Digital Commons Network^™

Maintaining Adolescent Sobriety With Equine Assisted Psychotherapy: An Experiential Learning Intervention Guide, Elizabeth Jane Ledbetter

Theses and Dissertations

Given the prevalence of substance abuse among American adolescents, the implementation of innovative treatment modalities is highly indicated. The practice of animal assisted therapy, specifically equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP), has been demonstrated to effect positive changes and personal growth within participants and is suggested within this work to be applicable to adolescents in residential substance abuse treatment facilities. Due to the benefits evidenced by the therapeutic modality of EAP, participation is hypothesized to promote and maintain abstinence among this population. Thus, this project focused on highlighting the empirical evidence associated with animal assisted therapy, particularly EAP, as well as reviewing …

Reducing Disparities In Palliative Care For Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses: Utilizing The Synergy Model Of Patient Care, Meghan E. Braden

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Cultural Identity And Behavioral Health Risk In Northern Plains American Indian Adolescents, Wanmdiwi Jessi Rose

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if Northern Plains AI adolescents identifying oneself as being "traditional' or "non-traditional" as measured by the Northern Plains Bicultural Inventory III (NPBI-III) would affect health-risk behavior scores as measured by the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). It was hypothesized that American Indian adolescents identifying as traditional would have lower health- risk behaviors and that cultural identification would influence health-risk behaviors between males and females.

Northern Plains AI adolescents (N=60, age 14 to 19) were administered the YRBS and NPBI-III during the 2012 UNDIA Time out Wacipi Powwow in Grand Forks, ND. Results …

Motivation In The Treatment Of Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review Of Theoretical And Empirical Literature, Quinn Neugebauer

Theses and Dissertations

The present study is a critical analysis of the literature about motivation in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. This dissertation provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical and empirical literature on motivation to change in the treatment of anorexia nervosa, including discussion of the support for factors hypothesized to be associated with treatment motivation as well as identification of factors that require additional study. It will also provide conceptual clarity of motivation as a construct in anorexia nervosa treatment research. Current literature reveals how differences in the way motivation is conceptualized, studied, and assessed may limit our understanding of its …

Interprofessonal Education: Two Analyses Of Revised Instruments, Comparisons Of Professions, And Effectiveness Of An Interprofessional Health Care Course, Andrew Knight

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of study #1 were to assess the reliability of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS-2010, Parsell & Bligh, 1999) instrument that was used in an Interprofessional Health Care (IPHC) course at University of North Dakota from 2010-2012 and compare students by discipline. The IPHC course curriculum team includes the director of Interprofessional Education, a course coordinator, and one faculty representative from medicine, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, music therapy, communication science and disorders, and nutrition/dietetics. The purposes of study #2 included an analysis of the reliability of a different version of the RIPLS (called RIPLS-2013) …

Linking Obesity To Colorectal Cancer: Recent Insights Into Plausible Biological Mechanisms, Catherine Guffey

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity has emerged as a leading environmental risk factor for the development of CRC. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship have not yet been fully explained. Recent literature has focused on 1) inflammatory processes, 2) adipokines, and 3) estrogen. Obesity-enhanced inflammation is largely orchestrated by increases in adipose tissue macrophages leading to the secretion of TNF-alpha, MCP-1, and IL-6, all of which are linked to CRC. Adiponectin is decreased with obesity and has been reported to be negatively associated with CRC, while leptin, which is increased, is positively associated with the disease. Estrogen has been shown to influence CRC, although …

Insects As Indicators Of Environmental Stress, De Anna Estella Beasley

Theses and Dissertations

In the face of climate change-related events and anthropogenic disturbances, understanding the impacts of these events on species richness, abundance and distribution is important for us to mitigate biodiversity loss and better predict consequences for the environment and for human life. Insects are excellent models for understanding the consequences of environmental stress due to the sensitivity of their development and behavior. The overall focus of my dissertation research is the investigation of fluctuating asymmetry and oviposition behavior as indicators of environmental stress. My research includes a meta-analysis of published literature, and empirical research that was part of a collaborative initiative …

