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The Impact Of A Novel Mobile-Friendly Nutrition Education Intervention On Dietary Patterns Among Calfresh Applicants, Kelly Brookshire Condron

Master's Theses

Background: College students experience food insecurity at a rate 3.5 times higher than the U.S. general population, affecting 43% of students. Furthermore, college students consume high amounts of ultra-processed products. NOVA, a food classification system, takes into account food processing and is thought to better fit the modern food environment.

Purpose: The purpose of this research project was to examine the impact of CalFresh enrollment on food security status. This study also evaluated the impact of two different nutrition education interventions (MyPlate and MyPlate+NOVA) on participants’ dietary habits and nutrition knowledge.

Methods: Food security, dietary habits, and nutrition knowledge were …

Diet Quality And Micronutrient Intake In Long-Term Weight Loss Maintainers, Rebecca W. Pascual

Master's Theses

Objective: This study’s purpose was to examine dietary quality, macronutrient intake, and micronutrient adequacy among long term weight loss maintainers (WLM) in a commercial weight management program.

Methods: Participants were 1,207 WLM in WW (formerly Weight Watchers) who had maintained a 9.1 kg or greater weight loss (29.7 kg on average) for 3.4 years, and had an average BMI of 28.3 kg/m². A control group of weight stable adults with obesity (Controls; N=102) had a BMI of 41.1 kg/m² and 2.3 kg or less weight change over the previous five years.

Results: WLM vs. …

Cubesat Astronomy Mission Modeling Using The Horizon Simulation Framework, Alexander W. Johnson

Master's Theses

The CubeSat Astronomy Network is a proposed system of multiple CubeSat spacecraft capable of performing follow-up observations of astronomical targets of interest. The system is intended to serve as a space-borne platform that can complement existing systems utilized for astronomical research by undergraduate and high school students. Much research and development work has been performed to develop model-based system engineering methodologies and products for CubeSat missions, including the Horizon Simulation Framework. The Horizon Simulation Framework enables the development of system models using the Extended Markup Language (XML), and its simulation program can generate system simulations over model-specified timespans. System requirements …

Identification Of Factors That Influence The Cell Density Dependent Growth Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Archana Palakkal Meethil

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Liquid Crystalline Brush-Like Imidazolium Co-Polymer Membranes For Energy Conversion, Edirimuni Iyomali Abeysekera

Master's Theses

Anion exchange membrane (AEM) research is primarily focused to develop suitable AEMs with high ion conductivity for high pH and high-temperature environments used in water electrolysis and fuel cells. To address these issue research has been done on improving the ion exchange head group to obtain high ion conductivity and designing a rational polymer architecture to improve chemical and mechanical stability.

Most widely used ionic head groups are based on quaternary ammonium ions due to its high ion conductivity. However quaternary ammonium ion containing membranes degrades with time resulting in low ion exchange capacity (IEC) and low alkaline stability due …

Community Attitudes Toward Complementary, Alternative And Integrative Medicine In North Hartford, Connecticut, Andria Matthews

Master's Theses

Background: This study explores the attitudes of residents of North Hartford, CT toward Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine. Methods: Twenty-five semi-structured, 10-15 minute in-person interviews were conducted at five sites over a two-week period in March 2019. Results: Few respondents were familiar with the term “Integrative Medicine.” Familiarity with modalities such as massage was higher (92%). Massage therapy was most often tried in the past (56%). Meditation and relaxation and yoga were the most frequently requested offerings. Cost, transportation, time of day and day of week, all emerged as potential barriers to participation. Pain-related complaints were prevalent amongst respondents. Conclusions: …

An Examination Of Whether Perceived Stress Mediates The Effects Of Income On Engagement And Weight Loss Loss Outcomes In An Online Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention, Kristen Volz

