Digital Commons Network^™

Defining Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera Praeclara) Habitat, Michael David Knudson

Theses and Dissertations

Terrestrial orchids are at the forefront of the discussion about anthropogenically-driven extinction with more species threatened globally than any other plant family, mostly because of loss of habitat. The Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera praeclara) is a threatened species found on the Sheyenne National Grassland in southeast North Dakota, USA. This conservation area that is a vital refuge for this species is subject to management for multiple uses including livestock grazing and recreation. Orchids are subject to continuous monitoring, but knowledge of the relationship between landscape indicators and orchid locations is limited. Research is needed to provide a greater understanding …

A Comparison Of Food Accessibility From 2002 To 2012 In St. Paul, Minnesota, Brett Sergenian

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the changes in the healthy food accessibility landscape of St. Paul from 2002 to 2012. Food deserts are areas of limited or no accessibility to healthy food options. Local food landscapes in the U.S. and Canada have changed significantly over the past 50 years as many supermarkets have relocated out of the inner cities and into the suburbs. As a result, many inner city neighborhoods no longer have adequate access to healthy food. Despite supermarkets relocating out of the inner city, small and mid-sized grocers could stock healthy food options. The research questions answered are: Where are …

Effect Of Sedentary And Physical Activities On Children's Food Choice, Allison Michelle Barry

Theses and Dissertations

Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 17% of children are obese. Children who are overweight or obese are more likely to become overweight adults. Children's snack choice has shifted from healthy to unhealthy (primarily salty and sweet option), and since children's snack consumption makes up 27% of their total energy intake, it is important to understand influences of their snack choice.

Purpose: To examine the effect of sedentary and physical activities on children's food choice.

Method: Participants included a volunteer sample of children (n=24) ranging from 9-13 years old. Children's height and weight were …

Effect Of A Nutrition Program On Eating Habits In Female Collegiate Athletes, Jorid Dagfinrud Oiestad

Theses and Dissertations

In the present study, an intervention took place using two female collegiate NCAA Division 1 (D1) teams. One team was randomized to be the experimental group, receiving the intervention of the 6-week nutrition education class Fueling for Performance (FFP). And the other team served as the control group, receiving no treatment. The purpose was to examine the effect of the FFP intervention on energy balance, body composition and self-efficacy compared to the control group, pre- and post- intervention.

The participants provided pre- and post intervention data through 3-day food records entered in MyPlate Super Tracker, wearing of a BodyMedia Senswear …

Quality Of Care From A Parent’S Point Of View: An Examination Of An Early Childhood Education Center Located At A Community College, Jennifer Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to understand parents’ views about child care and the variables that influence their decision to place their children in 5-star child-care facilities. Child care of any kind is often the first group experience children have outside the home. The first 5 years are the most important years in a child’s educational life; it sets the educational foundation for the rest of the child’s life.

The quantitative portion of this study consisted of four research questions, which assessed several sets of relationships and issues: (a) the relationship between demographic data and quality of care; (b) the …

Infrared Vibrational Spectroscopy Analysis Of Selected Biomolecules, Busra Ergul

Theses and Dissertations

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a useful tool to examine biological molecules for noninvasive measurements. This research has focused on the determination of concentrations of four important biomolecules, glucose, gluconic acid, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and dopamine by FTIR. It is crucial to determine blood glucose levels for diabetes diagnosis. H2O2 is an important biomolecule having implications in aging and aging related diseases. Gluconic acid is important in food and pharmaceutical industries, and dopamine plays a key role in brain activity. In this work, first, glucose, gluconic acid, and H2O2 in aqueous solutions have been studied by using FTIR. Standard …

Arkansas's Early Home Demonstration Club Members: Making The Work Their Own, Elizabeth A. Hill

Theses and Dissertations

In its attempt to retain the nation's farmers and farm families on the land during the early twentieth century, the U. S. Department of Agriculture found that the situation in the South was particularly problematic as it included dilapidated farm homes, malnutrition, and "poverty of spirit." In order to combat these deficiencies, the home demonstration program taught farm women improved methods for accomplishing their household responsibilities. It also encouraged the women to better their families' living conditions through home improvements and labor-saving devices. This study explores how Arkansas's early home demonstration club members accepted, within their own limitations and spheres …

