Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Worksite Health Promotion Programs On Employee Biometric Data, Jamie M. Pratt

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Worksite health promotion programs (WHPP) promote maintenance and changes of health-related behaviors of employees. Some companies opt to contract with a third party provider to implement a WHPP. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the participation rates, availability and use of health coaching, and changes in biometric data over a 2-year time period of employees in 13 companies for whom the WHPP was implemented by Wellness Corporate Solutions (WCS). METHODS: We had 2 years of biometric, health risk appraisal (HRA), or health coaching data on 4,473 employees. The statistical analysis included biometric screening data (percent body fat, body mass index (BMI), …

Evaluating The Impact Of Missouri Senate Bill 291 On Fifth And Ninth Grade State Physical Fitness Standards, Robert Scott Johnston

Dissertations

The current obesity rates of our nation’s youth continue to escalate at an alarming rate due to inactivity, poor nutrition, and lifestyle changes. The purpose of this research study was conducted to determine the effects of Missouri Senate Bill 291 on Missouri physical fitness scores as assessed by the Missouri Physical Fitness Assessment. The state of Missouri adopted new physical activity requirements starting in the 2010-2011 school year. This study evaluated the impact of Missouri Senate Bill 291 on fifth and ninth grade physical fitness assessments. Eleven years of statewide data, were examined to determine the impact of the physical …

Linking The Green And Brown Worlds: The Prevalence And Effect Of Multichannel Feeding In Food Webs, Elizabeth M. Wolkovich, Stefano Allesina, Kathryn L. Cottingham, John C. Moore, Stuart A. Sandin, Claire De Mazancourt

Dartmouth Scholarship

Recent advances in food‐web ecology highlight that most real food webs (1) represent an interplay between producer‐ and detritus‐based webs and (2) are governed by consumers which are rampant omnivores; feeding on varied prey across trophic levels and resource channels. A possible avenue to unify these advances comes from models demonstrating that predators feeding on distinctly different channels may stabilize food webs. Empirical studies suggest many consumers engage in such behavior by feeding on prey items from both living‐autotroph (green) and detritus‐based (brown) webs, what we term “multichannel feeding,” yet we know little about how common such feeding is across …

Simulated Microgravity Induces Epigenetic Changes, Nkem Osarume Azu B.S

Theses (Pre-2016)

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism involved in gene expression regulation. Astronauts are constantly being exposed to different stress factors, which include radiation, microgravity and confinement. These environmental stressors are understood to increase bone loss, decrease muscle mass and reduce immune function. Our objective is to investigate the hypothesis that modeled microgravity induces gene expression through epigenetic changes. Abnormal epigenetic events have been reported in human diseases like cancers and immunological disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine whether modeled microgravity induces these epigenetic changes by examining the expression of the proteins known to regulate gene expression specifically …

Identifying The Optimum Temperature For The Most Efficient Photosynthetic Rate In The Scleractinian Coral Stylophora Pistillata In The Gulf Of Eilat, Red Sea, Eleanor Vaughan

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The Gulf of Eilat (GoE), Red Sea, is a unique region that harbours one of the northernmost coral reef ecosystems in the world, and possesses high biodiversity and endemism. Global climate change is associated with an increase in sea surface temperatures that can lead to bleaching and mortality in scleractinian corals. However the corals in the GoE differ to other reefs at the same high latitude because of their unique resilience to thermal stress, which suggests that this region may be a refuge for reefs under a period of environmental change. This study aimed to determine the temperature at which …

"You Are What You Eat": How Diet Can Influence The Gut Microbiota Of Marine Invertebrates, Malin Tietjen

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Microorganisms are omnipresent in every ecosystem on earth and the majority of identified species belong to the domains Bacteria and Archaea of which bacteria are considered to represent the greatest diversity (Staley et al., 2007). Microbes are organised in complex and diverse communities depending on the environmental conditions, and they commonly live closely associated with eukaryotic hosts. The body surfaces of nearly all higher organisms are populated by diverse microbial communities and this microbiota is understood to have large impacts on the hosts’ biology (Ley et al., 2008). The greater part of the microbiota consists of microorganisms that are beneficial …

An Investigation Into Whether Snack Choices Differ Between Emotional Eaters And Non-Emotional Eaters, Jessica Adams

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Eating patterns and behaviour have been linked to the increasing incidence of weight-related health risks. Understanding the motivations behind certain food choices, particularly high energy-dense foods is therefore of importance. The purpose of this research was to get a better understanding of the snack choices of emotional eaters and how these compared to non-emotional eaters. Participants, 100 male and female students, completed a questionnaire to determine emotional eating and snacking habits. Analyses of the data collected revealed that there was a weak, yet statistically significant correlation between the consumption of sweet snacks and emotional eating score, but no significant difference …

