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Grocery Shopping: How Individuals And Built Environments Influence Choice Of Travel Mode, Junfeng Jiao, Anne Vernez Moudon, Adam Drewnowski

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This research investigated the influences of socioeconomic characteristics of individual travelers and of the environments where the travelers live and shop on choice of travel mode for grocery shopping. The data on travel for grocery shopping came from 2,001 respondents to the 2009 Seattle Obesity Study survey in King County, Washington. Eighty-eight percent of the respondents drove to their grocery stores, whereas 12% used transit or taxis, walked, biked, or carpooled. The addresses of 1,994 homes and 1,901 primary grocery stores used by respondents were geographically coded. The characteristics of built environments in the neighborhoods around homes and grocery stores …

Exposures To Multiple Environmental Chemicals (Lead, Methylmercury And Polychlorinated Biphenyls) Among Childbearing-Aged Women In The U.S., Marcella Remer Thompson

Open Access Dissertations

It is estimated that 5 to 20% of neurodevelopmental disabilities in children are caused by environmental toxic exposures. Lead, methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known to have neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental consequences in animal models and human population studies. Bioaccumulation and exposures during gestation transfer from mother to fetus via the placenta and to an infant and young child through lactation. Little is known about multiple environmental chemical exposures, especially among childbearing-aged women.

This descriptive and exploratory study involved analysis of existing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a national probability sample. Lead, methylmercury and the …

Getting Around When You’Re Just Getting By: The Travel Behavior And Transportation Expenditures Of Low-Income Adults, Mti Report 10-02, Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Evelyn A. Blumenberg, Sarah Abel, Gregory Pierce, Charles N. Darrah

Mineta Transportation Institute

How much do people with limited resources pay for cars, public transit, and other means of travel? How does their transportation behavior change during periods of falling employment and rising fuel prices? This research uses in-depth interviews with 73 adults to examine how rising transportation costs impact low-income families. The interviews examine four general areas of interest: travel behavior and transportation spending patterns; the costs and benefits of alternative modes of travel; cost management strategies; and opinions about the effect of changing transportation prices on travel behavior. Key findings include: Most low-income household are concerned about their transportation costs. Low-income …

Religiosity In Adolescence And Emerging Adulthood, Carolyn Mcnamara Barry, Larry J. Nelson

Faculty Publications

According to IEA Civic Education Study, approximately half of American adolescents participate in religious groups (Torney-Purta et al. 2001) and half of American 18–24-year-olds report religious beliefs to be important (Inglehart et al. 2004). Thus, religious experiences are an important aspect of the lives of many adolescents and emerging adults (approximately ages 18 to the mid-20s) in the USA. Specifically, adolescents are fully immersed in identity exploration and ideally resolve this search in emerging adulthood. They embark on a quest to solidify their values and beliefs about countless issues, including religiosity. This essay will review the literature on religiosity among …

On The Incompatibility Of Political Virtue And Judicial Review: A Neo-Aristotelean Perspective, Ralph F. Gaebler

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Part I of this essay outlines a neo-Aristotelean theory of political virtue, an instance of virtue generally, that serves as the basis of excellent citizenship in the polis. As such, political virtue contributes its share to the achievement of eudaimonia, or the fulfillment of an individual’s natural, human function. In fact, political virtue is especially important because people are political beings, i.e. they seek the good most comprehensively in the context of association with others. Therefore, Aristotle describes politics as the master science of the supreme good, because politics orders the community of the polis and thereby establishes the norms …

Migration Conservation: A View From Above, Robert L. Fischman

Articles by Maurer Faculty

The extinction prevention focus of natural resources policy diverts attention from important issues of ecological integrity and adaptation to climate change. Animal migration conservation serves as a bridge from the imperiled species problem to the more spatially and temporally difficult problems surrounding climate change adaptation. Conserving abundant animal migrations both strengthens the resilience of the ecosystems in which they function and tests the resilience of social institutions responsible for adaptation. This essay synthesizes the findings of a two-year, interdisciplinary study of animal migration conservation. It also introduces the articles that follow in a symposium issue of the journal, Environmental Law.

