Digital Commons Network^™

The Importance Of Ehealth In The Education Of Underserved Populations, Shanel L. Winfield

Graduate Research Papers

The use of the Internet or the World Wide Web for educational purposes is widespread and rapidly growing. It is only natural that, in response to this rapid growth, its usage expands into the field of medicine, particularly eHealth. But as the nature of how the Internet is being used in health and medicine increases, there is a large segment of the population being left behind because of lack of access. This lack of access is in response to economic barriers, political barriers, social-cultural barriers and social-economic barriers. Issues of literacy, content, and language also play a role in the …

Antibiotic Resistance And Multi-Drug Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria In Athletics, Chad Cerullo

Graduate Research Papers

The objective of this paper is to describe the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance and the emergence of multi-drug resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria as it relates to the athletic medicine setting, while also describing prevention and treatment options for infections the emerge in the athletic medicine setting.

Athletic Training Education: A Review Of Literature, Abigail S. Mccorkel

Graduate Research Papers

Athletic training education has changed a great deal in the past fifteen years due to the education reform. However, the amount of research available in the area of athletic training education is still very limited (Turocy, 2002). There is a great need for quality research in athletic training education. In order to perform additional research, we must conclude what we know about athletic training education and what remains unknown.

Currently, no single document exists that analyzes all athletic training education research completed to date. A manuscript of this type would be very helpful to identify what we know about athletic …

A Review Of Selected Determinants Of Youth Physical Activity, Emily M. Jones

Graduate Research Papers

As identified in the Healthy People 2010 report (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2000) leading health indicators are: physical activity; overweight and obesity; tobacco use; substance abuse; responsible sexual behavior; mental health; injury and violence; environmental quality; immunization; and access to health care. For the purposes of this paper, the health indicator under review will be physical activity. Regular participation in physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of premature mortality, coronary heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetes in people of all ages. Physical activity participation may also improve mental health and aids in …

How Jesse Cosby Relates To The History Of Leisure And Youth Services In Black Hawk County, Jesse Clinton Henderson

Graduate Research Papers

Today Black Hawk County seems to have a number of growing problems in the African American community high crime, alcohol and drug abuse, violence , high school drop-outs, teen pregnancies, and civil unrest. Much of this seems to be attributed to a lack of participation in positive leisure, recreation, and youth activities in the African American Community.

There has always been a problem in the African American community when it comes to participation in leisure and recreational activities. Jesse Cosby recognized this problem and tried to encourage many African American youth to participate in square dancing, tennis, golf, baseball, ice …

Effect Of Economics On The Health Determinants Of Fruit And Vegetable Consumption, Dan Winder

Graduate Research Papers

The goal is to identify the market factors that cause produce consumption to increase and the indicators that cause consumption to decrease. Determining the relationship between each economic factor and produce intake will help explain the effect of economics on the health aspects of fruits and vegetable consumption. Economic indicators that cause fruit and vegetable consumption to increase can be said to have a positive effect on health, while factors that cause intake to fall can be said to have a negative effect on health.

Suggested Core Materials For Early Childhood Programs, Erin Feingold

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to examine current available resources related to emergent literacy in order to create a core list of literature for early childhood center libraries. "Research suggests that the foundation for academic success is laid well before a child enters the public schools" (Smith, Fairchild, and Groginsky, 1997, p. ix). The researcher described past and present Federal initiatives that support these efforts. Current curriculum guidelines and recommendations from national organizations for early childhood learning centers were examined to determine what resources were needed to provide a framework for learning. Studies examined emphasized that exposing children to …

Evaluation Of Bovine Spermatid Sex Ratio By Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization, Michael Alan Stout

LSU Master's Theses

The objective of this study was to use fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to determine if a skew in the sex ratio was present at the level of the bovine round spermatid. Paraffin embedded bovine testicular tissue obtained from biopsies were used to perform FISH, and the seminiferous tubules were examined. Our findings show that the skew does exist within the round spermatids. Analysis of variance on X- and Y-chromosome bearing round spermatids as affected by sex, slide, picture set, and tubule was performed. Sex showed that the variation in round spermatid sex ratio differed between slides (P = 0.0001). …

Sensory Characteristics Of Salt Substitute Containing L-Arginine, Pamarin Waimaleongora-Ek