Determination Of Beta-Carotene Content And Consumer Acceptability Of Sweet Potato Cookies By Adults And Preschool Children, Aja Marie Stokes

Theses and Dissertations

Vitamin A deficiency is recognized as a major health concern worldwide, especially in developing countries. Sweet potatoes are a cash crop that is abundantly grown and available, providing an excellent source of the carotenoid, beta-carotene. Carotenoids are precursors to vitamin A (retinol). Three sweet potato cookie products were developed: glutenree, wheat-containing, and glutenree with extra sweet potato. Products were evaluated by adults and pre-school aged children based on appearance, aroma, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability. Results showed that overall the children liked both the glutenree and wheat-containing cookies (p<0.05). Adults preferred (p<0.05) the glutenree with extra sweet potato and the wheat-containing products. The glutenree cookie contained 10.1 parts per million of beta-carotene as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A Comparison Of Participant Gains In Attitude And Behavior After Experiencing A Food Safety Curriculum In Traditional And Computer Delivered Environments, Jennifer Knowles Schilling

Theses and Dissertations

Child care providers in Mississippi are required by the Mississippi Health Department to obtain food manager’s training and certification. The TummySafe© program satisfies this requirement and is offered in a self-paced computer delivered version and a traditional classroom version. This research explores participant changes in attitude and self-reported behaviors in the two methods of curriculum delivery as well as the correlation of knowledge change with attitude and self-reported behavior change. A quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test design was used. Attitude change was not significantly different in the two methods. Traditional participants reported a higher change in self-reported behaviors than computer delivered participants. Both …

Temperature Effects Of Dielectric Properties And Their Impact On Medical Device Development, Erin Elizabeth Colebeck

Theses and Dissertations

Dielectric properties play an influential role in the development of medical devices. Understanding the behavior of these properties and how they respond to external stimuli, such as heat, over an extended frequency has yet to be researched. The focus of this study is to examine the impact of temperature on dielectric properties from 500 MHz to 10 GHz in order to better match the antenna properties of medical applications to the dielectric properties of biological tissue in question; more specifically, microwave ablation, microwave hyperthermia, and thermal modeling of brown adipose tissue’s metabolic processes. The dielectric properties of biological tissue samples …

Bioluminescence Imaging Of Transgene Expression In Intact Porcine Ovarian Follicles In Vitro, Song-Yi Jung

Theses and Dissertations

The porcine antral follicle, which consists of an oocyte and surrounding follicular components, including theca, granulosa, and cumulus cells and follicular fluid, is an essential microenvironment for oocyte development and maturation. Investigating cellular and molecular events in the context of the whole follicle will aid in our understanding of interactions between the oocyte and the follicular components. The objective of this dissertation was to develop a novel bioluminescent imaging model to visualize and measure cellular and molecular events in living intact ovarian follicles in vitro. Bioluminescence imaging was employed to facilitate noninvasive, dynamic, and real-time transgene analysis in living intact …

The Effect Of Low Sodium Diet Education In The Prevention Of Hospital Readmission For Heart Failure Patients, Lindsey Tira Doxtater

Theses and Dissertations

Rate of readmission among hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients is used as an indicator of quality and efficiency of healthcare. A low sodium diet is a component of the accepted treatment for HF. Instruction by dietitians may help reduce dietary sodium without negatively affecting quality of life. The effect of low sodium diet education on hospital readmission within 30 and 45 days of discharge for HF patients (N=52) was conducted. Chi-square analysis determined education did not significantly affect remittance within 30 (P=.143) or 45 days (P=.474). Patients readmitted within 30 days were older (P=.005). Men were more likely to be …

The Effects Of Low Atmospheric Pressure And Electrical Stunning On The Instrumental And Sensory Quality Of Broiler Breast Meat Deboned At 45 Minutes And 4 Hours Postmortem, Vijayakumar Radhakrishnan

