Digital Commons Network^™

Toward Innovative, Liveable, And Prosperous Asian Megacities Gawad Kalinga: Innovation In The City (And Beyond), Raymund B. Habaradas, Martin Lorenzo Aquino

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

Gawad Kalinga (GK) is an innovative approach that could be the key to solving poverty and homelessness in the Philippines. It is potentially an effective, sustainable, and replicable model that could address the problem of urban housing in the developing world. Its most important innovation is a shift in paradigm of what community development ought to be. Instead of looking at members of the poor communities as passive actors (i.e. as mere recipients of donations or as beneficiaries of support programs), GK considers them as active participants in the development process. Through the help of the caretaker team and the …

Individual-Based Modeling Of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Movements And Epizootiology, Lene Jung Kjaer

Dissertations

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are important game mammals and potential reservoirs of diseases of domestic livestock, so diseases of deer are of great concern to wildlife managers. In many situations, models can be useful for integrating existing data, understanding disease transmission patterns, and predicting effects on host populations. Individual-based modeling (IBM) has become more commonplace in ecology as a tool to link individual behavior to population dynamics and community interactions, especially for gauging the effects of management actions. Spatially explicit IBMs are especially useful when ecological processes, such as disease transmission, are affected by the spatial composition of the environment. …

The Influence Of Nursing Curriculum In Associate Degree Nursing Programs On The Development Of Nursing Professionalism In Graduating Nursing Students, Cristina M. Riter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nursing professionalism is assumed to develop during the educational process, with the model of the baccalaureate degree program. There have been few studies on the development of professionalism in beginning nursing students, especially those in a two-year associate degree nursing program. This research study explored the concept of professional development in reaction to the increased number of associate degree registered nurses in this country since the inception of the associate degree nursing programs in the 1950s. The impact of the registered nursing shortage on the nursing profession and the educational preparedness of future registered nurses was also explored. The research …

Changes In Body Mass Index And Short-Term Healthcare Expenditures In A Medicare Population, Tricia Lee Wilkins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Purpose. The main objective of the study was to estimate the short-term changes in healthcare expenditures that result from weight gain or loss in a population of Medicare patients using longitudinal data. Changes in total healthcare expenditures and its components (inpatient, outpatient, prescription, dental and other) by changes in body mass index (BMI) categories were analyzed.;To examine the relationship between BMI changes and expenditures, three specifications of expenditures were used. The primary measure of expenditures was relative changes in expenditures transformed into log-ratio. Under the log-ratio approach positive values indicate increased expenditures, and negative values indicate decreased expenditures. Other measures …

Childhood Injuries In Pakistan: Results From Two Communities, Seema Zainulabdin Lasi, Ghazala Rafique, Habib Peermohammad

Human Development Programme

The study aimed at determining the incidence, nature, and extent of childhood injuries in two suburban and rural communities of Pakistan. The findings of the study are based on a cross-sectional survey of 2,292 children aged 1-8 years. Information was sought retrospectively from the primary caregiver on the occurrence of injury that required formal or informal medical consultation during the past three months. The incidence rate of non-fatal injuries that required care outside home for children aged 1-8 years was 19.7 injuries per 100 person (child)-years of exposure [95% confidence interval (CI) 16.41-23.51]: 26.5 injuries per 100 person (child)-years of …

Interaction Between Roughages And Corn Milling Byproducts In Finishing Cattle Diets, Joshua R. Benton

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

During ethanol production, starch is the primary nutrient fermented and the remaining byproducts are excellent sources of fiber and protein. In addition, inclusion of byproducts in finishing diets may reduce the incidence of acidosis. As a result, roughage level and quality could potentially be reduced in finishing diets containing byproducts. Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of roughage and wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) in finishing cattle diets containing corn distillers grains plus solubles. Cattle fed finishing diets containing wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) with no roughage had decreased DMI and ADG compared to cattle fed roughage. …

