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Associations Between Family Food Behaviors, Maternal Depression, And Child Weight Among Low-Income Children, Karen Mccurdy, Kathleen S. Gorman, Tiffani S. Kisler, Elizabeth Metallinos-Katsaras

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Although low-income children are at greater risk for overweight and obesity than their higher income counterparts, the majority of poor children are not overweight. The current study examined why such variation exists among diverse young children in poor families. Cross-sectional data were collected on 164 low-income, preschool aged children and their mothers living in two Rhode Island cities. Over half of the sample was Hispanic (55%). Mothers completed measures of family food behaviors and depression while trained assistants collected anthropometric data from children at seven day care centers and a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program outreach project. Multivariate analysis of covariance …

Taking The Tension Out Of Hypertension: A Prospective Study Of Psychological Well-Being And Hypertension, Claudia Trudel-Fitzgerald, Julia K. Boehm, Mika Kivimaki, Laura D. Kubzansky

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background—Previous studies have shown that psychological well-being is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. However, whether well-being might be specifically associated with reduced risk of hypertension has not been rigorously investigated in prospective studies.

Objective—This study examined the prospective association between two measures of psychological well-being and incident hypertension.

Methods—Participants were 6,384 healthy British civil servants age 39 to 63 from the Whitehall II cohort. Psychological well-being (emotional vitality and optimism) and cardiovascular risk factors (demographic characteristics, health status, health behaviors, psychological ill-being) were assessed during the 1991-1994 baseline. Incident hypertension was defined by clinical measures …

Developing And Selecting Auditory Warnings For A Real-Time Behavioral Intervention, John Belletierre, Suzanne C. Hughes, Sandy Liles, Marie Boman-Davis, Neil E. Klepeis, Elaine Blumberg, Jeff Mills, Vincent Berardi, Saori Obayashi, T. Tracy Allen, Melbourne F. Hovell

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Real-time sensing and computing technologies are increasingly used in the delivery of real-time health behavior interventions. Auditory signals play a critical role in many of these interventions, impacting not only behavioral response but also treatment adherence and participant retention. Yet, few behavioral interventions that employ auditory feedback report the characteristics of sounds used and even fewer design signals specifically for their intervention. This paper describes a four-step process used in developing and selecting auditory warnings for a behavioral trial designed to reduce indoor secondhand smoke exposure. In step one, relevant information was gathered from ergonomic and behavioral science literature to …

Pathologies Of The Poor: What Do The War On Drugs And Welfare Reform Have In Common?, Kalynn Amundson, Anna M. Zajicek, Valerie H. Hunt

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) authorized drug testing of welfare recipients as a criterion for assistance eligibility. This raises the question of a possible confluence of War on Drugs and Welfare Reform policies, as indicated by continuity in policymakers’ rhetoric. We examine federal-level policymakers’ debates surrounding the authorization of drug testing welfare recipients. The analysis reveals that themes of social pathology were present in both policy areas. Crime, drug addiction, welfare dependency, and drug testing themes are comparable in both debates. Teen pregnancy, out-of-wedlock birth, and female-headed households themes were more prevalent in Welfare …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 41, No. 2 (June 2014)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE - Howard Karger, James Midgley, and Subas Risal

AUSTERITY VERSUS STIMULUS: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES AND POLICY PRESCRIPTIONS - James Midgley

THE BITTER PILL: AUSTERITY, DEBT, AND THE ATTACK ON EUROPE'S WELFARE STATES - Howard Karger

BETWEEN RETRENCHMENT AND RECALIBRATION: THE IMPACT OF AUSTERITY ON THE IRISH SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM - Fiona Dukelow and Mairéad Considine

ITALIAN WELFARE IN THE AFTERMATH OF ECONOMIC CRISIS: NEOLIBERAL REFORMS AND LIMITS TO THE PATH DEPENDENCY APPROACH - Ijin Hong

DEFICIT-DRIVEN AUSTERITY POLICIES: EFFECTS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE UNITED STATES - David Miller and …

Rolling Downhill: Effects Of Austerity On Local Government Social Services In The United States, David B. Miller, Terry Hokenstad

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Austerity policies have been instituted in countries around the world attempting to address the fallout from the global economic crisis beginning in 2008 and still lingering through today. While the literature debates the economic impact of these policies, limited attention has been given to the effects of austerity at the local governmental level. It is posited that at the local government level, the effects of austerity policies are most noticeable and detrimental. States and local municipalities are “switching roles” with the federal government (Davidson, 2013, p. 1). They are providing jobs and social welfare services in the gap left by …

