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Promises And Challenges Of Teaching Statistical Reasoning To Journalism Undergraduates: Twin Surveys Of Department Heads, 1997 And 2008, Robert J. Griffin

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

Surveys of journalism department heads in 1997 and 2008 showed general support for the need for journalism students to reason with statistical information. Stronger support was associated, in particular, with the perception that this cognitive skill would give students an advantage in the journalism job market. However, many chairs also perceived various constraints to learning, such as student unwillingness to focus on this material and the difficulty most of their faculty would have teaching it. University goals to integrate statistical reasoning into the curriculum were associated with chairs rewarding faculty who did so. Chair responses in 2008 varied little from …

Seasonal Differences In Leaf-Level Physiology Give Lianas A Competitive Advantage Over Trees In A Tropical Seasonal Forest, Zhi-Quan Cai, Stefan A. Schnitzer, Frans Bongers

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Lianas are an important component of most tropical forests, where they vary in abundance from high in seasonal forests to low in aseasonal forests. We tested the hypothesis that the physiological ability of lianas to fix carbon (and thus grow) during seasonal drought may confer a distinct advantage in seasonal tropical forests, which may explain pan-tropical liana distributions. We compared a range of leaf-level physiological attributes of 18 co-occurring liana and 16 tree species during the wet and dry seasons in a tropical seasonal forest in Xishuangbanna, China. We found that, during the wet season, lianas had significantly higher CO …

August 2009 Commencement Program, Bowling Green State University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

The Extent Of Dietary Supplements Use By Male Rugby Players In Kenya, E. Mse, J. Kimiywe, Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu

Health & Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective: Dietary or nutritional supplements are substances which act either nutritionally to reverse or prevent deficiency or pharmacologically, to alter some physiological processes. The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent of knowledge, consumption levels and identify factors or reasons that influenced the utilization of dietary supplements by male rugby players in Kenya. Methodology and results: The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The target population was 210 players from seven teams that participated in the Kenya Cup League. Simple random sampling was used to select 140 (67%) respondents out of the target population of 210. Percentages …

The Relationship Between Calcium Intake, Obesity, And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: The Jackson Heart Study, Marjuyua Lartey-Rowser

Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health risk in the United States. Major indicators of CVD risk include obesity, blood lipids, and blood pressure. Modifiable risk factors associated with CVD include body composition (body mass index and waist circumference), serum lipids, and blood pressure. Data suggest calcium intake may play a role in regulation of weight, serum lipids, and blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to assess relationships of dietary calcium intake with weight status, and cardiovascular disease risks in African American population participating in the Jackson Heart Study.

The subjects included 4,267 African American adults ages 21-95 …

Optimizing Vitamin D Status To Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk: An Evidentiary Review., Guiyun Zhou, Jill Stoitzfus, Beth A. Swan

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Vitamin D deficiency is common in the general public and in patients with cancer. Optimizing vitamin D intake is increasingly recognized in cancer risk reduction, particularly in decreasing colorectal cancer risk. Therefore, summarizing the current evidence to promote best practices related to vitamin D intake and colorectal cancer risk reduction is important. The objectives of this article are to examine the current evidence regarding the impact of vitamin D on colorectal cancer risk reduction and provide practice recommendations for clinicians. Relevant research articles from 2002-2008 were retrieved from multiple electronic databases. Reference lists of relevant articles also were searched manually. …

Scarred Images: Using Appearance As A Motivator To Reduce Driving Under The Influence Of Alcohol, Mary-Theresa Mcnabb

Dissertations

In response to continued driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) amongst young adults and increased drinking and driving amongst females, the current study aimed to decrease such risky behavior using threats to appearance as a deterrent. One hundred and thirty-three undergraduates at the University of Southern Mississippi completed a threepart study after sequential assignment to one of three groups, a no-photo group, a crash scene photo group, or a personalized-photo group. Baseline measures were taken concerning participants' alcohol-related behaviors. One week later all groups were given statistical information commonly available in DUI prevention pamphlets together with strategies to avoid …

