Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Nutrition And Physical Activity Self-Assessment For Child Care (Nap Sacc) For Changes In Physical Activity Behavior, Policy, And Environment In Nebraska Family Child Care Homes, Katie K. Bolte

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nebraska is the first state to utilize NAP SACC and to modify the evidence-based program for family child care homes (FCCHs). The purpose of this study was to conduct a secondary data analysis to assess the effectiveness of a modified version of the NAP SACC approach in achieving changes in physical activity behavior, policy, and environment in Nebraska FCCHs caring for children ages 2-5 years. Results from this study will be used to improve the NAP SACC physical activity components for FCCHs and will help to inform trainers and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nutrition and Activity …

Zein: Novel Natural Polymer For Nanoparticle- And Film-Mediated Gene Delivery, Jessica D. Taylor

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Gene delivery, the introduction of DNA into cells, is applicable to gene therapy, DNA vaccination, functional genomics and diagnostics, tissue engineering, and drug-eluting medical devices. Particulates incorporating DNA are promising vehicles for gene delivery and overcome some of the barriers that hinder successful gene transfer, with the ability to protect DNA and provide for controlled, localized, and sustained release and transfection. Furthermore, innovative new gene delivery strategies that incorporate DNA particulates or complexes within films or coatings for devices and scaffolds could further provide for controlled and sustained transfection at the site of implant. Zein, a hydrophobic protein from corn, …

A Pilot Mixed Methods Evaluation Study Of The Effectiveness Of An After-School Cooking Club Curriculum For Middle School Students, Elisha M. Hall

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

Introduction: Obesity has exponentially increased each decade, with approximately one third of the adult American population obese and another one third overweight. More startling is that these trends are rising in children as well. With economic, health, social, mental, and emotional consequences, childhood obesity has quickly risen as a significant issue to tackle. Increases in fast food consumption have been linked with overweight status, and home cooked meals are slowly becoming part of the past. The adolescent time period, in which children are slowly gaining more autonomy and conducting their activities independent from their parents, is an optimal time …

Moderate Alcohol Use And Cardiovascular Disease From Mendelian Randomization, Shiu Lun Au Yeung, Chaoqiang Jiang, Kar Keung Cheng, Benjamin J. Cowling, Bin Liu, Weisen Zhang, Tai Hing Lam, Gabriel M. Leung, Mary Schooling

Publications and Research

Background
Observational studies show moderate alcohol use negatively associated with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, healthier attributes among moderate users compared to never users may confound the apparent association. A potentially less biased way to examine the association is Mendelian randomization, using alcohol metabolizing genes which influence alcohol use.

Methods
We used instrumental variable analysis with aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) genotypes (AA/GA/GG) as instrumental variables for alcohol use to examine the association of alcohol use (10 g ethanol/day) with CVD risk factors (blood pressure, lipids and glucose) and morbidity (self-reported IHD and CVD) among men in …

Student Perspectives Of Self-Directed Language Learning: Implications For Teaching And Research, Fengning Du

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This article presents findings from a qualitative study examining students’ perspectives of engaging in an autonomous learning project at a community college. Through the conceptual prism of self-directed learning, this study describes how students view the benefits of SDL as well as the roles of teachers. It also touches on factors contributing to the variances in students’ SDL competencies. With data collected from focus group interviews, the findings confirmed the utility of SDL as a potent learning strategy for students of foreign languages because this format could lead to improvements in knowledge domain, meta-cognitive skills, and motivation. In addition, the …

The Bioarchaeology Of Changes In Social Stratification, Warfare, And Habitual Activities Among Iron Age Samnites Of Central Italy, Vitale Sparacello

Anthropology ETDs

This study uses a bioarchaeological approach to investigate the behavioral and social correlates of changes in skeletal properties during the Iron Age of central Italy. This was a period of demographic growth, increase in sociopolitical complexity, and social stratification. Early states were developing from simpler forms of social aggregation, and expansionistic, large-scale warfare was beginning. I analyzed the mechanical properties of Iron Age human skeletons (844 individuals) from 11 necropoleis belonging to the Oscan ethno-linguistic group (Samnites). The analysis of grave goods allowed for a division of individuals by status categories. Iron Age samples show an increase in stature compared …

Bjc Today

BJC Today

No abstract provided.

