Digital Commons Network^™

Best For Baby : What Factors Influence New Mothers When Choosing Between Breastfeeding And Bottle Feeding Babies Under The Age Of Two, Jacquelyn S. Andrews

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Mothers often find themselves under supported after the birth of a baby. This mixed method research study examines the factors that are considered influential to new mothers when making their initial infant feeding choice between breastfeeding and bottle feeding. This study presents the data from 1017 mothers who self identified as either primarily breast feeding mothers or bottle feeding mothers and indicated which biological, social, circumstantial, financial, psychological, and medical factors were the most influential in their choice. Both the breastfeeding and the bottle feeding samples consistently ranked health of the baby as the most influential factor. Bottle feeding mothers …

Maybe We Really Are What We Eat : Implications Of Nutrition And Mental Illness Research For Clinical Practice, Leslie H. Rosenberg

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

In light of our nation's growing obesity epidemic, this paper will explore the growing body of research indicating clear links between nutrition and mental health, and the implications for clinicians treating mental illness in chronically ill clients who are overweight or obese. I will analyze the intersection between nutrition and mental illness according to the concepts of motivational interviewing (MI) and Irwin Yalom's group therapy theory in order to inform social work practice with these adults. Medical professionals who tend to shoulder the responsibility of addressing diet concerns in mentally ill patients rarely have adequate time nor training to fully …

The Increasing Weight Of Regulation: Countries Combat The Global Obesity Epidemic, Allyn L. Taylor, Emily W. Parento, Laura A. Schmidt

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Obesity is a global epidemic, exacting an enormous human and economic toll. In the absence of a comprehensive global governance strategy, states have increasingly employed a wide array of legal strategies targeting the drivers of obesity. This article identifies recent global trends in obesity-related legislation and makes the normative case for an updated global governance strategy.

National governments have responded to the epidemic both by strengthening traditional interventions and by developing novel legislative strategies. This response consists of nine important trends: (1) strengthened and tailored tax measures; (2) broader use of counter-advertising and health campaigns; (3) expanded food labeling; (4) …

The Trickle-Down War, Rosa Brooks

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The history of the European nation-state, wrote political sociologist Charles Tilly, is inextricably bound up with the history of warfare. To oversimplify Tilly’s nuanced and complex arguments, the story goes something like this: As power-holders (originally bandits and local strongmen) sought to expand their power, they needed capital to pay for weapons, soldiers and supplies. The need for capital and new recruits drove the creation of taxation systems and census mechanisms, and the need for more effective systems of taxation and recruitment necessitated better roads, better communications and better record keeping. This in turn enabled the creation of larger and …

Characterization Of The Probiotic Mechanism Of Phaeobacter Gallaeciensis S4 Against Bacterial Pathogens, Wenjing Zhao

Open Access Dissertations

Infections by pathogenic marine bacteria are a major problem for both the shellfish and finfish aquaculture industries, causing severe disease and high mortality, which seriously affect aquaculture production and cause significant economic loss. Marine pathogens like Vibrio tubiashii and Roseovarius crassostreae frequently cause disease in a variety of shellfish. With the understanding that the use of antibiotics in large-scale aquaculture leads to the development and transfer of antibiotic resistance, investigation of probiotic approaches for the prevention of infectious disease has become important. In manuscript I, screening of bacterial isolates from Rhode Island marine organisms and environment using agar-based assay methods …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of The Voucher Program For Improving Maternal Health Behavior And Status In Bangladesh, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Syed Abu Jafar Md. Musa, Ashish Bajracharya, Kaji Tamanna Keya, Forhana Rahman Noor, Eshita Jahan, Md. Irfan Hossain, Jyotirmoy Saha, Benjamin Bellows