Concurrent Uptake Of Lead, Zinc, Cadmium And Copper And Health Risk Assessments In A Smelter Contaminated Soil., Mimi Roy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study area for this research was a smelter contaminated site in Harrison County, West Virginia. Soils in this site had elevated levels of lead, zinc, cadmium and copper. A multi-step chemical extraction study showed that zinc and cadmium were the most plant available elements while for Pb more than 75% was associated with the residual phase. Standard addition experiments showed readsorption rates less than 25 % for Pb and Cd, and less than 50% for Zn and Cu. Some common garden and residential plants were grown initially to study metal uptake in tissues. Radish, carrot, and chicory showed the …

Does Hydration Status Have An Effect On Wrestling Performance In High School Wrestlers?, Joseph M. Brausch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Context. Hydration is important for all athletes not only for overall health, but for optimal performance during competition. Many studies have shown a relationship between a decrease in physiological function and performance as related to dehydration typically by measuring peak power output and aerobic capacity. But few studies have shown the relationship between hydration or dehydration and the performance of wrestlers throughout a competitive season. Objective. The purposes of this study were to determine: (1) if there is a difference between hydration levels over three time points between a high specific gravity group and a low specific gravity group; (2) …

Parental Perception Of Their Child's Weight Status And Food Provision And Consumption Patterns In Appalachia, Jill Cochran

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Obesity rates have continued to accelerate in the pediatric population. The accompanying co-morbidities of obesity have been recognized, yet the long term complications are not fully understood. The Health Belief Model is utilized in this study to evaluate parental perception of their child's weight status, related demographic factors, and food provision and consumption patterns associated with parental perception.;The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to examine the accuracy of parental perception of their child's weight status and to describe characteristics of those who accurately and inaccurately perceive their child's weight status. Chi-square analysis was used to determine relationships between …

Temporal Changes In Soil Carbon Concentration And Quality In A Reclaimed Minesoil Chronosequence, Sriroop Chaudhuri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have increased significantly over the last half century causing erratic changes in global climate and the ecological balance of the earth. With proper land management practices, reclaimed minesoils can act as CO2- sinks, thus contributing to the terrestrial carbon sequestration efforts to mitigate effects of increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The objective of this research was to determine temporal changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) geochemistry and contents in a reclaimed minesoil chronosequence. The study area comprised four reclaimed minesoils in Monongalia County, West Virginia, with time since reclamation ranging between 2 to 21 years. A …

Childhood Obesity In Context: Examining The Role Of Ecological Factors Related To Childhood Obesity Among West Virginia's Youth, Stephanie S. Frost

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nearly one third of youth in the United States are overweight or obese and rates are disproportionately higher among rural youth. These rates are cause for alarm given the many short- and long-term consequences of childhood obesity. A growing body of research has begun to explore how factors outside the individual might influence obesity and obesity-related behaviors. Guided by ecological frameworks, this research has demonstrated that factors such as the socioeconomic status of the community, access to physical activity opportunities, and quality of the community food environment may contribute to this epidemic. However, much of the research to date has …

Influencing Kidney Health And Function In Young Female Rats Through Dietary Alterations, Joseph Christopher Gigliotti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The occurrence of kidney failure in the US has drastically increased over the past decade. The decline in health associated with chronic kidney disease can be prevented if detected early in disease progression. However, substantial damage has often occurred before detection of renal disease is possible. Therefore, disease prevention (as in all diseases) is the optimal treatment.;In regards to the kidneys, dietary habits can have a profound influence on the function and overall kidney health. This is particularly evident in female rats due to their susceptibility to diet induced renal disease. In female rats, the initiation of chronic kidney disease …