The Impact Of Participation In Online Social Networking On Parenting Stress Levels Of Single Mothers, Djuana A. Tomlin

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The U.S. Census Bureau (2012) estimated that there were 15.2 million female householders with no husband present. Many single mothers experience a high level of stress due to feelings of isolation and alienation from friends and family and having to deal with social, economic, and personal issues alone. This study evaluated the impact of participation in a social network site (SNS) on the stress levels of single mothers for the purpose of using updated resources to replicate and expand upon the initial work of Dunham et al. (1998). This study sought to answer the following research questions: Does participation in …

The Effects Of Different Concentrations Of Phosphite On Ectomycorrhiza Formation By Pisolithus Tinctorius In Castanea Dentata, J. Miles Jorgensen

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Phosphites, salts of phosphorous acid, are used to combat the devastating root-rot diseases of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) and other woody plants caused by the Oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi. However, phosphite treatments may negatively affect the plant’s ability to form ectomycorrhizas, the mutualistic symbioses between tree roots and certain soil fungi, and the phosphites themselves may be phytotoxic at high doses. Container-grown chestnut seedlings were treated with six phosphite solutions ranging from 0.0g/l to 12g/l both with and without a spore inoculation of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius. Seedling survival, height, root collar diameter, and ectomycorrhizal colonization were measured during one …

New Hampshire’S Long Term Services & Supports System: Recommendations For Meeting The Needs Of An Aging Population, Susan Fox, Laura Davie

All Materials

No abstract provided.

Six Decades Of Organ Donation And The Challenges That Shifting The United States To A Market System Would Create Around The World, Alexander M. Capron

Law and Contemporary Problems

No abstract provided.

Traditional Cultural Districts: An Opportunity For Alaska Tribes To Protect Subsistence Rights And Traditional Lands, Elizaveta Barrett Ristroph

Alaska Law Review

Alaska tribes have limited control over their traditional lands and waters. Tribes may increase their influence through a Traditional Cultural District designation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This designation does not stop development, but requires federal agencies to consult with tribes regarding potential development that may impact the district. The consultation right applies regardless of whether a tribe owns or has formally designated the district. In Alaska, where no Traditional Cultural Districts exist as of 2014, there is potential for designating large areas of land or water that correspond to the range of traditionally important species.

Resilience And Coping: The Perspectives Of Cancer Patients, Family Caregivers, And Medical Volunteers At Khampramong Monastery, Thailand, Wipanee Su-Kerb

Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore in-depth experiences of cancer patients, family caregivers, and medical volunteers who engaged in the treatment and services provided at Khampramong Monastery, Thailand, particularly in the areas of resilience and coping. Participants included 21 individuals (eight cancer patients, eight family caregivers, and five medical volunteers). Data collection was conducted at Khampramong Monastery (Thailand) during the summer of 2013 including interviews, field observations, and artifact collections. Moustakas’s (1994) phenomenological method was used for data analysis. Bracketing (Creswell, 1998) was employed to set aside researcher bias. Standards of trustworthiness were employed throughout all phases …

Assessing The Social And Ecological Factors That Influence Childhood Overweight And Obesity, Katie Callahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. Currently more than 1 in 3 children aged 2-19 are overweight or obese. This is of major concern because childhood overweight and obesity leads to chronic conditions such as type II diabetes and tracks into adulthood, where more severe adverse health outcomes arise. In this study I used the premise of the social ecological model (SEM) to analyze the common levels that a child is exposed to daily; the intrapersonal level, the interpersonal level, the school level, and the community level to better …

Nicu Culture Of Care For Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Focused Ethnography, Monica M. Nelson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this ethnographic study was to describe the culture of care and nonpharmacological nursing interventions performed by NICU nurses for infants with NAS. Background: Infants with NAS are increasingly being cared for in the inpatient hospital setting by NICU nurses. Interventions used for the care of premature and sick infants in the NICU may or may not be the exact interventions that should be used for the care of the fragile infant with NAS. Research studies on the nonpharmacological nursing care of infants with NAS encompass 5 main areas of practice: environment, adequate rest and sleep, feeding, …

Dietary Behaviors And Nutrition Intervention Preferences Of Breast Cancer Survivors, Sherry A. Stokes

All Theses

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women and there are expected to be 1,665,540 new cases diagnosed in 2014. Advancements in early detection, have greatly improved treatment outcomes for the majority of these patients and the 5-year survival rate is 89.2%. The newly emerging field of survivorship care is an attempt to meet the unique needs of this expanding population. Research has demonstrated that an unhealthy body weight is an important modifiable risk factor for the recurrence of breast cancer. This study used an electronic version of the Block 2005 to collect dietary information on 30 breast …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Anti-Hyperglycemic Effects Of Costus Speciosus Extract In Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats, Haytham A. Ali, Omar A. Almaghrabi, Mohamed E. Afifi