Theses and Dissertations

Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS) has recently become available to the broiler industry. Therefore, research was conducted to determine the effect of stunning method (LAPS and Electrical Stunning(ES)) and postmortem deboning time (0.75 hr and 4 hr) on the instrumental and sensory acceptability (3 replications) of breast meat (n=576, 144 birds per treatment) prepared using different cooking methods (fried, baked, sous vide). Breast meat was evaluated for pH, CIE L*a*b*, yields, shear force, and consumer acceptability. Postmortem pH decline was more rapid (P<0.05) in the breast meat of LAPS stunned birds when compared to ES stunned birds, but no differences existed (P>0.05) among treatments with respect to final pH. On average, no differences (P > 0.05) existed in the …

The Unwanted Horse Population: A Survey, Shannon Alina Lindsey

Theses and Dissertations

Unwanted horses are a growing problem in the United States, and through the use of surveys, researchers can understand public opinion and experiences related to this problem. This study administered surveys specific to horse and non-horse owners through face-toace delivery and to rescue/retirement and auction facilities through the mail. Data was analyzed using a CRD, GLM and Fisher’s Protected LSD with á of 0.05. Comparisons were completed between horse and non-horse owners, horse owners and non-horse owners with equine experience, non-horse owners with and without equine experience, Quarter horse and other breeds owners, and auction and rescue/retirement facilities. Similarities were …

Quality Of Corn Silage Inoculated With L. Buchneri And P. Pentosaceus, Kellie Nichole Kaletsch

Theses and Dissertations

Microbial inoculants are forage additive products that contain viable bacteria and sometimes a combination of enzymes. Bacterial inoculants are used primarily for two reasons; first to gain rapid fermentation and second to decrease or inhibit spoilage. Inoculants work by shifting the fermentation of forage crops. The shift of fermentation causes preservation of nutrients, dry matter (DM) and occasionally increases animal performance. Most inoculants contain lactic acid producing bacteria to aid in shifting fermentation to lactic acid and away from acetic acid and ethanol production; however some inoculants aid in aerobic stability enhancement by production of acetic acid.. Although most inoculants …

Seed And Waterbird Abundances In Ricelands In The Gulf Coast Prairies Of Louisiana And Texas, Joseph Roy Marty

Theses and Dissertations

Rice not collected by harvesters and natural seeds are important foods for waterfowl. Estimation of abundance of these seeds is necessary for calculating waterfowl habitat conservation needs in the Louisiana Chenier Plain (LCP) and Texas Mid-Coast (TMC). My objectives were to quantify dry mass of rice and other seeds from August-November 2010, and estimate waterbird abundances on farmed and idle ricelands in these regions from December 2010-March 2011. Rice abundance in farmed ricelands ranged from 159.7 kg/ha (CV = 66.6%) to 1,014.0 kg/ha (CV = 8.3%). Natural seed abundance in idle ricelands ranged from 99.7 kg/ha (CV = 32.9%) to …

Developing A Multistage Model For Treponemal Disease Susceptibility, Sarah A (Sarah Ann) Mathena

Theses and Dissertations

Despite numerous studies, little is known about the influential factors impacting treponemal disease susceptibility. Yet, forms of treponemal disease, specifically yaws, are a major source of morbidity in the developing world. Bioarchaeological materials may assist with deficit by testing full ranges of disease expression. This study explores the relationship between treponemal disease ecology, specifically yaws, and susceptibility through six southeastern United States archaeological samples. Results show early life health experiences have a relationship to later life disease expression. However, influences of climate may only be seen at a cross-regional level. Finally, although nutrition, as evidenced by subsistence strategy, may play …

Development Of Mathematical Model For Abiotic Stresses And Cotton Fiber Quality, Suresh Bajirao Lokhande