Diet Induced Alterations And Distribution Of Indices Of Lysine Catabolism, Stephanie K. Gatrell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Lysine is thought to be oxidized primarily by lysine alpha-ketoglutarate reductase (LKR) and saccharopine dehydrogenase (SDH), which are restricted to the mitochondrial matrix. Lysine is presumably transported through the plasma membrane by isoforms(s) of a cationic amino acid transporter (CAT). Although the mechanism(s) of lysine transport through the inner mitochondrial membrane is not known, it is presumptively transported by one or both mitochondrial "ornithine transporters" (ORC-1/ORC-2). Tissue distribution of LKR and the mechanism(s) responsible for alterations in hepatic lysine catabolism in swine are unclear. Also, the roles of the alternative pathways of lysine degradation, the L-amino acid oxidase-dependent (LAAO), in …

The Effect Of Dietary Inclusion Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid In Finishing Hog Feed On Sensory Characteristics And Storage Quality Indicators Of Pork Loin, Kaitlin Hope Maditz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Marbling in meat occurs when fat is distributed throughout the skeletal muscle and is visually apparent by light streaks of fat that look like a marble pattern. It is associated with increased quality, tenderness, and likeability. Incorporating dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) into finishing hog feed increases intramuscular fat and decrease backfat in harvested pigs; therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if inclusion of CLA in pig feed would increase intramuscular marbling and consumer likeability without compromising storage stability. Twenty pigs were housed in ten pens (2 pigs per pen) and fed either 1% Soybean oil or …

Sensory Evaluation And Quality Indicators Of Nutritionally Enhanced Egg Product With Omega-3 Rich Oils, Helenia Dawn Sedoski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FA) positively affect heart health while high levels of cholesterol are an indication of poor heart health. Nutritionally-enhanced low-cholesterol egg sticks fortified with n-3 FA were developed; quality indicators were measured and sensory evaluations were conducted. Store-bought eggs were separated and egg whites were mixed with oil, spray dried egg whites, annatto (color) and salt. The oil sources included: algae, menhaden, flaxseed, and canola oils. Experimental egg batters and mixed whole egg (control) were cooked in the shape of a cheese stick, vacuum packed, …

Molecular Phylogeny Of The Oestroidea, Baneshwar Singh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The superfamily Oestroidea includes approximately 9% (≈14,000 spp.) of the order Diptera. Many members of the superfamily are of medical, veterinary, agricultural, and forensic importance. Although Oestroidea has been the subject of much scientific scrutiny, the exact patterns of phylogenetic relationships among the key groups of the superfamily are unresolved and controversial. For a better understanding of oestroid evolutionary hypotheses, phylogenies of Oestroidea were reconstructed at several taxonomic levels using DNA sequence data. The specific aims were to determine the phylogeny of the 1) genus Chrysomya (Chrysomyinae); 2) subfamily Chrysomyinae (Calliphoridae); 3) family Oestridae (Oestroidea); and 4) family Calliphoridae (Oestroidea). …

Comparison Of Parent-Child Interactions In Abusive And Control Families: An Observational Study, Jocelyn F. O. Stokes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study sought to identify differences in caregiver-child interactions between caregivers with and without prior reports of child physical abuse. Data for the abuse group were made available for secondary analyses by the National Archive for Child Abuse and Neglect via Cornell University. Data for the comparison group were collected for a previous study at West Virginia University. For both studies, caregiver-child dyads participated in a 5---minute, videotaped observation in a situation in which the parent had to exert moderate control over the child. Data that had been coded using the Dyadic Parent---Child Interaction Coding System (Eyberg, et al., 1994; …

When We’Re All Together, The Patient Knows It: Creating An Interdisciplinary Learning Community In Palliative Medicine, Krista M. Hirschmann Phd, Daniel Ray Md, Elissa Foster Phd

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Using Handheld Touch Screen Enabled Devices And Persuasive Game Mechanics To Teach Quadratic Functions, Alejandro Montoya

Technical Library

Research has shown that many students are not interested in learning mathematics; they find it difficult to understand, irrelevant to their daily lives, and uninteresting. This thesis explores elements of computer games that may satisfy children’s learning needs and ultimately motivate them to learn mathematical concepts.

