Digital Commons Network^™

A Qualitative Analysis Of 4-H Program Logic Models, Stephanie Phelan

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study explores program logic in 4-H’s positive youth development (PYD) programs. The sample was drawn from programs that have engaged in planning at both county and state levels. Using a systems perspective as a guide, this study considers the bidirectional interrelationships among multiple levels of a 4-H system. Bidirectional relationships make alignment between “local” (county) and “global” (state) levels of the 4-H system important. This study utilizes content analysis to explore activities and outcomes in 12 county-level, “local,” 4-H logic models and 1 statewide, “global” 4-H logic model. Logic models were compared within “local-local” models and between “local-global” models. …

Preliminary Assessment Of A School-Based Healthy Lifestyle Program Among Rural Children., Jiying Ling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Childhood obesity has become a national public health crisis in America. Physical inactivity and unhealthy eating behavior may contribute to childhood obesity. School-based programs focusing on healthy lifestyles play a promising role in preventing and controlling childhood obesity. Purpose: To assess the preliminary effects of a school-based program on physical activity and eating behavior among rural children. Methods: A quasi-experimental study design with repeated measures (intervention group only) was utilized. Children from kindergarten to fifth grade in four rural elementary schools in Kentucky participated in the study. A variety of strategies were implemented to obtain four goals: (1) improving …

Compound Identification Using Penalized Linear Regression., Ruiqi Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, we propose a new method for compound identification using penalized linear regression. Compound identification is often achieved by matching the experimental mass spectra to the mass spectra stored in a reference library based on mass spectral similarity. In the context of the linear regression, the response variable is an experimental mass spectrum (i.e., query) and all the compounds in the reference library are the independent variables. However, the number of compounds in the reference library is much larger than the range of m/z values so that the data become high dimensional data with suffering from singularity. For …

Popular Alternatives, Winston J. Craig

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

The Association Of Diet And Physical Activity With Stroke Mortality Results From The Adventist Health Study-1, Tahereh Zamansani

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability, with major global public health implications. Stroke ranks No. 4 among all causes of death, behind heart disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD). Stroke accounts for almost 1 of every 18 deaths in the United States. Women accounted for 60.6% of stroke deaths. Death certificate data show that the mean age at stroke death was 79.6 years; males had a younger mean age (76.3) than females.

There is still a great scientific uncertainty among researchers and epidemiologists about the magnitude of any preventive effect, mechanisms of action …

Beliefs About Complementary And Alternative Medicine In Hiv-Infected Black Women Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Stephanie G. Lino

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Black women make up 12% of the female population in the U.S, yet they account for 66% of new HIV infections. In 2002, AIDS was the most cited reason for death among Black women age 25-34. While prevention remains, a major effort targeting treatment efficacy and modalities for this sub-group need to be better understood.

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to assess whether HIV-positive Black women’s attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are related to intention of dietary supplements and spiritual practices use in their HIV treatment.

Method. In phase one, Grounded Theory methods (N= …

Molecular Diagnosis Of Metabolic Fast Growth Related Diseases In Broiler, Adnan Ali Khalaf Al-Rubaye

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome (PHS) and lameness are important metabolic diseases that affect rapidly growing broilers. The research reported in the first section of this dissertation focused on developing qPCR assays to identify differences in the expression levels of four candidate genes possibly associated with PHS: angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1): urotensin receptor 2D (UTS2D); serotonin receptor/transporter type 2Bn (HTR2B); and angiotensinogen cleaving enzyme (ACE). Expression levels of these candidate genes were examined in four different tissues. We established ribosomal protein S14 (RPS14) and RNA polymerase subunit 2B (RP2B) as suitable reference genes because they showed the most consistent deltaCt …

Analysis Of The Blancan Procyonids Of Florida, Laura S. Gilmore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Procyonids are well known biologically but knowledge of their fossil record is comparatively sparse. This study seeks to describe a sample of late Blancan procyonid fossils composed mostly of postcranial and dental material. Fossils are analyzed using linear and 2D geometric morphometrics and compared with a large sample of modern specimens from a wide geographic area to understand the range of intraspecific variation. The large Procyon species is described as a new taxon based on morphology of the postcrania and lower dentition, while another Procyon species is also described as new due to an apomorphy in the upper dentition. A …