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanisms of the anti-hyperglycemic effect of Costus speciosus (C. speciosus) root ethanolic extracts (CSREt) by assessing its action on insulin synthesis and glucose catabolic enzyme gene expression and activities in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. METHODS: This study was carried out at the Biochemical Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt between July and August 2013. Sixty male albino rats (120 +/- 20 g weight, and 6 months old) were used and divided into 6 groups (n=10). Two groups served as diabetic and nondiabetic controls. Four groups of STZ diabetic animals were given oral C. …

Saudi Oncology Society Clinical Management Guideline Series. Esophageal Cancer 2014, Ali M. Alzahrani, Shouki N. Bazarbashi, Mohammed M. Rahal, Ahmed S. Al-Shehri, Ali H. Aljubran, Magdy S. Kandil, Jamal E. Zekri, Abdullah A. Alsharm, Nizar M. Yamani, Ibraheem S. Alomary, Mosa A. Fagih

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Long-Acting Antituberculous Therapeutic Nanoparticles Target Macrophage Endosomes, Benson J. Edagwa, Dongwei Guo, Pavan Puligujja, Han Chen, Joellyn Mcmillan, Xinming Liu, Howard Gendelman, Prabagaran Narayanasamy

Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection requires daily administration of combinations of rifampin (RIF), isoniazid [isonicotinylhydrazine (INH)], pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, among other drug therapies. To facilitate and optimize MTB therapeutic selections, a mononuclear phagocyte (MP; monocyte, macrophage, and dendritic cell)-targeted drug delivery strategy was developed. Long-acting nanoformulations of RIF and an INH derivative, pentenyl- INH (INHP), were prepared, and their physicochemical properties were evaluated. This included the evaluation of MP particle uptake and retention, cell viability, and antimicrobial efficacy. Drug levels reached 6 μg/106 cells in human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) for nanoparticle treatments compared with 0.1 μg/106 cells for native …

Sport-Specific Reaction Time After Dehydration Varies Between Sexes, P. H. Falcone, C. Tai, L. R. Carson, J. M. Joy, M. M. Mosman, J. L. Straight, S. L. Oury, C. Mendez Jr., N. J. Loveridge, J. D. Griffin, M. P. Kim, J. R. Moon

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background Dehydration has been shown to decrease sports performance. However, the exact cause of the decreased performance due to dehydration is still unclear. PURPOSE: To compare sport-specific reaction time values between men and women and at different quartiles after a dehydrating protocol to approximately 2% body mass loss.

Methods Ten women and eleven men between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five volunteered to participate in the study (27 +/- 4yr, 78.7 +/- 14.8 kg, 174.0 +/- 7.5 cm). Subjects reported to the lab in a fasted and normally hydrated state and completed a two-minute, multi-directional sportspecific reaction time test. Subjects …

The (Un) Desirability Of Happiness: Pathogen Threats Predict Differences In The Value Of Happiness, Sharon Li Hua Koh

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

People in some parts of the world find positive emotions more desirable than others. What accounts for this variability? We predicted that happiness would be valued less under conditions where the behaviors that happiness promotes would be less beneficial. We analyzed international survey data and United Nations voting records and found that happiness was valued relatively less in environments that had been historically pathogen-rich. Using a series of experimental studies, we showed that people who were experimentally primed by the threat of pathogens judged happiness in others less favorably and found happiness less appropriate. Our findings contribute to research on …

Is Postpartum Depression A Disease Of Modern Civilization?, Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook, Martie Haselton

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Access to calorie-dense foods, medicine, and other comforts has made modern humans healthier than our prehistoric ancestors in many respects. However, the epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease suggest that there are also drawbacks to modern living. Here, we address the question of whether the dramatic cultural changes that have occurred over the past century have inflated rates of postpartum depression, adding postpartum depression to the list of diseases of modern civilization. We review evidence from cross-cultural, epidemiological, and experimental studies documenting associations between postpartum depression and modern patterns of early weaning, diets deficient in essential fatty acids, low …

Feed Efficiency: An Assessment Of Current Knowledge From A Voluntary Subsample Of The Swine Industry, Josh R. Flohr, Mike D. Tokach, Joel M. Derouchey, Robert D. Goodband, Steve S. Dritz, Jim L. Nelssen, John F. Patience

Journal of Extension

A voluntary sample of pork producers and advisers to the swine industry were surveyed about feed efficiency. The questionnaire was designed to accomplish three objectives: (a) determine the level of knowledge related to feed efficiency topics, (b) identify production practices used that influence feed efficiency, and (c) identify information gaps requiring additional knowledge to further improve feed efficiency. Results suggest that many practices that improve feed efficiency are used in production, but gaps in information and knowledge exist across demographics of respondents. Extension education should be expanded to provide more information in an easy-to-access format for the swine industry.