Establishing The Best Practices Related To Effective Student Development In Campus Recreation Student Employees, Lauren Toperzer

All Theses

Students play a vital role in the leadership and delivery of campus recreation programs. The purpose of this study was to investigate best practices related to effective student development techniques in high quality campus recreation programs affiliated with NIRSA (National Intramural Recreational Sports Association). NIRSA , in collaboration with CAS (Council for the Advancement of Standards), educates collegiate recreational sports professionals on the importance of providing a rich learning environment for student employees (nirsa.org, 2010). A campus recreation professional can put student development theory to practice and the student employee can gain effective professional development.
Data were collected through a …

Willingness To Pay For Locally Grown And Organically Produced Fruits And Vegetables In Dominica, Seraphine George

All Theses

ABSTRACT
With the intent of improving agricultural revenues and solidifying her place as an eco-tourism destination, it has been proposed that the island nation of The Commonwealth of Dominica convert all agricultural activities to organic production. To meet this challenge from the supply perspective, training of farmers in organic production practices has already begun. It remains, however, to quantify the potential demand for organically produced products. With this information in hand, appropriate producer support and marketing programs could be developed that would help to promote the production and consumption of Dominica‟s organic outputs and would propel Dominica toward its desired …

Effects Of Common Culinary Cooking Techniques On The Antioxidants In Collard Greens, Alexander Clifford

All Theses

This thesis explores the effects of different cooking techniques on the antioxidant activity in collard greens. Chapter 1 is a literature review covering the topics of antioxidants, nutrition, cooking techniques and the effect of thermal treatment on antioxidants. Chapter 2 is a research manuscript evaluating collard greens from a local South Carolina farm exposed to seven different thermal treatments along with an untreated raw group. The thermal treatments utilized were sautŽ, both long and short simmer, the sautŽ treatment applied to both a long and short simmer treated group and the reserved cooking water from both a long and short …

Sustainable Urban Transport: The Issue Of Equity In The Emerging Bric Countries, Tamara Tavares

All Theses

Although sustainable frameworks for transportation have been widely discussed in the transportation planning field in recent decades, the issue of equity in transportation systems is still relatively unexplored in comparison to the other pillars of sustainability. Globally, the concept of equity gains different nuances in developed and developing countries, and have yet new implications when considering fast emerging nations. The objective of this paper is to investigate how transit policies in fast emerging economies are used to distribute equitable access to benefits and opportunities; and to derive lessons that can orient future cohorts of emerging cities and countries to use …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Youth Feedback Of Nutrition School Enrichment Kits In Lincoln, Ne, Richard A. Losey

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

A Qualitative Analysis of Youth Feedback of Nutrition School Enrichment Kits in Lincoln, NE Richard A. Losey, M.S. University of Nebraska, 2010 Advisor: Wanda M. Koszewski The qualitative analysis of the responses given by students participating in classrooms that used the Nutrition Education Program‟s (NEP) school enrichment kits was the primary focus of this research. Data was collected from the participants in written form. Three major themes appeared during analysis of the data, healthy eating habits, cleanliness and change. The theme of healthy eating habits is comprised of the following sub-themes: breakfast, nutrients, label reading, Food Guide Pyramid/MyPyramid and healthy …

Regulation Of Atp Binding Cassette Transporter A1 And G1 Expression By Fatty Acids, Chai Siah Ku

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

High density lipoprotein (HDL) is an atheroprotective element which is critical in the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) pathway to eliminate excess cholesterol from the periphery of the body. A low plasma HDL cholesterol levels indicate a higher risk of getting cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Formation and metabolism of HDL largely rely on ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and G1 (ABCG1) that are transporters to facilitate the efflux of cellular cholesterol to outside of cells. ABCA1 in the liver and small intestine is the major contributing factor for HDL formation. On the other hand, ABCA1 and ABCG1 present in macrophages contribute …