Reproductive Health

Vouchers, a demand-side financing (DSF) instrument for health-care services, were introduced in Bangladesh in 2006. The DSF program grants vouchers to pregnant women to receive free antenatal, delivery, and postpartum care services as well as free medicine, and financial assistance is provided for transportation. Deliveries with skilled service providers are financially incentivized and providers are reimbursed for their services from a special fund. After piloting DSF initially in 21 subdistricts (upazilas), the government expanded it to another 12 upazilas in 2007 (the second phase), and in its third phase in 2010 the program was expanded to another 11 upazilas. To …

Assessing The Potential Market For A Progesterone Contraceptive Vaginal Ring (Pcvr) As A New Contraceptive Option In Sub-Saharan Africa Using Needs-Based Market Segmentation, Francis Obare, Deepa Rajamani, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

Developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, have disproportionately high unmet contraceptive needs compared to other regions, and especially high levels of unmet need for spacing pregnancies. To address some of sub-Saharan Africa’s barriers to effective contraception, there is renewed focus on new methods that offer greater ease of use. New methods under investigation would not require daily action, their use would be controlled by women themselves, and they would require no medical providers or significant health-system infrastructure for service delivery. Contraceptive vaginal rings hold great potential by offering not only ease of use but a safe and effective FP solution. …

Facilitator's Guide For Training On Monitoring And Evaluation Of Social And Behavior Change Communication Health Programs, Praween Kumar Agrawal, Kumudha Aruldas, M.E. Khan, Subrato Mondal

Reproductive Health

Social and behavior change communication (SBCC) interventions are now incorporated within state project implementation plans and increasing resources are being allocated for SBCC activities. A close monitoring of SBCC activities and an evaluation in terms of reach and effectiveness among intended audiences is thus necessary. This calls for a serious effort to build the capacity of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) personnel to monitor and evaluate performance of SBCC activities. FHI 360’s Improving Healthy Behaviors Program, funded by USAID, aims to provide technical assistance to strengthen the capacities of public program managers at the national, state, and district level to monitor …

Maternal Health Commodity Landscaping Exercise: A Snapshot Of The Bangladesh Program, Sharif M.I. Hossain, Saumya Ramarao, Ismat Ara Hena, Ubaidur Rob

Reproductive Health

Despite consistent efforts of the government and national stakeholders, every year in Bangladesh over 5,000 mothers and thousands of children die. Most of these deaths would be preventable with increased access to quality services including existing medicines and other health commodities. The United Nation’s Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children suggests that an important cause of these deaths is lack of access and appropriate use of 13 life-saving commodities. This document describes an effort by the Population Council to assess the country’s policies, guidelines, and availability for these 13 life-saving commodities as well as engaging with key stakeholders …

Reaching The Unreached Through Community Mobilization In An Innovative And Sustainable Way, Arupendra Mozumdar, M.E. Khan, Subrato Mondal

Reproductive Health

This study shows the potential of Self Help Groups (SHGs) to deliver health messages that increase women’s knowledge. The intervention for this operations research (OR) study included a day-long training for Swasth Sakhis in the experimental area. A total of 11 trainings were organized, all conducted by Population Council staff. Before the intervention, at baseline, 803 women from eligible households were interviewed for the quantitative assessment. At endline, 470 women were followed up. Additionally, 16 in-depth interviews with women, Swasth Sakhis, and Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana staff were conducted in the experimental area to understand how the intervention was …

Sexual And Reproductive Health Of Women Living With Hiv In Egypt: Unmet Needs And Unfulfilled Dreams, Doaa Oraby, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab

Reproductive Health

The gender profile of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has changed since it emerged 30 years ago when infections were concentrated in key populations of men such as injecting drug users and men who have sex with men. In 2012, women accounted for nearly 50 percent of the estimated 35.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS globally. In the Middle East and North Africa, 44 percent of infected adults are women. The past 30 years have also witnessed remarkable improvements in access to high-quality information and medical services, including services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus. With care and treatment for …

Prevalence Of Unintended Pregnancy And Needs For Family Planning Among Married Adolescent Girls Living In Urban Slums Of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Fauzia Akhter Huda, Sabiha Chowdhuri, Bidhan Krishna Sarker, Noushin Islam, Anisuddin Ahmed