Rewriting The Human: Death Anxiety And Posthuman Vision In Literature Since 1945, John Allen Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

ISS_para>The technology-driven years following the close of World War II provided a new lens through which the human subject could be rethought and, theoretically, improved: no longer did physical and mental shortcomings have to limit the capacity of the individual. The atomic bomb and Colossus computer, though destructive forces, pushed scientists and philosophers to consider new models of the human, including flesh/machine amalgamation and reinscription as downloadable, digital information. While these posthuman constructions promised to distance the human from its material shortcomings, especially its vulnerability to bodily decay and death, they encountered significant resistance in the twentieth century.

By …

Measuring Organizational Member Involvement In Physical Activity Coalitions Across The United States, Daniel Benjamin Bornstein

Theses and Dissertations

Physical inactivity has been labeled a global pandemic with enormous economic, social, environmental, and public health consequences. The vast majority of American adults and youth are insufficiently physically active. Increasing population-levels of physical activity (PA) requires broad social and environmental change. PA coalitions provide the structure through which such broad change can be achieved. An extensive literature on health-based coalitions suggests that coalition success is impacted by coalition members. Coalitions are generally comprised of member organizations. Little is known about the characteristics of PA coalitions and less is known about organizational member involvement in PA coalitions. The purpose of this …

Investigating Developmental Patterns Of Symptom And Impairment Change Among Youth With Adhd, Subthreshold Adhdand Youth Without Adhd, Lorie Love Geryk

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. Despite a substantial prevalence of subthreshold Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and research indicating that many youth with this disorder have impaired functioning and negative outcomes, few studies have considered patterns of symptom and functioning change for youth with probable ADHD, subthreshold ADHD and youth without ADHD transitioning from childhood to adolescence. Additionally, we are not aware of any studies examining predictors of impairment severity among youth with subthreshold ADHD, and few studies have examined predictors of treatment utilization and patterns of symptom and functioning change based on medication status for youth with subthreshold ADHD compared to youth with ADHD. Methods. …

Modeling Ultrasonic Field Emanating From Scanning Acoustic Microscope For Reliable Characterization Of Pathogens (Biological Materials), Rowshan Ara Rima

Theses and Dissertations

Acoustic microscopy provides extraordinary advantages over state-of-the-art invasive imaging techniques to determine the mechanical properties of living colonies of pathogens and micro-organisms. It is possible to obtain the morphomechanical parameters of the pathogenic colonies e.g. variation of thickness, stiffness and the coefficients of attenuation, using scanning acoustic microscope (SAM). However, the process requires an expert with extensive understanding of SAM and ultrasonic signals which is very time consuming and expensive for complex form of analysis. Due to lack of a suitable computational tool, presently the ultrasonic wave scattering, reflection and transmission through the biological specimens cannot be properly visualized. Without …

The South Carolina Sanatorium: The Landscape Of Public Healthcare In The Segregated South, Amanda Noll

Theses and Dissertations

This site-specific study examines the development of the South Carolina Sanatorium, which operated as a state-funded tuberculosis treatment center between 1915 and 1953. Using the South Carolina Sanatorium as a case study, this thesis draws upon the history of the Progressive Era, medicine, and architecture to analyze the influence of segregation on public healthcare in the South. By looking at the development of individual buildings and the site as whole, the built environment of the South Carolina Sanatorium is used as a framework to assess the effects of segregation on tuberculosis treatment in South Carolina.

