Digital Commons Network^™

Herbicide Safening To Aid In The Establishment Of Three Native Warm Season Grass Species, Jesse Spencer Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Difficulties with stand establishment are a major factor limiting further agronomic use of native warm season grasses. One significant cause of stand failure is competition with rapidly growing annual weed species during the early development of the perennial native grass. Broad spectrum preemergent herbicides can provide the needed weed control, but only if tolerance exists in the desired grass. Herbicide safeners, synthetic compounds that protect crops from herbicide injury, applied as seed treatments offer a potential strategy to achieving the needed herbicide tolerance where it does not naturally occur. This study tested the efficacy of five herbicide safeners (benoxacor, fenclorim, …

Identifying Adopters Of Best Management Practices Within Mississippi Beef Producers And The Reasons For Non-Adoption, M Scott Cagle

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of the Mississippi State University Extension Service (MSU-ES) is to improve the quality of life for all Mississippians. One specific group that agricultural change agents work with at the county level is beef producers. Grazing lands have received much attention over the last few years regarding environmental concerns and Best Management Practices (BMPs) for beef cattle operations. The adoption of these practices was voluntary during the time this study was conducted, however; adoption was highly encouraged by the MSU-ES and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). By knowing the level of adoption of BMPs that Mississippi beef producers …

2014 Commencement Program, Whittier College

Commencement Programs

Whittier College's One Hundred Eleventh Commencement, May 16, 2014

Commencement Address: Father Boyle

I Am Not A Tree, Ashley Coulter

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

I am not going to gut my thesis like a fish. To give you an “abstract” is to give you the “big picture” of this intricate, complex work. I don’t know “love” or “hope” or “humanity” or “loss.” I know a wooden rocking horse, the touch of bare feet on a cold tile floor, the bond I feel when driving for hours on the interstate behind the same car, the sudden hint of despair that comes over me when the car begins to veer toward the exit, as if I’m losing my travel companion. To give you the “big picture” …

Correlation Of Environmental Risks With The Prevalence Of Essential Hypertension And Chronic Cardiac Disease In Kasigau, Kenya, Addie Dodson

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) that is the leading cause of death across the world. In developing nations, like Kenya, the prevalence of NCDs like CVD are on the rise. Hypertension is the major risk factor for CVD and can be influenced by various environmental risk factors, like physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, and alcohol use. Though these are known factors that can affect blood pressure in developed nations, research over the prevalence of essential hypertension (EH) in developing countries is low. In an area in southeast Kenya known as Kasigau, there is a high …

Examining Human Perception Of Elephants And Large Trees For Insights Into Conservation Of An African Savanna Ecosystem, Adam Edge

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In savanna ecosystems, African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and large trees such as marula (Sclerocarya birreaand) and knobthorn (Acacia nigrescens) have ecological and human value; however, elephants have a large impact on favored trees, motivating the need for ecological conservation strategies. This study examined the perceptions of tourists and residents towards elephants, large trees, and other relevant factors for management purposes. In the Associated Private Nature Reserves, South Africa, a survey was distributed to tourists and residents to determine perceptions of elephants of different age classes, group sizes and sex, and toward savanna habitat impacted …

International Health And Aging: Observation And Analysis Of Elderly Care In Migori, Kenya, Amy Correll

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

While generally respected in Kenya, elders are not primary recipients of health care services in later life. This research documented the need for geriatric specific care and the availability of resources for seniors in Migori, Kenya. Lastly, a set of 5 recommendations was developed to guide the delivery of health services provided to older residents in this small village sector of 6000. After a literature review and analysis of existing demographic data, a needs assessment instrument was developed to guide gathering of relevant data from Migori. Using a research protocol approved through the WKU IRB Committee, the Primary Investigator interviewed …

The Truth About Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: The Myths Exposed, Caitlynn Oberhausen

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Children with type 1 diabetes, T1DM, live with a widely misunderstood, chronic disease. The daily management regimens and psychosocial aspect of T1DM bring attention to the child with diabetes. Myths and misconceptions of diabetes management abound. The intent of this research is to address myths and misconceptions by reading a children’s book, written and illustrated by the researcher, to students in grades 3-5 at a local elementary school and measuring change in knowledge with an assessment tool based on book content.

