Digital Commons Network^™

Consuming Food Memoirs: Identity, Experience, Legitimization As Rhetorical Sustenance, Kayla Bruce

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a rhetorical analysis of nonfiction food texts as representative of a facet of life writing texts, and as they are currently viewed and used by readers both within and outside of the academy. The examination of food texts focuses around Kate Christensen's 2013 food memoir Blue Plate Special: An Autobiography of My Appetites and her food blog, Don't Let It Bring You Down that proceeded and followed the publication of the food memoir. Likewise, author Molly Wizenberg's food blog Orangette preceded the publication of her 2009 food memoir A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes From My Kitchen …

Perceptions And Practices Of Hydration In Triathlon, Corey Stephen O'Connor

Theses and Dissertations

Perceptions and Practices of Hydration in Triathlon

Corey S. O'Connor, David Q. Thomas, Kelly R. Laurson, Dale D. Brown. Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Purpose: To examine where triathletes obtain information regarding hydration, if their performances have been affected by dehydration, and how they monitor their hydration status. Methods: Two hundred and two participants (age=38.70 ± 9.73 years) from various triathlon groups in Illinois participated in the study. Each participant was asked to complete an electronic survey. The survey was composed of twenty seven items and was developed by O'Neal (2011). The survey was modified for triathletes and seven questions …

Effects Of Graston Technique On Blood Flow In The Upper Extremity, Ashley Nicole Keck

Theses and Dissertations

Context: When musculature around the shoulder is tight, alterations in scapular positioning may result, thus compressing the blood vessels to the upper extremity and decreasing blood flow. Graston Technique (GT) mobilizes the soft tissues to break up adhesions in fascia and lengthens tight musculature. The effect of GT has on blood flow after treatment to the shoulder musculature is unknown. Objective: To determine if GT has an effect on blood flow and pectorals minor length after a single treatment session. Design: Controlled laboratory study with randomization. Setting: University athletic training laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Sixty healthy subjects (27 male, …

Nursery Pig Growth Response To Feed Ingredients And Feed Additives: I ). Spray-Dried Blood Plasma Vs. Spray-Dried Egg Effect On Nursery Pig Growth Performance Ii ). Effect Of Α-Galactosidase And Citric Acid On Nursery Pig Growth Performance When Added To A Corn-Soybean Meal Diet, Elizabeth Kaye Pegg

Theses and Dissertations

Nursery pigs are defined as newly weaned pigs adjusting to a solid-plant based diet after being weaned from a milk-based diet. Weaning has nutritional, environmental, social, and physiological impacts on the nursery pig. Nutrition is modified to accommodate changing needs of the nursery pig. The nursery pig diet is developed by adding highly digestible animal proteins to the standard corn-soybean meal swine diet. Development of the nursery diet improves pig performance but animal-based proteins can be expensive and do not address undigestible components of the plant-based ingredients. Addition of lower-cost animal proteins, addition of enzymes, and addition of acidifiers have …

Nitrogen Use Efficiency Of Polymer-Coated Urea, Curtis J. Ransom

Theses and Dissertations

Plants require N to complete their life cycle. Without adequate concentration of N, crops will not produce their potential yields. For turfgrass systems, N fertilizer application allows for the maintenance of functional, aesthetic, and recreational properties. However, fertilizer mismanagement is common and leads to N pollution in the environment. Controlled-release and slow-release fertilizers can enhance nitrogen (N)-use efficiency, reduce N pollution, minimize the need for repeated fertilizer applications, and reduce turfgrass shoot growth and associated costs. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of these fertilizers in the Intermountain West, research is needed. The timing of N release was evaluated for …

Online Course Management System For Wic Nutrition Education And Study Of Its Effectiveness In Behavioral And Attitude Changes, Ryan A. Amy

Theses and Dissertations

Social media has been used in a variety of contexts to connect people of varying backgrounds and as a method of teaching. This thesis collaborated with the Utah County Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) department to develop an online course management system that facilitated research to evaluate the effectiveness of social media on nutrition behavior and attitude changes among WIC clients. We created a toddler themed Facebook page in conjunction with the online nutrition classes and provided the opportunity for clients to use them. Previous social media research used individuals that had agreed to participate in the social media experiment …

Comparison Of Body Composition Techniques In Determining Body Fat Percentages In College Age Students, Jillian Louise Barnas

Theses and Dissertations

While the use of body composition analyzers can become a critical tool in breaking the continual weight loss/weight gain cycle in Americans, the accuracy of these analyzers at measuring body composition remains in question. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of various body composition techniques at determining body fat percentages (%BF). METHODS: Sixty males (mean ± SD) [age: 21.3 ± 1.7 yr., height: 178.1 ± 7.2 cm., mass: 81.9 ± 12.6 kg., body fat %: 14.6 ± 7.5 %] and thirty-nine females [age: 20.5 ± 0.9 yr., height: 166.0 ± 7.7 cm., mass: 63.5 ± …