LSU Master's Theses

Dietary salt restriction is a common approach recommended by physicians in the treatment and prevention of hypertension. Salt substitute is a potential alternative. The most popular salt substitute is KCl, having similar physical properties to NaCl. Because of the higher molecular weight of cations (K+), KCl imparts undesired bitterness and metallic aftertaste. L-arginine has been found to have the bitterness-suppression property. Therefore, it may be used in the mixture of salt substitutes. In the first study, NaCl and four salt substitute solutions consisting of KCl, NaCl, and L-arginine, were developed at 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% w/v. A discriminative test was …

The Perceived Benefits Of Healthcare Information Technology Adoption: Construct And Survey Development, So-Ra Jung

LSU Master's Theses

This paper is a part of a large study, which examines healthcare professionals’ attitudes regarding the adoption, use and perceived benefits of healthcare information technology (HIT). To date, literature on HIT has shown many important benefits related to quality and efficiency as well as limitations related to generalization and to a lack of empirical data on benefits. The aim of this paper is to develop a survey instrument focused the perceived benefits of HIT adoption. We exhaustively reviewed the construct of perceived benefits in various research areas to identify established approaches to predicting individual’s intentions to adopt technology. The items …

Influence Of Typha Latifolia And Phragmites Communis Root Matter On Degredation Of Aged 1,2,3,4-Tetrachlorobenzene In Bayou Sediments, Elaiza Maria Alvarez

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Typha latifolia and Phragmites communis root matter in degradation of sediments contaminated with aged 1,2,3,4- Tetrachlorobenzene (1,2,3,4-TeCB). In the present study, complete reductive dechlorination of 1,2,3,4-TeCB was observed in root matter systems, contrasting sediment with no roots present. Microcosms amended with Phragmites communis roots achieved the greatest first-order reaction rate constant over a 4-week period (0.113 d^-1, half-life time of 6.13 days). Typha latifolia roots also played an important role in reductive dehalogenation of 1,2,3,4-TeCB, although the first-order reaction rate constant observed within the same period of …

Effect Of Nursery Media Particle Size Distribution On Container-Grown Woody Ornamental Production, Michael Paul Richard

LSU Master's Theses

Bark is a renewable resource with limited availability as a medium used by the nursery industry. Previous research has indicated that pinebark and hardwood bark can be used as a substrate in nursery production. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of bark source (pinebark and hardwood bark), particle size distribution, and irrigation frequency on the growth and quality of azalea (Rhododendron indicum ‘Red Ruffle’), Indian hawthorn (Rhapeolepis indica ‘Snow’), and ligustrum (Ligustrum japonicum). Treatments were arranged in a factorial 6x2x2 plot design, with six soil mixes, two barks, two irrigation frequencies, and six blocks totaling 144 …

Created Environments Voluntarily Colonized By Spartina Alterniflora In Coastal Louisiana, Han Xu

LSU Master's Theses

The coastal wetlands play a central role in maintaining productivity of the Gulf of Mexico while protecting coastal regions during severe storms. To help offset the loss of coastal marsh, there is growing interest in the beneficial use of dredge spoil for reconstruction of eroded areas. Hydraulic dredges are routinely employed to maintain navigation and the unconsolidated sediments can be pumped considerable distances to create gently sloping wetland areas. Some areas of these reconstructed wetlands are rapidly colonized by Spartina alterniflora, the dominant vegetative species in saline areas under tidal influence. Some areas, however, fail to colonize despite favorable positions …

Interrelationships Between Mitochondrial Function, Maximal Oxygen Consumption, Running Economy, And Diet In Elite Male And Female Runners, Ryan Peyton Mcmillan

LSU Master's Theses

The relationships between maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), mitochondrial function and running economy were investigated in a population of twenty-one endurance trained males and females (range=18-54 yrs). The purposes of this study were: 1) to determine whether mitochondrial oxidative capacity, as defined by the maximal activities of citrate synthase (CS), cytochrome c oxidase (COX), and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (BHAD), is a significant determinant of maximal oxygen consumption in endurance trained men and women, and 2) to observe the relationship between maximal oxygen uptake and running economy in the same population. Muscle biopsy samples were taken from the vastus lateralis prior to a …

Spaced-Retrieval Effects On Memory For Scenes In Older Adults With Probable Alzheimer's Disease, Emily Olinde

LSU Master's Theses

Previous studies have found the spaced-retrieval memory intervention technique to be successful in training people with probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to learn new, simple associations. In the present study, we expanded on these previous findings by training eight participants with probable AD to learn the names and pictures of countries via spaced retrieval. We demonstrated the flexibility of the technique, gave insight as to the effects of distracters on the spaced-retrieval training performance, and demonstrated the memorial effects of adding pictorial support to the text.