Queensland's Budget Austerity And Its Impact On Social Welfare: Is The Cure Worse Than The Disease?, Gregory Marston

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

While considerable attention has been paid to the austerity experiments in Europe, much less attention has been paid to austerity case studies from other parts of the world. This paper examines the case of Queensland, Australia, where the government has pursued austerity measures, while making dire warnings that unless public debt was slashed and the public service sector downsized, Queensland risked becoming the Spain of Australia. The comparison is incomprehensible, given the very different economic situation in Queensland compared with Spain. This comparison constructed a sense of crisis that helped to mask standard neoliberal economic reform. While pursuing neoliberal economic …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 41, No. 4 (December 2014)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

ARE PAYDAY LOANS REALLY EVIL? CONTROVERSY, REGULATION, AND INNOVATION IN THE SECONDARY FINANCIAL SERVICES MARKET - David Stoesz

INDIVIDUAL AND COUNTRY-LEVEL INSTITUTIONAL TRUST AND PUBLIC ATTITUDE TO WELFARE EXPENDITURES IN 24 TRANSITIONAL COUNTRIES - Nazim Habibov

THE INFLUENCE OF VETERAN STATUS, PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS, AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ON INADEQUATE SLEEP - Andrew S. London, Sarah A. Burgard, and Janet M. Wilmoth

CORRELATES OF JOB BURNOUT AMONG HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR WORKFORCE RETENTION - Madhavappallil Thomas, Vandana Kohli, and Jong Choi

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPATHY AND ATTITUDES TOWARD GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION - M. Alex Wagaman and Elizabeth A. …

The Influence Of Veteran Status, Psychiatric Diagnosis, And Traumatic Brain Injury On Inadequate Sleep, Andrew S. London, Sarah A. Burgard, Janet Wilmoth

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Adequate sleep is essential for health, social participation, and wellbeing. We use 2010 and 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (N = 35,602) to examine differences in sleep adequacy between: non-veterans; non-combat veterans with no psychiatric diagnosis or traumatic brain injury (TBI); combat veterans with no psychiatric diagnosis or TBI; and veterans (non-combat and combat combined) with a psychiatric diagnosis and/or TBI. On average, respondents reported 9.28 days of inadequate sleep; veterans with a psychiatric diagnosis and/or TBI reported the most—12.25 days. Multivariate analyses indicated that veterans with a psychiatric diagnosis and/or TBI had significantly more days of inadequate …

Service For Learning, Service For Life: Depaul's Vincentian Mission In Action

DePaul Magazine

Through the thousands of alumni and students who are putting their education to work in service to others through service learning, volunteerism, and social welfare careers, DePaul University's Vincentian mission is being realized. In addition, the university is creating research partnerships to help service organizations develop effective strategies to combat such stubborn problems as poverty and homelessness.

Roles And Regulations For Pharmacists In State-Level Disaster Relief Efforts, Rachel Lowe

Honors Theses

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine what expanded roles have been identified for pharmacists by the states in disaster relief efforts, what regulations currently exist for pharmacists in disaster relief efforts in each state, and whether or not disaster relief and public health training should be added to the pharmacy school curriculum. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to survey fifty-three boards of pharmacy via email and Qualtrics Survey Software. Results: Analysis of the survey results showed that most states lack a disaster preparedness plan and expanded roles for pharmacists in disaster relief efforts, and most …

The Sociocultural Basis Of Epidemiology Of Hypertension Among Residents Of Ogun State, Vernon E. Norman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a high prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria. Limited knowledge of hypertension, how to prevent it, its outcomes, rapid urbanization, and the adoption of Western eating habits are implicated. Hypertension is an important issue because chronic disease places economic, social, and disease burdens on society. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate lifestyle practices, knowledge, and attitudes on risks and prevention of hypertension among residents of Ogun State, Nigeria (N = 79). The conceptual framework for this study focused on how knowledge, attitudes, and practices influence the dietary habits, behaviors, and ultimately blood pressure . The PEN-3 …

Btk Regulated Macrophage Polarization In Response To Lipopolysaccharide, Joan Ní Gabhann, Emily Hams, Siobhán Smith, Claire Wynne, Jennifer C. Byrne, Kiva Brennan, Shaun Spence, Adrien Kissenpfennig

