Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of Growth And Survival Of Hardwood Trees On Brown And Gray Sandstone, Lindsay M. Wilson-Kokes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Deciduous forests in the Appalachian region have been greatly disrupted due to surface coal mining since the 1930's. After the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) in 1977, coal mine operators began planting a variety of grasses and legumes as a fast and economical way to re-establish a permanent vegetative cover in order to meet erosion and site stabilization requirements. However, soil compaction and competitive forage species have arrested the re-colonization of native hardwood tree species on these reclaimed sites. In an effort to evaluate tree growth on selected spoils and determine the effects of compaction, …

Is Postural Stability Compromised In Women With Urinary Incontinence?, Samantha K. Rondini

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Women with urinary incontinence (UI) have an increased risk of falling compared to their age-matched peers without UI. Due to the anatomical location of the pelvic floor muscles, they are suspected to contribute to the maintenance of postural stability during everyday activities. Women with UI have weak or dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles. The purpose of this study was to determine if women with UI, specifically stress, urge, and mixed UI, have deficits in postural stability during static tasks and in response to postural perturbations of the support surface.;Methods: To measure static stability, 14 women (7 with UI: age 51.75 +/- …

Characterization Of Genes Involved In Sumoylation During Embryogenesis In Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss), Xiaowei Zang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

SUMOylation is the post-translational modification of proteins by the addition of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO), which plays an important role in various cellular processes. It has been reported that SUMO and its related proteins are important in diverse reproductive functions such as ovulation, gametogenesis, and embryogenesis. Modification of target proteins by SUMO is an ATP-dependent enzymatic cascade involving three key enzymes: E1 activating enzyme (the heterodimer SAE1-SAE2), E2 conjugating enzyme (UBC9) and several E3 ligating enzymes (PIAS, RanBP2/Nup358 and Pc2). The objectives of this study were to characterize the genes involved in SUMOylation and determine their expression profiles during …

Electrospun Nanofiber Yarns For Nanofluidic Applications, Chen-Chih Tsai

All Dissertations

This dissertation is centered on the development and characterization of electrospun nanofiber probes. These probes are envisioned to act like sponges, drawing up fluids from microcapillaries, small organisms, and, ideally, from a single cell. Thus, the probe performance significantly depends on the materials ability to readily absorb liquids. Electrospun nanofibers gained much attention in recent decades, and have been applied in biomedical, textile, filtration, and military applications. However, most nanofibers are produced in the form of randomly deposited non-woven fiber mats. Recently, different electrospinning setups have been proposed to control alignment of electrospun nanofibers. However, reproducibility of the mechanical and …

Effect Of Celebrity Endorsements On Treatment Choices Made By Professionals And Parents With Children Diagnosed With Asd, Jenika Karnik

Theses

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently estimated that one in 50 children are diagnosed with Autism in the U.S. Now, parents out there not only have to face a doctor's diagnosis, but also a flood of confusing promises for recoveries and miracle cures. Parents have to sift through recommendations made by media, celebrities, professionals, and many, many more. The purpose of this study is to examine what influences the choices parents make involving treatment for their children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Rallying The Team To Improve Glycemic Control In The Acute Care Setting: Mission Possible, Joyce Najarian Msn, Rn, Cde, Ann Flickinger Ms, Rd, Ldn, Marie Claude-Gutekunst Msn, Rn, Pccn, Brian D. Spadt

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Unveiling A Path To Head Start Turnaround: Investigating How Head Start Directors Transform Low-Performing Programs Into High-Performing Programs, Seanelle Tracy

Education Doctoral

The 2009 Report to Congress on Head Start Monitoring indicated that Head Start grantee non-compliance findings have increased since 2008, implying that grantee non-compliance is an issue for the Head Start field. The poor performance of grantees during Federal Monitoring Reviews demonstrates the critical need to investigate turnaround practices of Head Start directors who have successfully improved their low-performing programs to high-performing in compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards (HSPS) and successfully achieved a Federal Monitoring Review with no findings. The investigation of Head Start turnaround practices is not reflected in the current literature. However, business and K-12 settings …

How School Principals' Perspectives Of Hidden Curriculum Affect Title I Middle Schools, Kimberlee B. Pierre

