Digital Commons Network^™

Home Economics Programs Within Higher Education: A Typology, Sara Holtzman

Theses

Home economics programs through the 1920s served varied purposes within higher education. This typology addresses three types of home economics programs - teaching, extension, and academia- through the lens of characteristics, curricula, and examples. Reviewing historical events that lead into the differentiation of home economics programs throughout the United States offers unique insights into the reasons for the development of each type. This typology offers a different point of view in considering what home economics programs entailed, and defines the field as an intentional and academic program of study for the women of higher education.

Nutritional Status, Dietary Habits, Practises And Knowledge And Their Relationship With Performance Among Young Athletes In The United Arab Emirates, Seham Mohammed Al Reesh

Theses

Objectives: The goals of this project are 1) To assess the nutritional status, 2) To describe the nutritional knowledge, 3) To describe Nutritional Practices, Dietary Habits for Athletic individual in the United Arab Emirates, Then to investigate the relations of both Nutritional status and Knowledge with Performance.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done to conducted in a sample of 59 Athletes recruited from AI Jazeera Academic sports clubs in the UAE in which, Nutrition Knowledge, Practices and Habits was evaluated by questionnaire, different components of the nutritional status (Weight, Body Composition, Skin Fold Thickness, Biochemical Parameters) and the Physical Performance …

Dynamics Of Early-Season Weed Management And Soybean Nutrition, Nick T. Harre

Theses

The popularity of growers using only postemergence (POST) herbicides for weed management in soybean was enabled by the commercialization of glyphosate-resistant soybean. The efficacy and flexibility provided by this technology diminished the use of soil residual herbicides and arguably, increased soybean yield loss from early-season weed competition. While, the rapid evolution and biogeographical spread of herbicide-resistant weeds, especially glyphosate-resistant biotypes, has renewed interest into the use of soil residual products, herbicide-resistant soybean technologies continue to be developed that may once again entice growers into POST-only weed management systems. The commercial interest in soybean yield advancements justifies further characterizing the benefits …

Energy Drinks: Factors That Influnce College Students' Consumption, Nameer Nassir Faris

Theses

The purposes of this study were: To assess factors that influence energy drink consumptions among college students. To analyze the reasons behind consuming energy drinks as well as the reasons for not consuming them. And to evaluate the participants' knowledge regarding energy drinks' ingredients, safety, and side effects. A total of 417 undergraduate students who registered in 101 general education classes during the Fall 2013 semester at the departments of Health Education, Kinesiology, and Nutrition at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale participated in the study. Energy drink use was associated with the number of the paid employment hours (p= .000). …

Ventricular Myocyte Contraction, Calcium Transport And Expression Of Genes Encoding Cardiac Muscle Proteins In Type 2 Diabetic Rats Fed A Sucrose-Enriched Diet, Eslam Mohamed Gaber El Nebrisi

Theses

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is currently the fastest growing disease in the world. The prevalence of DM has increased worldwide and is expected to double within 20 years. The UAE is ranked 15^th worldwide, with 18.98% of the UAE population living with diabetes. Six Middle East North Africa (MENA) region countries – Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) - are among the world’s 10 highest for prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. This represents a huge cost to society in terms of morbidity and mortality, and economically through lost productivity and cost burden on …

The Effects Of Moringa Oleifera On Stress Induced Immune Modulation In Mice, Jr. Glenn Drue

Theses

In both humans and animals, stress causes the body to release adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones that cause changes within the body, which include modulation of the immune system. Stress in mammals can cause changes in the profile of immune cells circulating in the blood. Environmental and nutritional stressors can be considered two of the most common animal stressors. In the presence of stress there is an increase in the number of circulating neutrophils and a decrease in the number of lymphocytes within the blood. The physiological changes that occur in animals in response to acute and chronic stress …

Sustainable Production Of Biofuels And Biochemicals From Aquatic Biomass, Quazi Mahzabin Rahman

Theses

In recent years, growing attention has been devoted to the conversion of biomass into biofuels and biochemicals. Biomass has several reasons to be considered as an attractive energy source. The main reason is that energy produced from biomass can contribute to sustainable development. Aquatic biomasses-microalgae, duckweed, and cattail-are considered as promising biomass sources due to their favorable characteristics such as high growth rate and low lignin content. The objective of this study was to produce biofuel- ethanol through Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) of fresh algae, duckweed and cattail biomass by E. coli and to produce acetic acid by C. …

Effect Of Feeding Sows Diets Supplemented With Oat And Yeast Culture On The Incidence Of Post Weaning Diarrhea In Their Offspring, Torel Daniels