Functional State Following The Fontan Procedure., Ismee A. Williams, Lynn A. Sleeper, Steven D. Colan, Minmin Lu, Elizabeth A. Stephenson, Jane W. Newburger, Welton M. Gersony, Meryl S. Cohen, James F. Cnota, Andrew M. Atz, Richard V. Williams, Renee Margossian, Andrew J. Powell, Mario P. Stylianou, Daphne T. Hsu, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators, Girish S. Shirali

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in outcomes after completion of the Fontan circulation, long-term functional state varies. We sought to identify pre- and postoperative characteristics associated with overall function.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed data from 476 survivors with the Fontan circulation enrolled in the Pediatric Heart Network Fontan Cross-sectional Study. Mean age at creation of the Fontan circulation was 3.4 plus or minus 2.1 years, with a range from 0.7 to 17.5 years, and time since completion was 8.7 plus or minus 3.4 years, the range being from 1.1 to 17.3 years. We calculated a functional score for the survivors by …

Classifying The Fire Regime Condition Class For Upland Oak-Hickory Forests, Paul David Tikusis

Theses

Several reports of widespread establishment of mesophytic vegetation within oak-hickory upland forests have been documented throughout the Central Hardwoods Region. Previous studies suggest deviations from historic disturbance regimes may be a primary driver of vegetation change, necessitating the use of Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) guidelines to measure changes in forest structure. Current parameters of forest structure and fuel loading were assessed within mature oak-hickory uplands throughout the ecological subsections of the Shawnee National Forest, including the Greater Shawnee Hills, Lesser Shawnee Hills, Cretaceous Hills, and the Illinois Ozarks. Present species importance values and forest structure were compared with reference …

The Effects Of Physical Activity And Nutrient Intake On The Risk Of Hip Fracture : Results From The Adventist Health Study-2, Wen-Ling Liao

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This is a two year of follow up study of Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2). We assessed the association between physical activity, nutrient intake and risk of hip fracture among peri- and post menopausal Caucasian women using unconditional logistic regression models. All subjects completed a lifestyle questionnaire which including information of physical activity and frequency and portion size of food intake at enrollment into the study (2002-2007). The “Bi-Annual Hospitalization History” questionnaire which included a question about hip fractures due to minor trauma/falls was sent to subjects approximately two years after enrollment, with a response rat of 82.84%. In this cohort, …

Effect Of California Mission Fig Consumption On Levels Of C-Reactive Protein And Antioxidant Levels, Rasha Abdrabou

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Polyphenols exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. We investigated the effect of consumption of polyphenol-rich figs on high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and antioxidant levels in hyperlipidemic subjects. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of fig consumption on C-reactive protein and antioxidant levels. Analyses were carried out on collected data from September to December of 2008. Using a crossover design, one hundred and two participants were recruited and randomized into an intervention phase (eating figs) and a control phase (not eating figs) for 5 weeks. Blood samples were drawn from each group at the 4th and 5th …

The Effects Of Dietary N-3 Polyunsaturated Fat From Plant Versus Marine Sources On Bochemical Markers Of Bone Turnover In Healthy Adults, Lan Nguyen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Objective: To investigate the effects of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fat from plant versus marine sources on biochemical markers of bone turnover.

Design: Both studies were controlled, single blind, randomized trials using Latin-square crossover designs.

