Digital Commons Network^™

Construction And Performance Testing Of A Mixed Mode Solar Food Dryer For Use In Developing Countries, Sean Andrew Foster

Theses and Dissertations

This study details the construction and performance testing of a mixed mode solar dryer using a combination of direct and indirect solar energy to dry food. One major benefit of this dryer design is its construction. It was simple to construct and was made with low cost materials, to make it feasible for use in developing countries. Previous research has identified several design factors that affect performance and efficiency: product loading density, number of trays, position of the absorber, and chimney type. Performance testing showed that chimney air speeds were not affected greatly by modifying the design aspects of the …

The Effects Of Culturally Relevant Early Childhood Development (Ecd) On Gender Relations And Women Empowerment, Heba Mahmoud Zaki

Theses and Dissertations

Early Childhood Development has a significant impact on populations and societies. It contributes to the social transformation of communities, affecting both children and adults. Grassroots movements enabling community membersâ participation in such programs are replicable successful models for societal change. Early childhood developmentâ s multiple components of health, nutrition and hygiene affect child rearing practices of parents and various community members who are usually reached through the programâ s parental courses, training and community meetings. Early childhood development culturally appropriate, comprehensive programs have an impact on women that is hardly recognized. It contributes to participating womenâ s knowledge, awareness and …

Illness-Related Diabetes Social Support And Glycemic Control Among Middle Aged And Older Adults, Favel Leah Mondesir

Theses and Dissertations

Objective

The objective of this study is to investigate the association between illness-related diabetes social support (IRDSS) and glycemic control (GC) among a racially diverse sample of middle aged and older adults. In gender-stratified models we examine whether the relationship between IRDSS and GC is modified by race/ethnicity. Additionally, we explore the association between eight individual types of IRDSS and GC.

Methods

We used the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2002 and the 2003 Diabetes Survey. The final analytic sample consisted of 914 study respondents. Gender-stratified multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence …

Successful Title One Schools: What Works And Why? An Exploratory Case Study Of A Distinguished Title One School In South Carolina, Dawn Hooker

Theses and Dissertations

The amount of research on successful Title One Schools is woefully inadequate. Because so much money has been allocated for this program, more in depth research is imperative. A qualitative exploratory case study of one school and eight participants, including a principal, an assistant principal, a math coach and four teachers, focuses on the journey of one Title One school to becoming a Distinguished Title One School. The theoretical framework constructed to examine the experiences of these seven participants relied on the findings of an educational reform expert, Michael Fullan (2007) and his theory of Educational Change, along with Marzano's …

The Effect Of Health Expenditure And Other Determinants On Health Outcomes, Yi Liu

Theses and Dissertations

A major question in determining health policy is to what extent the additional health care expenditure yields benefits in the form of improved health outcomes. However, establishing relationships between them is very complex, because there are numerous factors besides health expenditure that could contribute to health outcomes, and some data especially individual level nutrition and exercise data, are nearly impossible to gather. Another difficulty involves which indicator we should choose to measure health outcomes.

This study examines life expectancy, all-cause age adjusted mortality rates and infant mortality as the "output" of the health care system, and health expenditure, various life-style, …

The Impact Of Continuous Prenatal And Early Postpartum Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation On The Vitamin D Status Of Exclusively Breastfed Infants, Doria K. Thiele

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, at least 50% of breastfeeding mothers are vitamin D deficient, increasing risk for vitamin D deficiency in exclusively breastfed infants. A gap in knowledge exists regarding best practices in maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and lactation that will yield adequate infant vitamin D levels. The objective of this study was to identify the combined effect of maternal prenatal and postnatal vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D transfer to exclusively breastfed infants. Additionally, due to the immune modulating effects of vitamin D, maternal pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured across pregnancy and the postpartum. A double-blind, …

A Critical Review Of Endometriosis Pathology, Brittany Lauren Cureton

Theses and Dissertations

Endometriosis is a complex, multifactorial, reproductive disorder present in approximately 10-15% of adult women between the ages of 25-35. This disorder occurs when endometrial glands and stroma grow ectopically on the surface of the ovaries, pelvic peritoneum, fallopian tubes, and the uterus. Endometriosis causes varying degrees of painful symptoms and infertility in infected individuals. Three main theories of endometrial accumulation attempt to explain the etiology of this elusive disease. There have been various staging of endometriosis symptoms that attempt to standardize classification as well as predict pain and infertility. Angiogenesis, necessary to the survival of endometrial tissue, along with immune …

Association Between Breastfeeding And Infant Growth: A Probable Reverse Causality, Shraddha Vyas

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Much conflicting results exist in the association between breastfeeding and infant growth. One of these confusions is related to the temporal sequence between breastfeeding practice and infant growth.

