Digital Commons Network^™

Gestational Infections And Obesity: Implications For Intellectual Disability Risk, Maggie S. J. Mccarter

Theses and Dissertations

Maternal body weight, measured as Body Mass Index (BMI) and infection during pregnancy are established risk factors of multiple adverse birth outcomes that are also associated with intellectual disability (ID) in children, but little is known of the interaction of these two factors. This retrospective cohort study sought to explore whether BMI is an effect modifier in the association between maternal infection during pregnancy and ID of the child, and to make comparisons between categories of gestational infection. The study sample (n= 124,047 after exclusion) was derived from Medicaid administrative data. After preliminary analysis of interaction, stratified logistic regression analysis …

Assessment Of Forage Quality Among The Sudangrasses, Sweet And Grain Sorghum Inbred Lines At Different Cutting Time Points, Muziri Mugwanya

Theses and Dissertations

Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is the world's fifth mostly cultivated cereal after wheat, corn, barley, and oats. Although originated in Ethiopia, the United States is the leading producer and exporter of grain sorghum worldwide. In Africa, it is the second most widely grown crop after corn and mainly cultivated in the arid and semi-arid regions of the continent. Its hardiness to environmental stress and low costs of production has made it a more viable forage crop for animal consumption in marginal agricultural regions. In this study, twelve sorghum varieties were evaluated for their forage quality based on their agro-morphological traits …

Sustainable Treatment Of Tanneries Wastewater Using Low-Cost And Highly Efficient Materials, Sarah Ehab Abdelkader

Theses and Dissertations

Chromium sulfate salt (Cr2(SO4)3) is the tanning agent used in the chrome tanning process, but during the process around 30 or 40% of the chromium is discharged as chromium III residues in the tannery's wastewater resulting in serious health and environmental problem in case of discharging to the environment without appropriate treatment. The main objective of this study is to investigate the efficiency of using solid waste materials for low-cost trivalent chromium removal from tanneries wastewater. This study was conducted in 5 phases: phase I, phase II, phase III, phase IV and phase V. In phase I, two groups of …

Utilization Of Chlorella Vulgaris For Biomass Production And Treatment Of Wastewater From Greenhouse Farms, Yousif Adam

Theses and Dissertations

In the current research work, green microalgae C. vulgaris was used for treating hydroponic and aquaponic wastewater collected from the Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability (CARES) at The American University in Cairo (New Cairo, Egypt) and for producing biomass. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the use of microalgae for bioremediating wastewater from greenhouse farm and for producing biomass under different conditions and to explore the economic implications of microalgal biofuels, focusing on the effect of different cultivation modes. Various experiments were carried out into four phases to assess the effect of different conditions into …

A Decision Support System For Managing Results-Based Financed Mega Infrastructure Programs, Kareem Zahran

Theses and Dissertations

International Financial Institutions are exploring solutions that can ensure the effectiveness of funds with respect to the achievement of desired results/outputs. Results-Based finance (RBF) considers this goal through linking desired outputs to the disbursement of funds. This may require borrowers to pre-finance programs and then receive their allocated disbursements after results are achieved, which could form cash flow gaps. The management of this type of programs requires the integration of multiple projects management and finance-based scheduling with the financial requirements of results-based funding mechanisms. For proper management of received funds, this research introduces a framework for the simulation and optimization …

Sustainable Rural Community: Waste To Business (W2b) Model, Hala Omar

Theses and Dissertations

Many environmental issues are facing rural villages in Egypt. The main problems rural villages are suffering from are lack of adequate sewage system, absence of wastewater treatment plants, poor agricultural and municipal solid waste management. These problems are causing environmental, economic and social issues in rural villages. Rural communities’ residents suffer from many disease, unemployment as well as poor living conditions. It becomes imperative to find solutions to this tragic situation facing rural villages associated with dumping and burning waste. Unfortunately, not enough research is published to propose solutions to approach full utilization of all types of wastes generated in …

