Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Carbonated Soft Drinks On Bone Mineral Density In College Age Women, Tina Irene Bankston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Osteoporosis is a fast growing, worldwide public health problem. Also called, 'the silent disease' or 'fragile bone disease', osteoporosis results from low bone mass (Gammage & Klentrou, 2011; NOF, 2013; Swann, 2012). Currently, 44 million Americans have osteoporosis; 80% of which are women (NOF, 2011). Few studies, most implemented in other countries, have been conducted examining the consumption of carbonated soft drinks (CSD) as a risk factor for low bone mineral density (BMD) (Ogur et al., 2007; Hostmark et al., 2011; McGartland et al., 2003). The global consumption of CSDs increased by four percent during 2009 to 2010. Within the …

Effect Of Incorporating The Fitbit Fitness Tracking Technology Into A Prescribed Exercise Intervention Program To Improve Long-Term Function In Obese Individuals One Year Following Total Knee Arthroplasty., Webb A. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Physical Activity Intervention Targeted At Middle-Aged Males: A Mixed Methods Research Study, Sheryl L. Chatfield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Selected Rodenticides On The Acidic And Enzymatic Coagulation Properties Of Milk, Madhavi H. Hathurusinghe

Dissertations

The early detection of chemical contaminants in milk at the farm level is essential to prevent them entering into the food chain. The overall objective of this study was to determine the effect of selected rodenticides on the acidic and enzymatic coagulation properties of milk by using selected strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and to evaluate the suitability of lactic acid bacteria as a biomarker for early detection of toxins in milk. Specific objectives of this study were (a) to determine the optimum growth temperature for lactic acid bacteria in MRS broth for early detection of rodenticides; (b) to …

A Study Of Self-Efficacy In A Group Of Hmong Refugees, Mai M. Yang

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Social cognitive theorist Albert Bandura defined resilience as the ability to organize thoughts and actions to manage prospective and unknown situations. He called it the theory of perceived self-efficacy (Bandura, 2010). The tool used to measure this construct is called the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), which assesses a broad stable sense of an individual's personal competence to efficiently deal with a variety of stressful situations. Previous research suggested that due to its positive association with mental health and well being, the GSES and theory of self-efficacy are worthy of further examination in refugees (Sulaiman-Hill and Thompson, 2011). This study examines …

Reduction Of Enteric Methane Production: A Nutritional Approach, A'Ja V. Duncan

Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of feed particle size and nitrate or fumarate alone or in combination on in vitro fermentation, abundances of methanogens, and methane production. Rumen fluid was collected from a Holstein-Friesian dry cow and a steer (experiment 1) and a dry cow and two steers (experiment 2) averaging 625.4 kg in body weight (BW). The cattle were offered 11.4 kg/d per animal of concentrate diet containing equal amounts of soybean meal, whole cottonseed, and ground corn once a day with grass hay at ad libitum (experiment 1) and 15.9 kg/d per animal of total mixed ration (TMR) …

Monitoring The Health Of Transgender And Other Gender Minority Populations: Validity Of Natal Sex And Gender Identity Survey Items In A U.S. National Cohort Of Young Adults, Sari L. Reisner, Kerith J. Conron, Laura Anatale Tardiff, Stephanie Jarvi Steele, Allegra R. Gordon, S Bryn Austin

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background: A barrier to monitoring the health of gender minority (transgender) populations is the lack of brief, validated tools with which to identify participants in surveillance systems.

Methods: We used the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS), a prospective cohort study of U.S. young adults (mean age = 20.7 years in 2005), to assess the validity of self-report measures and implement a two-step method to measure gender minority status (step 1: assigned sex at birth, step 2: current gender identity). A mixed-methods study was conducted in 2013. Construct validity was evaluated in secondary data analysis of the 2010 wave (n = …

Prospect Meadow Farm : Clients Perspective Of Beneficial Farming Acitivities, Frank J. Bayles

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This paper explores beneficial therapeutic effects of farming activities for program participants at Prospect Meadow Farm in Hatfield, Massachusetts. Prospect Meadow Farm, owned and operated by Servicenet is a therapeutic farm serving individuals with developmental and mental health conditions. This research is important because it challenges the orthodox conventions of psychiatric treatment in the United States. Furthermore, it is the first research done at Prospect Meadow Farm. The literature provides a historical context of the progress, missed opportunities and collaboration between blossoming professional occupations. Psychiatry, Occupational Therapy and Social Work occupations seem historically intertwined in progressing foundational theories related to …