Angular Cheilitis: A Maligned Condition., Caren Campbell, Lawrence Parish

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Why an essay on angular cheilitis, an easily recognized cutaneous entity? One suggestion rests with the observation that angular cheilitis could be one of the most maligned conditions seen in contemporary practice. The fissuring, redness, and soreness at the angles of the mouth may not be catastrophic, but the embarrassment and soreness are disconcerting. Another that is more disturbing concerns the unnecessary testing and treatment often seen in the community.

When a middle aged man presented with angular cheilitis on routine examination, he asked if this was due to a vitamin deficiency. Fig 1 He had been told by a …

Elastomeric Capture Microparticles (Ecµps) And Their Use With Acoustophoresis To Perform Affinity Capture Assays, Kevin Wallace Cushing

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

This dissertation describes the development of elastomeric capture microparticles (ECµPs) and their use with acoustophoresis to perform affinity capture assays. ECµPs that function as negative acoustic contrast particles were developed by crosslinking emulsion-based droplets composed of commercially available silicone precursors followed by functionalization with avidin/biotin reagents. The size distribution of the ECµPs was very broad or narrow depending on the emulsion system that was used during the synthesis process. Elastomeric particles exhibited a very broad size distribution when a bulk-emulsion process was used; however, when microfluidic systems were utilized, their size distribution became comparatively narrow. The functionalization of elastomeric particles …

Cc: Connecticut College Magazine, Summer 2013, Connecticut College

Alumni News/Connecticut College Magazine

No abstract provided.

Integrating Best Evidence Into Practice: Outcomes Of A Community-Based 12-Week Exercise And Education Intervention In Women With Cancer, Betsy J. Becker, Katherine J. Jones, Patricia A. Hageman, Ruth Vangerpen

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

Objective

Cancer-related fatigue is the most commonly reported side effect of cancer treatment, affecting 70-100% of patients and current literature suggests exercise is an important component of managing this side effect. The specific objective of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week evidence-based cancer exercise and education intervention on outcomes of fatigue, pain, depression, sleep disturbance and quality of life for women with cancer; the intervention was delivered by an interprofessional team in a medically-based wellness center.

Methods

The team was led by a physical therapist and included medical and radiation oncologists, general surgeons, nurses and cancer …

Investigating The Relationship Between Non-Vascular Epiphytes And Age Structures Within Phorophytes On Quercus Robur And Pinus Sylvestris, At Dundreggan, Scotland, Jessica Jaffa

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The focus of this research project was to analyse the effects of different age structures within the host phorophyte on non-vascular epiphytes in a fragmented, semi-natural forest stand in Dundreggan. Two tree species were investigated Pinus sylvestris, Scots pine and Quercus robur, oak, analysing the effect a specific tree has on epiphyte abundance and diversity. Such research is important to understand the relationship epiphytes have with different tree species, focusing on patterns of epiphytic distribution at different spatial scales, which can be later implemented into management techniques. Epiphytic functional groups were stratified vertically within the tree in three height zones, …

The Effect Of The Probiotic Pediococcus Acidilactici On The Gut Microbiota Ecology Of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss Walbaum) Analysed Using Dgge, Alice Anderson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract heavily influences the health, growth and survival of fish. Probiotics have proved effective in improving fish productivity in aquaculture. Research suggests that probiotics, supplemented in the feed, may elicit these benefits by altering the ecology of the gastrointestinal microbiota. The probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici has been successfully used for terrestrial animals and humans but its use in aquatic organisms has been less researched. In the present study, rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) were fed a diet that contained Ped. Acidilactici, or a control diet. Analysis of the posterior digesta bacteria, using a non-culture dependant technique, …