Socio-Economic Inequalities In Accessing Treatment Of Non-Communicable Diseases In Egypt Using Health Issues Survey 2015, Radwa Ahmed Elmoneer

Theses and Dissertations

The right to health is a fundamental human right, medications constitute a vital component of any health system worldwide. Hence, access to medicines is one entitlement of the right to health, and governments pay increasing concerns to improve equitable access to healthcare and medications among all citizens. Egypt is a middle income country, with tight resources and capabilities to spend on health, and a pluralistic and fragmented healthcare system. Therefore, aggravated challenges are facing the government towards the achievement of the "Health for all" constitutional right. Identifying where inequalities exist, and monitoring their change over time, is a major prerequisite …

Women Through The Development Gaze Of The World Bank: Legal Reforms And The Myth Of Empowerment In The Global South, Mariam Salem

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, women were largely invisible to early development planners and they were only discussed in passive terms. This was based on the assumptions about the gendered division of labor and women's supposed absence from the productive labor. However, development discourses today are full of images of the empowered women in the Global South; she is the selfless mother, the strong entrepreneur and the resourceful breadwinner. The World Bank in particular depicts women in the Global South as vulnerable, marginalized, yet a major "untapped resource". The key is to acquire them with appropriate means along with the necessary legal reforms that …

Media And Technology Use Education In Pediatric Primary Care, Greta Jayne Hilbrands

Theses and Dissertations

Youth media and technology use is growing at rapid rates and is quickly becoming a necessary tool for effective functioning in the modern world. However, such use has been shown to result in negative consequences for children and adolescents, including impaired executive functioning, increased violence and aggression, and physical and psychological health problems. As such, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that all pediatric providers educate parents about healthy media and technology practices for children and families. The present study sought to examine the proportion of parents who receive media/technology education from their child’s providers, the rates of compliance …

Positive Deviance Inquiry Of Breastfeeding In Egypt, Ayah Sarhan

Theses and Dissertations

Increases in malnutrition among Egyptian children under five years have been associated with decreases in rates of breastfeeding. International and national research have identified personal and contextual challenges that lower the chances of women breastfeeding. These challenges include lack of knowledge and support by medical personnel and family, negative societal attitudes, and institutional practices that inhibit breastfeeding. In this study, a positive deviance approach was used to identify the practices that enabled middle-class Egyptian women to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Data was collected from 33 positive deviant mothers using a survey and a semi-structured interview. Findings confirmed that they faced …

A Study Of Grit In The Crossfit Population, Cierra Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Exercise has extensively shown to provide both physical and mental health benefits. CrossFit is one type of exercise program, and although the workouts can be strenuous, it has continued to increase in popularity since its inception in 2001. Grit has been defined as “unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger” (Merriam-Webster.com, 2019, definition of grit [entry 1 of 2], para. 4). Duckworth et al. (2007) developed a valid and reliable 12-item measure of grit – the Grit Scale. Duckworth and Quinn (2009) later adapted the original Grit Scale (Grit-O) to be a briefer and more efficient version, which …

The Consistency Of Export And Agricultural Policies In Egypt, Nourhan Ahmed Sultan

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines Egypt's agricultural policies, trade policies and their synergies or inconsistence. The analysis of the agricultural sector and its performance over time identifies constraints to increasing production and exports. It also examines the key role of trade in encouraging inclusive agricultural development. After a review of current trends in the agricultural sector and trade policies, the study elaborates on the main policies regulating the current agricultural export sector. It also explores the factors influencing the water scarcity problem and what could mitigate it. This qualitative research attempts to illustrate to what extent the Egyptian agricultural export sector policies …

Bioadhesive Hydrogel Composite Cell Carrier For The Repair Of The Degenerated Intervertebral Disc, Thomas Richard Christiani

Theses and Dissertations

Lower back pain (LBP) affects the worldwide population and can be attributed to the degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD). The IVD is composed of a central nucleus pulposus (NP), a peripheral annulus fibrosus (AF), and adjacent cartilage endplates (CEPs). IVD degeneration is characterized by proteoglycan loss, tissue dehydration, and decreased hydrostatic pressure. In this work, the use of an injectable bioadhesive hydrogel composite for replacement of the degenerated NP was investigated.