Reproductive Health

This STEP UP research report examined the prevalence and basic underlying factors of unintended pregnancy among married adolescent girls in five urban slums in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The specific objectives of the study were to: 1) document the prevalence of unintended pregnancy among married adolescent girls aged 15–19 years living in urban slums of Dhaka; 2) identify the factors associated with or which contribute to unintended pregnancy among urban married adolescent girls; 3) estimate the proportion of married adolescent girls who have an unmet need for family planning (FP) services; and 4) explore the barriers to access and effective use of …

Unintended Pregnancy And Abortion In India: Country Profile Report, Mary Philip Sebastian, M.E. Khan, Daliya Sebastian

Reproductive Health

A review of literature and analysis of large surveys were carried out with funding from the STEP UP consortium led by Population Council to build a coherent body of robust research-based evidence on the situation in India in the context of unmet need for family planning (FP) and safe abortion services. The study found that there is insufficient training of different cadres of health staff in the public health system on abortion provision, post-abortion care, FP counseling of young couples, emergency contraception, and IUD insertion/removal. Despite service delivery guidelines in India expecting providers to provide FP counseling during antenatal visits, …

Home Health Nurses' Knowledge And Beliefs Of Suffering, Artificial Nutrition And Hydration In People With Late Stage Dementia, Lenora Ward Smith

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This dissertation examined the concept and dimensions of suffering in individuals with late stage dementia and the knowledge and perceptions of home health nurses with regard to artificial nutrition and hydration and suffering in individuals with late stage dementia. Design: Using Caron and Bowers' method of dimensional analysis, the concept of suffering in people with late stage dementia was examined. A pilot study was conducted on home health nurses in Western North Carolina to test the reliability of the instrument used in the study, and a mixed methods exploratory study was conducted to measure home health nurses' knowledge and …

Systemic Review Of The Epidemiology Of Autism In Arab Gulf Countries, Huda O. Salhia, Lubna A. Al-Nasser, Lama S. Taher, Ali M. Al-Khathaami, Ashraf A. El-Metwally

Neurosciences

Objective: To assess the current state of knowledge on the epidemiology of autism in Arab Gulf countries, and identify gaps for future research. Methods: PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were used to identify relevant articles published until the 3rd of April 2013 (date of search). The search was conducted using the electronic library of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they concerned the epidemiology of autism, conducted in any Arab Gulf country, and published in English. Results: Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria. Studies showed a prevalence ranging from 1.4 …

Tennessee Ag Insider, A Guide The The State's Farms, Food, And Forestry, 2014 Edition, Tennessee. Department Of Agriculture.

Tennessee Ag Insider

No abstract provided.

Developing C. Elegans As A Model To Study Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Jheesoo Ahn

Theses and Dissertations

Caenorhabditis elegans has been studied as a model organism in various areas of biomedical research because it shares many conserved functions at molecular and genetic levels with humans. Specifically, it is an ideal organism to study heterogeneous metabolic syndromes such as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) as C. elegans can be used to delineate molecular pathways that are at the core of its problems. A growing number of populations worldwide are faced with chronic T2DM, which also manifests several complications, such as blindness, neuropathy and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, metformin is the first-line drug of choice administered to treat T2DM. While …

Childhood Obesity In Asia: The Value Of Accurate Body Composition Methodology, Andrew P. Hills, Najat Mokhtar, Sharon Brownie, Nuala M. Byrne

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Childhood obesity, a significant global public health problem, affects an increasing number of low- and middle-income countries, including in Asia. The obesity epidemic has been fuelled by the rapid nutrition and physical activity transition with the availability of more energy-dense nutrient-poor foods and lifestyles of many children dominated by physical inactivity. During the growing years the pace and quality of grow this best quantified by a combination of anthropometric and body composition measures. However, where normative data are available, this has typically been collected on Caucasian children. To better define and characterise overweight and obesity in Asian children, and to …