Possible Preventive Obesity Measures For Consideration In Labrador Retrievers Canis Lupus Familiaris According To Veterinarian And Owner Opinions, Sophie Bannister

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Canine obesity is a persistent and ever-increasing chronic disease. This research investigated possible new and improved preventive obesity measures specific to the Labrador retriever dog breed. Quantitative analysis of questionnaire responses from 128 Labrador retriever owners and 46 veterinarians was used. Owners were asked to score the body condition of their Labrador retrievers using a series of pictograms ranging from 1-5 to establish body levels. Biological and environmental factors of the dogs were investigated to determine their effects on predisposition to body weight levels. The colour of the Labrador (Chi: χ² = 10.964; d.f. = 4; P<0.027) and the breed (Chi: χ² = 11.073; d.f. = 2; P<0.004) were associated with the dogs' levels of obesity whereas the Labrador's field/role (Chi: χ² = 3.240; d.f. = 2; P<0.198) was not. Comparison of veterinarians' opinions on such factors regarded coat colour (Chi: χ² = 1.22581; d.f. = 2; P>0.542) and breed …

Key Factors That Influence Breeding Performance In Raptors, James Paviour

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Breeding performance is a broad term, the definition of which varies throughout the literature. In raptor species it is frequently used as an expression that refers to the total number of nestlings that adults can raise to a prescribed age per breeding attempt, however it has also been defined in terms of clutch size, hatching success, and nestling quality (Steenhoff and Newton 2007). Assessing the breeding performance of raptors (combined with assessment of adult survival rates) is crucial to understanding the health and condition of populations and the degree to which they are likely to persist in a given habitat …

Adults With Greater Weight Satisfaction Report More Positive Health Behaviors And Have Better Health Status Regardless Of Bmi, Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd, James R. Hébert Scd, Duck Chul Lee, Swann A. Adams, Susan E. Steck Phd, Mph, Rd, Xuemei Sui M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., Jennifer L. Kuk, Meghan Baruth, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Background. Prior studies suggest that weight satisfaction may preclude changes in behavior that lead to healthier weight among individuals who are overweight or obese. Objective. To gain a better understanding of complex relationships between weight satisfaction, weight-related health behaviors, and health outcomes. Design. Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS). Participants. Large mixed-gender cohort of primarily white, middle-to-upper socioeconomic status (SES) adults with baseline examination between 1987 and 2002 (n = 19,003). Main Outcome Variables. Weight satisfaction, weight-related health behaviors, chronic health conditions, and clinical health indicators. Statistical Analyses Performed. Chi-square test, t-tests, and linear and …

A Community-Based Wellness Program To Reduce Depression In African Americans: Results From A Pilot Intervention, Christina Nicolaidis, Corliss Mckeever, Sandra Meucci

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

African-Americans are less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to find antidepressants acceptable or seek care for depression.

Objective

To develop and pilot-test a culturally-tailored, community-based, psycho-educational wellness and exercise promotion program to reduce depressive symptoms in African-Americans.

Methods

Participants were African-Americans with moderate depressive symptoms, who were interested in exercise, but were not exercising regularly. They attended a 6-week psycho-educational group program during which they set personal activity goals and learned depression self-management skills. We conducted pre- and post-intervention surveys and post-intervention feedback sessions.

Results

21 African-Americans participated in the intervention. The program had excellent attendance and satisfaction. We found …

Is There Agreement Between Self-Reported And Scale Measurements Of Height And Weight?, Christopher T. Wagner, Brittney M. Lamb, Jared L. Graham, Paul A. Salamh, Cheryl Hill, Morey J. Kolber

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: The assessment of height and weight (body mass) are common components of the medical examination, often requisite subject characteristics collected for research, and frequently used in the writing of life and medical insurance policies. These measurements may be gathered by actual measurement procedures or through patient self-report. Purpose: The purposes of this study were to 1) determine if significant differences exist between self-reported and measured height and body mass, 2) determine the influence of gender on differences between self-reported and actual measurements, and 3) determine the range of differences (levels of agreement) that may exist between self-reported and actual …

The New Orleans Ballet Association, Brooke Alicia Barrios

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the central issues and management structure of the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA), apply them to industry best practices, and make recommendations for improvement. The initial investigation occurred during a 480-hour internship in the Education Department from January-April 2013, under NOBA’s Executive Director and Education Coordinators. The thesis is enhanced through a prior 240-hour practicum in the Development department and position as Site Monitor for the Pre-Professional Program, which provided hands-on experience. The thesis will show a working knowledge of the organization, reflection on its practices, and a look towards the future.