Master's Theses

Individuals with lower income have higher rates of obesity and are underrepresented in weight loss treatment. Moreover, when individuals with lower income do enroll in face-to-face interventions, their adherence and weight loss outcomes are worse due to known treatment barriers, including unreliable transportation, lack of childcare, and scheduling constraints associated with multiple jobs and unconventional work hours. Because online interventions are asynchronous and can be accessed any time of day, they hold significant promise for reducing treatment barriers and improving adherence and weight loss outcomes in lower income populations. However, one drawback of online interventions is that they are self-directed, …

Monitoring Hydrologic Factors Influencing Bog Turtle Persistence At A Site In Connecticut, Julie Webb

Master's Theses

A calcareous fen that supported one of the few populations of bog turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) in Connecticut has been shown by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to have declined with no sitings reported since 2004. This study evaluates the current hydrology of the fen in question to provide insight as to why it may be no longer habitable. Possible reasons for turtle decline identified at the outset of the project included salt contamination from deicing of a state road, periodic flooding from seasonal storms, nutrient and pesticide runoff from the draining farms, potential drying …

Influence Of Endodontic Sealers On Dentin Strength In Endodontically Treated Teeth, Andrew Fossum

Master's Theses

Introduction: Gutta-percha is not compressible and tooth fracture can be initiated when force is applied to the gutta-percha. The aim of this study was to apply a hoop stress to roots which have been obturated with either gutta-percha and no sealer, gutta-percha and AH Plus sealer, gutta-percha and EndoSequence Bioceramic Sealer, gutta-percha and Tetranite®, or Tetranite® and no gutta-percha until fracture occurred and then compared the failure stresses. Methods: Teeth were divided into five groups based on the sealer type used, no sealer used or only sealer used. The teeth were then sectioned into 2mm thickness discs and load was …

Perceptions On The Effectiveness Of Diversity And Inclusion Hiring: Are We Really Getting Ahead? [2019], Deidre D. Pierson

Master's Theses

Diversity and inclusion hiring in NCAA Division III athletic departments has seen some improvement over the last two decades, but questions remain on whether we are really getting ahead. There continues to be a lack of diversity, particularly in private Northeast institutions. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived effectiveness of hiring practices and initiatives utilized by athletics departments. The study utilized tenants of critical theory which supported the in-depth questioning and centering of the lived experiences of participants. This study used semi-structured interviews of nine Division III female head coaches of women’s sports to examine their …

Spring-Guided Electromagnetic Vibrations Energy Harvester, Ghufran Jaber Aldawood

Master's Theses

In recent years, vibration based energy harvesting techniques showed a promising alternative to power wireless sensor networks (WSN). Billions of low power sensors are currently used widely in wireless sensor networks (WSN) and the Internet of Things environment (IoT). These sensors are currently powered by a traditional power source, i.e. a disposable battery. Vibrations are an abundant source of kinetic energy that can serve as the power source for these sensor nodes. This approach eliminates the necessity for frequent battery replacement due to their short-life span and hazardous disposal process. The adverse and irreversible effect from the disposal of these …

Heat Activation Of Bacillus Anthracis Persists Over A Seven Day Period, Nathan T. Ross

Master's Theses

Bacteria of the Bacillus genera are capable of forming dormant and resilient cells called spores in response to starvation. Spores can break dormancy in the presence of nutrients in a process called germination. Historically, spores are exposed to sublethal heat treatments to increase the extent and rate of germination. This process is known as heat activation (HA). Previous studies on Bacillus species indicate the effects of HA are reversible after 72 hours. After this time period, the spores must be reactivated. However, spores of Bacillus anthracis, a member of the Bacillus family, have not been tested to see how long …

Metal Related Nanoparticles' Physical Behaviors In Different Physiologica Environments, Muhetaer Tuerhong

Master's Theses

In the past decades, the development of nanotechnology has had tremendous successes in material science. In this technology, the pertinent materials are used at the intermediate scale between individual molecules and their size in the nanometer region(1-100nm) compared to bulk materials. This nanoscale size provides a larger surface area; therefore, nanoparticles would be perfect essential components of nanotechnology. The reduced size of nanoparticles has a larger surface ratio to volume, which can modify their chemical, mechanical, structural, and electrical properties.