According to a 2008 survey conducted by the Washington, D.C. based Pew Research Center, 97% of children between the ages of 12 and 17 in the United States play computer, Web, portable or console games. Based on these numbers we can conclude young students like video games. Over the past few years, a new …

Preserving Useful Info While Reducing Noise Of Physiological Signals By Using Wavelet Analysis, Jeffrey Lam

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Wavelet analysis is a powerful mathematical tool commonly used in signal processing applications, such as image analysis, image compression, image edge detection, and communications systems. Unlike traditional Fourier analysis, wavelet analysis allows for multiple resolutions in the time and frequency domains; it can preserve time information while decomposing a signal spectrum over a range of frequencies. Wavelet analysis is also more suitable for detecting numerous transitory characteristics, such as drift, trends, abrupt changes, and beginnings and ends of events. These characteristics are often the most important and critical part of some non-stationary signals, such as physiological signals. The thesis focuses …

Education And Economy: The Impact Of Investment In Human Capital Through Education On Unemployment, Zafer Pirim

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The impact of investment in human capital on economy has always been discussed in the literature. Existing studies in the literature generally focus on short term impacts of investment in human capital. While some studies see significant impact, some other ones see little or no impact. This study manipulated data that was cover a long span of time, a 25-year period. In this study the researcher inquired whether there is a significant correlation between education and economy in terms of the impacts of investment in human capital on unemployment over a long span of time. In this empirical study panel …

The Relationship Of Financial Performance, Quality Indicators, And The Role Of Nurse Executives In Virginia Nursing Homes, Jeany V. Murphy

Health Services Research Dissertations

Problem statement. The dynamic nature of the healthcare industry has triggered changes in nurse executive functions. The job has expanded into entrepreneurial roles to be able to provide the most cost effective services while maintaining good quality outcomes for the residents. The new responsibility requires a different set of knowledge and competencies that is usually achieved through advanced education. It is not known whether nurse executives in long term care in Virginia possess the skills to influence both the financial and quality outcomes of the facility.

Methods. This descriptive research study examined the relationship of the nurse executives' technical, human, …

Children's And Parents' Depression In Relation To Family-Based Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment Outcome, Rachel Kolko

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Baseline parent-report of child depression and parent self-reported depression have been found to predict childrenΓÇÖs outcome in family-based behavioral weight loss treatment: FBT), although less is known about how child self-reported depression, changes in depression over time, and depression assessed via multiple informants is associated with FBT outcome. Two hundred and forty-one overweight children and their parents entered FBT, and 178 completed the pre- and post-FBT assessments. Depression was assessed via child and parent self-report, and parent-report on child. Linear regression examined child and parent depression: both baseline and change from baseline to post-FBT) as predictors of child FBT outcome: …

Holistically Informed: A Scientist-Practitioner Offers The Perspective Of Inclusion Over Exclusion In Two Undergraduate Psychology Courses, Katherine A. Barone

Journal of Pedagogy, Pluralism, and Practice

An overview of some scientist-practitioner dilemmas that still exist in psychology sets the stage for an examination of how both models might be incorporated in the undergraduate psychology curriculum. The difficulty of guiding the applied psychology student towards respect for inclusion is explored and suggestions are offered for the curriculum in two courses, Theories of Personality and Cognitive Psychology. Specifically, multicultural emphases and work on case material seem to be the most helpful adjunctive curriculum and these are demonstrated through some aspects of a holistically informed practitioner focus. Using case material from diverse cultures, represented in a snowflake image, helps …