The Banner - V. 145, No. 8 - (August 2010), Christian Reformed Church In North America

The Banner

6 - Editorial: Cursed Blessings by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Safe as Eggs by Peter Schuurman / 8 - IMHO: A Gluten-Free Communion by Caroline Booy / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - News: Ontario Youths Challenged to "Make It Count" / 19 - Frequently Asked Questions / 20 - The Case for Christian Education by James K.A. Smith / 22 - Hearing God in Unlikely Places by Sandy Swartzentruber / 26 - Dear Reader: Prosperity vs. Passion by Jerry Dykstra / 31 - Relating: Baby Blues by Heather Peters / 32 …

Merchants Of Deception: The Deceptive Advertising Of Fmri Lie Detection Technology, Jordan T. Cohen

Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy

No abstract provided.

Education Of Obstetrical Nursing Staff Regarding Regional Anesthesia And Possible Complications, Megan M. Dallman

Theses and Dissertations

Spinal and epidural anesthesia have long been a popular choice for anesthesia in the obstetrical population, whether for a laboring patient or a patient undergoing a cesarean delivery. Anesthesia providers caITy out the placement and delivery of these blocks. After the block is deemed successful and the patient is considered medically stable, the anesthesia provider may then leave the side of their patient, trusting that the care given by the labor and delivery nurse will be the best possible care available. However, it is a well know fact that risks are present anytime an invasive procedure takes place. Complications can …

Body Image In Middle-Aged Mormon Women: A Comparative Case Study, Janette Olsen

Faculty Publications

Body image is a multifaceted construct developed from perceived experiences and personal and cultural attitudes towards the body. Women are more vulnerable than men to internal and external influences regarding negative body image. A qualitative comparative case study design was utilized to explore how 10 lifelong, middle-aged LDS women, either married (n=5) with children or single, never married (n=5), experienced body image through their perceptions of religiosity and spirituality. The participants lived along the Wasatch Front in Utah and were recruited through known LDS gatekeepers. Each participant completed three in-person interviews and three audio or paper journals, which were transcribed …

The National Context For Transparency-Based Global Environment Governance, Ann Florini

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Transparency-based global environmental governance, like all global governance, necessarily plays out in national contexts. Its efficacy is shaped not only by global politics but also by the norms and capacities prevailing within countries. Over the past two decades, there has been an extraordinary upheaval in transparency views and practices in numerous countries, rich and poor, democratic and authoritarian. This multi-faceted development has been driven by such varied factors as democratization, privatization, and changing views about appropriate regulatory practices. These changes provide the crucial context for understanding the transparency transformation that is currently unfolding within global environmental governance, as well as …

Initial Development Of A Healthy Living Curriculum Within Family Behavior Therapy For Substance Abuse, Holly B. Lapota

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A mother referred for child maltreatment and substance abuse treatment after her son tested positive for methamphetamines at birth participated in an in-home Family Behavior Therapy-Healthy Lifestyle intervention to eliminate substance use, improve parenting behaviors, lose weight, and develop better exercise habits. Twenty sessions were completed in 6 months that targeted familial communication, self-control, goal setting with contingency management, job getting skills, and stimulus control techniques. Upon termination from treatment, the participant’s self-report and urine testing was consistent with substance cessation, and she evidenced substantial improvements in her level of stress, family communication and relationships, and child maltreatment potential. She …

The Live Experience Of Non-Degree Learners From A Time Modified Traditional Baccalaureate In Nursing Program, Stephanie S. Deboor

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

By the year 2016, it is projected that a million new and replacement nurses will be needed throughout the United States. The traditional 4-year baccalaureate program alone cannot adequately sustain this demand. The immediacy of the current nursing shortage demands our educational systems respond by building and maintaining a workforce that is sufficient to support the health care needs of our society. In an attempt to meet this challenge, nursing schools around the country began exploring the option of creating accelerated programs for those who already possess a bachelor's degree in another field without compromising the integrity and quality of …