Articles

Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a strong inducer of inflammation and does so by inducing polarization of macrophages to the classic inflammatory M1 population. Given the role of Btk as a critical signal transducer downstream of TLR4, we investigated its role in M1/M2 induction. In Btk deficient (Btk^−\−) mice we observed markedly reduced recruitment of M1 macrophages following intraperitoneal administration of LPS. Ex vivo analysis demonstrated an impaired ability of Btk^−/− macrophages to polarize into M1 macrophages, instead showing enhanced induction of immunosuppressive M2-associated markers in response to M1 polarizing stimuli, a finding accompanied by reduced phosphorylation …

Organic Farming In France: À La Mode Or A Mode Of Life?, Ellen L. Mallette

Honors Theses

Organic farming, as opposed to conventional or traditional farming that employs the use of chemicals, is a method that was begun in the middle of the twentieth century, shortly after the end of World War II. In many ways it is a return to farming practices that were conducted for centuries until about the late 1800's when pesticides and fertilizers were introduced. The rise of organic farming has been occurring all over the world to varying degrees over the past few decades. The French have always had a strong connection to agriculture, food, and the preservation of tradition, so organic …

Effects Of Globalization On The Use Of The Mediterranean Diet In Spain, Jacob J. Mcgee

Honors Theses

Spain is known for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and incredible foods. The Mediterranean diet of Spain is praised for its health benefits, but recently it appears that the population has begun to turn away from their original diet. Studies have shown that the Spanish have been experiencing a constant culture change due to globalization since the 1950s when the General Francisco Franco allowed the technocrats to have some control over the government. With a new economic policy, new people and their new ideas flooded the country bring with them their cultures. These cultures influenced the Spanish life changing many …

We Live Like The Poor, But We Die Like The Rich: Cuban Biomedical Implementation And Its Implementation Within Ecuador, James Drew Toppin

Honors Theses

Shortly following the Cuban Revolution in 1959, communist leaders Ernesto Che Guevara and Fidel Castro made it a top priority to address the poor health of the country's citizens. By developing a large pool of physicians, Cuba instituted groundbreaking approaches to biomedicine that emphasize prevention and the physiciancommunity relationship. The high physicians per capita ratio also permitted Cuba to develop its now famous system of international biomedical diplomacy. Cuba's successes domestically and abroad occur within the context of the regional geopolitical environment, in which Cuba is subjugated to extraordinary economic pressures from the U.S. embargo. The superior health of the …

Eastern Medicine: From Nutritional Supplements To Cancer Research., Dominic P. Lu Dds, Fagd, Yemeng Chen Omd(China), Lixian Xu, Leo M. Lee

Department of Dental Medicine

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Exercise On Bmi Z-Score In Overweight And Obese Children And Adolescents: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis, George A Kelley, Kristi S Kelley, Russell R Pate

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Measuring Legume Content In Pastures Using Digital Photographs, Edward Barrow Rayburn

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Visual Reference Guide For Estimating Legume Content In Pastures, Edward Barrow Rayburn, James T. Green

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Microbial Diversity Present In Herbal Supplements As Revealed By Pcr-Based 16s Sequence Analysis, Stephen Stone

Honors Theses

Over the last few decades people have become more aware of their general wellness and have turned towards alternative measures to ensure good health. One of these alternative measures, the herbal supplement market, has risen significantly in recent years, even though there is no conclusive research that points to the effectiveness of herbal supplements. Also, because of sparse regulation from the FDA, there are many questions related to the efficacy, composition, processing methods, and, consequently, safety of these supplements. The aim of this study was to determine the microbial composition of herbal supplements in an attempt to identify potential targets …

Dieting For Diabetes: A Mobile 'App'roach, Alaina Brooks Darby

Honors Theses

Diabetes mellitus, being a prevalent disease in modern society, is moderately influenced by one's nutrition. Due to this, mobile programs created especially for tracking food intake can be an important aid for diabetics. The objective of this project was to analyze eight of the most prominent of these applications — MyNetDiary, GoMeals, MyFitnessPal, Fooducate, Lose It!, The Carrot, Diabetes In Check, and Daily Carb — to determine the subsets of diabetics that would benefit most from the utilization of each. Data was obtained through testing of each app and through the information provided by users on iTunes and Google Play …

Simulated Diabetes Testing Experiment Using Artificially Manipulated Livestock Blood, Hollie E. Ables

Honors Theses

Due to the prevalence of diabetes and lack of simple endocrine experiments, a laboratory protocol was developed in order to increase student knowledge of the disease and the diabetic testing process. In this paper, we present the protocol for manipulating the glucose concentration of commercially available bovine blood. The bovine blood was manipulated using Ringer's solution to which glucose was added, and six samples were prepared (pre-prandial and postprandial, normal; pre-prandial and postprandial, pre-diabetic; pre-prandial and postprandial, diabetic). This laboratory exercise provides a physical, hands-on student activity that highlights pancreatic endocrinology and the results of pancreatic malfunction. The laboratory exercise …