From The Top Down And The Bottom Up: The Contemporary Practice And Choice Of Midwifery In Louisiana, Michelle M. Wydra

LSU Master's Theses

This research examines the contemporary practice of midwifery in Louisiana, a state that very early on had progressive legislation, yet remains a tough place for a midwife to practice. What, then, are the social forces that affect the ability to practice midwifery in Louisiana? I try to answer that question by examining the narratives of midwives and their clients, and evaluating the options these women have access to in this state. The narratives provide opportunities to observe the authoritarian knowledge of biomedicine in our society, and apply Foucault’s theory of power/knowledge. I describe that although Louisiana’s regulation of the practice …

Genetic Effects Influencing Salinity And Cold Tolerance In Tilapia, Alvaro M. Armas-Rosales

LSU Master's Theses

Genetic effects influencing salinity tolerance (ST) and cold tolerance (CT) were evaluated in two full diallel mating designs using six tilapia varieties: Oreochromis aureus (BL), O. mossambicus (MO), O. niloticus (NI), O. niloticus crossbreds (RE), Mississippi commercial strain (MC) and Florida red tilapia (FL). Statistical analyses provided estimates of direct heterosis (h_i), cross heterosis (h_ij), maternal effects (m_i), line effects (l_i), reciprocal and specific reciprocal effects (r_ij and r**_ij), and general and specific combining abilities (GCA and S_ij). Analysis of genetic effects for ST indicated that FL …

Addressing Contaminants In Traditional Foods In Alaska: Environmental Justice Framing And Policy Approaches, Mary Beth Mckinley

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The transport of contaminants to the Arctic and their presence in traditional foods in the region is causing concern about potential adverse health impacts resulting from exposure to these globally-borne chemicals. In this study, ten stakeholders in the issue of contaminants in traditional foods in Alaska were interviewed to determine how they define the problem, and in doing so, to determine if they perceive that the situation constitutes an environmental injustice for Alaska Natives. The interview transcripts were analyzed using five sub-frames of the environmental justice framework: distributive justice, procedural justice, indigenous rights, corrective justice, and ecological sustainability. The interview …

Monitoring Survival Of Young In Ungulates: A Case Study With Rocky Mountain Elk, Nyeema Charmaine Harris

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Harris, Nyeema C., M.S., Spring 2007 Wildlife Biology MONITORING SURVIVAL OF YOUNG IN UNGULATES: A CASE STUDY WITH ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK Chairperson: Daniel H. Pletscher Survival of young is an important determinant of population growth and persistence in ungulate populations. Therefore, monitoring the survival of young is an essential component in many research and management programs. The primary techniques used to monitor survival of young in ungulate populations are age ratios, obtained from herd composition surveys, and telemetry studies of marked individuals. Concerns about survival of young and the impact of predators on recruitment have recently arisen because of reported …

The Influence Of Socioeconomic And Environmental Factors On Health And Obesity In Rural Appalachia, Anura Amarasinghe, Gerard D'Souza, Cheryl Brown, Hyungna Oh

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A recursive system of ordered self assessed health (SAH) and a binary indicator of obesity were used to investigate the impact of socioeconomic and environmental factors on health and obesity in the predominantly rural Appalachian state of West Virginia. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data together with county specific socioeconomic and built environment indicators were used in estimation. Results indicate that an individual’s risk of being obese increases at a decreasing rate with per capita income and age. Marginal impacts show that as the level of education attainment increases, the probability of being obese decreases by 3%. Physical inactivity …

The Impact Of County Level Factors On Obesity In West Virginia, Anura Amarasinghe, Cheryl Brown, Gerard D'Souza, Tatiana Borisova

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A panel estimation of county prevalence of obesity indicates that while the percentage of the population with a completed college degree and the number of food stores available per thousand population are negatively and significantly correlated to county obesity rates, mean commuting time, average annual wage and the total number of business establishments per thousand population positively and significantly contribute to obesity. Educational attainment that raises both human and social capital, as well as changes in the built environment can play a vital role in controlling obesity in West Virginia (WV).

A Spatial Analysis Of Obesity In West Virginia, Anura Amarasinghe, Gerard D'Souza, Cheryl Brown, Tatiana Borisova

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A spatial panel data analysis at the county level examines how individual food consumption, recreational, and lifestyle choices ― against a backdrop of changing demographic, built environment, and policy factors ― leads to obesity. Results suggest that obesity tends to be spatially autocorrelated; in addition to hereditary factors and lifestyle choices, it is also caused by sprawl and lack of land use planning. Policy measures which stimulate educational attainment, poverty alleviation, and promotion of better land use planning and best consumption practices (BCPs) could both reduce obesity and result in sustainable development of regions where obesity is prevalent and the …

2005-2006 Legislative Review, Sunrise Cox

Animal Law Review

No abstract provided.

