Digital Commons Network^™

Integrating Survivors Of Stroke Into Cardiac Rehabilitation, Elizabeth Wherley Regan

Theses and Dissertations

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States (U.S.). Impairments after stroke typically result in reduced physical activity which increases the risk for stroke recurrence and the development or worsening of comorbid health conditions. Physical activity and exercise behaviors can reduce cardiovascular risk factors and improve endurance for survivors of stroke. Despite these known significant benefits, survivors of stroke face barriers to participating in regular physical activity due to limited self-efficacy, safety concerns, environmental restrictions and lack of accessible community programs.

Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) is a structured exercise and behavior modification program for people with cardiovascular disease …

The Youngest, Trezlen Drake

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a collection of poems that considers life in a southern Black family, memory, nostalgia, dysfunction, race and gender, and generational trauma. These poems are influenced by poetry, fiction, music, popular culture, and scholarship, each providing a different perspective on life and language to talk about that which can sometimes be unspeakable.

A recurring character in this collection is the girlchild, reminiscent of Marge Piercy’s character in “Barbie Doll.” The girlchild here is the figure of the woman or girl who experiences trauma, and what some consider to be unspeakable.

These poems are also an exploration and disruption …

The Impact Of Psychosocial, Clinical, And Neighborhood Factors On Inflammatory Outcomes Among African American Women, Malcolm Seth Bevel

Theses and Dissertations

Inflammatory-related chronic diseases are disparagingly prevalent among African Americans in the United States, particularly in the Southeastern region. Access to community gardens shows promise in mitigating chronic disease outcomes, despite multiple barriers to physical activity and diet among underserved populations. We seek to determine if psychosocial or clinical factors mediate the association between the treatment effect of a healthy lifestyle intervention and inflammatory biomarker levels among African American women, respectively. We also seek to analyze the relationship between residing in a food desert/swamp and inflammatory biomarker levels, while gaining a qualitative perspective about community garden access among African American women. …

The Interaction Between Caffeine Consumption, Alcohol Use, And Amount Of Sleep On Bone Health, Haley Davis-Martin

Theses and Dissertations

Using cross-sectional data from the 2009-2010 and 2013-2014 NHANES surveys we examined potential interaction between caffeine consumption, alcohol use, and sleep and its relation to bone health, measured using bone mineral density (BMD). The study population consisted of 2,405 individuals at least 40 years old who were not taking any medications or hormones that would affect bone mineral density. Several factors such as smoking status, exercise, dietary intake of calcium, dietary intake of vitamin D, dietary intake of phosphorus, presence of arthritis, age, gender and race were considered in this project. We found a statistically significant negative linear relationships between …

Treatment With Protease Inhibitor And Development Of Diabetes Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Human Immune Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Hiv/Aids), Eric Ejike Chinaeke

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The possibility of an association between the use of protease inhibitors (PI) by HIV/AIDS patients and the occurrence of T2DM mellitus (T2DM) is largely debated. Medicare recipients are disproportionally affected by T2DM. Unfortunately, evidence is unavailable from that particular segment of the population. Clinical management of HIV/AIDS is progressively expanding to include chronic/metabolic complications, which may pose a significant economic burden to both the patients and the Medicare system, which are disproportionally impacted. Objectives: The aims of this project were to (1) examine the association between the use of PIs and the odds of developing T2DM among Medicare beneficiaries …

Bridging The Transition To School: An Action Research Study, Susan Bates Hill

Theses and Dissertations

For over 50 years, school readiness has been a concern of educators and policymakers. In 1965, the Head Start program was “conceived as part of the ‘war on poverty’ to provide children from less affluent backgrounds with the kinds of experiences that other children were more likely to receive in the home” (Coley, 2002, p.8). Federal and state legislation continues to be enacted with the hope the inequities will be addressed. Ladson-Billings (2007) asserts the rigor of the standards is intended to appease the middle class. Exploring unique ways to transition a child from home to school should be of …

A Narrative Inquiry Into The Lived Experiences Of Early Childhood Teachers Who Implemented Garden-Based Learning, Jamison Keith Browder