Education Doctoral

This dissertation addressed hidden curriculum and the impact it has on principals in five Title I middle schools. Currently, there is a gap in the research exploring principal perspectives of hidden curriculum. The research objective was to investigate how principal perspectives of hidden curriculum affect Title I middle schools and enable school improvement. In this study, principals were interviewed regarding their perspectives on curriculum, leadership, discipline, testing, professional development, collaboration, expertise and perspectives about teachers and students in their classrooms and schools. This was a qualitative study and the data was analyzed for codes and themes of hidden curriculum. Four …

Examination Of Dietary Habits And Fruit And Vegetable Intake In A Chronic Disease Program, Qian Kuang

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The AHB program is a chronic disease prevention program which provides resources for community health centers along the U.S.-Mexico border. Healthy dietary habits and fruit/ vegetable intake play important roles in maintaining human health. Eight factors were used to evaluate the success of the AHB program. Another twenty factors were considered to predict dietary habits and fruit/vegetable intake status. Chi-square and multinomial logistic regression were used to study their correlation. Results from analysis showed that factors like birth country, employment, diabetes, baseline HbA1c, limited by problems, overall program quality, group, and program duration were correlated to the dietary habits, and …

Examine Participant Dropout, Undiagnosed Diabetes And Undiagnosed Prediabetes In A Chronic Disease Prevention Education Program, Yiwen Cao

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

There were 2768 participants enrolled in a chronic disease prevention education program. Survey and health measurements were obtained at three time points. We examine potential factors that might contribute to participant dropout, undiagnosed diabetes and undiagnosed prediabetes respectively. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between participant dropout and predictors, and to compare the odds of being undiagnosed with diabetes and prediabetes. We found that the potential predictors for participant dropout included age, employment, insurance, diabetes, self-reported health status, session type, program duration and curriculum. Factors affecting undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes were age, self-reported health status birth country, limited …

Co-Morbidities Associated With Adult Obesity In Mississippi, Richmond Lachney

MSN Research Projects

Obesity rates are rapidly increasing in Mississippi and the entire United States. It is estimated that 34.9% of Mississippi residents and 75 million Americans over the age of 20 are considered obese. Numerous studies have shown the high risk of developing co­ morbidities once a person develops obesity. The number of adult Americans living with obesity and its associated co-morbidities is alarming. The purpose of this study was to determine which co-morbidities are most prevalent among obese residents of rural Mississippi and whether they can be reduced or reversed with significant weight reduction. Nola Pender’s Health Promotion Model was utilized …

Healthcare Providers Monitoring Of Serum Potassium Levels In The Treatment Of Heart Failure, Sara Burwell, Megan Chaney, Corey Shoemaker

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if patients older than 65 years of age received the influenza vaccine.

Suicide Screening In Primary Care With Patients Diagnosed With Depression, Lori Duke, Cindy Patrick

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate healthcare providers' compliance with the recommended 2009 ACCF/AHA guidelines for monitoring routine serum potassium levels in heart failure patients.

Influenza Vaccination Of The Older Adult Patient And Documentation By The Healthcare Provider, Sara Burwell, Megan Chaney, Corey Shoemaker

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if patients older than 65 years of age received the influenza vaccine.

Healthcare Providers Monitoring Of Serum Potassium Levels In The Treatment Of Heart Failure, Lori Duke, Cindy Patrick

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate healthcare providers' compliance with the recommended 2009 ACCF/AHA guidelines for monitoring routine serum potassium levels in heart failure patients.

The Impact Of Parent Education On Parental Feeding Practices, Larra Kolby Brawley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research looked at the potential impact that parent education may have on the feeding practices of parents of young children. Since eating behaviors are a national concern for both children and adults, it's important to examine how we can create not just healthier children but, as a result, healthier adults. This study utilized an intervention that was an adapted version of a healthy eating curriculum created by Sesame Workshop and the California WIC association with the intention of improving parental feeding practices through a behavior-based approach. Previous research with this curriculum has addressed only low-income populations, with a relatively …

Genome-Wide Association Mapping Identifies Qtls And Candidate Genes For Salt Tolerance In Soybean, Lei Huang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Salinity is a common abiotic stress causing soybean yield loss worldwide. Use of tolerant cultivars is an effective and economic approach to coping with this stress. Toward this, research is needed to identify salt-tolerant germplasm and better understand the genetic and molecular basis of salt tolerance in soybean. The objectives of this study were to identify salt-tolerant genotypes, to search for SNPs and QTLs associated with salt tolerance, and to identify candidate salt tolerance genes. A total of 192 diverse soybean lines and cultivars were screened for salt tolerance in the greenhouse based on visual leaf scorch scores after 15 …