An Evaluation Of The Idaho Plate Method For Adults With Type 2 Diabetes And Limited Health Literacy In Rural West Virginia, Pamela L. Edens

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This capstone project evaluated the Idaho Plate Method (IPM) as an effective nutrition self-management program for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with limited health literacy (LHL) in one rural clinic in West Virginia. A one-way pretest-posttest design was used to evaluate the effects of the program on food choices, confidence, and HbA1c. A convenience sample of 30 volunteers participated in the program with 3-month follow-up data collected on 22 volunteers. A Wilcoxon test was conducted to evaluate choices of fruits, vegetables, and fatty foods and participant confidence in making healthful food choices. Data analysis found significant differences in …

The Streptococcal Collagen-Like Protein-1 (Scl1) Is A Multifunctional Adhesin In Extracellular Matrix Interactions, Biofilm Formation, And Host Colonization By Group A Streptococcus, Heaven A. Oliver-Kozup

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is responsible for over 100 million skin infections annually that may lead to invasive episodes and autoimmune sequelaes. Wounds and unapparent skin infringements are susceptible to the introduction of GAS and serve as a portal of entry. The nutritional nature of a wound and the accessibility to exposed host cell surfaces and extracellular matrix components create a model milieu for successful host colonization and potential biofilm formation. The initiation of biofilm is often mediated by bacterial surface adhesins and has been shown to interfere with wound healing by blocking critical host cellular interactions. However, the underlying …

Differences In Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale Scores In Collaborative And Non-Collaborative West Virginia Pre-K Classrooms Located In Child Care Facilities, Jessica S. Day

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Quality of pre-k collaborative and non-collaborative classrooms was investigated for differences in environmental quality between the two types of classrooms. Data was collected through the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources grant titled, "Quality Rating and Improvement for West Virginia Child Care." Quality was measured using the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R), which has 43 items across seven subscales: Space and Furnishings, Personal Care Routines, Language-Reasoning, Activities, Interaction, Program Structure, and Parents and Staff. Thirty-six pre-k collaborative programs participated and 136 non-collaborative programs participated in the study. Non-collaborative pre-k classrooms had lower mean scores on all subscales …

Maternal Exploitation, Bethany Levenson

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

“Life isn’t fair” is a phrase familiar to everyone. But to what extent do we really experience the bias that occurs in the natural world? Parental exploitation is a phenomenon occurring across the natural kingdom, but mostly absent in humans.

Production Management Factors Affecting Inherent Beef Flavor: The Role Of Post-Weaning Forage, Energy Supplementation, Finishing Diets, And Aging Periods, Kimberly A. Varnold

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

Projects were conducted to determine effects of diet and aging periods on inherent beef flavor characteristics by relating biochemical constituents of meat, consumer acceptability, and lexicon flavor notes of two different muscles. Prediction equations were also created. Warm-season grasses caused increased concentrations of moisture, heme iron, and zinc in L. dorsi steaks. Aging 28 d instead of 7 d caused increased pH, carbohydrate, and heme and non-heme iron concentrations in B. femoris steaks. Warm-season grasses caused decreased concentrations in a majority of fatty acids, specifically when supplementation was not provided. Few differences were observed with cool-season grasses. Provision of wet …

Effect Of Residue Removal On Subsequent Year Quality And Quantity Of Corn Residue And Cattle Performance While Grazing Corn Residue At Different Stocking Rates, Adam L. Mcgee

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

Two studies evaluated the impact of residue removal; study 1, grazed in the fall or spring, study 2, removed by grazing at two stocking rates, light (LG), heavy (HG), or baled(B). There were no differences in pre-grazing treatments for digestibility, CP, NDF, plant fraction as a percent of residue and kg/25.5 kg of grain. Digestibility was highest in husk and lowest in stem. CP was greatest in leaf blade and lowest in husk. NDF was highest in the leaf sheath and lowest in the cob while stem is the greatest percentage of the plant and husk the smallest. The fractions …