Analysis Of Body Type Preferences Among Young Adults, Khyati Maheshkumar Ganatra

Honors Theses

Based on a study conducted by Devendra Singh in 1993, it is believed that males prefer females with a lower waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7, as compared to higher ones. This may be due to the evolutionary advantage of these females being more fertile and able to reproduce. However, social media has been suggesting that thinner females are more attractive. One way society measures thinness is by a characteristic known as the 'thigh-gap' that many females strive to obtain. This study was conducted to discover whether or not a difference exists between males and females regarding their preference of the thigh-gap …

The Effects Of Prenatal Education And Hospital Intervention On Breastfeeding Initiation, Lauren Camp

Honors Theses

Breastfeeding is considered an important health practice for mothers and babies. However, Mississippi has the lowest breastfeeding rate of any state in the nation. Because of the numerous potential benefits of breastfeeding, the overall health of Mississippians could benefit from improved breastfeeding outcomes. Using 2010 data retrieved by the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey, which is administered through the Mississippi State Department of Health (MDH) in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this study explores the factors that influence the breastfeeding decisions of mothers in Mississippi. In the PRAMS survey, women were asked whether …

The Effects Of Population Disbursement, Percentage Of Medicare Beneficiaries, And Per Capita Income On Medicare Fee Schedule Prices, Ann Marie Mercier

Honors Theses

The thesis is an overview of the existing pay disparity in the fee-for-service billing amounts for professional medical services provided by physicians to Medicare patients in the United States. Will improvements in the per capita income, percentage of Medicare participants, or change in the population disbursement result in higher Medicare fee-for-service billing amounts for healthcare providers? Mississippi has one of the fewest primary care physicians per capita rates than any other state. One reason may be the Medicare fee-for-service prices paid to physicians. This paper will show Mississippi Medicare fee-for-service fee schedule prices for a sample of HCPCS codes compared …

Can We Institute Medical Trust? An Exploratory Case Study Of Patient-Staff Relations At A Community Health Center In The Mississippi Delta, Emma L. Willoughby

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to use the concept of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model and the case of the community health center (CHC) to explore social interaction and trust between patients and medical providers. While the PCMH model is being championed as revolutionizing and improving healthcare delivery, little evidence has yet to support the formation of basic social and health mechanisms, such as trust, that would result in positive health outcomes. The model's guidelines focus more on healthcare organization and information technology than developing interpersonal relationships and adapting services to meet the specific needs of diverse populations. …

Energy Drinks And Caffeine: The Science Behind The Billion- Dollar Industry, Eric Villarreal

Honors Theses

Ask any college student how he or she gets through long study sessions, all-nighters, and the always grueling finals week and he or she will most likely reference some caffeine-containing beverage as the antidote, with energy drinks becoming an ever increasing option. The effects, both physiological and psychological, of the ingredients in energy drinks (caffeine and, to a lesser degree, glucose) dictate their usefulness to consumers. A review of the available research literature from http://scholar.google.com using the following keywords: caffeine, energy drink, Red Bull, caffeinated beverage, caffeine drink, energy drink industry, energy drink company, and glucose yielded the references that …

Octocoral Physiology: Calcium Carbonate Composition And The Effect Of Thermal Stress On Enzyme Activity, Hadley Pearson

Honors Theses

Octocorals are a diverse group of organisms, and within the Caribbean they contribute substantially to coral-reef cover. In this thesis, two different studies performed on these marine organisms are detailed. In Section I, the percent calcium carbonate composition of several species was analyzed. Octocorals produce sclerites: calcium carbonate crystals that serve as the skeletal elements of the coral. Determining the percent calcium carbonate composition of eight Caribbean octocoral species can give comparative insight into the form and function in these animals. This study also offers clues about potential evolutionary tradeoffs between rigidity and flexibility, as well as establishes some basic …

Ethnic Variation In Breastfeeding And Complementary Feeding In The Republic Of Ireland, Patricia Castro, Richard Layte, John Kearney

Articles

Early nutrition plays a pivotal role in long-term health. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, with the gradual introduction of solids after this period. However, studies in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) have shown poor compliance with guidelines. The ROI continues to have one of the lowest breastfeeding rates worldwide. Our objective was to analyse differences in breastfeeding and complimentary feeding behaviours between Irish and non-Irish mothers residing in the ROI, as well as the role of acculturation on these behaviours, using the national longitudinal study, Growing Up in Ireland (GUI). …