Through The Hermit's Shell - The Regulation Of Ngos In North Korea, Jeffrey Walker

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

North Korea gained the moniker “Hermit Kingdom” as the country largely withdrew from interactions with the West during the Cold War. However, NGOs have quietly worked within the country since a famine in the mid-1990s pressured the North Korean government to request international aid. How did these NGOs begin operations in North Korea? How are the rules and regulations governing these NGOs decided? This research attempts to answer these questions through interviews with individuals who have worked or are currently working in North Korea, as well as, through related literature, both academic and non-academic. The findings are as follows: the …

Student Attitude And Gender In Relation To Student Participation In Physical Activity, Kayla Steber

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The purpose of this research project was to determine how student gender and attitude toward physical activity correspond to student participation in physical activity in and outside the after-school program setting. Surveys were administered to parents and the lead counselor of five different after-school programs located in the south-central part of the United States. Surveys were used for data collection about student attitude and physical activity. The lead counselor at each site provided information regarding number of students in the program and the percent of students who were physically active at the after-school program. The parent survey gathered information on …

Hispanic Health Initiative: Creating A Sustainable Health Fair For An Immigrant Community, Chaz Arnold

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Previous demographic and social interest research conducted in Bowling Green, Kentucky has prompted concern for access to quality healthcare for immigrant populations, specifically for the Hispanic community. The missions of the preliminary investigation and subsequent implementation of a sustainable health fair for the Spanish-speaking community were to assess the primary health concerns that many Hispanics face and offer long-term solutions to collectively resolve these health issues. Preliminary investigation involved researching population-specific health statistics in order to quantify prevalence of certain conditions which were, in turn, prioritized in terms of necessity to address. Further research reflected personal concern from the target …

The Murray Ledger And Times, May 16, 2014, The Murray Ledger And Times

The Murray Ledger & Times

No abstract provided.

Today - May 16, 2014, Loma Linda University Health

TODAY

Inside this issue:

-- LLUH delegration celebrates 20th anniversary of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou
-- Eight Loma Linda University graduations planned for May and June
-- Order Sons of Italy lodges donate toward pediatric research at LLUH
-- New research affirms proverb, 'A merry heart doeth good like a medicine'
-- 'Grow Together' with Loma Linda University Health
-- Foot and ankle specialist joins orthopedic surgery department
-- Free Wellness Wednesday Webinars bring together experts and students in virtual classroom
-- Campus buzz: LLU hosts Neurosciences Brain Bee
-- Balance is the key to 'Living It'
-- …

Hepatitis E Seroprevalence Study In Canis Lupis Familiaris And Associations To Human Owners, Smith County, Texas, Andrea Grzybowski

Health and Kinesiology Theses

Sporadic, acute Hepatitis E is emerging more frequently in humans in the developed world, including Texas, and may be more abundant than we realize. One US human seroprevalence survey found HEV IgG rates of 21%. Many theorize a zoonotic nature of transmission; antibodies have been detected in a wide range of mammals. A recent study found 40% HEV prevalence in laboratory rabbits. Currently the USDA and CDC place suspicion on feral pigs. But studies in Asia have found HEV in up to 23% of domestic canines so what about man's best friend as a vector of transmission? A seroprevalence study …

Emergencies: Risk And Personal Preparedness Measures, Charleen C. Mcneill

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Personal emergency preparedness efforts that increase the resiliency of individuals and communities and decrease the risk for poor outcomes after an emergency are increasingly of interest to health care leaders, policy makers, and governmental entities. The limited capacity for external aid to provide relief in the first 72 hours after an emergency dictates that individuals and communities become prepared to sustain themselves for this initial period. Failure to prepare for an emergency can result in a multitude of negative outcomes. Those who are economically vulnerable are particularly at risk, including a high risk for negative health outcomes. An initial review …

