. Two hundred potential participants were randomly selected from the AANP membership database yielding a 54.5% response rate (n=88). Nurse practitioners identified the following barriers as fairly or very important: resistance to …

Culture Care Meanings, Beliefs And Practices Of Rural Dominicans In A Rural Village Of The Dominican Republic: An Ethnonursing Study Conceptualized Within The Culture Care Theory, Gretchen Schumacher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this ethnonursing study was to discover, describe and analyze the meanings, beliefs and practices of care for Dominican people living in a rural village of the Dominican Republic. Leininger's Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory and ethnonursing method was utilized as an organizing framework for studying the domain of inquiry. Interviews were conducted with nineteen general informants and ten key informants, all of whom were rural Dominicans living in the village of Villegas 60 miles northwest of Santo Domingo. Exhaustive analysis of audio-taped interviews revealed eighteen categories and nine patterns from which three main themes emerged. The …

A Comparison Of Quality Of Life In Adult Patients With Heart Failure In Two Medical Settings: A Heart Failure Clinic And A Physician Practice, Janet Bischof

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Heart Failure (HF), a major chronic disease that affects 4.8 million Americans, traditionally is medically managed by a primary care physician, with acute treatment at hospital emergency rooms often followed by inpatient admission. Ongoing support (prevention, diagnosis, treatment, intervention, symptom management, and end of life care), education, and intervention over the continuum are important to manage HF. The Modeling Role Modeling theory (Erickson, Tomlin, and Swain), is the study's conceptual framework. When an individual knows about their illness, they mobilize internal/external resources to gain, maintain, or promote equilibrium. These resources affect daily activities. The purpose of this descriptive study is …

The Role Of Expectancies In Binge Eating Behavior, Jessica Larose

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The central aim of the present study was to examine the role of expectancies in binge eating behavior. Two distinct statistical techniques were used to accomplish this goal. First, regression analyses were conducted using variables previously identified in the literature, as well as eating expectancies as measured by the Eating Expectancy Inventory (EEI). For both females and males, regression equations including expectancies accounted for a substantial portion of the variance in binge eating behavior. Second, memory modeling techniques were used to model the probable organization of eating expectancies. Memory modeling of hypothetical expectancy networks has lead to successful interventions in …

A Case Study: Alternative Certification, Neleffra Marshall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was a heuristic, descriptive case study of the Alternative Certification Program in 4 central Florida counties. The purpose of this study was to: (a) identify the awareness of the existence of the reported alternative certification components implemented by 4 counties in Florida, and identify any additional components; (b) determine the importance of the targeted teaching criteria needed for successful teaching as identified in the literature to the ACP teacher, principal and coordinator; (c) determine the advantages/disadvantages of the program as viewed by the ACP participants, principals, and coordinators; (d) identify how many of the 4 counties kept data …

The Effect Of Social Presence On Teacher Technology Acceptance, Continuance Intention, And Performance In An Online Teacher Professional Development Course, Jo Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) could explain the relationship between teacher's acceptance of an online teacher professional development course and their continuance intentions regarding online teacher professional development (oTPD). This study focused on the perceptions of the teachers as opposed to the design or implementation of oTPD. The participants (N=517) were mostly teachers (88.8%) enrolled in a statewide online course to provide classroom teachers with the latest knowledge of research-based instructional reading strategies. The course was offered over a 10-14 week period during the Spring 2006 semester through a public state …

Caregiver Burden And Coping Responses For Females Who Are The Primary Caregiver For A Family Member Living With Hiv/Aids In Kenya, Veronica Kimemia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Caring for a family member who is ill can be a draining experience (Cooper et al., 2006; Daire, 2002; Zarit et al, 1980). Providing care for a family member that is living with HIV/AIDS is potentially even more stressful because of social meanings associated with HIV/AIDS infection (Stajduhar, 1998) and the contagious nature of the HIV virus (Powell-Cope & Brown, 1992). Research indicates that most caregivers are female (Bunting, 2001; Songwathana, 2000). In Africa women bear the brunt of the burden of providing care for family members who are living with HIV/AIDS (Mushonga, 2001; Olenja, 1999). This study examined coping …

Catching Satisfaction: Personal And Political Framing In The Homebirth Movement, Nasima Pfaffl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis illuminates the experiences, motives, and framing process of a cohort of homebirthing women in Tucson, Arizona who embody the collective action frames of the national homebirth movement. A model of birth frame construction, alignment and adoption is presented that expands current theory on social movement framing processes, cognitive liberation, and life politics in health and self-help related movements. The study explores the evolution of homebirth midwifery nationally and locally. It articulates the main collective action frames that argue against standard maternity care and presents the alternatives proffered by the homebirth movement. It presents micro-level experiences of movement pioneers, …

Effectiveness And Kinetics Of Ferrate As A Disinfectant For Ballast Water, Andrea L. Jessen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The introduction of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) and bacterial pathogens from discharge of ballast water by sea-faring vessels is an ongoing problem that threatens ecosystems and human health. This study investigates the disinfecting capability of ferrate in a marine environment on several organisms listed in international standards for ballast water management. Organisms were grown in a saline solution and were treated with dosages of ferrate ranging from 0.25-5.0 mg/l. A ferrate dose of 5 mg/l resulted in almost complete kill for all organisms tested. Smaller dosages have also been very effective, particularly if all organic material from the nutrient broth …

The Effectiveness Of A Specifically Designed Green Roof Stormwater Treatment System Irrigated With Recycled Stormwater Runoff To Achieve Pollutant Removal And Stormwater Volume Reduction, Michael Hardin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of our greatest threats to surface-water quality is polluted stormwater runoff. In this research, investigated is the use of a green roof irrigated with recycled stormwater runoff to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff and reduce the volume of stormwater runoff leaving developed areas. The green roof properties of interest are the filtration and biological processes as well as the roof's ability to hold water and increase evapotranspiration, reducing the volume of stormwater runoff from the source. Because of the above mentioned reasons the experiment consists of a water quality analysis and a water budget done on several experimental chambers …

An Examination Of The Changes In Depression, Anxiety And Quality Of Life Among Patients Who Undergo Gastric Bypass Surgery, Thomas Petrone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the changes in depression, anxiety and quality of life of patients who underwent gastric by-pass surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the mental health status of 30 patients by comparing the pre and post-operative mental health evaluative data that had been collected at the pre-surgery evaluation and again at the two, four and six-month follow-up appointments. The data included scores from Beck Depression Inventories (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventories (BAI) and Rand 36-Item Quality of Life Health Surveys (SF-36). Surgical intervention treatments of obesity are increasing. Evaluation of the pre-operative and post-operative psychological status of …

Comparison Of The Hplc, Sherif Ismail Elshahawi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Chemistry And Antimalarial Activity Of The Marine Soft Coral Asterospicularia Randalli, S. Duane Burt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.