Annual Report Of The Town Officers Of The Town Of Dummer, N.H. For The Year Ending December 31, 2005 Including Dummer School Report., Dummer Town Representatives

Dummer, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

Multiple Disadvantages Of Mayan Females: The Effects Of Gender, Ethnicity, Poverty, And Residence On Education In Guatemala, Kelly Hallman, Sara Peracca, Jennifer Catino, Marta Julia Ruiz

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Although access to primary education in Guatemala has increased in recent years, particularly in rural areas, levels of educational attainment and literacy remain among the lowest in Latin America. Inequalities in school access and grade attainment linked to ethnicity, gender, poverty, and residence remain. Age trends show that Mayan females are the least likely to ever enroll, and, if they do enroll, start school the latest and drop out earliest. Innovative programs for girls that combine instruction with social interaction in safe local community spaces may increase their educational attainment and their social networks and means of social support. In …

How Long Will We Live?, John Bongaarts

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

After a brief review of the controversy about future trends, this Population Council working paper examines past trends in the components of life expectancy at birth in high-income countries with low levels of mortality. The projection of these components provides the basis for assessing plausible future trends in longevity. Large increases in conventional life expectancy before 1950 are found to be primarily attributable to reductions in juvenile and background mortality. After 1950 the rate of improvement in life expectancy slowed, but senescent mortality fell more rapidly than before, thus becoming the main cause of rising life expectancy at birth. The …

Earthquake Vulnerability Assessment Pakistan, 2005–06, Arshad Mahmood

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The 7.6-magnitude earthquake on October 8, 2005, caused a large number of deaths, and left more than 100,000 people injured and an estimated 3 million people displaced or homeless. To assist the Government of Pakistan in the preparation of a rehabilitation plan, the first step was to identify the vulnerable people living in the tent camps. The Population Council completed an assessment survey of the camps in the earthquake area. This assessment is distinctive from the surveys carried out previously, since it collects socio-demographic and vulnerability indicators about each individual. The assessment is useful in tracking the conditions of especially …

Tap And Reposition Youth (Try): Providing Social Support, Savings, And Microcredit Opportunities For Young Women In Areas With High Hiv Prevalence, Annabel Erulkar, Judith Bruce, Aleke Dondo, Jennefer Sebstad, James K. Matheka, Arjmand Banu Khan, Anne Gathuku

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Tap and Reposition Youth (TRY) was a multiphase initiative undertaken by the Population Council and K-Rep Development Agency (KDA), the oldest and largest microfinance institution in Kenya. The overall aim of the project was to reduce adolescents’ vulnerabilities to adverse social and reproductive health outcomes, including HIV infection, by improving their livelihoods options. The project was launched in low-income and slum areas of Nairobi, Kenya, where rates of HIV infection are alarming and where young women are disproportionately affected.

Policy Lessons Of The East Asian Demographic Transition, Geoffrey Mcnicoll

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The usual lessons drawn from East Asia’s striking experience of health and fertility transition concern the efficacy of well-designed government programs catering to an existing or ideationally stimulated demand. An alternative interpretation sees the demographic change—and the uptake of services—as a by-product of social and economic development together with, in some cases, strong government pressures. This Population Council working paper probes more deeply into this experience, seeking to identify common features of development design and administration that underlies it and to derive lessons for policies elsewhere. The broad sequence entailed, initially, establishment of an effective, typically authoritarian, system of local …

Tap And Reposition Youth (Try): Providing Social Support, Savings, And Microcredit Opportunities For Young Women In Areas With High Hiv Prevalence, Annabel Erulkar, Judith Bruce, Erica Chong, Aleke Dondo, Jennefer Sebstad, James K. Matheka, Arjmand Banu Khan, Anne Gathuku

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Nairobi, Kenya is home to one of the largest slum populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Adolescents living in these slums, especially girls, are cut off from the potentially protective environments of school and family and lack safe economic opportunities. Unemployment is a major concern for adolescent girls, and desperate circumstances force them to survive however they can: 21 percent of sexually active girls aged 15–19 report exchanging sex for money or gifts. This heightened vulnerability is reflected in rates of HIV infection. In response to these circumstances, the Population Council and microfinance institution K-Rep Development Agency collaborated on the implementation of …