Subjects/Methods:Twenty-five (12 females and 13 males) and 24 (9 females and 15 males) healthy participants completed the Fish-Walnut Study and the Omega-3 Study, respectively. The Fish-Walnut Study included three diets: [1] control, [2] ALA-rich diet (1.5 oz of walnuts/day, 6 times/week), and [3] EPA/DHA-rich diet (8 oz of salmon/week). The Omega-3 Study included four diets: [1] control, [2] ALA-rich diet (42-49 g flaxseed oil/wk; lOg …

Mechanisms Of Iron Reduction And Phosphorus Solubilization In An Intermittently Wet Pasture Soil, Jared L. Wilmoth

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microbial Fe-reduction in pasture soils may be of agronomic importance, because it has been shown to influence P cycling. The present study investigated the behavior of Fe and P in an intermittently wet, Appalachian pasture soil during a 42 day anaerobic incubation. Native humic acid (HA) extracted from the sampling location and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid (AQDS) were used in the experiment to determine their electron-mediating effects on Fe(III) reduction and P solubilization over time. Extracted HA and the International Humic Substance Society (IHSS) Elliott Soil HA standard were compared using 13C-NMR, FT-IR, SEM, and CHNS analysis. Soil samples treated with 1.24 …

Unlocking Doors For The Locked-Out: How Can Community Colleges Help To Demolish Barriers, Build Bridges, And Transition Male Ex-Offenders Into The Workforce, Jeannette Collins-Molden

Dissertations

Over 670,000 adult prisoners were released in 2004. It is estimated that by 2010 over 1.2 million inmates will be released annually. The purpose of this study was to explore (a) barriers that male ex-offenders encounter in their pursuit of entering the workforce and (b) various types of education and support services that community colleges could provide in order to assist this marginalized population in overcoming these barriers. This qualitative case study was conducted at a community college offering programs that attracted a population of at least 50% male ex-offenders. Six male ex-offender students, four of the case study institution …

Anesthetic Considerations For The Obstetrical Patient With Multiple Sclerosis, Jennifer Pedersen

Theses and Dissertations

The obstetrical patient with pre-existing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) presents the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) with specific concerns regarding anesthetic management. The physiological and pathophysiological changes of pregnancy and of the disease process itself must be taken into consideration. Despite a lack of controlled studies to support clinical practice, CRNAs have traditionally avoided regional anesthesia in these patients due to the fear of disease relapse or because of legal concerns. Several authors have attempted to link regional anesthesia to MS relapse in the obstetrical patient, however no research has shown a direct link between any anesthetic technique and an increase …

Web-Based Nutrition Education For University Middle-Aged Female Staff, Wan-Ju Yen

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Researchers have described women as facing a dramatic increase in the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke, and Alzheimer’s, the onset of these as the result of the impact of changing hormone levels, particularly the decline in estrogen. The purpose of this two-phase study was to determine if web-based nutrition education could be used to increase the consumption of food groups in MyPyramid, omega-3 fatty acids and selfefficacy in middle-aged female. Phase one was a qualitative study to identify middleaged female’s beliefs and interests around the topic of nutrition. Data were collected using audiotaped semi-structured individual interviews. Eight female staff …

Postpartum Patients Reports Of Satisfaction With A Welcome Meal After A Vaginal Delivery, Jessica R. Pinilla

Master's Projects

Objective: The purpose of this research study was to assess patient perspectives regarding a special Welcome Meal. The focus was on patients' feeling welcomed and important because prior research has shown that when a patient's expectations are exceeded, patient satisfaction increases. This study suggests that receiving a Welcome Meal may improve their experience on a postpartum unit. Design: Prior to discharge, each patient on the maternity unit was served a special Welcome Meal. A questionnaire was given to patients that consisted of six questions. The six questions incorporated six themes found in research literature on improving patient satisfaction. These themes …

Viability For Oxidation Of H2s Gas Using Low Concentration Solutions Of H2o2 Peroxide In Applications For Biogas Purification., Stewart Walter Mccollam 1985-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an examination of the viability of a low pH hydrogen peroxide scrubbing process for removing H 2 S acid gas present in typical biogas streams generated from dairy farm anaerobic digesters. Biogas ranges in composition based on the feedstock manure used in the anaerobic digestion process but typically consists of methane (50-60%), carbon dioxide (40-50%), and trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Hydrogen sulfide is of prime concern because it is an odorous, poisonous, and highly corrosive gas which can impede use in power generation applications for biogas such as boilers, internal combustion engines, microturbines, fuel …