Objective: This study aimed at examining the association and investigating a possible reverse causality between breastfeeding and infant growth.

Method: Infant Feeding Practices Survey II, a national longitudinal database with repeated measurements, following women prenatally and until one year postpartum (N=2914) was used. Mixed linear model assessed the impact of breastfeeding from the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 9th months on infant growth at the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 12th months, respectively. …

Classroom Exercise Breaks And Educational Outcomes In Elementary School Students, Erin Kaye Howie

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has shown that physical activity may have beneficial effects on cognitive performance and academic achievement in children, but the optimal type and dose are unknown. Classroom exercise breaks are one type of physical activity opportunity in schools, with the potential to reach a large number of children. The purpose of this dissertation was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of classroom exercise breaks in central South Carolina, and to determine the acute effects of classroom exercise breaks on executive functions, math performance, on-task behavior and affective responses in 9 to 12 year-old children. Additionally, the dissertation examined the …

The Effects Of A High Fat Diet On Mitochondrial Biogenesis And Inflammation In The Brain., Lauren Suzanne Vervaecke

Theses and Dissertations

INTRO: High fat diets (HFD) ingested over long periods of time have been shown to cause diet induced obesity leading to excessive adiposity and chronic low grade inflammation. Here we have shown how differing levels of saturated fats (SF), which are common storage fats, affect markers of inflammation and mitochondrial biogenesis. IL-1â and TNF-alpha are pro-inflammatory cytokines that have been shown to increase with a HFD, while molecular signalers, PGC-1alpha, cyt c, and SIRT1, related to mitochondrial biogenesis have been shown to decrease. Despite the risks of consuming a diet high in SF's, consumers continue to buy energy dense foods …

Perceptions Of Breast Cancer-Related Stigma And Genetic Knowledge Among Latina Women: El Mejor Entendimiento Del Miedo., Jade Cognetti

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Latina women, with BRCA1/2 gene mutations accounting for a commensurate proportion of breast/ovarian cancer in Latina women as compared to non-Latina women. Despite this statistic, it has been shown that Latino populations exhibit low awareness and use of genetic services and that they hold culturally-related beliefs which stigmatize cancer. We hypothesized that a simple, culturally-tailored educational flier would improve genetics knowledge as well as decrease breast cancer-related stigma among Latina women in our sample. Method: Two groups of Latina women (N = 19) were provided with a pre-survey, educational …

Unique Perspectives And Struggles Of Parents Rearing Children With Phenylketonuria With Unaffected Siblings, Cassandra Nicole Hollinger

Theses and Dissertations

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal metabolic condition that is screened for via newborn screening. Individuals who are identified as having PKU require a protein-restricted diet to protect against neurological damage. Many parents who learn their child has PKU may already have children who are not affected, or may have children later who are not affected. This creates a unique situation in which parents are rearing children that require a strict protein-restricted diet with children who do not. Parents who are currently rearing children with and without PKU were surveyed to learn what unique perspectives and struggles they face, especially regarding …

Instrument And Method Development For Single-Cell Classification Using Fluorescence Imaging Multivariate Optical Computing, Joseph Swanstrom

Theses and Dissertations

Multivariate optical computing (MOC) is an all-optical approach of predictive spectroscopy that utilizes multivariate calibration and spectral pattern recognition techniques while operating in a simple filter photometer instrument, removing the need for expensive instrumentation and post-processing of spectral data. This is accomplished with specially designed interference filters called multivariate optical elements (MOEs). MOC can provide analytical solutions for applications requiring low cost, rugged, and simple to operate instrumentation for use in remote and hazardous environments such as open ocean waters. These instrument specifications are central for developing a method for classifying phytoplankton in their natural environment. Phytoplankton are photosynthetic single …

An Intervention To Increase Staff Promotion Of Healthy Eating And Physical Activity In Out-Of-School-Time-Programs, Robert Glenn Weaver

Theses and Dissertations

Frontline-staff are critical to achieving standards related to child physical activity and nutrition (PAaN) in out-of-school-time-programs (OSTP). Recent standards call upon staff to demonstrate behaviors related to PAaN. Currently, no instrument exists to measure these behaviors. Further, while there have been several studies to increase children's PAaN in OSTPs, no studies have targeted staff behaviors and then measured the associated changes in staff behaviors. Therefore, this research project encompasses four studies.