Using Job-Title-Based Physical Exposures From O*Net In An Epidemiological Study Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Bradley A. Evanoff, Angelique Zeringue, Alfred Franzblau, Ann Marie Dale

Occupational and Health Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Identification And Validation Of Quantitative Trait Loci For Seed Yield, Oil And Protein Contents In Two Recombinant Inbred Line Populations Of Soybean, Xianzhi Wang, Guo‑Liang Jiang, Marci Green, Roy A. Scott, Qijian Song, D. L. Hyten, P. B. Cregan

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Soybean seeds contain high levels of oil and protein, and are the important sources of vegetable oil and plant protein for human consumption and livestock feed. Increased seed yield, oil and protein contents are the main objectives of soybean breeding. The objectives of this study were to identify and validate quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with seed yield, oil and protein contents in two recombinant inbred line populations, and to evaluate the consistency of QTLs across different environments, studies and genetic backgrounds. Both the mapping population (SD02- 4-59 × A02-381100) and validation population (SD02- 911 × SD00-1501) were phenotyped for …

Distillers Grains Supplementation In A Forage System With Spayed Heifers, Kari L. Gillespie, Terry J. Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald Donald, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider, Jerry D. Volesky, Galen Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Spayed heifers were developed into yearlings by grazing corn residue and bromegrass, followed by native range, and were finished on a common diet. Treatments were 2 lb or 5 lb of wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS; DM basis) supplement on corn residue daily, and modified distillers grains with solubles (MDGS) fed at 0.6% BW daily or no MDGS during summer grazing. Feeding 5 lb increased winter ADG by 0.68 lb (year 1) or 0.40 lb (year 2) compared to 2 lb, and increased HCW after finishing. Summer supplementation increased summer ADG by 0.50 lb (year 1) or 0. 44 …

Comparison Of Long-Term Progestin-Based Synchronization Protocols On Fixed-Time Ai Pregnancy Rate In Beef Heifers, Rebecca A. Vraspir, Adam F. Summers, Doug O'Hare Hare, Larry D. Rowden, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Yearling Angus heifers at a commercial ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills were randomly assigned to one of two progestin-based fixed-time AI protocols (MGA or 14-day CIDR) to compare pregnancy rates. Heifers had similar fixed-time AI pregnancy rates between MGA and 14-day CIDR. A similar proportion of MGA and 14-day CIDR heifers displayed a second estrus; however, heifers previously synchronized with MGA tended to have a greater second AI pregnancy rate. Overall pregnancy rate was similar between MGA and 14-day CIDR treatments. The MGA system was the more cost effective synchronization protocol in this study.

Water Resources And The Historic Wells Of Barbuda: Tradition, Heritage And Hope For A Sustainable Future, Rebecca Boger, Sophia Perdikaris, Amy E. Potter, John Mussington, Reginald Murphy, Louise Thomas, Calvin Gore, Dwight Finch

Department of Anthropology: Faculty Publications

The island of Barbuda has a relatively unique history, land tenure and geography. Unlike its Caribbean counterparts, the island is not suited to large-scale agriculture due to its arid climate and relatively thin soils. Instead, the enslaved and eventually free people of Barbuda developed a complex herding ecology centered on common land ownership. As a result, carefully designed historic wells are strategically located around the island. With the challenges brought about by climate change, an interdisciplinary, international team led by the Barbuda Research Complex is investigating the state of existing water and food resources and examining how the availability and …

Annual Higher Ground Women's Leadership Conference 2014, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

No abstract provided.

Clinical Features, Proximate Causes, And Consequences Of Active Convulsive Epilepsy In Africa, Symon M. Kariuki, William Matuja, Albert Akpalu, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Martin Chabi, Ryan G. Wagner, Myles Connor, Eddie Chengo, Anthony K. Ngugi, Rachael Odhiambo, Christian Bottomley, Steven White, Josemir W. Sander, Brian G. R. Neville, Charles R. J. C. Newton

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Purpose: Epilepsy is common in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but the clinical features and consequences are poorly characterized. Most studies are hospital-based, and few studies have compared different ecological sites in SSA. We described active convulsive epilepsy (ACE) identified in cross-sectional community-based surveys in SSA, to understand the proximate causes, features, and consequences.