Algae To Propellants: Biosynthesis Of 1,2-Propanediol From Algal Derived Sugars, Lauren Rachelle Merriman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Propylene glycol dinitrate (PGDN) is an important component used in the formulation of energetic materials. A renewable, environmentally-friendly and effective production technique for the production of 1,2-propanediol, an important precursor to PGDN, is desired. While fermentation of 1,2-propanediol has been achieved, it suffers from major limitations such as expensive feed sugars and relatively low yields. It is hypothesized that algae sugars could serve as a feedstock for the microbial synthesis of 1,2-propanediol, thereby reducing production costs and enhancing sustainability.

Algal biomass produced from an Algal Turf Scrubber® has proven to have significant potential as a source of fermentable materials. However, …

Disease Patterns And Outcomes Of Neonatal Admissions At A Secondary Care Hospital In Pakistan, Syed R. Ali, Shakeel Ahmed, Heeramani Lohana

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the disease patterns and outcome of patients admitted to the neonatal unit of a secondary care hospital in Pakistan from January to December 2009.
Methods: Retrospective data from the medical records of all neonates admitted during the study period were reviewed and analysed for age, weight, sex, reason for admission, duration of hospital stay, diagnosis and final outcome. Trends were examined to identify the indicators of inpatient neonatal deaths.
Results: The total number of neonates admitted during the study period was 1,554; 979 were male (63%), and 575 were female (37%). A total of …

Development Of An Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Elisa) For The Detection Of Pecan Residues In Processed Foods, Denise Tran

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Pecan nuts are becoming increasingly popular due to their link to health benefits. However, the presence of undeclared pecan residues in food products can pose serious health risks for pecan-allergic consumers. Currently, analytical methods for the detection of pecan allergens are limited and have not been validated for use by the food industry to assess the effectiveness of allergen control programs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a sandwich-type ELISA to detect and quantify allergenic pecan residues in processed foods. Several varieties of pecan were mixed, roasted, and ground to immunize a goat, sheep, and rabbits. The …

The Legitimation Of Novel Technologies: The Case Of Nanotechnology, Anastasia E. Thyroff

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nanotechnology is the control, manipulation, and application of matter on an atomic and molecular level. The technology is complex and confusing to consumers, and its long-term safety and effect on the human body, as well as the environment, are unknown. However, for the past decade, nanotechnology has been used to develop consumer products and food with novel and attractive attributes.

Since nanotechnology is still not well known, it is not legitimized; that is, it has not been deemed safe and accepted by society. However, the market for nanotechnology is in the legitimation process. It will take an entire network of …

A Roadmap To Mindful Consumption Through Informative Labeling Practices: The Effects Of Sustainability Disclosure Formats On Consumer Product Evaluations, Yoon-Na Cho

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite the interest of consumers in sustainable and environmentally friendly products, only a limited number of studies have focused on sustainability level disclosures for consumer packaged goods. The general overarching purpose of this dissertation is to extend the internal reference point and information processing literatures to better understand how consumers will process sustainability disclosures. Applying the theoretical lens of assimilation bias in conjunction with self-enhancement offers an important extension to prior work. Across two retail lab studies and four online experiments, I demonstrate that the perceived sustainability utility (i.e., the difference between a specific brand's level of sustainability and category-level …

Effects Of High-Velocity Versus Low-Velocity Resistance Training On Resting Metabolic Rate And Functional Performance In Older Adults, Laura Ashleigh Morgan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 12-week high-velocity resistance training (HVRT) protocol to a traditional low-velocity resistance training (LVRT) protocol on resting metabolic rate (RMR) and other selected measures of muscular and functional fitness in older adults. Nineteen adults between the ages of 65 and 82 participated: 8 HVRT, 7 LVRT, and 4 controls (CTRL). Initially, no differences existed between groups except for age (p = .016). HVRT (75.6 years) was older than LVRT (69.6 years) and CTRL (69.3 years). The exercise intervention consisted of 2 days/week sessions for 12 weeks at 3 sets …

Excretion Of Phenolic Compounds After Consumption Of Fresh Versus Aged Chokeberry Juice In Rats, Sarah Elizabeth Graves

