Digital Commons Network^™

Validation Of An Automatic Instrument For Rapid Inorganic Chemical Analysis Of Biomass Samples, Tara D. Kopplin

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Enfants Des Bonnets Rouges Et Sainte-Anne : Abandonment In Eighteenth-Century Dijon, Jessica Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Determination Of The Primary Levels Of The Residues Of The Seeds Of Wheat, Maize, And Barley For The Elaboration Of The Food Mixture For Rabbits, Aida Esperanza Morejon Jacome

Theses and Dissertations

The present investigation was done in the parish of Chaltura, Granja "La Pradera" which belongs to the University Técnica del Norte. The main objective of this investigation was to determine the primary levels of the residues of the seeds of wheat, maize, barley for the elaboration of the food mixture for rabbits. The evaluated variables, food consumed, weight gain, food value, protein percentage, production cost per treatment. Previously to the initiation of the field phase bromatological analysis were done on the three food mixtures in the National Institute of Farming Investigation, Quality and Nutrition Area. The treatments were four: TI …

The Association Between Breast Feeding And Being Overweight In Children, Naja Jamil Eldanaf

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Obesity/Overweight in children is an epidemic and the most common disorder of childhood in the developed world. Prevalence is increasing, leading to short- and long-term complications. Breastfeeding may protect against childhood obesity, but the debate is ongoing. The main purpose of this project was to assess the relationship between breastfeeding and being overweight in early childhood.Methods: Data were collected from the State and Local Area Integrated Telephone survey; National Survey of Children's Health, 2003. Overall, 16,358 children, ages 3 to 5, were included in the sample. SPSS Complex Sample software was utilized to generate for all analyses. Complex samples …

Consuming Brazil: Afro Brazilian Religion As A Base For Actor Training, Corey Justin Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

Actor training, like the theatre in Brazil, has historically been a middle and upper class pursuit that followed European models, namely Stanislavski's system. Yet within Brazil there is a wealth of diverse cultures that are inherently theatrical and well suited for application in actor training. In this study I explore one such culture, the Afro Brazilian religion Umbanda. First, I examine its formation to illuminate how the religion itself performed (or served as a site for cultural interaction) throughout history. Then, I explore the practice of the religion both apart from and in relation to the theatre and Stanislavski's system. …

The Influence Of A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism In The Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Promoter On Glioma Biology, Jessica Mccready

Theses and Dissertations

Glioblastomas are an incurable type of brain tumor with a mean survival time of 9-12 months following diagnosis. One of the reasons for this poor prognosis is the ability of tumor cells to invade the surrounding normal brain tissue. Enzymes responsible for this invasive nature include the matrix metalloproteinase family. MMP-1 is a member of this family which has been well studied in many types of invasive tumors, with gliomas being an exception. We studied a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the MMP-1 promoter that may influence glioma biology. This SNP consists of the presence (2G) or absence (1G) of …

A Longitudinal Investigation Of Cognitive Predictors Of Self-Care Behaviors In Youth With Type I Diabetes, Michelle Marie Greene

Theses and Dissertations

Cross-sectional research of youth with type I diabetes has demonstrated that rote and working memory predict blood glucose monitoring (BGM) and carbohydrate consumption, respectively; however, to date, no longitudinal follow-up studies exist. Rote and working memory subtests from well-standardized memory measures, along with a problem-solving and executive functioning measures were administered to 118 youth with type I diabetes, aged 9-16 in two waves of data collection (mean interval = 2.07 years). Diabetes care behaviors were assessed through the 24-hour Diabetes Interview. This study was the first to document longitudinal prediction of BGM by rote memory and fat consumption by working …

Bitterroot Landing: An Adaptation From Novel To Stage, Christy Leake

Theses and Dissertations

My thesis explores the process involved in adapting Sheri Reynolds' novel, Bitterroot Landing, into a stage play. During the adaptation process I faced numerous challenges, including structural issues, expanding or changing dialogue, omitting or melding scenes and characters, and dealing with the serious themes of incest and sexual abuse. This thesis describes these challenges and the steps I took to overcome them.

