Digital Commons Network^™

25-Hydroxyvitamin D, Igf-1, And Waist Circumference A Cross-Sectional Study, Damon Mccune

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: Waist circumference has been shown to have a link to various forms of chronic disease and low levels of Vitamin D (25(OH)D) and IGF-1. The purpose of this study is to assess if there is a relationship with Vitamin D (25(OH)D) and IGF-1 levels and waist circumference.

Methods: As part of a cross-sectional correlation study, participants were males and females (n=26), ages 25-65, who were students at UNLV and/or individuals who attend local health and wellness facilities as well as attendees of classes held by the UNLV Nutrition Center. Participants reported to UNLV to review and sign informed consent …

Acute Testosterone Responses To Different Resistance Exercise Intensities, Robert Rietjens

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

We investigated the acute testosterone response to four different resistance-training protocols. We observed testosterone levels pre-workout, immediately post-workout, and 60-minutes post-workout following a bout of upper body exercise at 70%,1 RM, 90% 1 RM, and lower body exercise at 70% 1 RM and 90% 1 RM. Total training volume was held constant but all amount of weight, sets, and reps were different. 10 healthy, male, resistance trained individuals volunteered for the study. The performed each exercise condition on separate days. Capillary blood was taken via finger prick at the time points specified above. Blood samples were analyzed via Accubind Testosterone …

Is Congress Now The Broken Branch?, Barbara Sinclair

Utah Law Review

The Broken Branch: How Congress is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track by Tom Mann and Norm Ornstein was published in 2006. To be sure, criticism of Congress is a staple of American political discourse—the content varies, but the criticism is ubiquitous. Nevertheless, the volume of criticism has ramped up in the past decade or so, and the fact that two highly respected congressional scholars, Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein—who are also Washington insiders and known to be sympathetic to Congress—have joined in the criticism needs to be taken seriously.

The Real World Of Interdependence Of Governments And Corporations: What We Know Vs. What We Teach, David Menefee-Libey, Charles Herman, Chad Powell, Jeffrey Zalesin

Utah Law Review

Once we better understand this interdependence, we can more carefully ask how the public and private sectors can and should collaborate, for what purposes, and to whose benefit. The real world political questions are not whether it will be done or how such things could happen. A more constructive real world politics will focus on how we will manage the interdependence of governments and corporations, and whose interests and values will be served by policy choices about the patterns and practices of collaboration. If we organize our public life around these questions in 2020, American politics will be much more …

Mckee Minute August 2014, Southern Adventist University

McKee Minute – McKee Library This Month

The August 2014 McKee MInute focuses on books along the theme "Do the Impossible," features several films on sports and recreation, recommends health periodicals, and spotlights visual arts.

The Nucleic Acid Binding Properties Of The Pwi Motif, Hamideh Keshavarz-Mohammadian

Masters Theses

The PWI motif is a highly conserved domain that contains a Proline-Tryptophan-Isoleucine (PWI) tripeptide sequence, for which it is named. Proteins that contain a PWI motif are known to be involved in the constitutive and alternative splicing and the 3'-end processing of messenger RNA transcripts. The hypothesized role of the PWI motif is to nonspecifically interact with nucleic acids. The PWI motif is capable of binding both doublestranded and single stranded forms of DNA and RNA. The structure of the highly conserved core of the PWI motif reveals that it adopts a four-helix bundle fold. The structured core domain, however, …

The Effects Of Different Warm-Up Methods On Anaerobic Power, Bradley Kendall

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various warm-up methods on Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) performance. The goal of this study was to investigate how a general cycling warm-up, a dynamic stretching routine, a static stretching routine, and the combination of both static stretching followed by cycling and dynamic stretching followed by cycling affect WAnT performance. Ten recreationally active subjects (5 males, 5 females), completed five WAnT on a Monark Ergomedic 984E cycle separated by at least 48 hours. Subjects were randomly assigned to an order of conditions and performed a different condition prior to each …

The Relationship Between Mothers' Physical Self-Perceptions, Exercise Self-Regulation, Body Image Discrepancy And Sport-Specific Socialization Support For Their Daughters, Janelle K. Beilman