In this study, the main goal is to test different metal related nanoparticles, such as CuNPs (Copper nanoparticles), FeNPs (Iron …

The Effect Of Lateral Deviation On Triple Jump Performance, Kourtney Symone Jones

Master's Theses

Field events in track and field consist of throws (e.g., hammer, shot put, discus, javelin), vertical jumps (e.g., pole vault, high jump), and horizontal jumps (e.g., long jump, triple jump). Of the two horizontal jumps, triple jump is the most complex consisting of three phases: hop, step, and jump. Research has been conducted to examine limb motion and phasing distribution during triple jump performance; however, the effect of lateral deviation on triple jump performance in unknown. Purpose: The purpose of this study is 1) to determine the effect of lateral deviation on total triple jump performance within high school triple …

Customization Of Aneurysm Scaffold Geometries For In Vitro Tissue-Engineered Blood Vessel Mimics To Use As Models For Neurovascular Device Testing, Camille D. Villadolid

Master's Theses

Cerebral aneurysms occur due to the ballooning of blood vessels in the brain. Rupture of aneurysms can cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which, if not fatal, can cause permanent neurologic deficits. Minimally invasive neurovascular devices, such as embolization coils and flow diverters, are methods of treatment utilized to prevent aneurysm rupture. The rapidly growing market for neurovascular devices necessitates the development of accurate aneurysm models for preclinical testing. In vivo models, such as the rabbit elastase model, are commonly chosen for preclinical device testing; however, these studies are expensive, and aneurysm geometries are difficult to control and often do not replicate …

Effects Of Sudangrass Cover Crop And Soil Solarization On Weed And Pathogen Management In Organic Strawberry Production, Timothy Jacobs

Master's Theses

Field and lab experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of sudangrass (Sorghum X drumondii (Nees ex Steud.) Millsp. & Chase) cover crop management techniques and soil solarization on important agricultural weeds and pathogens in organic strawberry production in Central California. Lab experiments assessed the time needed to kill weed seeds at temperatures typically achieved during soil solarization (40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 55°C, and 60°C) in California. Seeds tested included little mallow, redstem filaree, bristly oxtongue, annual sowthistle, common purslane, nettleleaf goosefoot, and redroot pigweed. Efficacy of simulated …

Comparison Of Gait Kinematic And Temporospatial Measures Between Lock And Pin And A New Vacuum Suspension System In Transtibial Amputees, Vanessa A. Kellems

Master's Theses

Walking in healthy populations has been characterized by symmetrical gait patterns and used to determine variability within pathological populations. Gait patterns of individuals with transtibial amputation are commonly asymmetrical due to the inability to completely replicate the physiological ankle with prosthetics; thus, contributing to inter-limb asymmetries. Currently, only a few studies have reported the effects of suspension systems on gait mechanics. In this study, functional differences between lock and pin (PIN) and a newly developed internal vacuum suspension system (Smart PUCKTM) (PUCK) during overground and treadmill walking were evaluated in five transtibial amputees. Statistically, no differences were found between groups …

The Impact Of Pretrial Supervision Conditions: Evaluating Pretrial Release Orders Of One Colorado County, Anthony Mark Azari

Master's Theses

Pretrial risk assessments are tools that have been created to address concerns associated with monetary bail in the United States. A pretrial risk assessment tool provides an objective analysis of an arrested person to determine whether he or she will reappear in court or will be rearrested upon being released from jail. One of the goals of pretrial risk assessments is to reduce the financial bail burden the criminal justice system poses on suspected defendants by providing a tool to determine the relative risk defendants pose in the community. Another goal of pretrial risk assessments is to reduce jail overcrowding. …

Identifying The Need For Self-Management Education In Adult Patients With Type-2 Diabetes In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Le Thi Minh Thu

Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis project was to identify the need for self-management through investigating the existing knowledge about diabetes self-care and their perception of diabetic control in adult patients with type-2 diabetes Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 16-Item Diabetes Self Management Questionnaire (Schmitt et al., 2013) and a cross-sectional design was used in this study to explore the diabetes self management related to four subscales such as glucose management, dietary control, physical activity, health-care use and a sum scale as the perception of diabetic control among fifty five participants who were diagnosed with type-2 diabetes in Tan Phu …

Comparing Terrestrial And Extraterrestrial Lava Surface Roughness Using Digital Elevation Models From High Resolution Topography And Structure From Motion, Davitia Hannah James

Master's Theses

If patterns of lava flow surface roughness at large and small scales can be tied features at similar scales using observations of active volcanoes, then roughness across a lava flow can be related to eruption characteristics such as rate of flow, viscosity, and underlying slope. This will further current understanding of emplacement rates and styles during the volcanically active period of mars’ history. Additionally, describing the effect of the Martian environment on volcanism is necessary to learn the full range of possible volcanic activity in the Solar System. This will also provide insight regarding volcanic hazards here on Earth. To …

Effects Of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation On Cytochrome C And Caspase-9 Expression In Skeletal Muscles From Doxorubicin Treated Rats, Yeon Hee Kim

Master's Theses

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective chemotherapeutic drug for many types of cancer. However, the deleterious effect of DOX is also observed in heart and skeletal muscles. Doxorubicin-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitochondria causes muscle dysfunction and atrophy leading to the release of cytochrome c (cyt c) and activation of caspase-9 (casp-9) which cause apoptosis, a programmed cell death in skeletal muscles. Previous studies have proposed that creatine (Cr) possesses antioxidant capacity by reducing ROS in oxidative environment. Creatine supplements have shown to reduce mitochondrial ROS production and decrease apoptotic enzyme activities in oxidative skeletal muscles; however, Cr’s effects on …

Effects Of Creatine Supplementation And Doxorubicin Treatment Of Myostatin And Muscle Ring-Finger Protein-1 Expression In The Rat Diaphragm, Addison M. Shepard

Master's Theses

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly potent chemotherapy drug that impacts the entire body rather than a targeted treatment area. While DOX treatment assists in the disruption and prevention of certain types of cancer growth, it damages many physiological processes in the body that were functioning normally and otherwise healthy prior to its administration. Damage induced by DOX on organ functioning can lead to other malignancies in the body, such as cachexia, cardiotoxicity, and myotoxicity, among others. Skeletal muscle relies on myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), transcription factors expressed by satellite cells, for positive regulation of phases of muscle development and response …

Emotion Reactivity, Emotion Dysregulation, And Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among At-Risk Adolescents: A Multiple Mediation Analysis, Paula N. Floyd

Master's Theses

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as deliberate self-inflicted damage to bodily tissue without the intent to die. NSSI has been identified as a major health concern, as it is related to both poor psychosocial outcomes and increased suicide risk. NSSI is especially important to understand among adolescents, as age of onset is typically during adolescence and prevalence rates are highest among this age group. One of the most well-established correlates of NSSI is emotion dysregulation. While many studies have examined emotion dysregulation and its subcomponents in relation to self-injury, there has been far less work devoted to factors that may …

Horses, Culture, And Trade: The Impact Of The Horse On Southeastern Native Nations, 1650-1830, Jacob Featherling

Master's Theses

A small portion of the regional literature details the impact of horses on Southeastern Native nations and focuses on a few of the larger groups, particularly the Choctaw, from the mid-eighteenth to the nineteenth century. This thesis intends to increase the scope to analyze the entire Southeastern region, as well as multiple Native nations in the area. The thesis argues that Southeastern Natives slowly adopted horses into their economies and cultures over a longer period of time than previously believed, allowing them to increase their use of horses easily to meet market demands. Instead of southeastern nations rapidly adapting their …

The Effects Of Combined Curcumin Supplementation And High Intensity Interval Training On Time Trial Performance In Moderately Active Individuals, Nora Jacqueline Johnston