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this narrative study was to investigate the lived experiences of early childhood teachers working in preschool settings who have implemented gardenbased learning for more than one year. The seven preschool teachers who agreed to participate in the study were asked to describe significant life experiences that influenced them to implement gardening into their curriculum. Additionally, the teachers were asked to describe the bridges and barriers to implementing garden-based learning and how school gardening has impacted their students’ learning and development. The data collection process included semi-structured interviews and teacher journal entries over a two-month period. The interviews …

Piloting A Smartphone-Based Sedentary Behavior Reduction Intervention For Adults With Overweight Or Obesity: Take A Stand 4 Health, Chelsea Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown a relationship between sedentary behavior as an independent and novel risk factor for high blood pressure. However, most of the evidence comes from cross-sectional and experimental studies, with only a few studies examining whether blood pressure is improved in individuals participating in a behavioral intervention. None of these studies utilized mHealth approaches, which hold potential for behavioral interventions, and none have focused on individuals with hypertension as a part of their target population. Therefore, the purpose of the dissertation was to 1) Examine the efficacy of a smartphone-mediated multi-component sedentary behavior reduction intervention for individuals …

The Effects Of Racialization On Skeletal Manifestations Of Disease Among Migrants In Historic St. Louis, Missouri, Kristina M. Zarenko

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the biological effects of racialization on migrants in late nineteenth and early twentieth century St. Louis, Missouri. Racialization is a form of structural violence in which real or perceived physical differences contribute to the creation of hierarchical racial categories along a continuum of whiteness. German and Irish immigrants and African American migrants from the South came to St. Louis in search of economic prosperity and in an attempt to escape poverty, famine, or conflict in their places of origin. However, racialization affected each migrant group’s access to housing and employment as well as their exposure to violence. …

Freedom And Food: Transformations And Continuities In Foodways Among The People Who Labored At Stono Plantation, James Island, South Carolina During The Eighteenth, Nineteenth, And Twentieth Centuries, Brandy Kristin Joy

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation compares archaeological assemblages from the Stono Plantation/Dill Farm, James Island, South Carolina between the periods of enslavement and Emancipation. Further comparisons are made with the neighboring Ferguson Road archaeological site and the Smith Plantation archaeological site, Port Royal, South Carolina. These comparisons are made in order to understand how Emancipation impacted the foodways including diet, vessel type and use, and cuisine of Lowcountry residents. Results suggest that while technological innovation and increased globalization enabled a shift in material culture, the overall foodways of the region remained relatively unchanged through time.

Quality Of Life Of Children With Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Parents’ Perspectives In Light Of New Treatments, Analyssa R. Tallas

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To directly compare parents’ perspectives of the quality of life of their children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) who received supportive care, nusinersen (Spinraza®), onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi (Zolgensma®), or both nusinersen and onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi. Methods: The parents of children with SMA were recruited to complete anonymous online surveys. All surveys included qualitative questions about quality of life. Surveys regarding children in the 1-12-month and 13-24-month age groups included the Pediatric Quality of Life Infant Scales assessment. Surveys regarding children in the 2-4-year age group included the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales and the Pediatric Quality of …

“How Did You Get Here?”: Using Counter-Narratives And Critical Race Theory To Explore The Placement Experiences Of Black Males In Self-Contained Special Education Settings, Xandria Renata Sutton

Theses and Dissertations

The special education system in the United States is disproportionately overrepresented by Black males. This is increasingly true for high-incidence disability types, such as emotional/behavioral disorders and specific learning disabilities. It also rings true that those same disability types are those that are most often placed in restrictive special education settings such as the self-contained classroom. Based on research, students placed in restrictive settings often have limited educational opportunities and poorer lifelong outcomes (Rueter, 2011). It is for those reasons that it is important that we examine the reasons for the decades long continuation of the overrepresentation of Black males …

Influences On Parents’ Food Shopping For Children’S Consumption In South Carolina, Nazratun Nayeem Monalisa

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The diets of children in the United States typically do not meet dietary guidelines. Energy-dense nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods dominate children’s diets, contributing excessive energy, sugar, sodium, and fat intake. Home is the major source of children’s energy intake. Parents oversee household food purchases including foods for children.

Objectives: This research aimed to 1) identify parents’ food and beverage purchases for their household and for 6-11-year old children; 2) understand how parents made food purchase decisions by adjudicating among different values; 3) understand children’s food choice construction, strategies to influence parents for desired items, and extent of children’s influence.