Migrating Mule Deer: Effects Of Anthropogenically Altered Landscapes, Patrick E. Lendrum, Charles R. Anderson Jr., Kevin L. Monteith, Jonathan A. Jenks, R. Terry Bowyer

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Background: Migration is an adaptive strategy that enables animals to enhance resource availability and reduce risk of predation at a broad geographic scale. Ungulate migrations generally occur along traditional routes, many of which have been disrupted by anthropogenic disturbances. Spring migration in ungulates is of particular importance for conservation planning, because it is closely coupled with timing of parturition. The degree to which oil and gas development affects migratory patterns, and whether ungulate migration is sufficiently plastic to compensate for such changes, warrants additional study to better understand this critical conservation issue.
Methodology/Principal Findings: We studied timing and synchrony of …

The Effects Of Chili Pepper On Reaction To Ostracism, Mun Sun Choi

College of Health and Human Sciences Honors Program Undergraduate Theses

Functional magnetic resonance imaging research has shown that ostracism and physical pain share a common neurological basis in the anterior cingulate cortex. This evidence supports the idea that the sensations of social and physical pain overlap and interact [1]. We evaluated this relationship in human subjects by having 90 psychology students consume spicy tomato soup (the spice used is Capsaicin) to trigger physical pain, and by having them play Cyberball immediately after (Cyberball is an online-ball toss game that is used to manipulate whether the participant is included or ostracized to trigger social pain [2]). Our hypothesis is two-tailed: that …

Regulation Of Pyruvate Carboxylase By 1,25(Oh)2d In Mcf10 Breast Epithelial Cells, Ann S. Monardo

College of Health and Human Sciences Honors Program Undergraduate Theses

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Short-Term Protein Supplementation On Muscle Work Efficiency In Elderly Adults, Kathryn Anne Sands

College of Health and Human Sciences Honors Program Undergraduate Theses

Objective:

This study assessed the effect of increased dietary protein intake on adaptation of energy expenditure and skeletal muscle function at rest and during low-intensity physical activity in elderly adults.

Methods:

Using a randomized, crossover design, 12 adults (7 F, 5 M), aged 82 7 y (mean SD) completed two 6-day periods of consuming fruit-smoothie beverages twice daily (with breakfast and lunch) containing 230 kcal and 25 g whey protein (WPro) or 25 g corn-derived glucose polymer (CHO) (total 460 kcal/day and 50 g/day WPro or CHO).

Results:

On day 7 of each period, fasting blood urea nitrogen was 28 …

The Relationship Between Dietary Sodium And Calcium Metabolism In Mexican-American Adolescents, Mara N. Gallo

College of Health and Human Sciences Honors Program Undergraduate Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Increased Dietary Fiber On School-Aged Children’S Quality Of Life, Katherine Reidenbach

College of Health and Human Sciences Honors Program Undergraduate Theses

No abstract provided.

Genetic Differences Control The Response Of Femur And Lumbar Spine Trabecular Bone Microstructure To Dietary Calcium Restriction In Mice, Xu Lan

College of Health and Human Sciences Honors Program Undergraduate Theses

Both dietary calcium and genetics influence bone density and structure. However, how genetics

affect the adaptation response of bone parameters to dietary calcium (Ca) restriction is unknown.

11 inbred strains of mice were fed adequate (0.5%) or low (0.25%) Ca diets from 4-12 weeks of

age and were evaluated for gene-by-diet interactions affecting bone structure at the femur and

lumbar spine. We observed that genetics and diet main effects as well as gene-by-diet

interactions significantly affected femur trabecular and cortical bone, and lumbar spine

trabecular bone microCT parameters. There were no significant correlations between basal and

adaptation parameters in femur …

Go Forth And Do Good, Nancy Patterson

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

No abstract provided.