Promises And Challenges Of Teaching Statistical Reasoning To Journalism Undergraduates: Twin Surveys Of Department Heads, 1997 And 2008 (Presentation), Robert J. Griffin, Sharon Dunwoody

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

Surveys of journalism department heads in 1997 and 2008 showed general support for the need for journalism students to reason with statistical information. Stronger support was associated, in particular, with the perception that this cognitive skill would give students an advantage in the journalism job market. However, many chairs also perceived various constraints to learning, such as student unwillingness to focus on this material and the difficulty most of their faculty would have teaching it. University goals to integrate statistical reasoning into the curriculum were associated with chairs rewarding faculty who did so. Chair responses in 2008 varied little from …

Whether Crop Diversification Is A Desired Strategy For Agricultural Growth In Bangladesh?, S Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This study aimed at examining the merit of crop diversification as a strategy for agricultural growth in Bangladesh. Specifically, the existence of economies of diversification, scale economies and diversification efficiencies at the farm level were examined using a stochastic input-distance function approach. The results reveal strong evidence of diversification economies amongst most crop enterprises except the combination of modern rice and modern wheat enterprises. Ray economies of scale exist in Bangladeshi cropping system. Also, significant are efficiency gains made from diversification among cropping enterprises. The key policy implication is that crop diversification should be a desired strategy for agricultural growth …

Coconut Oil Enhancement Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Induced Body Fat Loss And Lipolysis In Mice, Siri Manasa Ippagunta

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) causes a body fat loss that is enhanced when mice are fed coconut oil (CO) compared to soy oil (SO). The objectives were to determine if CLA feeding altered proteins involved in lipolysis. Male mice (n = 80; 3 wk old) were fed 7% SO or CO diets for 6 wk then 0 or 0.5% CLA for 12d. A body fat index was calculated: (retroperitoneal (RP) + epididymal (EPI) fat pads)*100/body weight. Lipolysis was determined by non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and glycerol release from EPI & RP explants. The relative expression of perilipin, phosphorylated perilipin …

Variation In, And Contributing Factors Of Placental Efficiency In Swine, Tiffany Ann Wilmoth

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Placental efficiency, defined as fetal weight divided by placental weight, has been shown to be involved in litter size. Breeds that are more prolific (12-13 pigs per litter) have feto-placental units with higher placental efficiencies. However, domestic commercial breeds have much smaller litters of about 9.5 pigs per litter. Placental size is vastly different, such that high placental efficiency pigs have smaller, more vascularized placentae. Even within an individual litter two piglets with similar body weights may be grown on placentae that are different in size. The placenta of the least efficient feto-placental unit may be up to 50% bigger …

Effects Of Delayed Fat Supplementation On Post-Prandial Rumen Metabolism, Lamb Quality And Fatty Acid Composition Of Rumen Effluent, Quinn Stephan Baptiste

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sheep farmers have an option to incorporate fat supplements into the ration of grazing ruminants. Farmers choosing this option will have to select a time for offering that supplement. It might be practical to feed the supplement in the morning or evening. However, the time at which that supplement is fed should not compromise nutrient digestion or the enhancement of ruminant product fatty acid composition. Consequently, the effects of feeding a fat enriched supplement, at a delayed time on rumen metabolism, lamb quality, and fatty acid composition of effluent digesta were investigated in three experiments. In experiment 1, treatment (time …

The Use Of Performance Based Funding In A Sport Organization: A Case Study Of The United States Olympic Committee, James Thomas Binns