Master's Theses

Opportunities in youth sport are impacted by many socialization factors. In order to keepfemales engaged in sport, the study of additional factors that predict girls sport socialization is important. This study investigated the relationships among mothers’ physical self-perceptions, self-regulation of exercise, body image discrepancies (BID) and sport/activity socialization for their daughters. One hundred and four mothers (M= 44.932, SD= 5.8078) completed self-report questionnaires that assessed their physical self-perceptions, exercise self-regulation, body image discrepancy and support for their daughters’ participation in 20 different sports and physical activities. Results indicated that no significant correlations between the physical self-perception competence and most importance …

Tempo And Mode Of Domestication During The Neolithic Revolution: Evidence From Dental Mesowear And Microwear Of Sheep, Melissa Zolnierz

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Neolithic Revolution marked a dramatic change in human subsistence practices. In order to explain this change, we must understand the motive forces behind it. Researchers have proposed many different stimuli, with most theories invoking environmental dynamics, human population density increases beyond environmental carrying capacity, and the natural outgrowth of human and plant/animal interactions. However, unanswered questions remain concerning the mechanics of animal domestication. Traditional studies of changing faunal morphology and skeletal population profiles offer some clues, but such research has had limited success identifying stages intermediate between wild and domesticated forms, which makes it difficult to discern initial attempts …

Gender, Humor And Quality Of Life In Workplace Sitcoms: A Content Analysis Examining Agency In Post-Recession Situation Comedies, Gwendolyn Logan Bost

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study used content analysis to analyze gender representations in post-recession workplace sitcoms using a typology developed using Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. 100 episodes of programming were analyzed by five graduate researchers for a total of 2579 cases. Though men dominated the sample, results were dissimilar from previous findings within some of the literature on televised representations of gender. Findings indicated that need type for most commonly expressed needs were split fairly evenly by gender, but that less expressed needs were more polarized with regard to gender representation. Women also met their own needs more than men did, and had …

The Learning Pathways Of Ironman Triathletes: Case Studies Of Age-Group Ironman Triathletes, Ari Zelmanow

Dissertations

The Ironman Triathlon is an epic endurance event consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. There is paucity in the literature relating to how athletes learn how to negotiate this event. This qualitative study was conducted over a 9 month period, to align with the 2013 Ironman training and racing season. Seven athletes were selected for participation in the study. Utilizing a case study approach, the Ironman athletes’ learning pathways were examined through in-depth interviews and audio and video content personally captured by the participants. The learning pathways revealed the athletes initially learned through …

Summaries Of Arkansas Cotton Research 2013, Derrick M. Oosterhuis

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

No abstract provided.

The Current Status Of Meat Processing Facilities In Agricultural Education Programs In West Virginia, Eleanor Nicole Porter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

West Virginia has become a model for the local food movement. With a push for more locally grown food, there is a need for more people to provide local agricultural services. A number of agricultural education programs in West Virginia are providing students with hands on training in the meat processing field. Currently there is little information on the knowledge and skill level of instructors operating high school meats processing facilities. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the expertise of the instructors and to determine the training needs of these individuals in the area of meat processing. The purpose …

Comparison Of Dual- And Tri-Axial Accelerometer Accuracy, Lindsay Powell Toth

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the Omron HJ-720ITC and the Fitbit Zip activity monitors with regard to step count, energy expenditure, and distance traveled measurements. The importance of this research rests in the success rates of pedometer-based physical activity interventions which have been shown to increase physical activity while also enabling weight loss and lowering blood pressure in the adult population. Activity monitors available for retail sale must be found accurate for proper participation in exercise interventions especially low-cost devices as used in this study.

In order to test the accuracy of the Omron …

Summer Commencement Ceremonies, University Of North Florida

Commencement Printed Materials

Program for the Summer Commencement ceremony.

The Environmental And Health Costs Of Alternative Diets: A Comparative Study Of The U. S. Diet Relative To The French, Japanese, Mediterranean, And Nordic Diets, Sarah Rehkamp

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis contributes to the literature on sustainable consumption by using scenario analysis to evaluate the environmental and health costs of the U.S. diet relative to the French, Japanese, Mediterranean, and Nordic diets, identified in the literature as healthier diets. As a first step in estimating environmental costs, the energy efficiencies of each diet are calculated by decomposing each of the diets into their respective components. Then, the dietary efficiencies are translated into CO₂ emissions. As a first step in estimating health costs, a pooled cross-section time-series dataset is used to find the association between BMI and five countries, …

Phenotypic Diversity In Lysobacter Enzymogenes In Relations To Biological Control, Ya Li