The Influence Of Physical Activity And Television On The Intention And Self-Efficacy To Engage In Health-Enhancing Behaviors, Ian Joseph Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer and heart disease account for the largest proportion of morbidity and mortality among all adult diseases in the United States. Research has focused on identifying causal risk factors among adolescents. However, theories of health behavior change also stress the intermediary factors of intention and efficacy for effective behavior change. Existing research supports the potential of physical activity (PA), particularly learned through the domains of exercise and sport, as a means to developing these necessary skills (Danish, Petitpas, & Hale, 1993). The current investigation examined the influence of PA and television watching (TV) on intentions and efficacy to engage in …

C - Reactive Protein, Coronary Heart Disease And Ischemic Stroke In The Elderly: The Cardiovascular Health Study, Xia Li

Theses and Dissertations

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, but much of the research had focused on middle-aged populations with, limited prospective, population-based, longitudinal data. In this study, we examined data from an elderly population and described the distribution of CRP concentrations and the prevalence of elevated CRP levels (>3 mg/l), examined the association between CRP levels and incidence of CHD or ischemic stroke, and assessed the potential interaction of CRP with sex or race on the incidence of CHD or ischemic stroke.Methods: Baseline CRP levels were measured in a cohort …

Biomechanical And Metabolic Changes Within Rabbit Articular Cartilage Following Treatment With Radiofrequency Energy, Christopher Larry Horstman

Theses and Dissertations

The effects caused to articular cartilage by the remote use of arthroscopically-delivered RF energy to soft tissues in the joint are unknown. This investigation reported the short and long-term effects of bRF and mRF energy on the biomechanical properties and metabolic activity of articular cartilage. In addition, the effect of Cosequin® therapy was addressed. Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (Group 1 - placebo; Group 2 - Cosequin®). Histopathology, cell viability, GAG synthesis, and mechanical function of the articular cartilage were compared between groups. Data were analyzed using a mixed model ANOVA …

Evaluation Of Hatchery And Growout Factors For The Successful Production And Stocking Of Juvenile Gulf Coast Walleye, Justin L. Wilkens

Theses and Dissertations

Temperature-dependent weight gain of Gulf coast and northern strain walleye Sander vitreus fingerlings was determined by rearing fish in flow-through aquaria at different water temperatures (range 15-32°C). Maximum growth of Gulf coast and northern strain walleye occurred between 20 and 26°C, and weight gain of northern walleye exceeded that of the Gulf coast strain by 1.5 times. An acclimated chronic exposure method to assess upper thermal limits determined that walleye survived 35, 9, and 1 days at 33, 34, and 35°C, respectively. A post pond-rearing feed-training practice (21 d) at a mean density of 6,290 ± 1,247 fish/m3 using formulated …

Plasma Steroid And Vitellogenin Concentrations, Activity Of Cathepsins, And Egg Protein Content During Oocyte Maturation, And Influence Of Hormone Injection In Four Commercial Strains Of Channel Catfish Ictalurus Punctatus, Marinela Barrero-Monzon

Theses and Dissertations

Profiles of plasma estradiol and testosterone concentrations, cathepsin D, L, and B activities, and quantitative and qualitative protein content were developed and evaluated in four commercial strains of channel catfish, Gold Kist (2), Thompson and NWAC-103 for one year (age 2 to age 3). Great variation between individuals of the same strain precluded the identification of any significant, strain-specific differences for the variables under investigation. When variables from fish of all strains were collectively evaluated over time, both estradiol and testosterone concentrations significantly increased in July and then later from February to April. The increase in hormone concentration was accompanied …

Proposal For Implementation Of A Nursing Theory Into Nursing Care Delivery, Margaret A. Gadaire

Theses and Dissertations

Jean Watson, in the introduction to her book, Nursing: Human Science and Human Care: A Theory of Nursing, states that “A Theory is an imaginative grouping of knowledge, ideas and experience that are represented symbolically and seek to illuminate a given phenomenon. ” (1999, pg.l) The phenomenon in this proposal is nursing care delivery. The symbol of nursing is caring. The question; How does a hospital implement a patient care delivery system that will demonstrate the caring provided by its nurses? This proposal provides a mid-sized urban hospital with a method for implementing a nursing theory into its patient care …

Assessment Of Chenopodium Quinoa Willd. Genetic Diversity In The Usda And Cip-Fao Collections Using Ssr?S And Snp?S, Shawn A. Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a staple grain for the indigenous people of the Andean region of South America with excellent nutritional qualities, including protein content. The objective of this study is to report on the development of fluorescence-tagged simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to (1) genetically characterize the inherent diversity of 152 accessions of C. quinoa; (2) determine to what degree the CIP-FAO collection represents the range of genetic diversity in quinoa; and (3) test four hypotheses regarding quinoa?s center of diversity, Highland and Lowland clustering patterns, origin of Lowland varieties, and the …

