Digital Commons Network^™

Dietary Fiber Education For Diverticular Disease And Hospital Readmission Rates, Shiloh Brittany Quintana

Theses and Dissertations

Hospital readmission rates are being used to indicate quality of care by healthcare facilities in recent years. Increase in incidence and hospitalizations of patients with diverticular disease (DD) has caused burden to hospital resources. High fiber diets have been a part of the recommended therapy for patients to reduce symptoms and complications of DD. Analysis of the effect of high fiber diet education on hospital readmission of patients with a diagnosis of DD (N=68) was conducted. Chi-square analysis determined that high fiber diet education was not associated with readmission (x2=0.567, P=0.452). T-tests determined that men were more likely to be …

The Effect Of The Pre-Kindergarten Program On The Reading Achievement Of African American Students, Sebrina R. Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized the 2013 language arts data from the Mississippi Curriculum Test II to examine the impact Pre-k has on the reading achievement of low socio-economic African American students. This study was guided by one research question and employed a causal-comparative research design. The research question sought to determine the difference in MCT2 language arts scores of third grade students who participated in a school district’s Pre-k program and those who did not attend the district’s Pre-k program. The results indicated that there was a significant difference in the language arts scores of students who attended Pre-k and those …

Propagation Of Blueberries In Compost Amended Media, Susan Stuart Worthey

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of propagation media containing composted material on the rooting of hardwood and softwood blueberry cuttings. The physical properties were measured at the end of the experiment. The media used were pine bark fines, composted pine bark with ammoniated nitrogen added, hardwood bark and composted chicken manure, pine bark and cotton gin waste, and control (peat moss and perlite, 1:1). All treatments resulted in a low number of rooted hardwood cuttings compared to the control. The total number of roots per cutting and alive cuttings hardwood cuttings was increased by pine …

Screening Corn Hybrids For Cold Tolerance Using Morpho-Physiological Traits For Early Season Planting System, Godakande Chathurika Wijewardana

Theses and Dissertations

Earlier planting to escape summer drought and high temperature has increased the importance of cold tolerance in corn. The objectives of this study were to assess cold tolerance among the corn hybrids using morpho-physiological traits and to classify hybrids into different groups of tolerance. Corn hybrids were subjected to optimum, low, and very low temperatures during seed emergence and seedling growth and morphological and physiological traits were assessed. Variability existed among the corn hybrids for the measured traits. Total, leaf and root weights and cumulative length and length per unit volume were the most important morphological traits in describing hybrid …

Soil Resource And Production Dynamics Of A Tree-Grass Intercropping System Managed Across Gradients Of Interspecific Competition, Kurt Joseph Krapfl

Theses and Dissertations

Belowground competition presents a threat to the production and sustainability of tree-grass ecosystems. Management scenarios designed to optimize the spatial and temporal distribution of soil resources will improve resource-use efficiency and promote greater co-production. We conducted three experiments to assess competition dynamics between loblolly pine and switchgrass. In a three-year field trial, loblolly pine and switchgrass were intercropped across varying competitive intensities. Interspecific competition decreased loblolly pine annual growth; however, establishing vegetation exclusion zones surrounding pines largely mitigated these effects. Switchgrass yields were less affected by interspecific competition compared to pines and land equivalency ratios indicated that with proper management …

Pesticide Toxicants And Atherosclerosis; Role Of Oxidative Stress And Dysregulated Lipid Metabolism In Human Monocytes And Macrophages, Lee Christopher Mangum

Theses and Dissertations

Evidence suggests that pesticide exposure is a risk factor for atherosclerosis, a pathology involving oxidative stress and dysregulated cholesterol metabolism in monocytes and macrophages as vital causative factors. This research focused on understanding two different mechanisms by which organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides may contribute to atherogenesis. First, the ability of organochlorine insecticides to contribute to elevated oxidative stress was investigated. Urinary concentrations of F2-isoprostanes (a systemic oxidative stress biomarker) and serum levels of the persistent organochlorine compounds p,p’-DDE, trans-nonachlor and oxychlordane were quantified in human samples and the association of these factors with diagnosis of atherosclerosis was described in a …

Effects Of Phosphine Fumigation And Food-Grade Coatings On The Safety, Mite Mortality, And Sensory Quality Of Dry-Cured Ham, Yan Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