The first study fills the gap between policy mandates and staff behaviors by describing the development of the System for Observing Staff Promotion of Activity and Nutrition (SOSPAN) in …

Fishing And Fish Consumption Patterns In The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Population, Jamelle Heyward Ellis

Theses and Dissertations

The Gullah/Geechee (G/G) people are descendants of West African slaves who remained in seclusion on the Sea Islands of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida until the end of the Civil War in 1865. In addition to retaining their unique cultural language, they also remain largely a fishing subsistence population. Decades of urban development have reduced the G/G population's access to traditional fishing locations and have increased exposures to environmental contaminants in some bodies of water that are frequently fished by the G/G. Approximately 98.4% of SC rivers and streams and 77.6% of lakes have been assessed for aquatic …

Foot Assessment In The Dialysis Unit, Karen Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT In 2010 the number of patients requiring renal replacement therapy in the United States increased by 1% to 593,086. This number was comprised of 593,086 in center hemodialysis patients, 179,361 functioning kidney transplants, and 29,773 peritoneal dialysis patients.

A principal difficulty in the end stage renal disease (ESRD) population is lower extremity amputation from vascular complications and nonhealing wounds. The incidence of nontraumatic lower extremity amputation among the end stage renal disease population in the United States is ten times higher when compared to the general public. Mortality rates for ESRD patients following amputation are elevated with less than …

The Importance Of Counseling Self-Efficacy In School Mental Health, Bryn Elizabeth Schiele

Theses and Dissertations

Clinician or counseling self-efficacy (CSE), defined as beliefs about one's ability to effectively counsel a client in the near future (Larson & Daniels, 1998), is widely accepted as an important precursor of effective clinical practice (Kozina, Grabovari, De Stefano & Drapeau, 2010). While previous research has explored the association of CSE with variables such as counselor aptitude, achievement, and level of training and experience, little attention has been paid to the self-efficacy of school mental health practitioners. The current study examines the influence of quality training and supervision on the level of counseling self-efficacy amongst school mental health practitioners, as …

Associations Between The Perceived And Built Food Environment, Timothy L. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

Neighborhood food environments have been associated with dietary intake and obesity. Measures of the food environment have typically been characterized with geographic information systems (GIS)-based measures, however, the use of perception-based measures of the food environment have increased in frequency. Few studies have fully examined the relationship between perceptions and GIS-based measures of the food environment, especially considering the congruency between perceived and GIS-based presence of specific retail food outlets, nor the relationship between food outlets and perceived availability of healthy foods or fast food opportunities.

Telephone survey data from 705 residents in an eight-county region of South Carolina were …

Food Environment And Birth Outcomes In South Carolina, Xiaoguang Ma

Theses and Dissertations

An increasing number of studies examined the association between neighborhood characteristics and birth outcomes. However, the results can be difficult to compare because of the variety of indicators used to characterize the neighborhood. As an important neighborhood characteristic, the food environment is associated with residents' nutrition status, diet quality, and related health outcomes. In addition, the food environment has been found to influence women's diet quality during pregnancy, which is a key factor in predicting birth outcomes. However to date, studies on food environment and birth outcomes are extremely limited.

This study examined the association between food environment (evaluated by …

Associations Between Resting Metabolic Rate And Energy Storage In Young Adults, Robin Shook

Theses and Dissertations

At the most basic level obesity is the result of a chronic imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. However, the exact etiology is considerably more complex and may involve a variety of physiological and behavioral factors. Metabolic disturbances, including reduced fat oxidation as measured by the respiratory quotient (RQ) and reduced resting metabolic rate (RMR), have been identified as possible predictors of changes in body weight and body composition. RMR represents the largest component (60-80%) of caloric expenditure that contributes to total daily energy expenditure in humans and has high inter-person variability (±25%) but not within individuals (<±5%). The cause of this variability between individuals and the exact role of RMR and RQ in determining body weight and body composition are uncertain.

This …

Prevention Of Skin Breakdown In The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Lydia H. Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

Skin breakdown occurs when one or more layers of the skin have been disrupted (McLane et al., 2004; National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, 2007). While some literature uses the terms skin breakdown and pressure ulcer interchangeably, these are actually two distinct conditions and pressure ulcers are encompassed in the definition of skin breakdown (Kuller, 2001; Lund, 1999; Suddaby et al., 2006). The consequences of skin breakdown in the pediatric population can include increased cost of treatment, infection, increased morbidity and mortality as well as psychological consequences from resulting alopecia or scarring (Schindler, 2010; Willock & Maylor, 2004). Development of skin …

Bioassay Guided Fractionation Of American Ginseng. A Hexane Fraction Of American Ginseng Suppresses Colitis And Associated Colon Cancer. Mechanism Of Action., Deepak Poudyal

Theses and Dissertations

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) [Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD)] is a group of chronic disorders of unknown etiology characterized by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract associated with a high colon cancer risk. UC is characterized by periods of active disease ("flare-ups"), followed by periods when the disease is inactive ("remission"). The end result is an abnormal immune response with repeated episodes of colonic inflammation. Conventional treatment of UC by aminosalicylates, TNFα inhibitors, and steroids have modest effects, and come with a high risk of side effects including dyspeptic symptoms, gastric ulceration and sometimes hospitalization and deaths. Because of …

Putting The Cart Before The Horse: Understanding The Family Assessment Process In Early Intervention, Kristen Michelle Votava

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of six state-wide policies and procedures used in the family assessment process within early intervention services. This study looked at the administrative understanding of the family assessment federal regulations, state policies and procedures, and local implementation from the perspective of the Part C coordinator in his or her state.