Face Time Is Still Critical To Effective Extension In Commercial Agriculture, Justin Waggoner, Chris Reinhardt

Journal of Extension

Even in the digital era, face-to-face meetings still have impact. Employees and managers must have a similar understanding of the challenges facing their industry. The meeting series described here was designed to allow workers and managers to learn side-by-side. A total of 622 workers and managers representing 75 companies (which have the combined annual capacity to feed approximately 1.8 million cattle, or 9% of the entire U.S. cattle feeding industry) attended seven meetings across western Kansas in which both overarching industry challenges and specific best management practices were communicated. Meeting face-to-face remains an effective way to communicate with commercial agricultural …

Studies On The Initial Stage Of Lipid Oxidation In Bulk Oils, Elizabeth Budilarto

Dissertations

During the oxidation of bulk oils, oxidation products (i.e. peroxide values, conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) are formed gradually and increased sharply at the end of the induction period. Tocopherols were consumed, some water was formed, and micelles increased in size during the induction period of vegetable oils oxidized in bulk. The evidence that the evolution of micellar size was in parallel with the end of induction period corroborates the recognition that micelles are the active site of oxidation. The interactions of α-tocopherol and three synergists: ascorbyl palmitate, phosphatidylcholine and L-lysine were studied in cod liver oil, to …

Gambaran Sistem Penyelenggaraan Makanan Di Pondok Pesantren Hubulo Gorontalo, Sitti Aisyah Taqhi

Media Kesehatan Masyarakat Indonesia

Penyelenggaraan makanan adalah rangkaian kegiatan mulai dari perencanaan menu sampai dengan pendistribusian makanan kepada konsumen dalam rangka pencapaian status kesehatan yang optimal melalui pemberian makanan yang tepat dan termasuk kegiatan pencatatan, pelaporan, dan evaluasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan me-ngetahui gambaran sistem penyelenggaraan makanan di Pondok Pesantren Hubulo Gorontalo yang meliputi input, proses, dan output. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif yang menggunakan data primer dan sekunder. Informan penelitian adalah pimpinan pondok pesantren, koordinator bagian keuangan, dan kepala dapur. Pengolahan dan analisis data menggunakan content analysis dan disajikan dalam bentuk teks naratif. Hasil penelitian diperoleh bahwa dari segi input …

Fresh Bytes - Connected Hydroponics For Small-Scale Growing, Jack Bowen

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

Many users are now transitioning to small-scale hydroponics and aquaponics at home. There can be a barrier to entry with these systems as there is a delicate balance of chemicals, pH, etc. that must be maintained. There are sensors for these various components but they are either aimed at commercial production or are un-automated. Fresh Bytes is a microcomputer with sensors to detect all of these unseen components in a hydroponic system. A prototype of this microcomputer is produced along with CAD plans for more professional versions of it. The sensors are verified and future development is contemplated.

Economic Risks To Alaska Communities From Ocean Acidification, Steve Colt

ISER Presentations

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Different Extrusion Processing Parameters On Physical Properties Of Soy White Flakes And High Protein Distillers Dried Grains-Based Extruded Aquafeeds, Sushil Kumar Singh, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Publications

Nutritionally balanced ingredient blends for catla (Catla catla), belonging to the family Cyprinidae, were extruded using single screw extruder. The extrusion was carried out at five levels of soy white flakes content (21%, 29%, 40%, 52%, and 59% db), five levels of moisture content (15, 19, 25, 31, and 35% db) and five levels of barrel temperature (100, 110, 125, 140, and 150 ºC) using three different die nozzles (having L/D ratios 3.33, 5.83, and 7.25). Blends with net protein content of 32.5% contains soy white flakes, along with high protein distillers dried grains (HP-DDG), corn flour, corn gluten meal, …

Mdm2-Mediated Degradation Of Sirt6 Phosphorylated By Akt1 Promotes Tumorigenesis And Trastuzumab Resistance In Breast Cancer, Umadevi Thirumurthi

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Sirtuin6 (SIRT6) is one of the members of the Sirtuin family and functions as a longevity assurance gene by promoting genomic stability. It also regulates various cancer-associated pathways and was recently established as a bonafide tumor suppressor in colon cancer. This suggests that SIRT6 is an attractive target for pharmacological activation in cancer treatment, and hence, identification of potential regulators of SIRT6 would be an important and critical contribution towards cancer treatment. Here, we show that AKT1 phosphorylates SIRT6 at Ser³³⁸ and induces MDM2-SIRT6 interaction, priming SIRT6 for degradation via the MDM2-dependent ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Blocking SIRT6 Ser³³⁸ phosphorylation …