Perceptions Of Elementary School Principals: Turning High Poverty Elementary Schools In South Carolina Into High-Performing Elementary Schools, Katie Wall Barber

Theses and Dissertations

There is no question that economic deprivation has an adverse impact on student achievement. In the United States, the gaps in achievement among poor and advantaged students are substantial. Through multiple studies, the United States Department of Education (2006) indicated results that "clearly demonstrated that poverty adversely affected student achievement." Closing the achievement gap and achieving success for all students presents a challenge for schools, particularly those located in high-poverty areas (Brock & Groth, 2003). Current research illustrates that some schools, often referred to as high-performing, high-poverty schools, have led their low-income student populations to high levels of achievement, matching …

Determining The Differences In Hurricane Perception And Evacuation Behavior In The Elderly Of South Carolina, Gregg C. Bowser

Theses and Dissertations

The United States is becoming a "grayer" nation. U.S. Administration of Aging projections indicate that by 2030 nearly 20 percent of the national population will be aged 65 or older, with a significant portion of this growth occurring along the hurricane-prone Atlantic and Gulf coasts. This demographic shift creates new challenges for emergency management. Previous research shows that the elderly do not perceive risks and warnings the same way as other groups, and as a result may react differently to risk. Disproportionately high fatality rates for the elderly in recent disasters indicate that these differences are a key determinant of …

The Effect Of Cancer Cachexia Severity And Eccentric Muscle Contractions On Selected Myofiber Metabolic Properties In Mouse Skeletal Muscle, Joshua Earl Mangum

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome that induces skeletal muscle wasting and dysregulation of skeletal muscle metabolism. Alterations in area of myofibers and myofiber metabolic properties can significantly impact the function of skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cachexia severity and resistance exercise training on frequency and area of selected myofiber metabolic characteristics during cachexia-induced myofiber atrophy. Male ApcMin/+ (Min) mice were studied during the progression of cachexia (16-20 weeks of age) and stratified into groups based on the severity of cachexia. For the second study, male Min mice performed resistance exercise (RE) …

Bmi At Diagnosis And Its Association With Markers Of Hiv Disease Progression And Cardiovascular Disease Risk., Kelly Deshon Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) has transformed the state of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from acute to chronic. As a result, the long-term effect of HAART has caused weight gain among HIV-infected individuals, leading to an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity. Increased Body Mass Index (BMI) has been associated with adverse health outcomes in non-HIV and HIV populations, yet among HIV-infected individuals, a higher BMI at diagnosis offers a slower progression from HIV to AIDS. Pre-HAART, studies reported that obese HIV-infected individuals have higher increases in CD4 count over time. However post-HAART, some report that overweight HIV-infected individuals with …

An Investigation Into The Influence Of Dietary Saturated Fat And Quercetin Supplementation On Adiposity, Macrophage Behavior, Inflammation, And Non-Alcoholic Fatty-Liver Disease, Reilly Enos

Theses and Dissertations

The overall objective of this dissertation was to examine the degree to which manipulation of the saturated fat content of a high-fat diet influenced obesity-related outcomes as well as to see if the naturally-occurring flavonoid, quercetin, could attenuate the resulting obesity and related metabolic and inflammatory side effects. Specifically, these studies examined 1) the influential role of saturated fat on macrophage function, inflammation, and other obesity-related comorbidities, including non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease, and 2) the potential benefits of quercetin supplementation. Overall, results from these studies suggest that adiposity, macrophage behavior, inflammation, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease progression can be greatly …

The Effects Of Rainfall-Runoff On Particulate Organic Carbon Cycling In Salt Marshes, Si Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Low tide rainfall-runoff processes have been proposed as a kind of coastal ocean "hot moment" capable of transporting disproportionately large amounts of material from the salt marsh surface to the water column. However, the resulting organic matter cycling has not been well characterized and the cumulative effects of recurring short-term low tide rainfall events are not known, especially in the context of outwelling. The purpose of this Ph.D. research is to quantitatively evaluate the effects of low tide rainfall on particulate organic carbon (POC) cycling in a South Carolina salt marsh.