Critical Analysis Of The Kenyan Healthcare System And Models For Improvement, Justin Wellum

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Global epidemics such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS plague developing countries in Africa. International aid has been given to these countries from public and private organizations in an effort to eradicate these health crises. My research focuses on Kenya as a model for assessing the current state of health care in these developing countries. The effectiveness of Kenya’s health care system was investigated at every level, including central, provincial, district, and rural, by visiting the country and performing specific research. Based on my research, I propose a model that I believe Kenya or any African developing country could adopt to …

Seth Czaplewski Thesis, Seth P. Czaplewski

Graduate School of Art Theses

My work investigates the history of production and how human interactions have been affected by shifts in production over the course of the past two hundred years in the United States: the pre-industrial, Industrial Revolution, and the post-industrial age. The changes that occurred in society as a result of how production shifted from era to era informs my artistic practice and productions, which address areas neglected in the wake of progress. At the onset of each era, the technological advances initially appeared to be beneficial to society and people shifted from being locally oriented to being globally oriented.

My historical …

Comparative Biology Of Three Species Of Costa Rican Haeterini, Laura Alexander

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Documenting life history characteristics of populations, especially of herbivorous insects such as butterflies, is fundamental to the ecological study of tropical rainforests. However, we know relatively little about tropical forest butterflies. Here, I combine information gathered using the mark-release-recapture (MRR) approach with manipulative and observational experiments in a natural environment to explore aspects of the population biology of three closely-related species of Costa Rican fruit-feeding understory butterflies (Cithaerias pireta, Dulcedo polita, and Pierella helvina), specifically: vertical stratification, attraction to and persistence in fruit-baited traps, relative abundance and distribution, movement patterns, probabilities of recapture and daily survival, …

Typhoons And Lower Birth Weight In The Philippines, Sarah Morrow

Master's Theses

Do typhoons impact birth weights of infants exposed to a typhoon while in utero? This research exploits the exogeneity and randomness of typhoons in the Philippines to estimate the impact of typhoon exposure as determined by wind speed on birth weights. Using four waves of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from the Philippines combined with temperature, precipitation, and rainfall data from the Philippines, I can empirically estimate the impact of a 1 m/s increase in wind speed on birth weights. I find that for certain subgroups of the population, specifically children born to mothers with primary education or …

Innovative Tertiary Prevention For Women Who Seek Shelter Services Greenhouse 17, Diane Fleet, Diane R. Follingstad, Claire M. Renzetti

NSF-NIJ IPV Prevention Workshop

No abstract provided.

Muscular Activity In Collegiate Football Linemen With And Without A Prefabricated Functional Knee Brace, Shea Gembol

Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

Functional knee braces are commonly used in the athletic realm in an attempt to prevent initial and reoccurring injuries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate muscular activity in collegiate football linemen during sport specific skills (three point stance, lateral cutting maneuver, and drop jump). Ground Reaction force (GRF) and muscular activity of the quadriceps and hamstrings was analyzed to determine the impact of wearing a knee brace. Results showed no differences in the GRF or muscular activity of the quadriceps during any of the skills. The hamstring showed increased activity drop jump only. In conclusion, functional knee braces …

Exposure To The Pesticide Chlordane Is Associated With Increased Risk Of Metabolic Syndrome, Cassandra Nikolaus

Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

A large collection of epidemiological research supports the general association between a variety of persistent organic pollutants and chronic disease states. Specifically, exposure to chlordane, an insecticide banned from use in the United States for more than 30 years has been associated with metabolic syndrome in earlier studies. This study focused on oxychlordane (a metabolite of chlordane) and its relationship with metabolic syndrome and its individual risk factors. This study included 3,465 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004, in which anthropometric and biochemical measures of health were compared with the lipid-adjusted serum levels of oxychlordane. …