Theses

Post Weaning Diarrhea (PWD) is a leading cause of mortality in piglets during the first two weeks of weaning. According to the Fairbrother, Nadeau et al. (2005) report, PWD is a major gastrointestinal disease caused by stress, pathogenic intestinal bacteria and immature immune responses. Antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) are used to combat PWD but there is public concern surrounding their use (Casewell, Friis, Marco, McMullin, & Phillips, 2003). The purpose of this study is to investigate natural alternatives to AGP that prevent PWD. Therefore, we designed a study whereby yeast culture and oat were fed to sows during the last …

Antibacterial And Antioxidative Properties Of Essential Oils From Armoise (Artemisia Herba-Alba), Bay (Laurus Nobilis) And Rose Geranium (Pelargonium Capitatum X Radens) In Vitro, Ragina B. Rafiq

Theses

The prevalence of food contamination by pathogenic bacteria resulting in foodborne illness has raised concern to the food industry. In addition, oxidation in food, which affects the shelf life and quality of the food through the formation of off odor and off flavor, is another concern to the food industry. Nitrates, sulfates, benzoates of sodium and potassium, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are commonly used as preservatives in the food industry. However, long-term safety issues of synthetic preservatives in human health along with negative perception of consumers have lead researchers to find alternative natural preservatives. The purpose of …

The Impact Of Diet On Goat Rumen Microbes And Innate Immune Gene Expression, Ahmed Abdalla

Theses

Gastrointestinal nematodes in goats have developed resistance to chemical anthelmintics, resulting in the need for alternative control strategies. One approach is incorporation of Sericea Lespedeza (SL) as high quality forage that suppresses these parasites in goats due to its high condensed tannin (CT) content. However, little is known about its effect on rumen microorganisms and innate immunity in goats. A diverse collection of microorganisms is found in the goat rumen and Bifidobacteria is one of the important organisms in the immunity, yet its presence in the goat rumen is not fully studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate …

Determining The Presence, Genetic Variability, And Function Of Cytolethal Distending Toxin In Samoa Strains Of Haemophilus Ducreyi, Andrea Faye Anstead

Theses

Haemophilus ducreyi is the causative agent of the genital ulcerative disease chancroid. Chancroid is an important facilitator for increased transmission of HIV amongst heterosexuals. Chancroid is endemic to Asia, Africa, and Latin America, but there have been several outbreaks within the United States. Chancroidal ulcers are categorized as soft, painful, bloody ulcers that may remain chronic if untreated. H. ducreyi produces and secretes a cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) that causes various cell types to undergo cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. The CDT holotoxin consists of three genes: cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC. In 2006, the first report of nonsexual transmission of …

An Investigation Into The Marketing, Advertising And Labelling Of Processed Food In Ireland And Its Influences On Consumer Choice And Subsequent Health Issues, Jane Healy

Theses

Ireland has experienced much economic and social change in recent years, and as a result of this, many new food choices and commodities are on offer to the consumer. The simple diet of fresh, unprocessed foods that existed in Ireland in the past has for many consumers been replaced by processed, convenience food products. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects which the marketing, advertising and labelling of processed food in Ireland has on consumers, and how these strategies influence their choice of food. The advertising claims and the labelling of these processed foods is of interest …

The Role Of Social Marketing In Salt Reduction, Michael Barry

Theses

More people die from cardiovascular disease than any other cause in Ireland (Department of Health, 2013). A direct correlation exists between high salt intake and high blood pressure and ensuing cardiovascular diseases (He and MacGregor, 2010). This thesis focuses on the use of social marketing to educate people on the dangers of high salt intake with the eventual aim of making recommendations to aid in the reduction of high blood pressure. In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve leading personnel from salt reduction and social marketing fields. All interviewees reached similar conclusions suggesting that salt reduction as a health issue needs …

Doc Of Bacteriophage P1 Is An Enzyme That Inhibits Translation And Phosphorylates A Protein Target, Stephanie Cale

Theses

Doc induces cell death by inhibiting translation; however, the mechanism of Doc-induced cell death and the cellular target of the toxin were unknown. One theory suggested that Doc inhibits translation elongation by binding directly to the 30S ribosomal subunit. Later evidence showed catalytic activity in distant homologs of Doc. These homologs contain a Fic-domain that has been shown to modify target GTPases by AMPylation and phosphocholination. Therefore, [35S] - Met, á[32P] - ATP, and ã[32P] - ATP were used in conjunction with an S30 extract to confirm that Doc inhibits translation, to assess the mechanism of modification, and to identify …

Noongar Women's Birth Experience, Judith Pamela Wilson

Theses

This qualitative study used a descriptive interpretive approach that drew heavily on the methodological underpinnings of interpretive phenomenology in order to explore the lived experience of Noongar women in childbirth. The aim of the study was to give voice to Noongar women, who despite having poorer outcomes than the wider population, remain marginalised and mute in childbirth reform. The purpose of the study was to acknowledge as authoritative, Noongar women’s wisdom and understanding of their childbirth experience.