Alteration Of Microbial Communities Colonizing Leaf Litter In A Temperate Woodland Stream By Growth Of Trees Under Conditions Of Elevated Atmospheric Co2, John J. Kelly, Amit Bansal, Jonathan Winkelman, Lori R. Janus, Shannon Hell, Marie Wencel, Patricia Belt, Kevin A. Kuehn, Steven T. Rier, Nancy C. Tuchman

Faculty Publications

Elevated atmospheric CO₂ can cause increased carbon fixation and altered foliar chemical composition in a variety of plants, which has the potential to impact forested headwater streams because they are detritus-based ecosystems that rely on leaf litter as their primary source of organic carbon. Fungi and bacteria play key roles in the entry of terrestrial carbon into aquatic food webs, as they decompose leaf litter and serve as a source of nutrition for invertebrate consumers. This study tested the hypothesis that changes in leaf chemistry caused by elevated atmospheric CO₂ would result in changes in the size and …

The Elderly Somali Bantu Experience Of American Health Care: The New Way, Cathy Marie Deckys

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

A paucity of research exists involving the emic, or insider perspective, of the elderly Somali Bantu as it pertains to their experience of health care.  The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive study is to gain insight into the factors that influence the elderly Somali Bantus’ experience of American health care in Boise, Idaho based on their perspective.  The elderly Somali Bantu refugee has experienced many changes since their resettlement to the United States from United Nations’ refugee camps in Kenya four to seven years ago.  The majority of this population is illiterate and has no native written language.  This is …

Meiotic Insurance: Designing A System To Study Crossover Control In Yeast, Kate V. Karfilis

Master's Theses

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division in which haploid gametes are produced from diploid progenitors. This reduction in ploidy results from proper meiotic chromosome segregation and is ensured by crossover recombination events. Given their importance, it is no surprise that crossover formation is regulated in most eukaryotes. Crossover assurance is a regulatory mechanism that helps to ensure that each pair of chromosomes gets at least one crossover during meiosis.

We seek to better understand how crossover assurance works. To do so, we have developed a system in which crossover formation between a pair of chromosomes is restricted to …

Carnitine-Acylcarnitine Translocase Deficiency. Clinical Course Of Three Saudi Children With A Severe Phenotype, Nouriya A. Al-Sannaa, George M. Cheriyan

Saudi Medical Journal

Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) deficiency (McKusick 212138) is a rare life threatening disorder characterized by hypoketotic hypoglycemia, hyperammonemia, encephalopathy, cardiomyopathy hepatopathy, and myopathy. Here, we present a detailed clinical course of 3 Saudi siblings with a severe phenotype. The third patient was described in more detail. Early medical intervention in the form of 25% dextrose intravenous infusion and carnitine supplement followed by a gradual introduction of a high carbohydrate low fat special formula resulted in a good clinical and biochemical response to the treatment in our patient. However, early nephrocalcinosis, severe hypotonia, and subsequently intravascular cerebral accident could not be prevented. …

The Effects Of A High-Intensity Resistance Training Program On Muscular Strength, Muscular Endurance, And Psychological Measures In Cancer Survivors, Jessica M. Weiderspon

Master's Theses

Cancer can be characterized as an uncontrolled growth and spread of irregular cells in the body. Approximately 559,880 Americans die from cancer every year, however an estimated 562,340 Americans are anticipated to survive from cancer. With greater advances in treatment and increased survival rates, rehabilitation of normal life functioning becomes a large priority for cancer survivors. It has been found that exercise improves physiological and psychological factors in cancer survivors, although the most advantageous mode, duration, or intensity has not been determined. Aerobic and mixed interventions (aerobic, resistance, flexibility) have been studied in depth but a pure resistance training program …

The Difference In Physiological Parameters Following An Exercise Intervention In Breast Cancer Survivors On A Single Chemotherapy Drug Versus Combination Chemotherapy Drugs, Micah John Foster