Reaching The End : An Exploration Of Attachment And Existential Theory As A Path To Assist In The Dying Process, Jillian Debenedetto

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

In this exploration I will utilize the theory of Attachment as well as Existential Theory to assist in expounding upon available paths to assist elderly individuals in their journey at the end of life. I will present an overview of the two selected theories of Attachment as well as Existential Theory and argue that such approaches honor the venerable end stage of life. A discussion pertaining to these two theories will shed light on the question of how a clinician can seek to improve the quality of life for an individual during the end of life process and therefore assist …

Cuba Revisited: From Revolution To Evolution, Linda R. Crane

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Origins Of The Classical Gene Concept, 1900–1950: Genetics, Mechanistic, Philosophy, And The Capitalization Of Agriculture, Garland E. Allen

Biology Faculty Research

In the period of “classical genetics” (roughly 1915–1950), the common view of the gene was mechanistic—that is, genes were seen as individual, atomistic units, as material components of the chromosomes. Although it was recognized early on that genes could interact and influence each other’s expression, they were still regarded as individually functioning units, much like the chemists’ atoms or molecules. Although geneticists in particular knew the story was more complex, the atomistic gene remained the central view for a variety of reasons. It fit the growing philosophy of mechanistic materialism in the life sciences, as biologists tried to make their …

The Comparative Effectiveness Of Group Prenatal Care On Women's Psychosocial Health, Emily Heberlein

Theses and Dissertations

Background: High rates of adverse birth outcomes persist in the United States despite increased access to individual prenatal care (IPNC). Psychosocial factors influence birth outcomes and affect infant and child development and maternal functioning. Group prenatal care (GPNC) combines individual physical assessments and facilitated group education and support. Studies of GPNC show promising results, including lowered preterm birth rates, but the GPNC psychosocial mechanisms influencing birth outcomes are unclear.

Methods: Surveys at study enrollment (N=248), late pregnancy, and six weeks postpartum assessed psychosocial effects of each PNC model. Multiple regression models and planned moderator analyses tested whether GPNC participants had …

Anthropogenic Ecological Impacts Of 17th And 18th Century Chickasaw Through A Study Of Faunal Remains, Marybeth Harte

Theses and Dissertations

A diachronic analysis of five faunal assemblages from Chickasaw sites is carried out to evaluate their anthropogenic ecological impacts during the colonial time period (A.D. 1650-1750). Change in faunal exploitation, diversity measures and disturbance taxa frequencies are analyzed to gauge these impacts. A comparison with late Mississippian period faunal use provides a benchmark to examine how shifts in the cultural system initiated new ecological impacts. Results from the faunal analysis are also compared with reports of faunal utilization and landscape management practices in the historical record. These reports provide a basis for assessing change in prey preferences according to the …

Best Practices In The Management Of Pediatric Obesity In Primary Care Clinics, Lori Moseley

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has nearly tripled since 1980. Children and adolescents are at risk for developing the comorbidities seen in obese and overweight adults such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea. Traditional treatment for obese and overweight children involved counseling children and their families. Current recommendations include a comprehensive staged approach to weight management that includes prevention plus structured weight management, comprehensive multidisciplinary intervention and tertiary care intervention. Unfortunately structured weight management programs have not been widely available, leaving the primary provider with limited options.

The purpose of this project was to analyze the literature …

An Evolutionary Perspective On Infectious And Chronic Disease, John Eberth

Theses and Dissertations

The integration of evolutionary biology with traditional medicine can elucidate novel mechanisms of contemporary disease. Whereas the goal of traditional medicine is to treat and cure the proximate causes, evolutionary biology aims to understand the driving forces behind why humans are susceptible to disease. To form the basis of this hypothesis we postulate that modern man's current genetic information was programmed at a time, and in an environment, that is not relevant to today's human populations. The discordance between these genes of our ancestors and the environment of contemporary humans is thought to be a major reason for the increase …

The Use Of Social Media And The Impact Of Support On The Well-Being Of Adult Cystic Fibrosis Patients, Margaret Anne Faust