This dissertation is comprised of four parts. First, a …

Characterization Of The Role Of Fro6 In Metal Homeostasis In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Margo Ellen Maynes

Theses and Dissertations

Iron deficiency is the most common human nutritional disorder in the world today, affecting approximately 2 billon people worldwide, almost a third of the world's population. For most of the world's population, plant foods serve as the major source of dietary iron. One approach that may contribute towards the solution of iron deficiency is the development of crop plants that contain higher levels of bioavailable iron. This project focuses on FRO6, a ferric chelate reductase in Arabidopsis thaliana that is thought to reduce apoplastic iron for transport across the plasma membrane in leaf cells. We hypothesize therefore that FRO6 controls …

Investigating Relationships Between Academic Achievement And After School Programs In A High School Environment, Aaron Duke Fulmer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate if participation in an academically focused after school program could be linked with improved academic achievement as measured by a standardized test. A quantitative experimental design was utilized to explore the topic. The scale scores of participants in an academically focused after school program were compared to non participants to determine if there was a statistical difference between the groups. Additionally, the attendance level of participants in the academically focused after school program was correlated with their scale score on a standardized test in order to the relationship.

This study is significant …

Building Morale In A Soldier Town: Home Front Women And The Gi In Columbia, South Carolina, 1941-1945, Jessica Kathleen Childress

Theses and Dissertations

As the United States mobilized for war in 1941, cities and towns across America, especially those closest to military bases, were faced with an unprecedented influx of soldiers, airmen, and sailors. To cope with these waves of servicemen in their off-duty hours, particularly to provide for wholesome entertainment and lessen the emotional weight of wartime, Columbia, South Carolina solicited participation in morale-building programs from its residents. Community leaders recognized their responsibility for funding programs and providing buildings to meet the soldiers' recreational needs, but they relied on women's organizations and female students to build morale through meaningful social interactions with …

Promoting Early Childhood Development Through Community Health Worker Interventions: Implementation And Measurement Issues In Rural Pakistan, Zaeem Haq

Theses and Dissertations

Appropriate nutrition and psychosocial stimulation during the first three years of life can have long-lasting effects on a child's health and development. However, not all children in the world receive adequate nutrition and psychosocial stimulation during this period. There has been enormous interest in developing the evidence on the most effective ways of implementing and assessing early childhood development (ECD) promotion interventions in resource poor settings. Despite the interest, the integration of ECD interventions into pre-existing public health programs, and assessment of these interventions in extended family, rural household environment have not been addressed.

The dissertation research presented here was …

Association Of Family Structure And Glycemic Control In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: Risk And Protective Factors, Laura Jean Caccavale

Theses and Dissertations

Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) from single-parent families are more likely to be in poorer glycemic control (HbA1c). Demographic trends indicate more households are composed of unmarried adults and fewer youths. Family density, or a youth: adult ratio, may be a more salient factor than single-parent status in the association with glycemic control. Data from 257 adolescents aged 11-14 years (M = 12.84) at two different sites were collected as part of a randomized control trial of a treatment intervention designed to increase parent involvement and prevent deterioration of adolescent diabetes disease care. Single-parent status was determined by parental …

Climate Change And Ragweed Allergy Risk Assessment: A Study Of The Grand Forks Metropolitan Statistical Area, Shumila Rani Ahmad

Theses and Dissertations

Nowadays the association between anthropogenic climate change and public health is in the early stages of universal recognition. Yet one fundamental aspect that remains largely unappreciated is the impact of climate change on ragweed (Ambrosia species) biology and the ensuing pathophysiology of human systems. Ragweed pollen is one of the primary causes of seasonal pollen allergy in the world. Allergic reactions to ragweed pollen can range from mild hay fever to life-threatening asthma attacks. The aim of this thesis was to conduct a ragweed allergy risk assessment for the Grand Forks ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

The study area is …

Characterizing Hypoxia And Its Behavioral Effects In 3-Dimensional Cell Aggregates, Matthew Lorincz Skiles