Theses and Dissertations

Abiotic stresses cause extensive losses to agriculture production worldwide. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an important fiber crop grown widely in subtropical region where temperature, water and nutrients are the common factors limiting crop production. Such losses could be more severe in the future climate as intensity and frequency of those stresses are projected to increase. The overall goal of this study was to evaluate effects of abiotic stresses on cotton reproductive performance and develop functional algorithms for fiber properties in response to different stress factors. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of temperature, water, and nitrogen in …

Evaluating User Satisfaction And Perceived Quality Of Electronic Health Records In Mississippi, Dakota Chamblee

Theses and Dissertations

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is a health information technology that has already begun to change the way healthcare providers care for patients. EHRs can potentially enhance the quality and efficiency of patient care (Simon et al., 2010); however, some research shows that EHRs do not always do so. The lack of improved efficiency and quality of care can lead to frustrated and dissatisfied users. The effects of different aspects of EHR implementation could affect user satisfaction and perceived quality of EHRs. This study investigates the how time since implementation, training, and leadership affect user satisfaction and perceived quality of the …

Survival, Habitat Use, And Spatiotemporal Use Of Wildlife Management Areas By Female Mallards In Mississippi's Alluvial Valley, Joseph David Lancaster

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) is an important region for wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in North America, yet little is known about their spatiotemporal habitat use and related survival in Mississippi. I tracked 126 radio-marked female mallards to quantify survival, habitat use, and use of wildlife management areas (WMAs) with experimental hunt regimes in the south MAV of Mississippi during winters 2010-2012. Daily survival was greatest in agricultural (0.997) and moist-soil (0.999) habitats in winters 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, respectively. Overall interval survival across both winters was 0.60 (SE = 0.02). Forested (40-54%) and moist-soil wetlands (41-59%) received greatest use diurnally …

System Dynamics Simulation Model Of Salmonella Contamination Of Broiler Carcasses In The Chill Tank Of A Poultry Processing Plant, Karen Dazo Galarneau

Theses and Dissertations

Salmonella has been studied and researched for more than a hundred years and yet it remains a problem for human and animal health. The goal of this dissertation was to apply the systems thinking approach to Salmonella contamination and develop a System Dynamics (SD) simulation model for Salmonella contamination in the chill tank of a poultry processing plant. But first the appropriate carcass rinse sampling method that would not impact on the resulting Salmonella contamination status of the broiler carcass was studied. Kappa agreement analysis was used to evaluate three sampling methods. The adjacent rinse method was found to be …

Formation Of Oxidative-Stress Resistant Phenotypes Of Listeria Monocytogenes Serotypes 1/2a And 4b And Their Stability At 37oc And 4oc, Piumi De Abrew Abeysundara

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to induce an oxidative-stress adaptation in Listeria monocytogenes Bug600 (serotype 1/2a) and F1057 (serotype 4b) by pre-exposing to sublethal H2O2 and alkali-stress either singly or sequentially. Our findings show that the sequential pre-exposure of cells to pH 9 for 30 min treatment followed by 50 ppm H2O2 for 30 min at 37°C yielded the highest oxidative-stress resistant phenotypes of L. monocytogenes Bug600 and F1057. The sublethal H2O2 and sublethal alkali-stress induced oxidative-stress adaptations were completely reversible within 60 min at 37°C in the absence of such sublethal stress. However, the oxidative-stress adaptation induced at …

Examining The Influence Of Nutritional Behaviors, Knowledge And Attitudes On Body Mass Index Of Adults In North Mississippi, Gloria Therese Broughan

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with weight statuses approaching obesity may be at risk for chronic health problems. Diet, weight, health behaviors, level of knowledge, and attitudes or perceptions have been identified as key factors influencing body weight. The purpose of this study was to determine which factors were related to BMI in adults in north Mississippi and to determine if there were relationships between those factors. A telephone survey was conducted with 500 participants (mean age 46.3 ± 18.5). The average BMI was 27.5 ± 6.2 kg/m2. Knowledge and attitude/perception-based data were associated with a higher BMI in the population more than dietary …

Certain Agave Species Exhibit The Capability To Be Moderately Productive Under Conditions Of High Salt And Drought Stress, Steven J. Bergsten