This qualitative study utilized methodologies associated with a grounded theory approach through in-depth interviews. The participants in this study included six state Part C coordinators. Based on the findings of this study, two broad conclusions are offered:

1. There was a …

Nutrient Limitation Of Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates In Mangrove Lagoon, Salt River Bay, St. Croix, Usvi, Michelle Zimberlin

Theses and Dissertations

Bioluminescent bays resulting from dense concentrations of bioluminescent dinoflagellates are rare, with only 14 documented systems worldwide. One of these bays, Mangrove Lagoon, is located in Salt River Bay National Park in St. Croix, USVI. Very little is known about the environmental factors responsible for maintaining the high dinoflagellate densities in this lagoon. In order to assess the dynamics of the dinoflagellates, in situ nutrient addition bioassays were conducted to determine which nutrients regulate the phytoplankton community, which includes the bioluminescent dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense. Bioassays were conducted in two different seasons, (January 2013 and May 2013) to examine seasonal responses …

Uncovering The Structures In Ecological Networks: Multiple Techniques For Multiple Purposes, Peng Gao

Theses and Dissertations

Ecosystem structure and function are the product of biological and ecological elements and their connections and interactions. Understanding structure and process in ecosystems is critical to ecological studies. Ecological networks, based on simple concepts in which biological and ecological elements are depicted as nodes with relationships between them described as links, have been recognized as a valuable means of clarifying the relationship between structures and process in ecosystems. Ecological network analysis has benefited from the advancement of techniques in social science, computer science, and mathematics, but attention must be paid to whether the designs of these techniques follow ecological principles …

Understanding The Early Stages Of Development Of A Global Health Partnership, Wendy Raquel Gonzalez Navarrete

Theses and Dissertations

Maternal and child undernutrition contributes to more than one-third of child deaths. Global Health Partnerships (GHP) have emerged as a response to undernutrition and other pressing health problems. GHPs promote joint decision-making among donors, multilateral agencies, and country partners. Despite their positive impact on health problems, GHPs have generated unintended negative effects on country partners. This study aimed to understand the factors, strategies, and processes conducive to the establishment of an effective GHP in the context of a cooperative regional effort to reduce undernutrition and improve maternal and child health in eight countries in Latin America, Regional Health Initiative (RHI). …

Managing Constipation In The Pediatric Population, Brandy Warmsbecker

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Crew Training Requirements For Long Duration Missions, Ann Wargetz

Theses and Dissertations

After reviewing the journals of astronauts, cosmonauts, and others who lived and worked in confinement, a new pre-mission training approach for missions in confinement was developed. This new training approach is founded on the idea that conflicts in confinement often arise due to humanity's propensity to focus on how others behave rather than our own behavior. After reviewing the stresses experienced during spaceflight and astronaut training and selection methods, a survey was written and distributed to researchers with experience living and working in confined environments. The questions sought to discover whether conflicts arise for these reasons based on the participant's …

Identifying Most Significant Predictors Of Low Mathematics Achievement In African American Male Middle School Students, Kelley Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that African American males have been singled out due to the fact most local and national data of academic achievement finds the group to underachieve significantly (Garibaldi, 2007). The purpose of this study is to examine variables which significantly predict lower levels of math achievement in regards to African American males. This study also examines variables that predict low math achievement for African American males to determine the most significant of the predictors. This quantitative case study includes sixth, seventh, and eighth grade African American male subjects from a middle school in the Southeast. Socioeconomic status, attendance, …

Engaging Undergraduate Students In An Online Science Course: The Relationship Between Instructor Prompt And Student Engagement In Synchronous Class Sessions, Todd C. Shoepe

Theses and Dissertations

The number of online courses in higher education is on the rise; however, empirical evidence elucidating best practices for synchronous online instruction is needed to implement these courses. The purpose of this dissertation was to perform a mixed-method investigation into the relationships between instructor prompt and student engagement in 5 areas based on the 7 Principles of Good Practices in Undergraduate Education using recorded chat, video, and audio transcripts of two recent fully online nutrition courses. A total of 25 previously recorded synchronous sessions including oral and textual chat interactions were transcribed. Every line of student interaction was determined to …