Theses and Dissertations

Cell transplantation can be considered a regenerative therapy, an intervention which attempts to replace or restore the function of compromised tissue by harnessing innate properties of cells that cannot be replicated artificially. For such therapies to succeed, it will be necessary to understand and closely match the physiological conditions that govern cell behaviors in vivo. One important factor is low oxygen tension, termed hypoxia, which is often overlooked in vitro. Because oxygen insufficiency can lead to cell death, hypoxia has traditionally been viewed as a negative condition. However, hypoxia can also serve as a potent regulator of crucial cell behaviors …

The Role Of Dispositional Optimism On Agency When Parenting A Child With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Lina Maria Moyano

Theses and Dissertations

Parenting children with autism can be challenging obviously; still, active involvement of the parents is considered vital in the development of the child. The term parental agency refers to adopting a proactive role and engaging in numerous activities to promote the child’s development. Little research has been conducted to analyze factors that could predict agency.

Dispositional optimism, which refers to expecting good things in life regardless of particular situations, has not been extensively studied in parents of children with autism. Nevertheless, the few studies conducted on the topic show it to be a desirable trait. Therefore, it is an important …

Evaluation Of Feeding Varying Levels Of Digestible Lysine On Broiler Breeder Male Reproductive Characteristics And Body Weight Changes, Chinwendu Nkechi Obi

Theses and Dissertations

A preliminary test was conducted evaluating the effect of digestible lysine (dLys) on broiler breeder (BB) male semen quality from forty-one to forty-nine wk of age. Five dietary treatments: corn-soybean meal diet with 1,000 mg dLys/rooser/day (Soy1,000), distillers dried grains with solubles diet with 1,000 (DDGS1,000), 850 (DDGS850), 700 (DDGS700), and 550 (DDGS550) mg dLys/rooster/day. Semen quality was similar except percentage dead sperm which was higher in DDGS550. A second trail was conducted using the same dietary treatments as the preliminary test during twenty to thirty-nine wk of age. Semen quality was similar except percentage dead sperm which was higher …

Assessment Of Herbicides For Control Of Non-Native Species: Italian Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne Spp. Multiflorum), Tropical Spiderwort (Commelina Benghalensis), And Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum Viarum), Ernest Kwaku Kraka

Theses and Dissertations

Herbicides were evaluated for control of non-native and invasive plants namely tropical soda apple (TSA) (Solanum viarum), tropical spiderwort or Benghal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis), and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) from 2007 to 2012 in greenhouse at Plant Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, Starkville-Mississippi. In TSA study, aminopyralid at 0.88 or 0.12 kg ae/ha, and triclopyr + picloram + 2,4-D at (0.56 + 0.15 + 0.56) kg ae/ha controlled TSA seedlings emergence ranged from 83 to 96% at premergence (PRE), and 1 month after treatments (MAT). All herbicides failed to provide more than 63% control of TSA at 3 and …

The Effect Of Variable Organic Matter On Site Productivity, Soil Nutrients, And Carbon On A Southern Loblolly Pine Plantation, Jason Craig Mack

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effect of manipulating forest floor and harvest residue inputs on nutrient availability and carbon content in the context of intensive forest management. Treatments were removal and addition of forest floor and slash, and a reference. Tree volume, litterfall, and root biomass were measured to assess aboveground productivity and soil moisture and temperature, available nitrogen and phosphorus, O-horizon, and mineral soil for below ground processes. Organic matter additions increased stand bole volume, carbon at 20-60cm, and total nitrogen in the mineral soil. Severely removing the floor and harvest residues did not result in any large differences in …

The Influence Of Ericoid Mycorrhizal Fungi On Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium Ashei), Mark Linneaus Mclaughlin

Theses and Dissertations

Ericoid Mycorrhizal fungi have been shown to form symbiotic associations with Erious plants and increase nutrients uptake by the plant. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of two ericoid mycorrhizal isolates Oidiodendron maius and Pezizella ericae as potential sources of inoculant for rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) and to assess the variation in consistency and degree of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi colonization within rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei). Field trials were conducted in 2012 in Verona, MS at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center. In this study data was collected on fruit yield, leaf tissue nutrient concentration, leaf …