The Effect Of Age On Second Language Acquisition In Older Adults, Charisse Alaine Major

Theses and Dissertations

A primary purpose of second language (L2) research is to determine what factors hinder or help L2 acquisition. One aspect that has a strong effect on L2 proficiency is learners' age of onset of acquisition (AOA) (Johnson & Newport, 1989). These studies and others suggest that younger learners are more adept than older learners at learning an L2, especially to a near-native level. However, some older learners can become quite proficient in an L2 (Ioup, et al. 1994; Bialystok, 1997; Bongaerts, 1999), although learners who have acquired the L2 over the age of 30 are rarely studied. Why is it …

Teachers Observing Teachers: Factors That Contribute To Critical Thinking In Peer Coaching, Jessica Lafern Bryan

Theses and Dissertations

Many university language programs draw on undergraduate as well as graduate students to conduct their courses. These student instructors do not always have adequate pedagogical preparation or experience. Past research suggests that conducting peer observations followed by a group reflection on basic teaching practice would help teachers become more aware of their own teaching. This research aims to investigate whether peer coaching followed by peer reflection meetings increases instructor effectiveness and confidence, as well as whether it is the observations or the reflections that encourage teachers to think more critically and improve their teaching.

A Dyadic Analysis Of Couple Attachment Behaviors As Predictors Of Dietary Habits And Physical Activity Levels, Stephanie Young

Theses and Dissertations

While there is substantial evidence that marriage impacts health, no studies have explicitly analyzed the association between attachment behaviors and health practices. This study examines the relationship between couples' attachment behaviors and health practices, as measured by physical activity levels and dietary habits. Couple data was analyzed from the RELATE database (n= 4,957 couples). An Actor Partner Interdependence Model, using a multinomial logistic regression, was used to examine the relationships between attachment behaviors and health practices, as measured by activity level and dietary habits. Results for actor paths indicate that wives' own attachment behaviors significantly influence their own health practices. …

Dementia Caregivers: An Exploration Of Their Knowledge, Beliefs, And Behavior Regarding Advance Care Planning For End-Of-Life Care, Mariette Klein

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore what knowledge dementia caregivers have about advance care planning (ACP), how they learn to execute formal advance directives (ADs) or have engaged in an informal ACP process, and how they understand their roles as decision makers for the patients. Factors that contribute to the completion of an ACP process such as demographic, psychosocial, and situational factors are identified. From the grounded theory data analysis, a theory emerged about how ACP is accomplished and used by caregivers. Findings reveal that caregivers understand ACP as having the power to shape the dying process for …

Fire Severity And Size Alter Quaking Aspen (Populus Tremuloides) Regeneration And Defense Against Ungulate Herbivory, Ho Yi Wan

Theses and Dissertations

Human activities and rapid global climate change are altering fire regimes with potential threat to the stability of aspen ecosystems in North America. Aspen is an early successional species that plays an important role in post-fire forest reestablishment, but chronic browsing on juvenile aspen by large ungulate herbivores after fire can be detrimental and lead to regeneration failure. Although larger and more severe fires are expected to become more prominent, whether and how this may influence aspen and ungulate communities remains unclear. The objective of this research was to examine how the relationship between aspen and ungulate communities might be …

Parturition Of Mule Deer In Southern Utah: Management Implications And Habitat Selection, Eric D. Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are an ecologically, economically, and socially important species across much of the western United States. As such, populations and habitat are intensely managed by state game agencies. However, populations have been declining in recent decades and several factors have been implicated (e.g., climate, predation, competition, and habitat availability). Population dynamics of mule deer are driven by a combination of survival of adults and juveniles and reproductive rates. While adult female mule deer typically have consistently high annual survival rates (85% annually), juveniles are more easily affected by stressors (biotic and abiotic conditions) and therefore …

The Use Of Exercise For The Treatment Of Depression, Joanna K. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (20 I 0) , I in IO American adults suffer from depression. The effects of depression can lead to a decrease in quality of life, poor health behaviors , and potentially self harm. Cun-ently, the treatment for depressive symptoms relies heavily on medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's). Though effective, these treatments take time to become effective, have potential adverse side effects, and often end in poor adherence. With this in mind, the present review paper explored research into the benefits of exercise for the reduction of depressive symptoms with …

The Relationship Between Health-Related Fitness Knowledge, Perceived Competence, Self-Determination, And Physical Activity Behaviors Of High School Students, Elizabeth Bailey Haslem

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was (a) to test a hypothesized model of motivation grounded in the Self-Determination Theory within the context of conceptual physical education (CPE), and (b) to explore the strength and directionality of perceived competence for physical activity as a possible mediator for health-related fitness knowledge and actual physical activity behaviors. Participants were 280 high school students who were at the end of a CPE course. Participants completed the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire–2, the Godin Leisure–Time Exercise Questionnaire, the Perceived Competence Scale, and a Health-Related Fitness Knowledge Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling analysis was used to explore …