Dry-cured hams often become infested with ham mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) during the aging process. Methyl bromide has been used to fumigate dry cured ham processing plants and is the only known fumigant that is effective at controlling ham mite infestations. However, methyl bromide will be phased out of all industries by 2015. This research was designed to 1) determine the efficacy of phosphine fumigation at controlling ham mites and red-legged beetles and its impact on the sensory quality and safety of dry cured hams, and 2) to develop and evaluate the potential of using food-grade film coatings to control mite …

Effects Of Warm-Ups On Time Trials For Elite Ncaa Division I 800-Meter Middle Distance Runners: Establishing A Priming Warm-Up For Optimum Results In A Peak Performance, Roger Lynn Keesling

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized an experimental design testing low, medium, and high intensity warm-up protocols for NCAA Division I 800-meter male and female middle distance runners to determine which result in optimal outcomes in a peak performance, i.e., 800-meter time trial. Mississippi State University student athletes on the Track and Field Team who compete in middle distance running events participated. Among males, results of the repeated measures ANOVA found no significant difference among the three warm-up protocols for the first 400 meters completed. For females, repeated measures ANOVA results found no significant difference among the protocols for the first 200 meters …

Transmission Electron Microscopy Study Of Listeria Monocytogenes Serotype 1/2a Cells Exposed To Sublethal Heat Stress And Carvacrol, Sulagna Saha

Theses and Dissertations

Previous findings showed that Listeria monocytogenes exhibits higher heat tolerance to thermal exposure at 60°C when pre-exposed to sublethal heat stress at 48°C for 30/60 min. The objective of this study was to investigate the morphological changes that occurred in L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a cells as visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after exposure to sublethal heat stress at 48°C for 60 min and in combination with lethal concentration of carvacrol for 30 min. The TEM micrographs revealed thickening of cell wall and cell membrane, and clumping of cytoplasm when subjected to sublethal heat stress followed by carvacrol treatment. These …

Low Salinity Tolerance In Gulf Killifish Fundulus Grandis With Relevance To Aquaculture, Shane Wyman Ramee

Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf killifish Fundulus grandis is a euryhaline baitfish species with commercial aquaculture potential. The low salinity and freshwater tolerance of early life-stages of F. grandis were evaluated to determine the potential for inland culture and guide production protocols. Egg fertilization and embryo survival decreased in fresh water, but freshwater incubation improved larval freshwater tolerance. In juveniles, survival and growth were reduced in fresh water from 2-6 weeks post-hatch but not from 7-11 or 12-16 weeks post-hatch. Na+/K+-ATPase activity and whole body Na+ content were elevated in low salinity treatments of the 7-11 weeks post-hatch age group, indicating substantial osmoregulatory …

Ecpat: Development And Testing Of Mobile Technology To Engage Youth In Active Living Policy, Systems, And Environmental Health Promotion Efforts, Gina M. Besenyi

Theses and Dissertations

Modifying the built environment is a promising way to promote youth physical activity and reduce obesity. Parks, in particular, are key intervention venues given their low cost and legislated ubiquity. Creating healthy communities, including better parks, will require the interest and participation of multiple constituencies, including youth. Creation of mobile technology environmental audit tools can provide a more interactive way for youth to engage with communities and facilitate participation in participatory action research (PAR) and health promotion efforts.

The purpose of the first study was to describe the development and validity and reliability testing of an electronic version of the …

By Word Of Mouth: A Qualitative Approach To Understanding The Integration Of Preventive Dental Health In Primary Care Settings, Joni D. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Childhood and adolescence are sensitive periods in the lifespan when oral and craniofacial appearances can help determine social interactions and lifetime outcomes. In this respect, oral health can be viewed as more than just brushing or flossing for healthy teeth; children’s oral health can influence their social development and behaviors, impact their academic growth, affect their guardian’s responsibility for healthcare cost and create a potential pathway for negative impacts on quality of life. Access to quality oral healthcare is vital for the prevention of unwanted diseases and to avoid the burden of oral health complications. Oral health disparities may not …

Applications Of Organic Probes For Imaging And Analysis Of Different Cancer Cell Models, Hong Guan

Theses and Dissertations

Novel techniques for better studying cancer cell behavior and progression are extremely important. Our lab is interested in synthesizing specifically designed organic reagents and applying them in the studies of cancers. In this dissertation, we used organic probes to investigate cancer cells in the following topics: determination of amino acid concentration in different types of cancers, tumor toxicity of organic probes towards HER2 positive breast cancer cells, glycoproteins identification in breast cancer cells and development of enzyme activity assay for colon cancer cells.