Methods: We performed a detailed clinical and neurophysiologic description of ACE cases identified from a community survey of 584,586 people using medical history, neurologic examination, and electroencephalography (EEG) data from five sites in Africa: South Africa; Tanzania; Uganda; Kenya; and Ghana. The cases were examined by clinicians to …

The Influence Of National Culture On Effectiveness Of Safety Trainings During Postdisaster Reconstruction, Behzad Esmaeili, Kevin Grosskopf, Amy Javernick-Will

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Non-English speaking workers constitute a disproportionately high number of workers involved in postdisaster reconstruction. Additionally, the rate of fatality among these workers is higher than the industry average. Research shows this population is more prone to unsafe behaviors in the working environment, conceivably because many of these workers are sent into the field prior to any formalized training. Recent studies show that the native culture of construction workers can impact risk-taking behavior. While numerous researchers have attempted to develop training materials for Hispanic workers, the number of studies that consider the impact of native culture on safety behavior is minimal. …

Resiliency And Selfless Service Development In Army Rotc Physical Training: A Qualitative Investigation, Molly Voelz Fischer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Leadership in the United States Army is essential for successful completion of domestic and international missions. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs are used to effectively develop leadership skills within the Army. Physical training (PT) is a mandatory component in ROTC, used to improve physical ability and prepare cadets for the rigors of the “big Army” environment. Resiliency and selfless service development are seen as critical elements of leadership, yet little is known about the formal and informal experiences in ROTC PT that facilitate or hinder resiliency and selfless service during early career preparation. The overall purpose of this dissertation …

Autism Severity And Comorbid Symptoms In Children With Asd, Jina Jang

LSU Master's Theses

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are reported to evince high rates of comorbid symptoms. Co-occurring disorders among individuals with ASD are often difficult to assess and diagnose accurately. Also, comorbid conditions frequently exacerbate symptoms of ASD. Different treatment regimens may be effective for comorbid symptoms in ASD; however, research looking at comorbid symptoms and ASD is limited. The current study aimed to extend the literature in this area by examining the relationship between ASD and comorbid symptoms. First, the current study assessed how often and how severely comorbid symptoms were endorsed. Further, autism severity was used to predict comorbid …

Physical Stability Of Poly (Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) And Plga/Chitosan Nanoparticles And Chemical Stability Of Entrapped Alpha-Tocopherol And Lutein, Meocha Whaley

LSU Master's Theses

The published benefits of polymeric nanoparticles as a system for antioxidant delivery have encompassed topics of improved oral delivery, bioavailability, and modified release to name a few. Generally accepted as safe polymers Poly(lactic-coglycolic acid) and the mucoadhesive chitosan were selected to entrap alpha-tocopherol and lutein. This study proposed to assess the physical stability of PLGA and Chi/PLGA nanoparticles with entrapped bioactives in varying biological suspension medias ( water, pbs, hbss and cell media). Also, to assess the chemical stability of the entrapped antioxidants lutein and alpha-tocopherol within the same media as deemed relevant for in-vitro and and in-vivo studies. Of …

Teacher Matters: Teacher Normative Influence And Student Persistence In College, Jonathan Paul Denham

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation extends the work on teacher immediacy (TI) and student persistence by using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) (Ajzen, 1985) to account for variability in college student persistence. Students provided perceptions of their teachers’ immediacy behaviors using modified versions of Gorham’s (1988) TI scale. Instruction prompts of the TI scale were manipulated to create four conditions. The results from Study 1 demonstrate that TI scale prompt language has an effect on the ways participants assess their teacher’s immediacy behaviors. The results from Study 2 show that student perceptions of their teacher’s immediacy behaviors change over the course of …