Results indicate that the composite exhibits similar mechanical properties to the NP, adheres to AF tissue, and supports encapsulated mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation toward an NP-like phenotype …

Analysis Of Organochlorine Pesticides Levels In Irrigation Water From Various Water Sources Across Egypt, Omar Tarek Khairy

Theses and Dissertations

Organochlorine pesticides are extensively used in agriculture to cope with the world’s increasing population and demands for nutrition. This class of pesticides poses a serious risk to human health upon chronic exposure to elevated levels. Determination of organochlorine pesticides levels in water has been extensively covered in literature in Egypt and other parts of the world. The need for up-to date data and statistical information regarding the levels of organochlorine pesticides in water is ever increasing. These compounds, although a lot have been prohibited from use decades ago, can still be detected in trace levels in water due to their …

Relation Of Conscientiousness, Hostility, And Negative Affect To Blood Pressure Measured In An Unrestriced And In A Restriced Condition: Supplemental Analyses Of Data Generated From Hypertension Optimal Treatment (Hot Study)., Samantha Vazquez

Theses and Dissertations

he relationship between personality and blood pressure (BP) was examined under two conditions. Six hundred and sixty-six participants were selected from the original HOT study data set and asked to complete the Big Five Inventory, Cook Medley Hostility Scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. The two conditions were enrollment blood pressure, when the treatment of BP was unrestricted and qualifying blood pressure, when treatment of BP was restricted. Results revealed that conscientiousness had a strong relation to blood pressure in both conditions but had a stronger relation to blood pressure in the unrestricted condition. Hostility and negative affect …

Our Parents Matter: Parental Perspectives Vs. School Performance Outcomes, Nadjari Prophete

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study is to examine parental perspectives and its relation to school performance outcomes. It examines whether there is an alignment between parental perspective and school performance outcomes. A purposeful sample of 7,762 parents, whom self-identify as having an ethnic background of Black or Hispanic, having a low socio-economic status (SES), as well as a student whom attends one of 42 of the public schools within District 7 in the borough of the Bronx in New York City, perspectives were examined. District 7 in the Bronx houses 42 schools in which educate 20,197 students. School entities …

Parental Perspectives Of Adolescent Sleep Hygiene In Suburban High-Achieving Districts, Theresa M. Walter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to examine parental perceptions of adolescent sleep hygiene in Long Island High School District; a suburban mid-sized district of 6, 515 students in a predominantly high socio-economic community. Sleep hygiene is defined as the regular, healthy habits and practices in order to obtain restorative, healthy sleep. Participants of the study included parents of different ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic backgrounds, gender, and marital status from both Richmond High School East and Richmond High School West.

A student’s well-being relies on purposeful, healthy sleep. Obtaining and promoting healthy sleep is both a challenge and a …

The Effects Of Virtual Laboratory Activities On Science Learning, Nathlye Sudlow-Naggie

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe the impact of technology on improving science achievement in Elementary students. In specific, this study examined the effects of virtual science laboratory activities on the science learning of 20 African American students in grades four. Using a quasi-experimental design, students in grades four, were randomly assigned to a treatment (virtual labs) or comparison (traditional hands-on labs) group. Ten students participated in treatment group and ten students participated in the comparison group. The students conducted science experiments for 50 minutes, one time a week, for 8 weeks. Both groups were given a pretest …

An Evaluation Of The Advance Directives-Live Action Simulation Training (Ad-Last) Program, Alexandra Rosa Spinelli