Efficacy Of Non-Pharmacological Interventions In Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease Management, Brenda R. Collins

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Longitudinal Case Study Of The Impact Of Democracy On Food Security In Ghana And Implications For Theory Development, Katelyn Marie Colaric

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reports the results of a qualitative, longitudinal case study of Ghana that examined the impact of democracy on food security within Ghana since its democratization in 1992. First, the study reviews existing literature about food security, a newly-emerging concern in political science, as well as the literature on democracy and human rights. To fill the gaps in existing literature regarding the impact of democracy on food security, [and the author finds it overzealous to prove that democracy always benefits food security levels across varying states, cultures, and years] the thesis examines food security developments in Ghana, a developing …

Incorporating Construction And Demolition Waste Into Non-Load Brearing Bricks., Neveen Samy Talaat Soliman

Theses and Dissertations

Egypt faces serious solid waste management challenges. Currently, waste is either burned or dumped along roads and canals. Not only do these wastes cause health problems, but they also contribute significantly to soil, air, and water pollution. Solid waste can be categorized as residential, industrial, institutional, municipal, manufacturing, and construction and demolition waste (C&DW). The construction industry threatens the environment in three main ways: during the production of raw materials in the process of cement and aggregate production; during the construction process itself due to high consumption of energy; and, in the final stages of the construction process due to …

A Longitudinal Study Of The Bidirectional Relations Between Internalizing Symptoms And Peer Victimization In Urban Adolescents, Tess Drazdowski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the bidirectional relations between anxious and depressive symptoms and two forms of peer victimization (i.e., overt and relational) within a sample of 358 predominantly African-American adolescents living in low-income urban areas across four years. Longitudinal path analyses tested progressively complex models for each type of victimization. For both overt and relational victimization the autoregressive model where only previous levels of each construct predicted future levels of the construct was the most parsimonious explanation. The best fitting model for both types of peer victimization suggested that internalizing symptoms helped to further explain future …

Effect Of Brassica Vegetable Intake On The 2:16Α Estrogen Metabolite Ratio In Postmenopausal European American And African American Women, Kendrea Knight

Theses and Dissertations

Background: It is well-established that many risk factors for breast cancer are related to estrogen or reproductive factors. Two estrogen metabolites of particular interest are 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE) and 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE) which are often reported together as a ratio of 2:16α-hydroxyestrone (2:16α –OHE). It has been demonstrated in several studies that postmenopausal women who are at a higher risk of breast cancer tend to have increased levels of 16α-OHE or decreased levels of 2-OHE levels in the body. Recent studies have shown that the phytochemical indole-3-carbinol (I3C), found in Brassica vegetables, impacts the conversion of 2-OHE, known as “good estrogen”, by …

An Analysis Of The Cause, Effect & Control Of Hyperlipidemia From A Nursing Perspective, Melissa Rodgers

Theses and Dissertations

Two of the top four causes of death worldwide, heart disease and stroke, are related to hyperlipidemia, elevated cholesterol levels; these two illnesses account for approximately seventeen million deaths each year (World Health Organization, 2014). In order to combat the prevalence of these illnesses, the National Cholesterol Educational Panel has issued guidelines regarding cholesterol management. Extensive research has been published concerning cholesterol management. However, a gap remains between evidenced-based practice and community awareness of this phenomenon. This manuscript compiles research from peer reviewed nursing journals and acclaimed government and national organizations to express the cause, effect, and control of hyperlipidemia …

Where Does Electronic Aggression Fit?: A Comparison Of Dimensional And Categorical Models Of Adolescent Aggression, Krista R. Mehari

Theses and Dissertations

Electronic aggression is a rapidly growing focus of research, but it lacks a unifying theoretical framework that is necessary to advance the field. The lack of a theoretical framework has led to inconsistencies in measurement of electronic aggression, making it difficult to draw conclusions across studies. In general, researchers have assumed that electronic aggression constitutes a new form of aggression, a counterpart to physical, verbal, and relational aggression, due to unique features surrounding the perpetration of electronic aggression. Furthermore, researchers have treated electronic aggression as a categorical variable based on the assumption that “cyberbullies” constitute a distinct group of adolescents. …

The Effect Of Youth Diabetes Self-Efficacy On The Relation Among Family Conflict, Disease Care And Glycemic Control, Kathryn Maher