Methods: …

Rage And Gas6/Axl Signaling In Obstetric Complications, Kelsey May Hirschi Budge

Theses and Dissertations

Current research spans a wide range of objectives whose diversity includes the understanding of global epidemiology and the detailing of molecular interactions leading to specific pathologies. This work aligns more closely with the goal of mechanistic clarity by elucidating several aspects of signaling pathways involved in inflammatory and obstetric pathologies. Prior research has confirmed the role of Receptors for Advanced Glycation End-Products (RAGE) activation in signaling leading to chronic inflammation such as that observed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). RAGE activation has also been identified in other disease states including diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoarthritis, and cancers. We examined the …

Multivariate Analysis Of Human Performance Strong Lab Data, Kayla N. Tinucci

Theses and Dissertations

This study uses multivariate analysis methods to find relationships between nutrition and wellness and nutrition and performance. The nutrition, daily wellness, and weight and bodyfat data are from a study performed by the STRONG lab in the 711th Human Performance Wing. Electronically collected nutrition data along with survey data for 19 individuals over a 12-week study period are examined with a focus on health, fitness, and nutrition. Factor analysis and linear regression are performed and inferences are drawn regarding what effects calories and macronutrient intake have on subjects perceived wellness, weight, and body fat percentage. These insights are discussed in …

Physician Behaviors, Nursing, And Other Obstacles In End-Of-Life Care: Additional Critical Care Nurse Perceptions, Elizabeth Elouise Willmore

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Critical Care Nurses (CCNs) frequently provide end of life (EOL) care in intensive care units (ICUs). Barriers to EOL care in ICUs exist and have been previously published, but qualitative reports from CCNs themselves remain scarce. Qualitative data exploring barriers faced during ICU EOL care may increase awareness of obstacles and help remove them. Objective: Excluding family experiences, what are the major themes recounted by CCNs when asked to share common obstacles experienced in providing ICU EOL care? Methods: Members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses were randomly surveyed and responses to a single qualitative question were used. …

Staphylococcus Aureus Metal Acquisition In Milk And Mammary Gland Tissue, Shalee Killpack

Theses and Dissertations

Mastitis resulting from mammary gland infection is a common and painful disease associated with lactation. In addition to the impact on human and animal health, mastitis causes substantial economic losses in the dairy industry. Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of mastitis worldwide. Despite significant progress in understanding S. aureus pathogenesis in general, much remains to be learned regarding virulence factors relevant in the context of mastitis. In mammary gland infections, it is not fully understood which metal acquisition systems are required for S. aureus survival. To help understand molecular mechanisms by which S. aureus might acquire essential metals, such …

Strength Training And Insulin Resistance: The Mediating Role Of Body Composition, Mckayla Jean Niemann

Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the present study was to assess the association between varying amounts of strength training and insulin resistance. Another goal was to assess the influence of several potential confounding variables on the strength training and insulin resistance relationship. Lastly, the role of waist circumference, fat free mass, and body fat percentage on the association between strength training and insulin resistance was assessed. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 6561 randomly selected men and women in the US. Data were collected using the precise protocol established by NHANES. HOMA-IR was used as the outcome variable. Both time spent …

Blend Uniformity And Vitamin Stability In Dairy-Based Foods Fortified With Lipid-Encapsulated Ferrous Sulfate, Garth Anthony Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Homogeneity of powder blends is an important metric for industrial applications in fortified dairy foods including commercial pediatric nutrition products. Product development practices evaluating physical properties and nutrient stability performance are reliant on blending parameters that deliver a uniform powder at both the pilot and commercial scale. Quantities of individual micronutrients in finished products are particularly critical for formulated infant foods. The two preliminary phases of this study focused on developing a simple, efficient method, specifically for a pilot scale ribbon blender, in which maximum homogeneity in fortified dairy-based powder blends could be reached. In phase one, a red iron …

Roli I Infermierës Ne Kujdesin E Pacientëve Me Dekubite, Albina Sejdiu

Theses and Dissertations

1.Hyrje: Siq dihet dekubituset janë plagë e cila shkaktohet për shkak të presionit në pjesë tëcaktuara tëtrupit.Qëllimi i ketij punimi është që të ngritet niveli i njohurive, së pari tek personeli mjeksorë, pastaj përmes tyre edhe tek pacientët për shkaqet e shfaqjes sëdekubitusit dhe rolin e infermierës në parandalimin dhe menagjimin e tyre.