Theses and Dissertations

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a process that captures a patient’s wishes in the case of future circumstances in which they are unable to express them. Studies show that less than one third of the general population has completed some type of formal Advance Directive (AD). There are barriers to completing ADs, and these barriers operate on multiple levels, including, patient, provider and institutional. To improve providers’ capacity to help patients complete ACP, and overcome these barriers, a provider-focused intervention was conducted. The current study is an analysis of archival data collected from the Advance Directives-Live Action Simulation Training (AD-LAST) …

Perceived Racial Discrimination And Its Association To Unhealthy Consumption And Obesity, Julie Kittleman

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that both recent and lifetime racial discrimination along with discrimination subscales (social exclusion, work discrimination, stigmatization, and threat or physical harassment) is linked to unhealthy food consumption and health habits. Discrimination has been identified as a possible risk factor for unhealthy food consumption. Research has not yet clearly concluded if unhealthy consumption is a function of recent or chronic exposure to discrimination, the specific type of discrimination or if the effects of discrimination are independent of other life stressors such as neighborhood poverty and stress. Participants (n = 142) were …

Oil/Water Nanoemulsion Biodistribution In Mice Upon Intravenous Administration, Jiayi Chen

Theses and Dissertations

The present study aimed to explore the biodistribution of O/W nanoemulsions (NE) upon intravenous administration. Three NEs were prepared with distinctive droplet sizes: SE (29 ± 1 nm), ME (214 ± 2 nm) and LE (883 ± 16 nm) without overlapping of the size distribution. Kolliphor® HS15 was used as the only surfactant for these three NEs, so that their droplets had similar surface structure. The NEs droplet size was stable under room temperature for minimum 3 days in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and in mice plasma in vitro for 4-hour at 37°C. A lipophilic fluorescent dye, 1, 1’-dioctadecyl-3, 3, …

Nys High School Graduation Rate Disproportionality, Kelly Linda Gilpin Clarke

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examines the impact that social contextual factors, such as racial composition, segregation, socioeconomic status, and school factors, such as per-pupil expenditure, student-to-teacher ratio, and school size have on the White-Black and White-Hispanic high school graduation rates within New York State school districts. Theoretically, I frame my study using Nasir and Hand’s (2006) Sociocultural Theory Framework, which addresses the intersectionality of race, culture, and inherent learning biases that impact minoritized students educated in incompatible historical school structures.

The dissertation addresses several research questions, such as (1) What determines the variation of cohort graduation rates in NYS school districts; …

Kujdesi Infermieror Te Pacienti Me Pneumoni, Ernesta Osmanaj

Theses and Dissertations

Qëllimi i temës “ Kujdesi infermieror te pacienti me pneumoni “ ka të bëjë me pacientët që vuajnë nga infamacioni i indit pulmunar ku edhe kryesishtë janë marrë pacientat në spitalin rajonal në Pejë kryesisht në repartin e pulmologjisë për hulumtim . Në kapitullin e parë të punimit zhvillohet hyrja ku filitet për anatominë , fiziologjinë dhe patologjitë e pneumonisë . Kapitulli i dytë përfshinë shqyrtimin e literaturës , kapitulli tretë për diskutimin e problemit , kapitulli katërt metodologjinë dhe kapitulli i pestë hulumtimin klinik . Sëmunjet e mushkërive gjegjësishtë pneumonitë janë mjaftë të shprehura si tek fëmijët ashtu edhe …

Genetic And Cellular Models For The Study Of Ptk2b And Adam10 In Adaptive Thermogenesis And Metabolism, Jared S. Farrar

Theses and Dissertations

In a cellular model, we demonstrate that the non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta (PTK2B) plays a critical role in mouse cultured beige adipocyte differentiation. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-out of Ptk2b results in non-differentiating white adipocytes and differentiated beige adipocytes with significantly reduced thermogenic gene and protein expression, enlarged lipid droplet size, and altered mitochondrial respiration. Together, these data in a cell culture system provide evidence for a role of PTK2B in the differentiation of mouse beige adipocytes.