Theses and Dissertations

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, life-limiting autosomal recessive condition disorder of Caucasians. CF is a chronic condition that requires daily treatment of symptoms, the stress of which can have mental health consequences. Due to the potential for cross contamination of bacterial infections, individuals with CF are discouraged from meeting in person and must find other venues to receive support. Social media provides the opportunity for individuals with CF to communicate and provide support. We hypothesized a positive correlation between the patients' health-related quality of life and the amount of time spent on CF-related social media sites. We expected …

Lead Exposure And Crime, Tara Elaine Martin

Theses and Dissertations

While lead exposure during childhood has been linked to criminal activity later in life, prior research has failed to develop a theoretical foundation explaining why lead and crime rates are positively related at the aggregate level. Utilizing tract-level data, I examine the relationship among elevated blood lead level rates, levels of concentrated disadvantage, and crime rates. Through a biosocial approach, I explore the lead-crime relationship using a measure of concentrated disadvantage to account for the variations across tracts. Finally, I discuss the results of this study as well as implications for public policy and future research.

Hepatitis B, C Virus And Hiv Co-Infection Among Reported Female Cases In South Carolina, 2004 - 2011: An Epidemiological Analysis Of Pregnancy Outcomes, Afiba Manza-Azele Agovi

Theses and Dissertations

HIV, hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV) are three of the most common blood-borne infections and they continue to be a major public health problem in the United States (US) and globally. It is not well understood if maternal infection with either HBV or HCV has an adverse impact on pregnancy outcomes as findings from previous studies have provided some mixed results. The overall goal of this study was to assess the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA) and admission into neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for babies born to HBV- and …

Food Insecurity And Physical Activity Among U.S. Populations, Quyen G. To

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: Examine the association between food insecurity (FI) and physical activity (PA) in the U.S. population.

Methods: Accelerometry (PAM) and self-report PA (PAQ) data from NHANES 2003-2006 were used. Those aged less than six years or were older than 65 years, pregnant, with physical limitations, or with family income above 350% of the poverty line were excluded. FI was measured by the USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Crude and adjusted odd ratios were calculated from logistic regression to identify the association between FI and adherence to the PA recommendation. Crude and adjusted coefficients were calculated from linear regression to …

Antibiotic Usage In Relation To Resistant Bacterial Infections And Liver And Kidney Cancer Outcomes In South Carolina, Prea Thathiah

Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotics are one of the most beneficial discoveries in medicine and public health. However, the use, overuse, and misuse of these drugs have led to increases in antibiotic resistant bacterial infections (ARI). Furthermore, previous epidemiological studies have linked antibiotic use to breast cancer, but these studies have not included effects on metabolic organs, such as the liver and kidneys. This dissertation investigates the role of antibiotic use in infections and liver and kidney cancers in the state of South Carolina. Using ecological study methods and Poisson regression to determine relative risk ratios, it was found that antibiotic use is a …

A Community-Driven Approach To The Development Of A Digital Decision Aid To Facilitate Informed Decision Making For Prostate Cancer Screening Among African-American Men In Communities Of Faith, Otis Lashaun Owens

Theses and Dissertations

Background: African American (AA) men are significantly more likely to die of prostate cancer (PrCA) than other racial groups. Therefore, it is critical to identify effective strategies for providing information about the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of PrCA screening and the importance of informed decision making (IDM). To assess whether a computer-based IDM decision aid (DA) for PrCA screening would be appropriate for middle-age and older AA men, this formative evaluation study examined participants (1) PrCA risk and screening knowledge, 2) decision-making processes for PrCA screening, and 3) usage of, attitudes toward, and access to interactive communication technologies (ICTs). The …

Segregation In United States Healthcare: From Reconstruction To Deluxe Jim Crow, Kerri L. Hunkele

Honors Theses and Capstones

During the time period between Reconstruction and the Deluxe Jim Crow era, African Americans were legally oppressed, which hindered their ability to live fully and equally in society with whites. This was especially true in terms of healthcare. Segregation laws were implemented to separate blacks from the rest of society in everyday life; the worst of these laws affected the ability of African Americans to gain access to medical care that was equal to whites. This inequality prevented blacks from being accepted into society and from living quality lives that stem from adequate healthcare. Although the federal and state governments …

Quality Of Life, Health Status, And Academic Success In Undergraduates, Amanda Kuhlman

Honors Projects

Background: Undergraduates are making their first autonomous health decisions. This is an opportune stage for examining the precursors to the chronic diseases of adulthood. The purpose of this study was to examine correlations between health status, quality of life, and academic success in college students.