2.Materiali dhe Metodologjia: Në mënyrë retrograde janë analizuar pacientët me dekubite të trajtuar në Kliniken e Kirurgjisë Plastike në QKUK prej vitit 2014-2018.

3.Rezultatet: Në bazë te hulumtimeve në Klinikën e Kirurgjisë Plastike është konstatuar se dekubituset kryesisht prekin moshën madhore e shumë rrallë moshën fëmijrore.

Në …

Ushqimi Parenteral,Rëndësiae Aplikimit Dhe Roli I Infermieres/It, Endrita Magashi

Theses and Dissertations

Ushqimi parenteral është formë e të ushqyerit në mënyrë intravenoze duke përfshirë këtu:proteinat,karbohidratet,yndyrat,mineralet,vitaminat dhe elemente të tjera të nevojshme për një status të mirë të të ushqyerit tek pacientët trakti gastrointestinal itë cilëve nuk është funksional. Ushqyerja parenterale është ideale për mirëmbajtjen e ushqyerjes tek foshnjat dhe fëmijët që nuk janë në gjendje të tolerojnë ushqimet enterale,poashtu edhe tek pacientët të cilët nuk mund të konsumojnë vëllime të mëdha të ushqimeve me gojë.

Metodologjia-Studimi analizon të dhëna në mënyrë retrospektive për 100 raste të cilët kanë qenë të trajtuar gjate vitit 2019 në Klinikën e Anesteziologjise ne repartin e Intenzivës …

Roli I Infermierit Në Trajtimin E Pacientëve Me Djegie, Mirjeta Jakupi

Theses and Dissertations

Hyrje: Djegia është një dëmtim i lëkurës ose i indit tjetër i shkaktuar kryesisht nga trauma akute ose termike. Ndodh kur disa ose të gjitha qelizat në lëkurë ose inde të tjera shkatërrohen nga lëngjet e nxehta, mjetet e nxehta (djegiet e kontaktit), zjarri, rrezatimi, energjia elektrike, fërkimi ose kimikalet. Qëllimi i studimit eshte të përshkruaj rolin e infermierëve në kujdesin e pacientëve me djegie si dhe se çfarë praktikojnë aktualisht infemierët në menaxhimin e djegieve në mënyrë që të hartohen udhëzime mbi menaxhimin e djegieve.

Metodologjia: Metodologjia e punimit është deskriptive dhe retrospektive. Ky hulumtim është kryer …

Detection And Quantification Of Bacterial Species Important To Mental And Physical Health, David G. Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

The human gut microbiome contains an abundance of microorganisms which could influence mental health as well as physical health. These microorganisms produce chemicals which affect the brain and the body in various ways. Probiotic bacteria and yeasts have been studied to determine effects they have on mice, rats, and humans to illustrate the importance these microorganisms on health. Studies have shown that adding beneficial microorganisms to the human diet can have positive effects on mental and physical health, to include lessening symptoms of depression and anxiety, lessen gastrointestinal inflammation, displacing pathogens, and improving immunomodulatory response. A quantitative way to identify …

The Effect Of Aeration Rate And Free-Floating Carrier Media On The Emission Of Bacillus Globigii In Bioaerosols, Andrew J. Owens

Theses and Dissertations

Aerosols produced by turbulent mechanical mixing and bubble aeration at Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) become bioaerosols with the entrainment of biological materials. Bioaerosols become a public health risk when human pathogens are present. This study evaluated bioaerosols containing Bacillus globigii (BG) spores, and the effects that aeration rate and the addition of Free-Floating Carrier Media (FFCM) had on the amount of BG spores collected following aerosolization. A series of laboratory-scale experiments investigated two different sizes of floating polystyrene spheres as FFCM and four different aeration rates. When the differences in compared aeration rates were sufficiently large, a positive correlation …

Examining Healthy Community Design Characteristics And Its Influence On Physical Health, Alvin T. Yip

Theses and Dissertations

Current trends in obesity rates associated with the community layout constitutes research towards understanding the interaction between the two in order to improve the public's physical health. Successes in healthy community planning studies for the public can be harnessed and implemented within the microcosm of military bases to yield similar results. Four factors were recognized through an in-depth academic literature review that showed positive influence on physical health and physical activity. They are access to green space, highly connected pedestrian and bicycle networks, access to public transportation, and integrated mixed land use. The four healthy planning strategies formed the necessary …

A Qualitative Study Of The Genesis Of A Community Food Pantry For Students Of Higher Education, Elizabeth Fast

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this case study was to understand the development of a food pantry for students of higher education at a Midwestern university.