In the process of developing a new mouse model utilizing the adipocyte selective Adipoq-Cre transgenic mouse, strong genetic linkage between a gene …

Caffeine Use And Associations With Sleep In Adolescents With And Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Caroline N. Cusick

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to compare caffeine consumption in the morning, afternoon, and evening in adolescents with and without Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and examine associations with sleep functioning. Participants were 302 adolescents (ages 12-14) with (n=140) and without (n=162) ADHD. Adolescents wore actigraph watches to assess total sleep time and wake after sleep onset and reported on their sleep-wake problems and the number of caffeinated beverages consumed per day in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Parents reported on adolescents’ difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep. Chi-square analyses, odds ratios, and path analyses were conducted. Analyses controlled for sex, …

A Review Of Factors, Seating Design, And Shape Capture Methods For Reducing Pressure Injury Risk, John A. Damiao

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation in the form of three papers ready for submission to peer-reviewed journals is submitted toward the requirements of the PhD in Health Related Sciences program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Chapter One provides an introductory overview of the project, including: (a) an overview of pressure injuries, (b) the impact of seating as an intervention, and (c) aims of the three-paper dissertation in addressing various aspects of pressure injury prevention. Each paper is unique and singular in its focus, yet all share the overlying aim of addressing pressure injury risk associated with wheelchair seating. Paper One describes the unique facilitators …

Culturally-Relevant Factors That Influence Healthy Eating Among African American College Students, Danyel Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a national epidemic in the US, disproportionately affecting African Americans, such that the obesity prevalence in African Americans (49.6%) surpassed the national prevalence (42.4%) in 2018. Those same disparities exist at the collegiate level, such that 27.4% of a sample of African Americans college students had obesity, surpassing the national prevalence of obesity (12.1%) in 2018. Diet, an important driver of obesity, is influenced by several psychological, social, and environmental factors. However, cultural factors influencing diet are understudied among African American college students. The overarching goal of the current study was to identify culturally-relevant factors that promote healthy …

Profiles Of Adjustment Among Children In Institutional Care In Ghana: Predictors Of Positive Functioning, Anna W. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Worldwide, approximately 2-8 million children reside in institutional care, which can lead to developmental setbacks. Given the need for institutional care persists, it is important to continue investigating which improvements can be made to provide optimal care. The current mixed-methods study included participants from Accra, Ghana. Study 1 involved cluster analyses to determine patterns of adjustment for 100 children in institutional care (CIC) (M age = 13.31 years, SD = 3.14; 40% female) and 100 children in families (CIF) (M age = 13.37 years, SD = 3.08; 40% female) across several domains. ANOVA was used to evaluate whether …

Taking The Water, Alison Ho

Theses and Dissertations

“The baby boomer generation is about to transform into the largest elderly population in human history, changing how everyone lives, large and small. All of this will directly affect recreation and leisure professionals especially in leisure programming” (Sperezza & Banerjee, 2010, p. 197). In 2012, there were 43.1 million people in the United States that were aged 65+ and it is predicted that by 2050, that number will rise to 83.7 million (Ortman, Velkoff, Hogan, 2014). Baby boomers are more physically active than previous generations and many will now live 20% - 25% of their lives in active retirement. There …

An Intuitive Eating Intervention For College Women With Disordered Eating: Evaluating Two Accessible And Affordable Approaches, Carolyn B. Burnette

Theses and Dissertations

Undergraduate women of all racial and ethnic groups engage in disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) at alarming rates. Most women do not receive treatment, with the largest disparities observed in women of color and those at higher weights. Prevailing interventions have limitations that could exacerbate these disparities, such as an emphasis on the thin ideal, which is often considered less relevant for some women of color. This is concerning, as disordered eating is often chronic and symptom crossover is common. Thus, a transdiagnostic, inclusive secondary prevention approach could enhance outcomes by addressing the spectrum of DEBs in diverse women. The purpose …