#Occupy Literature!: Lasting Lessons Of The Occupy Movement, Allen Webb, Jason Vanfosson, Becky De Oliveira, E. Suzanne Ehst, Vanni Taing, Megan Klukowski, Lisa Muñoz

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Walkability In The Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, Courtney Coughenour

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: The benefits to regular physical activity are well established. Walkability is one element of the built environment that has been correlated with increased levels of physical activity. The auto-centric design of Las Vegas Metropolitan area (LVMA) is unique in ways that may influence walkability. The purpose of this study was to determine which urban design characteristics are associated with walking and physical activity in moderate income neighborhoods in LVMA. Methods: The standard walkability measure developed by Frank et al. (2010) was used to calculate the walkability index of seven neighborhoods. Residents of the two most walkable and two least …

The Presence Of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa) On Environmental Surfaces In Healthcare Facilities Pre- And Post-Cleaning, Aaron Thomas Hunt

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a serious public health issue affecting millions of people. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a leading cause of healthcare acquired infections today. Research has shown that patients infected or colonized with MRSA shed the bacteria into the environment, where the bacteria can survive for long periods of time and become potential sources of infection. Currently, infection prevention efforts focus on active surveillance, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment use and antimicrobial stewardship, with less attention given to environmental cleaning. Nevertheless, environmental cleaning is essential to remove infectious agents from environmental surfaces and prevent transmission. The …

The Effects Of Starvation Selection On Drosophila Melanogaster Life History And Development, Lauren A. Reynolds

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In nature, animals may endure periods of famine to complete their life cycles. Starvation stress will increase in populations as climates around the world change. To predict how populations may respond to such a stress, laboratory experimentation becomes essential. The evolutionary process of adaptation, its innovations and their trade-offs, can be studied in populations experiencing starvation stress. For this purpose outbred populations ofDrosophila melanogasterwere selected for starvation resistance in the laboratory.

After 60+ generations of starvation selection the starvation-selected flies have gone from surviving 2-3 days without food to 12-14 days without food. How this amazing feat of resistance is …

Feeding In Children With Autism, Katie M. Molinet

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Project Knowledge Of 4-H Members Who Participated In The Equine Skillathon At The West Virginia State Fair, Kolby Denae Wyant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An Equine Skillathon is conducted annually at the West Virginia State Fair in Department F that is open to 4-H and FFA members. At the 2012 West Virginia State Fair, a descriptive research study was done utilizing the Equine Skillathon as the method of instrumentation. The study was conducted to assess the fundamental equine knowledge of junior and senior 4-H members who participated in the 2012 State Fair Equine Skillathon in the five categories of breed identification, conformation, body and hoof parts, as well as feed identification. The data was collected from the participating 4-H members' score sheets and used …

Mechanisms Of Cadmium Tolerance In Populus, Brahma Reddy Induri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cadmium (Cd), a known carcinogen and one of the leading heavy metal pollutants on a global scale, is released to the atmosphere through various industrial processes such as smelting and mining and other applications including manufacture of batteries and phosphate fertilizers. It causes many deleterious effects in plants, and is harmful to humans through its entry into the food chain. Traditional methods of remediating Cd-contaminated soils, such as excavation and land-filling, are expensive and disturb the natural topography. The emerging method of phytoremediation in which plants are employed to remediate contaminated soils has become increasingly popular because of its cost …

Knowledge And Awareness Of Sickle Cell Trait Among Ncaa Division I Fbs, Division I Fcs, Division Ii, And Division Iii Head Football Coaches And Strength And Conditioning Specialists, Timothy D. Yates

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge of Sickle Cell Trait among head football coaches and strength and conditioning specialists within all three NCAA Divisions. Additionally, a second purpose is to identify whether or not head football coaches and strength and conditioning specialists present awareness and confidence to provide the proper treatment and/or referral for an athlete suffering from an exercise-related event due to Sickle Cell Trait. Design: This study is a descriptive prospective questionnaire analysis of the knowledge and awareness of Sickle Cell Trait among collegiate head football coaches and strength and conditioning specialists. Results: …