Mhc Class I-Dependent Acquisition And Maintenance Of Natural Killer Cell Function, Julie Chase

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Natural killer: NK) cells are hematopoietically derived immune cells of the lymphoid lineage. Their effector functions, including cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity, are controlled by the integration of signals received from both activating and inhibitory receptors. In a phenomenon known as "missing-self" recognition, NK cells eliminate self-tissues with aberrantly low or absent MHC class I surface expression, as is common in settings of viral infection and transformation, when these cells fail to engage the critical NK cell inhibitory receptors. Interestingly, NK cells that develop in an MHC class I-deficient environment are defective in natural killing and hyporesponsive to stimulation through their …

The Gut Microbiome In Healthy And Severely Malnourished Humans, Tanya Yatsunenko

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Human large intestine is home to tens of trillions of microbes belonging to all three do- mains of life. The functions encoded by the genes in this community: microbiome) include processing and production of macro- and micronutrients. Much remains unknown about the factors that determine the assembly of the gut microbial community starting at birth, and if disruptions in the assembly of this `microbial metabolic organ' early in life result in physiologic and metabolic deficits later in life. The central goal of my thesis was to char- acterize development of the gut microbiome early in life, with a focus on …

Do Soup Kitchen Meals Contribute To Suboptimal Nutrient Intake & Obesity In The Homeless Population?, Lisa G. Sisson, Deborah A. Lown

Peer Reviewed Articles - Hospitality and Tourism Management

The double burden of suboptimal nutrient intake and obesity exists when available foods lack essential nutrients to promote health and provide high amounts of energy. This study evaluated the nutrition content of 41 meals served to the homeless at 3 urban soup kitchens. The mean nutrient content of all meals and of meals from each of the kitchens was compared to two-thirds of the estimated average requirement (EAR). The mean nutrient content of the meals did not provide two-thirds of the EAR for energy, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, dietary fiber, or calcium but provided 11.8% of calories from saturated fat. …

Intergenerational Ties In Context: Grandparents Caring For Grandchildren In China, Guangya Liu, Feinian Chen, Christine A. Mair

Faculty Scholarship

Guided by theories and empirical research on intergenerational relationships, we examine the phenomenon of grandparents caring for grandchildren in contemporary China. Using a longitudinal dataset (China Health and Nutrition Survey), the authors document a high level of structural and functional solidarity in grandparent-grandchildren relationships. Intergenerational solidarity is indicated by a high rate of coresidence between grandchildren and grandparents, a sizable number of skipped-generation households (no parent present), extensive childcare involvement by non-coresidential grandparents, and a large amount of care provided by coresidential grandparents. Multivariate analysis further suggests that grandparents’ childcare load is adaptive to familial needs, as reflected by the …

Health Care Migration In Japan: Immigration Policy In Terms Of Language, Ayumi Susai

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis argues the necessity of new standards for Japanese language teaching in Japan, responding to diversifying social needs. The current situation for foreign workers in Japan is a pressing issue in the light of declining fertility rates and a rapidly aging population. The focus of chapter 1 is this paper particularly focuses on issues regarding acceptance of nurses and certified care workers under the scheme of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between Japan and Indonesia in 2008, as a new policy to import more foreign skilled workers into Japan. This chapter demonstrates the nation's passive attitude toward accepting foreign workers …

Countering Structural Violence: Cultivating An Experience Of Positive Peace, Carrie E. Stiles

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis considers some conflicts involving indigenous peoples that arise from the universal standardization of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) over Plant Genetic Resources (PGR). My study presents the research problem of how to include indigenous peoples in dialogue as a prerequisite for conflict transformation. To better understand this problem, and potential solutions, I conducted participatory action research (PAR) through an ethnographic case study of Himalayan farmers working with the grassroots network Navdanya. The study explores the research question: how do Garhwali farmers experience grassroots mobilization for biodiversity and indigenous knowledge (IK) conservation? This question is intended to generate data for …