Ideals And Realities, Pamela Bowman

Theses and Dissertations

In order to produce work that prompts the viewer to undergo a process of personal exploration resulting in discourse and the understanding of feelings, it is necessary to balance ideals and realities, combine experience and creativity, and blend concepts and materials. Ideals and realities are discussed in this paper, using an approach that concentrates on foundational principles. The ideals of morality, beauty, goodness, acceptance, and unity form a foundation for the motivation behind my work. They are described in relationship to the philosophy of aesthetics. Ideals are contrasted with realities of life which have patterns and rhythms. These repetitive patterns …

Fremont Storage And Mobility: Changing Forms Through Time, David T. Yoder

Theses and Dissertations

Groups of agriculturalist/hunter-gatherers known as the Fremont inhabited the eastern Great Basin and Colorado Plateau from roughly A.D. 1-A.D. 1350 (Madsen 1989). Fremont groups used differing storage strategies through time and across space. Storage strategies included on-site and off-site storage facilities which were constructed above and/or below-ground. These forms of storage occurred at different frequencies and times throughout the Fremont's 1350 year time span. Researchers (Binford 1980, 1990; Keeley 1988; Soffer 1989; Testart 1982; Wills 1992; Young 1996) using examples from various parts of the world have noted a correlation between the degree of residential mobility and the use of …

The Frequency And Severity Of Problem Behaviors Among Individuals With Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, And Mental Retardation From The Utah Dspd Dataset, Melanie Kay Arp

Theses and Dissertations

The study reports on analyses of data collected from the Inventory for Client and Agency Planning (ICAP) for 5,859 children with Autism (n = 511), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI, n = 522), or Mental Retardation (MR, n = 4826) whose legal guardians applied for support services through the Utah Department of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD). Results indicate that the least to most frequent problem behaviors were (a) destructive to property, (b) hurtful to self, (c) hurtful to others, (d) socially offensive, (e) unusual habits, (f) withdrawal, (g) uncooperative, and (h) disruptive behaviors. The degree of severity varied from …

Structure Elucidation Of Bioactive Compounds Isolated From Endophytes Of Alstonia Scholaris And Acmena Graveolens, Nicholas James Hundley

Theses and Dissertations

Alstonia scholaris is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia and Australia. It is commonly used as a medicinal plant throughout these regions. In the present study, an endophyte of the genus Xylaria was isolated from a stem of Alstonia scholaris, its mycelia and exudate extracted, and the extract assayed for growth inhibition of HeLa cancer cells in vitro. Several known compounds were isolated and identified based on NMR, infrared, and mass spectral data. The compounds identified are 19,20-epoxycytochalasin C; 19,20epoxycytochalasin D; and xylobovide. Two other compounds, fusaric acid and dehydrofusaric acid, were discovered in an endophyte of the Hypocreales …

Formative Assessment: The Effect On Academic Achievement And Attitudes Toward Science, Susanne Casey

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to (a) determine if the use of formative assessment in the science classroom improved academic achievement in a group of ninth grade honors level students; and (b) determine the effect of formative assessment on the attitudes these students have toward science. Data was collected from two control groups (N=24 and N=26) and the experimental, comparison group (N=28). Students were administered two Likert-type surveys, an attitude survey and a causal attribution survey. Each survey was given at the start of the experiment and again at the end of the experiment. Summative test scores were also …

Methods Of Cultivation Of Hyperthermophiles That Utilize Crude Oil, Erin Althaia Propst

Theses and Dissertations

This study demonstrated the presence of hyperthermophilic organisms in the upper Jurassic Smackover formation in Womack Hills, AL. Evidence for the presence of these organisms was shown by the cultivation of an aerobic and an anaerobic, oil-degrading hyperthermophilic culture from the cuttings of an oil well in the Jurassic Smackover at 90¢ªC. Viability of microorganisms in the formation was established through electron microscopy, by carbon dioxide production, and by protein production during incubation in medium at 90¢ªC. Not only was the presence of viable microorganisms in the reservoir established, but as a result of this study, new cultivation methods were …

Frequency Of Instrumental Delivery Associated With Epidural Analgesia, Nicole D. Abrahamson

Theses and Dissertations

Presently, approximately two-thirds of all women in the United States receive obstetric analgesia for pain relief during labor. Much research has been done on the effects of epidural analgesia on the mother and infant including prolonged labor, lower rate of spontaneous delivery and increased risk of instrumental delivery. There is agreement in the research that epidural analgesia prolongs stage 2 labor, however, debate continues regarding the association of instrumental delivery and epidural analgesia. There is also lack of substantial research regarding discontinuing epidural analgesia late in labor and whether this affects rate of instrumental delivery.