The first chapter was focused on the determination of cysteine/homocysteine concentrations using turn-on sensors in cancer cells. …

Smoking Cessation In Pregnancy And Gestational Weight Gain In South Carolinian Mothers, 2009-2011, Laquenta Latreese Weldon

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To determine if smoking cessation during pregnancy is associated with excessive gestational weight gain (GWG).

Methods: Data came from the 2009-2011 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), an ongoing population-based survey of live births in South Carolina (n=2,603). Participant smoking status was classified as nonsmoker (did not smoke before or during pregnancy), persistent smoker (smoked before and throughout pregnancy), or quitter (smoked before but quit during pregnancy). Multinomial logistic regression model was estimated to examine the association between smoking status and meeting the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines, while linear regression model was used for the continuous outcomes such …

Longitudinal Study Of The Effectiveness Of The South Carolina Medicaid Policy For The Application Of Fluoride Varnish For Children Age Three And Under, Christine N. Veschusio

Theses and Dissertations

In South Carolina, the burden of dental decay disproportionately affects disadvantaged children enrolled in Medicaid (Dye et al., 2012; Martin et al., 2012; Ayers et al., 2013). To address this oral health disparity, South Carolina’s Medicaid Program initiated payment to physicians for the delivery of fluoride varnish (FV), an evidence-based preventive dental service at the well-child visit, to children up to thirty-six months of age. Fluoride varnish has been found to reduce dental decay by thirty-seven percent when applied two to four times a year (Weyant et al., 2013; Marinho et al., 2013).

Two retrospective cohort studies were undertaken to …

Effects Of The Developmental Environment On Oxidative Damage And Antioxidants In Red-Eared Slider Turtle ( Trachemys Scripta Elegans ) Hatchlings, Lisa Allison Treidel

Theses and Dissertations

Developmental environments influence many individual phenotypes. However, currently we have a limited understanding of how the developmental environment influences oxidative stress resistance phenotypes. Oxidative stress is defined as a physiological state during which the production of harmful free radicals exceeds the protective capabilities of antioxidants. Variations among adults in susceptibility to oxidative stress can have important consequences for life history strategies and fitness related traits. Our work was aimed at providing insight in to the role that the developmental environment plays on oxidative stress phenotypes in the model oviparous reptile the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans). Here, we conducted …

Improving Breastfeeding Support Through Understanding Mothers' Perspectives And Experiences, Alicia D. Debevec

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Delayed Cord-Clamping In Term And Preterm Infants: Nursing Strategies To Facilitate Implementation, Nancy M. Finnegan

Theses and Dissertations

Newborns have been shown to benefit from delayed umbilical cord clamping after birth by the extra transfusion of placental blood. Enhanced placental transfusion is known to increase blood volume, red blood cells and improve the oxygenation of vital organs in both term and preterm infants. There continues to be however, a need for further research including issues such as optimal timing of the delay, eligibility and appropriateness of those newborns requiring resuscitation, and the ideal position to hold the infant prior to cord clamping. Changes in clinical practice have been slow to take hold because of these issues, along with …

Increasing Palliative Care Referrals In Terminal Lung Cancer Patients, John Edward Roll

Theses and Dissertations

Late referrals to palliative care services for patients suffering from terminal lung cancer is an ongoing problem that unnecessarily shortens patient survival time by inadequate and poorly timed symptom control that affects the remaining quality of life for both patient and family. The latest mortality figures available (2011) showed approximately 157,000 people died due to cancer of the lung, trachea, and bronchus (CDC, 2014a). The purpose of this independent study was to review and effectively analyze the literature and understand the reasons and barriers to early referral of palliative care services by health care providers for their clients diagnosed with …

Reduction Of Osteoporosis In Cancer Patients Who Are Receiving Aromatase Inhibitor Treatment, Amaka G. Onyeka

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Decreasing Bouts Of Prolonged Sitting Among Office Workers, Nicholas Green

Theses and Dissertations

Health care costs of preventable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and obesity are higher than ever, and indicate the need for behavioral interventions. Research has shown that individuals who sit for extended periods are at higher risk for these diseases. Moreover, the risks associated with sitting have been found to be independent of an individual’s physical activity. That is, longer durations of sitting per day are associated with higher levels of unwanted health risks, regardless of how often an individual exercises. There is a need to address this issue in today’s inactive workplace. Research indicates that office …