This study was conducted at the cultural interface, by a non-Indigenous researcher who implemented a collaborative and power sharing model of enquiry. Ten …

Detection, Identification And Characterization Of The Novel Campylobacter Species: Campylobacter Ureolyticus And Campylobacter Corcagiensis From Their Reservoirs., Monika Koziel

Theses

Campylobacter ureolyticus has been identified in a large proportion of diarrhoeal samples from patients in Ireland. However, the source of human infections has not been established and little is currently known about the potential reservoirs of C. ureolyticus in nature.

The aim of this project was to investigate a range of environmental and animal samples for the presence of this emerging pathogen using a molecular approach, to support the hypothesis of its zoonotic origin.

During the study, C. ureolyticus was detected in 30 out of 1,254 (2.4%) human diarrheic samples and isolated from 11 patients, describing, to the best of …

Investigation Of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids In Foods Using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, Caroline Griffin

Theses

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) are known plant toxins which can cause hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD) in both humans and livestock when ingested. Although PAs are primarily known for their hepatotoxicity they also induce genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and pneumotoxicity. PAs are consumed through plants as food, for medicinal purposes, or as contaminants of agricultural crops. Aside from ingesting the plants directly PA exposure may occur through the consumption of honey produced by bees that visit PA-containing plants or by drinking milk produced by animals that have consumed PA-containing plants. Possible PA contamination in our food chain is a potential health risk.

To assess …

The Development Of Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Methods For The Analysis Of Cyanobacterial Toxins In Environmental Freshwaters, Brian Anthony Dineen

Theses

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a common component of many freshwater and marine ecosystems and have a potential to produce several different classes of biotoxins. The most common class of cyanobacterial toxins are the microcystins (MCs) and cylindrospermopsins (CYLs). MCs are cyclic heptapeptides that display potent hepatotoxicity and are tumour promoters. CYLs are alkaloids that are cytotoxic and can cause illness and display hepatotoxic effects in animals and humans. Worldwide, these toxins have caused fatal poisonings to animals, birds and fish. Several incidents of human intoxications have been reported and the presence of these toxins in environmental waters …

The "Globesity" Trend: Exploring The Ethical Concerns Of Registered Nurses Caring For Bariatric Surgery Patients, Casey L. Lowden-Crook

Theses

Obesity is a major global health problem. The comorbidities associated with obesity (for example: diabetes mellitus type 2 and cardiovascular disease) are multisystem and require continual medical management which places a great strain on the healthcare system. Australia is ranked the 5th most obese population in the world and deaths associated with obesity and obesity related illnesses are estimated at 7,200 per year (Medibank, 2010). This lifestyle disease is now the leading cause of premature death in Australia. The obesity epidemic is blamed on changes in the social, economic and physical environment (obesogenic environments) which have influenced people to over-consume …

Molecular Markers Of Weight Loss In Sleeve Gastrectomy Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study, Tamara C. Preda

Theses

Background:

Obesity is a polymorphic chronic disease that has reached epidemic proportions. Bariatric surgery including sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has an increasingly important role in long-term management of these patients. The molecular mechanisms post SG are complex and not fully understood.

Aims:

The primary study aim is to investigate the hormonal mechanisms by which SG effects weight loss and related health benefits by examining the association between SG weight loss and biochemical/hormone levels. A secondary aim was to assess the improvements in obesity related chronic disease states following SG.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective cohort study of obese patients undergoing SG …

The Impact Of Nitrogen Limitation And Mycorrhizal Symbiosis On Aspen Tree Growth And Development, Bich Thi Ngoc Tran

Theses

Nitrogen deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional deficiency affecting plants worldwide. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis involves the beneficial interaction of plants with soil fungi and plays a critical role in nutrient cycling, including the uptake of nitrogen from the environment. The main goal of this study is to understand how limiting nitrogen in the presence or absence of an ectomycorrhizal fungi, Laccaria bicolor, affects the health of aspen trees, Populus tremuloides. Under limited nitrogen conditions, aspen tree growth and development is reduced, and mycorrhizal symbiosis may significantly improve plant biomass, providing sufficient nitrogen is available. The results of biochemical analysis …

A Content Analysis Of Advertisements In The Fra And Craftsman Magazines, 1908-1916, Kathryn Runyan

Theses

The present study used content analysis to examine advertisements appearing in Elbert Hubbard's The Fra and Gustav Stickley's The Craftsman magazines from 1908 through 1916. A total of 599 ads were analyzed to determine what type of advertisements dominated this period and to discover differences in the persuasive and informative appeals used by two creative forces in American business at the beginning of the 20th century, Elbert Hubbard and Gustav Stickley. The purpose of this study is to understand the advertising strategies appearing in The Craftsman and The Fra magazines.