Dissertations

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) changed their funding strategy after the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. The USOC moved to a performance based funding strategy to focus on the bottom line and medal podium performance. After eight years of claiming to be an organization focused on performance based funding principles, monetary gains have been made while continuing to focus on the development of Olympic medalists. Clearly performance based funding principles have helped the USOC accomplish its stated goals.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the USOC had embraced the fundamental principles of performance based funding …

Fantasy Sport Consumer Behavior: An Analysis Of Participant Attitudes And Behavioral Intentions, Brendan Dwyer

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Music Education On Early Adolescents' Adaptive Skills, Health-Enhancing Behaviors, And Self-Efficacy, Kimberly Ann Root Wilson

Dissertations

The present study investigated the relationship between early adolescents' participation in middle school music programming and behavioral and emotional functioning. Specifically, the association between students' music involvement and the practice of certain healthy behaviors (diet, exercise, seatbelt use, helmet use, and sleep), adaptive skills (interpersonal relations, relationship with parents, self-esteem, and self-reliance) as well as levels of self-efficacy was examined. Based upon previous research demonstrating positive effects of participation in extracurricular activities on the above mentioned constructs, it was hypothesized that similar findings would emerge for those students involved in school-based music programs. The development of health behaviors, adaptive behaviors, …

Effects Of Nitrogen Supply On The Root Morphology Of Corn And Velvetleaf, Kimberly D. Bonifas, John L. Lindquist

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Root morphology will affect interplant competition for soil nutrients. Research was conducted to assess fine root fraction, mean root radius, specific root length, root length density, and nitrogen (N) uptake per unit fine root biomass of corn and velvetleaf over time and in response to nitrogen supply. Pots containing either corn or velvetleaf were embedded in the ground and received one of three N treatments. Plants were destructively sampled on 10 dates during each of two years and root subsamples analyzed using root scanning software. While corn root morphology was more responsive to N supply than velvetleaf, velvetleaf N uptake …

Switchgrass For Forage And Bioenergy: Ii. Effects Of P And K Fertilization, John A. Guretzky, Maru Kering, Jon Biermacher, Billy Cook

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been targeted for cellulosic ethanol production. Our objective was to evaluate effects of P and K fertilization on switchgrass biomass yields. Experiments were established in switchgrass (cv. Alamo) fields planted at three Oklahoma locations in 2007. Interactions of N and P fertilizer rates were evaluated on two sites that had low soil test P (6 to 9 kg/ha). Interactions of N and K fertilizer rates and harvest system were evaluated on a site that had low soil test K (134 kg/ha). In the N and P rate experiments, biomass yields during establishment …

Nutritional Assessment Of Patients In A Large Saudi Dialysis Center, Khalid A. Al-Saran, Sameh A. Elsayed, Azeb J. Molhem, Areej S. Aldrees, Huda M. Alzara

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To examine interventions used to manage malnutrition, and obesity, and to share experiences, concerns, and solutions to these problems for management of nutritional disorders in Saudi patients on maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS: The subjects included in this cross-sectional study were chronic hemodialysis patients in the Prince Salman Center for Kidney Diseases (PSCKD), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period from September 2007 to September 2008. Medical history, examination, baseline laboratory tests, and the nutritional status was assessed using the subjective global assessment score (SGA). RESULTS: Subjects in the study had a mean age of 50±16 years, 108 (54%) were …

Evaluation Of Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence. In Semi-Rural Areas Of Central Anatolia, Turkey, Inci Arikan, Selma Metintas, Cemalettin Kalyoncu, Omer Colak, Ufuk Arikan

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and clustering of components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in semi-rural areas of Central Anatolia, Turkey. METHODS: This study was conducted between January and August 2008 on a randomly selected sample of participants from semi-rural settlement areas of the Eskisehir province, Central Anatolia, Turkey. The MetS was diagnosed as the presence of 3, or more risk factors according to the National Cholesterol Education Program-Expert Panel Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. The MetS prevalence was standardized according to age, and logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors affecting prevalence. RESULTS: The study …