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Strains of the bacterium Lysobacter enzymogenes have been isolated from various regions of the world and reported to have potential as biological control agents against plant pathogens. Previous research revealed many ecological traits and mechanisms important to biological control by L. enzymogenes. Much of the previous research, however, was conducted on individual strains with little direct comparison of different strains. In this study, L. enzymogenes strains isolated from different locations and source materials (soil, roots, leaves) were compared for biocontrol-related phenotypic traits in vitro, epiphytic and endophytic colonization of leaves, and biocontrol of Bipolaris leaf spot on tall fescue. …

Effects Of Culture Media And Plant Growth Regulators On Micropropagation Of Willow (Salix Matsudana ‘Golden Spiral’) And Hazelnut (Corylus Colurna ‘Te Terra Red), Dongxue Shi

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The branches and leaves of Salix matsudana ‘Golden Spiral’ , willow, grow in a twisted manner, which makes it an important bonsai plant. Its mature stems have potential for the woody cut floral industry. Corylus colurna ‘ Te Terra Red’, hazelnut, distinguished by red or purple leaves in the spring, has potential ornamental value in the horticulture industry for landscape use. Micropropagation of these two plants could provide more and healthier plantlets for rapid commercial scale-up by the nursery industry. Nas and Read Medium (NRM) is a newer medium developed specifically for hazelnut species by Nas and Read based on …

Book Review Of Simpler: The Future Of Government, By Cass Sunstein, Bernard W. Bell

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Resources, Resource Loss, And Coping Response On Food Management Practices And Food Security, Simone Perette Camel

Dissertations

Food insecurity has been associated with compromised health and wellness. Current literature regarding coping strategies and practices employed by the food insecure often describes food management and acquisition practices, and/or the riskiness of these practices. Material and personal resources such as income, time, self-efficacy, and social support have been identified as predictors or influencers of food security status. In this study, the Conservation of Resources theory was used to conceptualize resources and resource loss as they relate to food practices and food security. It was hypothesized that the level of resources would influence food security status and the adaptive food …

Effects Of Animal Management Changes On The Activity Budgets And Walking Rates Of Zoo Elephants, Angela Dawn Mackey

Dissertations

The current study aimed to assess the effects of two management strategies, weekly rototilling of the enclosure and the provision of unpredictable foraging opportunities, on the daily behavior of six elephants housed at the San Diego Zoo. Observations took place from January to June 2013 and were conducted throughout a 24- hour period. The study was divided into three phases, each two months in duration. During the first phase (baseline) no changes were made to the current management routine of the elephants. In Phase 2, rototilling of the elephant enclosures was increased from once monthly to once per week, while …

Dispositional Optimism: Modeling Cardiovascular Disease Mortality With Traditional Risk Factors And A Psychosocial Personality Trait, Kiana Ramisi Luckett Robinson

Dissertations

Despite increased awareness of clinical risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart disease remains a physical and economic burden to African Americans. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dispositional optimism, a psychosocial personality trait, and CVD mortality, based on immediate cause of death. A cross-sectional design was used to examine the predictive value of dispositional optimism in CVD mortality concomitant with traditional CVD risk factors. The traditional CVD risk factors of interest consisted of body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, total cholesterol, and C-reactive protein. Also, aggregated mortality data for optimists …

Synthesis Of 4'-Ester Resveratrol Analogues, Chromium Trioxide Oxidation Of Terpenes, And Synthesis Of Mimics Of (-)-Englerin A, Mark Jeffrey Acerson

Theses and Dissertations

4’ -ester analogues of resveratrol were synthesized using reaction conditions developed to produce mono-ester products in the presence of two other unprotected phenols. Basic conditions were employed to deprotonate the most acidic 4’ phenol followed by addition of anhydrides or acid chlorides to give the ester product. The reaction favored 4’-ester formation in polar aprotic solvents with DMSO being the optimal solvent.