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, may be responsible for the health benefits of chokeberries, as they are present in large quantities in chokeberries and are potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Despite these health properties, previous investigations on the bioavailability of flavonoids illustrate that little of the ingested amount reaches the bloodstream. This study investigated two factors that may help to explain these inconsistencies. First, storage of berry fruits and berry fruit products leads to extensive polymerization of their anthocyanins with procyanidins. Additionally, after consumption flavonoids may undergo metabolism into phenolic acids and subsequent conjugation to an extent that may explain their …

Utilizing A Modular Approach To Gamification To Improve Nutrition And Fitness In Children, Chad Richards

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that affects adults and children, impacts over 30% of the population in several states of the U.S., damages national economies, and is a factor in four out of the six of the leading causes of death, including diabetes and heart disease. Obesity is preventable: solution approaches include better education, more exercise, better nutrition, and changing eating habits. Still, it is difficult for many people to remain interested enough to educate themselves and to learn new behaviors to change their eating and exercise habits.

Gamification is a relatively new research area that involves using video game …

The Use Of Non-Traditional Technologies To Improve The Efficiency And Sustainability Of Modern Poultry Production, Christopher Pixley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Historically, major driving factors for the animal agriculture industry have been efficiency and profitability. As demand for efficient food production has increased, the industry has focused research efforts on ways to improve the rearing process. Current market demands are requiring the industry to abandon some of the traditional tools it has used to maximize productivity. However, developing alternative technologies are available which may fill the void. Unfortunately, these alternatives are less well-described and the beneficial impacts they can have are not fully understood. As the animal agriculture industry matures it is becoming evident that consumers will continue to demand methods …

Study Of Thermotolerance Mechanism In Gossypium Hirsutum Through Identification Of Heat Stress Genes, Jin Zhang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Heat stress causes major losses to cotton seed and lint yield. Introduction of heat stress tolerance to Arkansas cotton varieties is highly desirable. However, very little is known about the molecular basis of heat stress tolerance in cotton. The present study attempted to identify heat stress tolerance genes in two heat-tolerant cotton cultivars, VH260 and MNH456, originating from Pakistan. Towards this, the expression profile of the cotton orthologs of sevenArabidopsisheat stress tolerance genes was studied in these two cultivars, and compared with the two heat-susceptible cotton cultivars, ST213 and ST4288, originating from Mississippi Delta region. In addition, physiological parameters …

Essays On The Economics Of Child Care And Child Custody, Jennifer Lee Hafer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In my first essay I use data from licensed child care centers in the state of Arkansas to examine the relationship between quality and price charged. To measure quality, I use Arkansas's Better Beginnings Quality Rating and Improvement System, a tier-structured voluntary certification program which can be viewed as a voluntary increase in regulations for licensed child care centers which allows them to send an observable signal of quality to consumers. Using an hedonic pricing estimation with controls for varying geographic markets, results indicate firms with Better Beginnings classification charge higher prices once the highest levels of certification are obtained. …

Evaluation Of Water Sanitation Options For Poultry Production, Pramir Maharjan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An evaluation of poultry farm water supplies was conducted to determine the value and impact of water system sanitation practices in commercial broiler houses on microbial levels. Water line cleaning between flocks using concentrated disinfectant solution before placing chicks reduced biofilms retained in the lines to a safe level. Occasional microbial surges were noticed during different points of flock grow-out period even when daily water sanitation was present indicating water is highly susceptible to microbial contamination. However, the daily water sanitation practice controlled the occasional microbial surges in water from sustaining and kept drinking water to a microbiologically acceptable level. …

Physical Activity Parenting Measurement And Research: Challenges, Explanations, And Solutions, Kirsten K. Davison, Louise C. Mâsse, Anna Timperio, Marilyn Frenn, Julie Saunders, Jason A. Mendoza, Erica Gobbi, Phillip Hanson, Stewart G. Trost

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Physical activity (PA) parenting research has proliferated over the past decade, with findings verifying the influential role that parents play in children's emerging PA behaviors. This knowledge, however, has not translated into effective family-based PA interventions. During a preconference workshop to the 2012 International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity annual meeting, a PA parenting workgroup met to: (1) Discuss challenges in PA parenting research that may limit its translation, (2) identify explanations or reasons for such challenges, and (3) recommend strategies for future research. Challenges discussed by the workgroup included a proliferation of disconnected and inconsistently measured constructs, …