Theses and Dissertations

Water availability and arable lands are increasingly limiting resources in many parts of the U.S., particularly in semi-arid and arid regions. As a means of addressing food and fuel demands associated with burgeoning population growth, highly productive and water-use efficient crops need to be identified. One potential crop, Agave, merits consideration and evaluation due to its putative capability to provide sustenance and energy despite growing in water-limited regions and on marginal soils. However, little is known regarding the productivity these succulent plants will have under growing conditions of the Southwest, where high concentrated saline soils are abundant, and water is …

Compassion Fatigue In Nurse Faculty, Patricia Price

Theses and Dissertations

There is a paucity of extant research on compassion fatigue in nurse faculty. The literature contextualized the existence of compassion fatigue in nurses practicing in the clinical area as well as those in service professions. This explanatory mixed methods study examines the risk of compassion fatigue among full time nurse faculty teaching in three four-year baccalaureate generic nursing programs. The relationship between compassion fatigue and nurse faculty's attitudes of stress in their work environment was further explored with the Margin In Life instrument to determine if there was a relationship between compassion fatigue and an individual's power, load and margin. …

Materials And Meaning, Michael Corigliano

Theses and Dissertations

Decisive moments and their fleeting experiences are born from an individual’s interaction within a defined physical space. It is here at the intersection of environment and context that my work in site-specific art begins. I endeavor to create an examination of socio-political and environmental issues through a manipulation of materials, thereby altering one’s private, communal, and cultural response to them. My installations are comprised of slip casted multiples which reference the human form. I place these forms in galleries and specific exterior locations, and incorporate materials that are charged with societal discord, such as used motor oil and post-consumer detritus, …

Disparity Of Principal Accountability, Mary Kathryn Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

This study begins with a review of court cases that have helped shape public education in America. Following the review is an analysis of federal reform in education from 1965 to the present, paired with educational leadership literature to highlight a disparity in what federal mandates and state policies have in place for accountability measures. The study ends with a state analysis of Illinois and Iowa to find the strengths and weaknesses of state policy in the area of principal accountability.

As policymakers have worked to increase accountability in K-12 education, efforts have focused on a variety of measures to …

Regulation Of Satiety Quiescence: Cyclic Gmp, Tgf Beta, And The Asi Neuron, Thomas Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations

The worm Caenorhabditis elegans is a well-studied model organism in numerous aspects of its biology. This small free living nematode has less than 1,000 cells, but shows clear conservation in both signaling and behavior to mammals in aspects of appetite control. This is of importance to humans, where failure of appetite control is a major factor in the unprecedented obesity epidemic that we see today. In general, worm behavior reflects its internal nutritional state and the availability and quality of food. Specifically, worms show a behavioral state that mimics aspects of the mammalian behavioral satiety sequence, which has been termed …

Habitat Selection By Two K-Selected Species: An Application To Bison And Sage Grouse, Joshua Taft Kaze

Theses and Dissertations

Population growth for species with long lifespans and low reproductive rates (i.e., K-selected species) is influenced primarily by both survival of adult females and survival of young. Because survival of adults and young is influenced by habitat quality and resource availability, it is important for managers to understand factors that influence habitat selection during the period of reproduction. My thesis contains two chapters addressing this issue for K-selected species in Utah. Chapter one evaluates habitat selection of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercusurophasianus) on Diamond Mountain during the critical nesting and brood-rearing period. Chapter two address selection of birth sites by bison (Bison …

Sudden Gains: A Pluralistic Approach To The Patient And Therapist Experience, Brian P. Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to study instances of sudden gains within the case load of a private practice practitioner. Five clients whose progress was marked by such changes were contrasted with the views of five clients whose progress was marked by significant setbacks. Results from the quantitative analyses indicated that clients who experienced sudden gains during therapy tended to retain their therapeutic gains over a 2-year time period. In contrast, individuals who experienced setbacks in therapy generally continued to be distressed at the 2-year reassessment. Clients who experienced sudden gains were more distressed prior to treatment and …