Sustainability Curriculum Inventory And Literacy Assessment: The Influence Of Values On Knowledge Of And Perceived Importance Of Sustainability Components, David James Drogos

Theses

The incorporation of sustainability education and sustainable practices in higher education serves several purposes. It prepares students for work in sustainability-focused professions, fosters environmentally responsible behavior in individuals, and helps to reduce the ecological impacts of the operational aspects of educational institutions. However, contemporary definitions of sustainability, which consider social, political, ecological, and economic influences on the environment, complicate educational initiatives. Distinct educational departments often consider sustainability through their specialized lens. Trans-disciplinary initiative must be enacted in order for sustainability education to reach its full potential. This paper outlines the results of an electronically administered faculty sustainability curriculum inventory as …

Sustainability And Our Current Food Production System, Jennifer Nott

Theses

Food is necessary to human survival and having a sustainable food supply is one way to help guarantee this necessity. Sustainability comes in two forms. Weak sustainability, or substitutability, defines sustainability as the ability to substitute a diminishing resource with another more plentiful resource without irrevocably damaging the environment. Strong sustainability shifts its focus away from substitution and focuses only on renewable resources while maintaining the environmental caveat found in weak sustainability. Our current industrial food production system fails to meet the definition for strong sustainability because of its heavy reliance on fossil fuels, chemical fertilizers and pesticides as well …

Oh My Plant: A Creative Design For Building Emotional Relationships Between People And Plants, Boran Song

Theses

While speaking with plant owners, I realized that one of the main reasons why people's plants were dying was that people lacked emotional relationships with their plants. In creating Oh My Plant, I wanted to help busy people to easily improve their gardening skills and to create an emotional relationship between people and their houseplants.

When our lives become busy and stressful, it is easy to forget to take care of our own bodies, let alone our houseplants. Yet houseplants offer numerous benefits to people, beautifying the environment and purifying the air.

I believe that the design for Oh My …

An Assessment Of Worldview-2 Imagery For The Classification Of A Mixed Deciduous Forest, Nahid Carter

Theses

Remote sensing provides a variety of methods for classifying forest communities and can be a valuable tool for the impact assessment of invasive species. The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) infestation of ash trees (Fraxinus) in the United States has resulted in the mortality of large stands of ash throughout the Northeast. This study assessed the suitability of multi-temporal Worldview-2 multispectral satellite imagery for classifying a mixed deciduous forest in Upstate New York. Training sites were collected using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, with each training site consisting of a single tree of a corresponding class. Six classes were …

Monitoring The Natural Processing Of Organic Carbon And Phenols In Selective Wetlands Within Monroe County, Ny, Muhammad Rubaiyat

Theses

Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) is one of the largest active organic carbon reservoirs formed from processes that break down terrestrial/aquatic matter and released from plant roots as exudates. In watersheds, DOC is continuously transported and processed through rivers, streams and lakes. DOC is present in wetlands around Monroe County, New York; in areas that function as groundwater recharge, stormwater retention, nutrient retention and habitats for wildlife. The conducted research was an initial step towards a more thorough understanding of DOC's processing, especially in regard to its phenolic content, in small urban/sub-urban wetlands in Monroe County, NY. DOC and phenol concentrations …

Preschool Teachers' Early Perceptions Of Education For Sustainable Development In Early Childhood Education, Shannon Susan Green

Theses

This study explored five preschool teachers' perceptions about Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Early Childhood Education (ECE). Participating teachers provided a wide range of responses about ESD and its related subthemes. The findings of this study show that the participating teachers indicated a willingness to reflect on the principles of sustainable development, a commitment to developmentally appropriate practice, a value for participatory and problem-based curriculum, and appreciation for the benefits of community engagement. Teachers also expressed values of fairness and equality, and being open, honest, and matter-of-fact with children. Teachers were new to the ideas of interdependence, social justice, …

Facebook As Social Support For A One-Time Weight Loss Intervention Among College Students, Erica Seely

Theses

Approximately 32% of college-aged individuals are overweight or obese, yet few weight loss programs have effectively motivated this population to adopt a healthier lifestyle. A majority of this population frequently uses the social networking site Facebook. This study examined the impact of a Facebook social support group on weight loss efforts of college students. A total of 24 students were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which consisted of a Facebook support group, or control group after attending a one-time weight loss class. Assessments were taken at baseline and four weeks. Of participants in this study, 83.3% were Facebook …

Effect Of Celebrity Endorsements On Treatment Choices Made By Professionals And Parents With Children Diagnosed With Asd, Jenika Karnik

Theses

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently estimated that one in 50 children are diagnosed with Autism in the U.S. Now, parents out there not only have to face a doctor's diagnosis, but also a flood of confusing promises for recoveries and miracle cures. Parents have to sift through recommendations made by media, celebrities, professionals, and many, many more. The purpose of this study is to examine what influences the choices parents make involving treatment for their children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.