Developmental Analysis Of Rod And Cone Photoreceptor Architecture In The Retina Of The Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas), Nikia Lynn Rice

Theses and Dissertations

All sea turtle species are threatened or endangered, some critically so. Vision is key to individual success in sea turtles; they use their vision for sea finding at hatching, foraging and predator avoidance throughout life, and mating and nesting as adults. This research project provides a comprehensive analysis throughout development (the first of kind) of the outer retina of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. The research project included characterization of the retina biochemically via immunohistochemistry and histologically via light microscopy, both done over the course of development from hatchling through adult. At all stages, the retina was duplex, containing both …

Switching Tactics: Phenotypic Plasticity In The Alternative Mate-Finding Tactics Of Burying Beetles, Theresa Mulrey

Theses and Dissertations

Male Nicrophorus burying beetles utilize two alternative mate-finding tactics, representing an ideal model system to test the influence of environmental cues on the expression of alternative tactics. The "searching" tactic involves flying in search of a carcass on which to mate. This tactic can result in high levels of paternity, but is risky in that carcasses are rare and competition for carcasses is fierce. The "signaling" tactic, which involves emitting pheromone in the absence of a carcass to attract females, is energetically less costly, but a signalling male must mate with multiple females to achieve the same reproductive returns as …

What Do You Want To Eat? A Descriptive Study Of Native Hawaiian And Pacific Islanders' Home Food Environment, Petr Ruda

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: Home food environments are created when families stock their kitchens with food, which contributes to their dietary patterns and weight management. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NPHIs) have a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. A description of their home food environment can help nurses understand NHPIs' dietary patterns. Our purpose was to describe NHPIs' home food environments by analyzing grocery store and restaurant receipts. Design and Sample: This descriptive study used analyzed qualitative and quantitative data from eight NHPI families, collected over an 8-week period. Measures: Grocery store and restaurant receipts were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Families' dietary …

Low Bone Mineral Density In Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Molly K. Torvik

Theses and Dissertations

Low bone mineral density is a common and detrimental extra-intestinal complication in inflammatory bowel disease (IBO). There are several factors known to contribute to low bone mineral density in this population. The case outlined reviews a postmenopausal female with osteoporosis. While low bone mineral density in postmenopausal women is well-studied and often applied to 180, the process of bone loss is different in IBD which makes treatment more difficult. The literature review discusses the increased 1isk for low bone mineral density in IBD, factors increasing its risk, current screening and preventive care recommendations, barriers to improved bone mineral density in …

Dietary Habits And Colorectal Cancer Risk, Stacie M. Frovarp,

Theses and Dissertations

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) (2014), colorectal cancer (CRC) is the "3rd leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States"(p. 3). Researches have hypothesized how dietary habits could increase an individual's risk of developing CRC. Diets high in red meat for example, have long been thought to produce carcinogens through cooking and digestive processes. These carcinogens damage colon DNA, leading to neoplastic changes (Raskov, Pommergaard, Burcharth, & Rosenberg, 2014). On the other hand, fiber has been suggested as having a protective nature to individuals with CRC risk. Throughout this literature review a case involving 65-year-old female …

The Impact Of Health Literacy On Effective Breastfeeding Education, Emmalee Schubring

Theses and Dissertations

Many studies have shown that any amount of breastfeeding decreases a child's risk of otitis media, gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes . Breastfeeding for one month or more decreases the risk of SIDS; two months or more decreases the risk of celiac disease; and breastfeeding for more than three months decreases the risk of type 1 diabetes, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. The benefits continue to grow if a child is breastfed more than six months (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012) .

Even though the benefits of breastfeeding are well documented, low-income women are still less likely …

Bisphosphonates And Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer, Abby E. Peters

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Weight Loss On Cardiovascular Outcomes In Hypertensive Patients, Melissa J. Hayes

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Quality Of Life And Health Behaviors In Schizotypy, Victoria Giordano

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia are typically found to engage in higher rates of poorer health behaviors, such as higher rates of smoking and poorer nutrition. Along with poorer health behaviors, individuals with schizophrenia tend to report a lower quality of life than an individual without a schizophrenia diagnosis. Our study chose to look at schizotypy, or sub-clinical schizophrenia, and its relation to quality of life and health behaviors. We found that individuals that measure high on the subclinical schizotypy scale tend to mirror the health and quality of life ratings of an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia - they are more …