Methods: The researchers recruited 11 individuals on the food pantry’s board using a snowball sampling method to participate in a 30-minute interview about the food pantry’s development from conception to implementation. The interviews were transcribed and then qualitatively analyzed by two researchers. The researchers coded interviews separately to identify frequent commonalities between participant responses. The researchers then organized the codes into themes, which were then summarized in the results of this study.

Results: The first …

Productivity Of Kale (Brassica Oleracea Var. Acephala) And Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) Culture In Aquaponic Systems, Kazir Adewale Afolabi

Theses and Dissertations

Crop production and aquaculture play important roles in food security and water withdrawals and contribute to over 70% of global water consumption. The aquaponic system is a sustainable way of integrating soilless crop farming and freshwater fish farming in a single system to reduce water consumption and pollution, increase food production per unit area, thereby rendering economic benefits to the farmer. In this study, an attempt was made to assess the productivity of aquaponic systems by measuring the biomass output of fish and crop, water requirement, as well as net-financial gain of the production unit. Two aquaponic systems types were …

The Effects Of Nutrition Claims On Consumer Purchasing Of Snacks In White Collar And Blue Collar Working Environments, Cecily Rose Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this experimental study was to determine if signage of nutrition claims increased the purchasing of snacks in white collar and blue collar working environments. Additionally, the study also observed if the nutrition claims were more effective in one working class over the other. The prevalence of obesity in employed adults has significantly increased in the last decade. Dietary patterns, including snacking habits, have been found to play a significant role in the decline of working adults’ health. The percentage change formula was utilized as the statistical analysis for this study. This analysis evaluated the changes in the …

Sindroma E Malabsorbimit Te Fëmijët Dhe Kujdesi Infermieror, Rina Trnava

Theses and Dissertations

Malabsorbimi është një sindromë, që i referohet një numri të çrregullimeve në të cilat zorrët e vogla nuk mund të absorbojnë mjaftueshëm lëndë ushqyese dhe lëngje të caktuara. Sëmundjet më të shpeshta janë celiakia (enteropatia e ndjeshme në gluten) dhe fibroza cistike.

Qëllimi i këtij punimi ishte të përcaktohet numri i rasteve të fëmijëve të hospitalizuar me sindromën e malabsorbimit, në periudhën Tetor 2018- Tetor 2019 në klinikën e pediatrisë në QKUK, të përcaktohet numri i rasteve sipas gjinisë, numri i rasteve sipas grupmoshës, numri i rasteve sipas llojit të malabsorbimit, të vlerësohet roli i infermieres në përkujdesjen ndaj këtyre …

Kujdesi Infermieror Tek Të Sëmurët Me Sëmundje Të Refluksit Gastroezofagial, Shkurte Sherifi

Theses and Dissertations

Ky punim është realizuar me qëllim të zgjerimit të njohurive të infermierëve të ardhshëm lidhur me kujdesin infermieror tek të sëmurët me refluks gastroezofagial, ku përmes këtij punimi synohet që të shtjellohet diagnostifikimi, preventiva, zhvillimi dhe mjekimi i Refluksit Gastroezofageal.

Lexuesit mundë të informohen rreth sëmundjes së refluksit gastroezofageal.Ky punim është bërë në kolegjin UBT Programi Infermieri si dhe në bashkpunim me Qendren Klinike Universitare të Kosovës QKUK në Prishtinë,ku të dhënat për numrin e pacientëve janë marrë nga Klinika e Gastroenterologjisë.

Mentori i temës është Prof.Dr.Zaim Gashi.

Punimi përfshinë: 43 faqe, 3 tabela, dhe 7 figura.