The purpose of this study …

The Professionalization Of Naturopathic Medicine, Mindy Michelle Tyson

Theses and Dissertations

Use and interest in naturopathic medicine, a comprehensive alternative healing modality, has been on the increase in the United States for more than a decade. Proponents of the health discipline are working to move it from its current position as a partially professionalized heterodox medical system into mainstream medicine in the United States. Advocates for this form of primary care medicine claim that through its use of natural therapeutics and preventive medicine, naturopathic medicine has the ability to curb the ever- escalating costs of American health care and to slow the epidemic of preventable diseases occurring in the United States. …

Outcomes Of A Bariatric Surgery Program, Ann Lansing

Theses and Dissertations

The incidence of obesity in the U.S. is alarming. There are serious comorbid conditions associated with morbid obesity. These include hypertension, diabetes type-2, and sleep apnea. Although much money and effort is spent on weight loss programs, only 5% of the people meet with success.

This study is a retrospective examination of outcomes of a bariatric surgery program. Charts were reviewed between the years of 2000 and 2003. The population included over 100 patients who had Roux-en Y gastric bypass in a town in the Western United States.

The variables examined were the resolution of hypertension, diabetes type-2, and sleep …

Knowledge And Perception Of North Dakota Nurses Regarding Palliative Care, Nancy Joyner

Theses and Dissertations

Palliative care, also known as comfort care, involves the holistic care of patients when curative treatment is not effective. The principal factors of palliative care include the aggressive treatment of pain and other symptoms, including physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual problems. Nurses spend more time with patients and their families than any other health care professional, placing them in a position to provide palliative care in a variety of different settings. This requires nurses to have a sound knowledge base in this specialty. Not all nurses, however, are adequately prepared for or comfortable with palliative care.

The purpose of …

Investigation Of A Cognitive Dissonance Intervention Versus A Psychoeducational Placebo Control: Testing The Effectiveness Of Prevention Programming For Eating Disorders, Valerie L. Krysanski

Theses and Dissertations

As psychoeducational eating disorder prevention programs have not been shown to reduce eating pathology, these programs are well-suited to use as placebo controls against interventions that have been shown to be effective. The proposed study compared a cognitive dissonance based intervention to a psychoeducational placebo control group with college women. Seventy-five college women who had elevated scores on a measure of thin ideal internalization, placing them at increased risk for developing an eating disorder, were randomly assigned to either a psychoeducational intervention (n = 35) or a dissonance-based intervention (n = 40). Each intervention was composed of 3, 1-hour sessions, …

Predicting Body Mass Index In Northern Plains American Indian Children, Tami Jollie-Trottier

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity has become a major health concern for American Indians. Obesity prevalence is higher for minority groups, however American Indians consistently have higher rates than any other U.S. population. Of more concern is the trend towards higher rates of overweight and obesity in American Indian children. Obesity has been associated with many health concerns such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes mellitus in both American Indian adults and children. The purpose of this study is to identify predictor variables that may be contributing to the development or possibly maintenance of obesity in American Indian children. …

The School Counseling Psychology Program: A Qualitative Study., Daniel Vern Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

The service role and functions of school counseling and school psychology have been discussed extensively for several decades. The literature from each professional discipline is replete with calls to expand the training and service capacity of these school professionals. Simultaneously calls are made for even broader educational reform as it specifically relates to student pupil services. From within this context an integrated school counseling and school psychology program known as the School Counseling Psychology Program was organized and administered at Brigham Young University. This qualitative dissertation study highlights the perceived strengths and limitations of this integrated training program. The impact …

The Effect Of Leisure-Based Screen Time On Physical Activity, Mary Dawn Sperry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of leisure-based screen time on physical activity. Ninety-four families participated in this six-week study. Each family was randomly assigned to one of three screen time groups: (1) control group (2) 2-hour-limit group or (3) one-hour-limit group. Family members wore a Walk4Life LS 2505® pedometer to measure steps. Daily screen time logs were filled out each night and leisure-based screen time and steps were recorded. Analysis of variance (steps x group) was used to determine differences among the groups. Univariate tests showed there were no significant differences among any of the …

Soft Drink Consumption And Changes In Body Composition In 170 Women: A 4-Year Prospective Study, Jared Michael Tucker

Theses and Dissertations

Background: In recent history, there have been significant increases in both soft drink consumption and the prevalence of obesity throughout the developed world. To help curb the obesity epidemic, a better understanding of the behaviors contributing to weight and fat gain is vital.

Objective: To examine the extent to which soft drink consumption is predictive of changes in body composition in middle-aged women over a 4-year period, while statistically controlling for age, energy intake, physical activity, and menopause status.

Design: A prospective cohort design over 48 months with no intervention. Self-reported soft drink consumption was used to predict changes in …