Methods: A quality of life survey (Goodman, 1997) was utilized to determine the behavioral difficulties of 86 first and second year college students. Each of these behavioral categories were then examined for possible correlations with blood pressure, weight, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption, body fat percentage, and any changes in these categories from the …

Evolution And Social Effects Of Faith-Based International Nongovernmental Organizations, Christina Ingle

Honors Projects

The objective of this paper was to look at the cultural, social, and environmental of faith-based INGOs on Guatemala society within the framework of participatory development, which is the aim to include aid recipients in development projects to ensure long-run sustainability and stability. I related the evolution of faith-based INGOs to the historical eras that Latin America has experienced since the age of colonization, namely the time of the domination of the Roman Catholic church, the establishment of Spanish missions in Latin America, liberalism secularism, and neoliberalism. In a case study of Guatemala, I looked at the influence of Roman …

Promising Strategies: Case Examples, Center For Public Health Systems Science, Stephanie Andersen, Rachel Barth, Cheryl Kelly

Center for Public Health Systems Science

This case study from the Missouri Foundation for Health Healthy and Active Communities Initiative (H&AC) provides examples of Promising Strategies projects that promote healthy living to provide key lessons, inform others doing similar work, and inform future grant making strategies.

Point-Of-Sale Report To The Nation: The Tobacco Retail And Policy Landscape, Center For Public Health Systems Science, Douglas Luke, Sarah Moreland-Russell, Amy Sorg, Heidi Walsh

Center for Public Health Systems Science

This is the first in a series of three Point-of-Sale Reports to the Nation from the ASPiRE project. This report shows that states and communities are actively working to address tobacco control issues at the point of sale (POS) and outlines a number of ways to improve the implementation and dissemination of tobacco control efforts focused on POS.

Characterization Of The Hippocampal Acetylcholine System In A Rodent Model Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Amy Elizabeth Perkins

Theses and Dissertations

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a major public health concern, as it is estimated that 2-5% of children are exposed to alcohol at some point during prenatal development. FASD have been shown to cause damage to multiple brain regions, but research shows that the hippocampus is especially sensitive to alcohol exposure. This damage to the hippocampus explains, in part, deficits in learning and memory that are hallmark symptoms of FASD. The acetylcholine neurotransmitter system plays a major role in learning and memory, and the hippocampus is one of its main targets. This experiment used a rodent model of Fetal …

Exercise Behavior Patterns In Emerging Adulthood: An Exploration Of Predictor Variables From Self-Determination Theory And Transtheoretical Model, Chad R. Johnson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

During the transition from childhood to adulthood, young people establish patterns of behavior and make lifestyle choices that affect both their current and future health (NCHS, 2010). Emerging adulthood – a new conception of development for the period from the late teens through the twenties – focuses on individuals ages 18-25 who did not have a child, own a home, or have sufficient income to be fully independent (Arnett, 2000). Very little is known about social influence, motivational mediators, and motivation on exercise behavior within this developmental period. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the influence of …

Comparing Hyperhydration Ability Between A Glycerol Solution And A Sodium Solution On Dehydration And Performance In Runners, Stephanie L. Marz

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how inducing hyperhydration with a glycerol solution and a sodium solution prior to exercise influenced performance and hydration status during a moderate set-intensity exercise bout followed by a time-to-exhaustion bout when compared to a control solution containing water only. Six well-trained runners ages 21 to 38 with an average relative VO₂ peak of 57 ml/kg/min participated in three trials. Each trial included a 2.5 hour hyperhydration phase where participants ingested a solution containing water, glycerol, or sodium. Following hyperhydration, participants ran for 90 minutes at 65% of their HRR followed by …

Barriers, Facilitators, And Frequency Of Evidence Based Practice Use In Athletic Training, Michael J. Boehke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many professions, including medicine, engineering, and design, have embraced the notion of using research to making informed decisions, thus increasing client satisfaction. Called evidence based practice (EBP) in Athletic Training; the concept is viewed as a means to promote the profession, not only through improved patient care, but also through increasing the reputation of athletic trainers as cost-effective health care providers. Over the past two decades, EBP has become a common term and subject of study. However, the extent of research regarding barriers and facilitators to the use of EBP within athletic training lags behind that of other health care …