Effects Of Sleep Quality On Depression And Anxiety Symptomology, Anthony Celori

Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

Poor sleep quality has been found to be a common concern for individuals with depression and anxiety; however, the directional aspect of this relationship is unclear. While depression and anxiety may contribute to poor sleep quality, poor sleep quality may also exacerbate symptoms of psychological disorders. Importantly, both sleep quality and stress levels can negatively impact college students, and poor sleep quality may be further influenced by high levels of caffeine and alcohol consumption in students. The current study examined possible correlations between sleep quality, depression and anxiety symptoms, and caffeine and alcohol use in university students. A counterbalanced series …

Hopesource Weatherization And Conservation Services - An Analysis Of Program Effectiveness , Stephanie Harris

Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

Is affecting climate change hopeless? Global warming, climate change, green-house emissions – these phrases have produced alarm, disdain, or denial in much of the US population. The United States creates 25 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions, with only 4.5 percent of the world’s population. Scientific literature strongly suggests that reducing our carbon emissions is vitally important for our future, and yet levels keep increasing at alarming rates. HopeSource, a regional non profit providing human services to all Kittitas County residents, offers conservation services in the form of In-home energy assessments, conservation education workshops, and a weatherization program for qualified …

A Look At What Are The Best Practices For Infant And Toddler Care, Tara Greaney

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The first part of this project looks at what qualifications and trainings are currently required to be an infant/toddler caregiver in New York City. This is followed by a literature review of the professional development training program's best practices for infant/toddler care in five states. Interviews with seasoned directors of infant/toddler programs and surveys are also included.

Food We Can All Eat : A Teacher's Guide To Allergen-Free Classroom Cooking, Anna Vascellaro

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis offers teachers a classroom-ready allergen-free cookbook.

Farming And Education : An Interview Project Advocating For Farm-Based Education, Rebekah Mindel

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis is meant to inspire educators to value farm-based education in which farming and education come together in experiential, inquiry-based learning.

Neural Circuitry Underlying The Central Hypertensive Action Of Nesfatin-1: Melanocortins, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, And Oxytocin, Gina L.C. Yosten, Willis K. Samson

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nesfatin-1 is produced in the periphery and in the brain where it has been demonstrated to regulate appetite, stress hormone secretion, and cardiovascular function. The anorexigenic action of central nesfatin-1 requires recruitment of neurons producing the melanocortins and centrally projecting oxytocin (OT) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons. We previously have shown that two components of this pathway, the central melanocortin and oxytocin systems, contribute to the hypertensive action of nesfatin-1 as well. We hypothesized that the cardiovascular effect of nesfatin-1 also was dependent on activation of neurons expressing CRH receptors, and that the order of activation of the melanocortin-CRH-oxytocin circuit …

Harvest Incentives: A Tool For Managing Aquatic Invasive Species, Bob Wiltshire, Nathan Stone, Marshall Meyers, Bill Hyatt, Lori Williams, Jason Goldberg, Susan Pasko, Leah Elwell

National Invasive Species Council

Conclusion

The success of any harvest incentive program to address aquatic invasive species will depend upon numerous biological, socioeconomic, and legal considerations. Programs that encourage harvest may be a successful management tool in targeting small, distinct populations; in high priority areas within a larger invasion; or they may play a supplementary role within larger control programs. Their use, however, will require careful review, planning, and monitoring to ensure success and that they do not unintentionally lead to further spread of invasive species, cause additional harm to native species, or waste valuable resources.

Dissolved Nutrient Ratios And Concentrations Affect Fungal Reproduction And Community Structure Associated With Submerged Leaf Litter And Wood, Jennifer Fitzgerald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Litter-associated fungi are important intermediaries in carbon and energy flow in streams. They can obtain nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from both the substrate and the water column. I tested the effects of dissolved nutrients (dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) 40-975 µg/L, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) 2-135 µg/L, N:P ratios 2:1, 16:1, 128:1) on fungi associated with leaf litter (maple and rhododendron) and wood in streamside channels at Coweeta Long Term Ecological Research site, North Carolina. This study addressed two main questions: (1) will fungal reproduction (sporulation rate of aquatic hyphomycetes) peak at a dissolved N:P ratio similar to nutrient stoichiometry …