Master's Theses

Individuals who participate in intensified training programs such as high intensity interval training (HIIT), are at risk for an uncontrolled inflammatory response, which may hinder the body’s recovery process. Curcumin is the most recognized compound in turmeric and has a distinctive yellow color. Curcumin has many medicinal actions and is most well-known for its anti-inflammatory activities. More recently, curcumin has emerged as an agent that can potentially optimize performance during intense exercise and may also attenuate pain and muscle soreness. Additionally, curcumin has been linked to improvements in mental health status such as reductions in depression and anxiety. PURPOSE: The …

The Effects Of Fish Meal Supplementation On Gene Expression In The Bovine Corpus Luteum Following Low Dose Administration Of Prostaglandin F2a, Jessica Claire Cedillo

Master's Theses

The corpus luteum is a transient endocrine gland that develops from the remnants of the ovulatory follicle and secretes the steroid hormone progesterone. Progesterone is essential in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in all mammalian species. In the non-pregnant bovine, uterine prostaglandin F2α is secreted in a series of pulses between days 15 and 17 after ovulation, allowing the corpus luteum to undergo functional and structural regression and an opportunity for mating. During early pregnancy, trophoblastic cells of the developing embryonic placenta secrete interferon-tau, which attenuates uterine prostaglandin F2α secretion allowing for maintenance of the corpus luteum during the …

Challenges For Nursing Students In The Clinical Learning Environment, Huyen Thi Tran

Master's Theses

The study aimed to survey the problems/challenges nursing students of Hong Bang International University (HIU) reported facing in the clinical environment. These factors might be a barrier or motivation for a student's clinical learning. In addition, collecting the information through this research helped explore the real difficulties that might exist when students practice clinical care. This data will help to develop appropriate recommendations to improve the quality of training as well as reduce the burden on nursing students. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Sixty-nine third-year nursing students (58 females and 11 males) of the Bachelor of Nursing Program from …

Intraspecific Functional Trait Diversity In Big Sagebrush-Associated Species And Implications For Ecological Restoration, Gwen Schneider

Master's Theses

Big sagebrush ecosystems are widespread throughout the western United States and provide essential ecosystem services, including water and nutrient cycling, energy capture, and habitat for sagebrush obligate taxa. Notably, sagebrush ecosystems provide habitat for the greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), which is a nearly threatened species of high concern. Sagebrush habitat has experienced a 45% reduction in range, and a large portion of intact habitat is at risk of loss from severe fire,cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invasion, encroachment of pinyon-juniper woodlands, fragmentation due to human development, and changes associated with anthropogenic climate change. Thus, it is of high conservation significance to …

Children's Acceptability Of Vegetables: The Relationship Between Food Neophobia, Vegetable Neophobia, Picky Eating, Bitter Sensitivity, And Mouth Behavior, Tara Lynn Egigian

Master's Theses

Although vegetables provide many beneficial nutrients and have been shown to help reduce the risk of dietary related chronic diseases, children in the United States are not meeting the national recommendations of vegetable servings. The overall goal of this research was to study the relationship between children’s vegetable acceptance and the following children’s characteristics: food neophobia (FN), vegetable neophobia (VN), picky eating (PE), 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) sensitivity, Mouth Behavior (MB). The specific objectives were to: (1) develop a novel method for evaluating children’s MB, (2) assess the FN, VN, PE, PROP sensitivity, and MB levels in children in San Luis Obispo …

Shall We Dance: Responses Of Participants To A Dance Class Designed For Parkinson’S Patients, Brittni Lynn Mcalister

Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to describe the responses of participants in a dance class designed for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients. This study had a total of eight participants—six were adults with PD and participants in the Parkinson’s dance classes, one was the other primary instructor of the Parkinson’s dance classes, and the other one was a care partner of a participant in the classes. In this study, the researcher used both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the data. The researcher sought to observe the experiences of participants in dance classes designed for individuals with PD and interview …