Identification And Characterization Of Transcription Factors Regulating Arabidopsis Hak5, Jong-Pil Hong, Yoshizumi Takeshi, Youichi Kondou, Daniel P. Schachtman, Minami Matsui, Ryoung Shin

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Potassium (K) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and reproduction. HAK5, an Arabidopsis high-affinity K transporter gene, plays an important role in K uptake. Its expression is up-regulated in response to K deprivation and is rapidly down-regulated when sufficient K levels have been re-established. To identify transcription factors regulating HAK5, an Arabidopsis TF FOX (Transcription Factor Full-length cDNA Over-eXpressor) library containing approximately 800 transcription factors was used to transform lines previously transformed with a luciferase reporter gene whose expression was driven by the HAK5 promoter. When grown under sufficient K levels, 87 lines with high luciferase activity were …

Rate Of Shattercane × Sorghum Hybridization In Situ, Jared J. Schmidt, Jeffrey F. Pedersen, Mark L. Bernards, John L. Lindquist

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Cultivated sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. bicolor] can interbreed with a feral weedy relative shattercane [S. bicolor nothosubsp. drummondii (Steud.) de Wet ex Davidse]. Traits introduced from cultivated sorghum could contribute to the invasiveness of a shattercane population. An experiment was conducted to determine the potential for pollenmediated gene flow from grain sorghum to shattercane. Shattercane with juicy midrib (dd) was planted in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] fields during 2 yr in concentric arcs at varying distances from a 0.39 ha sorghum pollen source with dry midrib (DD). The arcs …

Long-Term Temporal Analysis Of The Human Fecal Microbiota Revealed A Stable Core Of Dominant Bacterial Species, Ines Martınez, Catherine E. Muller, Jens Walter

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Next-generation sequencing has greatly contributed to an improved ecological understanding of the human gut microbiota. Nevertheless, questions remain regarding the characteristics of this ecosystem and the ecological processes that shape it, and controversy has arisen regarding the stability of the bacterial populations and the existence of a temporal core. In this study, we have characterized the fecal microbial communities of three human individuals over a one-year period by 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA tags in order to investigate the temporal characteristics of the bacterial communities. The findings revealed a temporal core of 33 to 40 species-level Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) …

Kinesiology, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Pre-Nursing Program, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Allied Health Science, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Biology, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

January Term Program, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Older Adolescents’ Self-Determined Motivations To Disclose Their Hiv Status, Ann Gillard, Mark F. Roark

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Disclosure of HIV status is an important topic for youth living with HIV/AIDS, yet theoretical frameworks for understanding HIV disclosure motivations have been poorly applied. Self-determination theory (SDT) proposes that people are at optimal functioning when they are engaging in activities that are interesting and enlivening. This study utilized SDT to understand young adults’ motivations to disclose their HIV status. Interviews and observations were conducted with nine youth aged 17–19 and two adult staff. Results indicate that SDT is useful for understanding types of motivation (i.e., amotivation, controlled, and autonomous motivation) to disclose. Amotivation was the most common type of …

Sarah R. Graff And Enrique Rodriguez-Alegría, Eds. The Menial Art Of Cooking: Archaeological Studies Of Cooking And Food Preparation, Ken Albala

College of the Pacific Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Unlv Magazine, Tony Allen, Afsha Bawany, Shane Bevell, Holly Ivy Devore, Megan Downs, Brian Sodoma, Katherine Stowell, Ched Whitney

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.