(—)-Englerin A is a guaiane-type sesquiterpene containing two ester side chains. Mimics of (—)-englerin A were proposed that retained the ester side chains while replacing the non-polar core with less complicated structures. These proposed mimic cores would maintain …

Neural Reactivity To Visual Food Stimuli In The Morning And Evening: An Fmri Study In Women, Travis Daniel Masterson

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Visual food stimuli have been shown to influence desire to eat and may influence overall energy intake. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence, if any, that time of day has on the neural response to visual food stimuli, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods: Using a crossover design, 15 healthy women were scanned using fMRI while presented with low- and high-energy pictures of food, once in the morning (6:30–8:30 am) and once in the evening (5:00–7:00 pm). Diets were identical on both days of the fMRI scans and were verified using weighed …

Keyhole Garden: A Key To Nutritional Health, August 2014

Monteverde Institute: Culture, Community, and Health

Economic transformations have had consequences for nutrition and health in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica (Himmelgreen et al, 2013). A rapid shift from agriculture to a mixed economy based on tourism continues to morph the nature of the community (Himmelgreen, 2013). As a result of the shift to ecotourism, many in Monteverde suffer from varying levels of food insecurity (Himmelgreen, 2006). The Community Health and Globalization Field School is a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and organized by the University of South Florida and the Monteverde Institute. This year’s researchers explored the …

Movement Breaks: The Effectiveness Of Physical Movement On Kindergarten Students’ Recall Of Addition Facts, Erika L. Morrison

All NMU Master's Theses

A three-day action research study in a kindergarten classroom investigated the question: “Does physical movement prior to a cognitive skills task improve academic achievement with addition facts?” Fifteen kindergarten students, who are ethnically similar, yet diverse in socioeconomic status and academic ability, experienced addition fluency assessments using the iPad app, MathBoard (PalaSoftware Inc., 2014). A pre-test was administered before students participated in an optional movement break activity consisting of dance videos. Each movement break lasted approximately 8-10 minutes. After the break, students completed a similar addition post-test. In this quantitative study based in a constructivist framework, three types of data …

A Participatory Approach To Fcs Food, Nutrition, And Wellness Program Planning, Elena Serrano, Alicia Powell, Donna H. Mcbride, Kathryn Strong

Journal of Extension

To help fill programming gaps in a more organized and collaborative manner, a participatory approach to program planning was tested in Virginia. Programming gaps related to food, nutrition, and wellness programs were filled through a participatory process that involved: an online needs assessment survey; a systematic review of evidence- and practice-based programs; a webinar providing an overview of possible programs for adoption; a program ranking survey; development of an evaluation template; a training; and feedback survey. Our results indicate that a systematic, team-based approach to program planning may be beneficial in guiding trainings and dissemination of programs within Extension.

Low Vitamin D Status And Inadequate Nutrient Intakes Of Elementary School Children In A Highly Educated Pacific Northwest Community, Simone Frei, Balz Frei, Gerd Bobe

Journal of Extension

Are Extension healthy youth programs needed in highly educated U.S. communities? To answer this question, 175 children from four public elementary schools in Corvallis, Oregon, self-reported in a cross-sectional study their dietary intake, and 71 children provided a blood sample for measuring vitamin D concentrations. Most children had insufficient blood vitamin D and reported a diet insufficient in fiber, essential fatty acids, potassium, and vitamin E and excessive in saturated fatty acids and sodium. Our data indicate a need for Extension to provide youth programs in highly educated U.S. communities to improve nutrient intakes and vitamin D status in children.

The Use Of Energizers To Reinforce Nutrition Concepts And Encourage Physical Activity, Kathleen Lovett, Betsy Johnson, Mary Caskey, Christopher Pleasants

Journal of Extension

Given the importance of including daily physical activity as a part of a healthy lifestyle, Extension educators should do as much as they can to incorporate physical activity into their educational programming. A University of Minnesota Extension team has created a set of activities that incorporate motion to reinforce nutrition concepts, which can be adapted by educators to almost any topic. Initial evidence suggests incorporating these activities is both effective and reasonably easy. With appropriate time and space, these energizers can be used to increase participants' physical activity, as well as reinforce lesson concepts and make class more fun.

Feedlot Nutritionist Boot Camp: An Intensive Short-Course For Commercial Agriculture Graduate Students, Chris Reinhardt, Mike Hubbert

Journal of Extension

In the digital age, face-to-face meetings combining didactic and experiential learning are valuable. Beef cattle nutrition graduate students (n = 33) from 11 universities attended a 5-day feedlot nutrition and management short-course. Topics included nutrition, veterinary medicine, feedmill maintenance, and management of the financial and human aspects of the feedyard business. Practicing feedlot industry professionals provided the training. In addition, students completed an interactive, team-oriented assignment. Students gleaned a greater comprehension of the intersection between the scientific theory learned in the university and the very application of that theory.