Master's Theses

Exercise has become an important part of cancer rehabilitation as the incidence of breast cancer is increasing and the mortality rate is decreasing. Breast cancer chemotherapy treatment induces a physical demand on the body while exercise counter balances symptoms of chemotherapy treatment. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects an exercise intervention has on breast cancer survivors who have received a single chemotherapy drug versus combination chemotherapy drugs. A secondary purpose was to determine any differences in chemotherapy categories. Participants were chosen that had single drug treatment (n = 34) and combination drug treatment (n = 20). …

A Major Role For Mammals In The Ecology Of Mycobacterium Ulcerans, Janet A. Fyfe, Caroline J. Lavender, Kathrine A. Handasyde, Alistair R. Legione, Carolyn R. O'Brien, Timothy P. Stinear, Sacha J. Pidot, Torsten Seemann, Mark Eric Benbow, John R. Wallace, Christina Mccowan, Paul D. R. Johnson

Biology Faculty Publications

Background: Mycobacterium ulcerans is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer (BU), a destructive skin disease found predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa and south-eastern Australia. The precise mode(s) of transmission and environmental reservoir(s) remain unknown, but several studies have explored the role of aquatic invertebrate species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the environmental distribution of M. ulcerans in south-eastern Australia.

The Relationship Between The Level Of Support Group Participation And Psychosocial Factors In Prostate Cancer Patients Treated With Proton Therapy, Carol A. L. Davis

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. The role of support groups for cancer patients is known to be beneficial in helping people adjust to the disease, and cope with the myriad of effects that cancer has on quality of life. Although many people express interest in attending such support groups, few attend regularly. It is unclear what characteristics distinguish those who use such services from those who do not, especially among proton therapy patients.

Objective. To examine demographic and psychosocial characteristics associated with the Brotherhood of the Balloon (BOB) prostate cancer support group membership, a unique treatment-focused group originating at Loma Linda University Medical Center …

Calcium/Magnesium Ratio And Water Potential Effects On Forage Quality And Pectin Concentration, Rishi Prasad

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Forage quality is an important parameter in animal nutrition and depends partly on soil fertility and moisture. Acidic soil pH and low soil moisture are known to decrease forage yield and quality. Liming is a common practice to correct the soil pH. Addition of lime not only improves the availability of nutrients but at the same time adds to the native calcium and magnesium present in the soil. Calcium and magnesium are identified as essential secondary macronutrients known to influence plant's physiological process. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of molar combinations of Ca:Mg ratio in …

The Relationship Between Breastfeeding And Child Care For Working Mothers In The United States, Patricia Wonch Hill

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Whether or not child care provider characteristics and factors related to the care giving environment impact breastfeeding duration for working mothers has not been systematically studied. In this dissertation, I use Ecological Health Promotion Theory to explore the relationship between child care and breastfeeding through three different analyses. First, I interviewed nine child care providers to assess their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about infant feeding and whether they vary on these factors across individuals and child care licensing types. Second, I conducted a small mail survey of 93 licensed child care providers in order to create a scale measuring attitudes …

Comparison Of Abundance Of Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi On Sun- And Shade-Grown Coffea Arabica Plants, August 2010, John A. Colantonio

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Large-scale coffee agriculture can have significantly detrimental effects on the environment. However, organic coffee production lowers these impacts and helps to conserve tropical diversity by reducing need for soil inputs. Natural, healthy soils contain beneficial vesicularmycorrhizal (VAM) fungi. These fungi help cycle nutrients, and support plant health and growth. Mycorrhizal mutualisms are abundant and effective in particular habitats, particularly those in which the fungi do not exhaust carbon resources for the plant. This study compares the abundance of VAM fungi vesicles on the roots of organic shade-grown coffee plants and those grown in the sun. Root samples were collected from …