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the current study was to examine the associations among youth diabetes self-efficacy, family conflict, disease care and glycemic control via a comprehensive path model. Data were from a baseline assessment of a longitudinal RCT of 257 adolescent/parent dyads (adolescents aged 11–14). Each member of the dyad separately completed the Self-efficacy for Diabetes Self-Management Scale, Family Environment Conflict subscale, Diabetes Family Conflict Scale, Diabetes Behavior Rating Scale, and 24-hr Diabetes Interview Blood Glucose Frequency subscale. Additionally, a biological marker of glycemic control, or HbA1c, and relevant demographic variables were collected. A mediation model found higher youth diabetes self-efficacy …

Assessing Design Thinking Through The Activation Of A Social Challenge In Higher Education: An Academic Inquiry, Amin Matni

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an inquiry that documents, identifies and assesses the effectiveness, circumstances, and potential resources related to addressing the gap between social needs and higher education as stated in the National Development Strategy 2011-2016. The aim of the thesis is to evaluate the response of the students on the collaborative, human-centered, result-oriented aspects of design thinking while addressing the eating experience topic, an articulated theme from the wicked problem of obesity. The eating experience theme provided students from design, business and engineering majors a contextualized topic to test design thinking in a series of workshops conducted in three different …

A Mixed-Methods Examination Of Racial Differences In Females' Perceptions And Experiences Of Sexual Objectification, Ellyn Leighton-Herrmann

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual objectification has become a pervasive problem, negatively affecting the mental and physical health of many women. Understanding the influence of visual media, social-support networks and social interactions on young women's health is essential to addressing issues related to objectification. We do not have an in-depth understanding of how Black and White young adult women make meaning of objectification. Further, the existing literature suggests that experiences of objectification are likely different for Black and White women. The current research employed two studies, one qualitative and one quantitative, to address these particular gaps. Study 1 used focus groups to assess young …

Epigenetic Alterations Of Toll-Like Receptors By Tet2 In Spontaneous Preterm Labor, Anuja Chumble

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing evidence implicates the presence of bacteria in intrauterine tissues as an important risk factor for spontaneous preterm labor. Epigenetic alterations of innate immunity genes may increase the mother’s sensitivity to subclinical levels of bacteria. This study examined the presence of TET2, TLR-2, and TLR-9 in intrauterine tissue, and evaluated whether epigenetic alterations of these genes, as well as IL-8, changed their expression in human decidual tissue and a macrophage cell culture. Immunohistochemicalstaining was used to detect the presence of these proteins in intrauterine tissue. Gene expression changes were evaluated in stimulated monocytes and macrophages. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry was used to …

Incorporating Dependence Boundaries In Simulating Associated Discrete Data, Mary E. Haynes

Theses and Dissertations

In the study of associated discrete variables, limitations on the range of the possible association measures (Pearson correlation, odds ratio, etc.) arise from the form of the joint probability function between the variables. These limitations are known as the Fréchet bounds. The bounds for cases involving associated binary variables are explored in the context of simulating datasets with a desired correlation and set of marginal probabilities. A new method for creating such datasets is compared to an existing method that uses the multivariate probit. A method for simulating associated binary variables using a desired odds ratio and known marginal probabilities …

A Study Of A Professional Development Initiative To Increase Cultural Competency, Jennifer C. Coleman

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

A STUDY OF A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TO INCREASE

CULTURAL COMPETENCY

By Jennifer Crowe Coleman, Ph.D.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2014

Major Director: Charol Shakeshaft, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Educational Leadership

School of Education

While there are broad, societal forces that contribute to achievement gaps, the professional development of teachers is one way educational leaders have sought to improve schools, improve teacher performance, and increase teacher knowledge and skills. Given the achievement and cultural gaps that exist between teachers and …

Old To New And New To Old: A Study Of Dematerializing Transitions Between Old And New Architecture, Jane Ellen T. Moss

Theses and Dissertations

This project explores the juxtaposition of classical and contemporary architectural forms as they coexist within Richmond City’s urban fabric. It is an assessment and understanding of how the built environment can reinforce transitions between old and new in ways that both integrate architectural differences and embrace historical identity.

Richmond, and a large part of Virginia in general, has been shaped by the historical events of its existence. The sights of the city reveal a clash of the old and new. It is a city where newer developments and traditional elements have been trying to co-mingle.

The design incorporates a contemporary …

Examining The Sensory Characteristics Of Preschool Children With Retentive Fecal Incontinence, Isabelle Beaudry-Bellefeuille

Theses and Dissertations

Occupational therapists are concerned with individuals´ abilities to engage in daily occupations. When a daily activity such as bowel management is problematic, participation in key occupations can be limited. Retentive fecal incontinence is a common disorder in children. Behavior seems to be partly responsible for this condition. Occupational therapists have hypothesized that some behaviors could be related to sensory over-responsivity. This study investigated the relationship between retentive fecal incontinence and sensory over-responsivity and examined the Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire, a tool designed to screen for toileting difficulties. The study showed that a group of children (n=16) with retentive fecal incontinence …