Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of The Microbial Community, Acidity And Proximate Composition Of Akamu, A Fermented Maize Food, Patience C. Obinna-Echem, Victor Kuri, Jane Beal

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Uptake Epithelia Behave In A Cell-Centric And Not Systems Homeostatic Manner In Response To Zinc Depletion And Supplementation, D Zheng, Gp Feeney, Rd Handy, C Hogstrand, P Kille

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Serviceberry In The Garden, Kristan Crouch, Tiffany Maughan, Brent Black

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes serviceberry and includes varieties, how to grow, diseases, and uses.

Grazing Management Practices Among West Virginia Beef Producers, Marcus T. Mccartney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The importance of sustainability has been recognized around the globe due to significant concerns about the unintended social, environmental, and economic effects of rapid population growth, economic growth and natural resource consumption and since has been implemented into government policies. Agriculture can significantly affect sustainability. It is vital to understand the current practices of farmers to promote best practices where needed and to continue to support and encourage best practices being utilized.;The purpose of this study was to determine the current grazing management practices among West Virginia beef producers. A descriptive research design using a mailed questionnaire was used to …

The Use Of Hand Bacteria As A Human Biometric Identifier, Amanda Holbert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Molecular and bio-molecular biometrics are an advancing field that involves the analysis of a person's unique biological markers at a molecular level to ascertain identity. Bacteria communities found on the skin of the human hand have shown to be highly diverse and to have a low percentage of similarity between individuals. The goal of this research effort is to see if a person's demographics, primarily ethnicity, share a relationship with the bacteria communities that exist on their hand. A sample collection was carried out in which the left and right inner palms of 250 individuals were swabbed to obtain a …

Aquaponic Production Of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) Using Effluent From A Cold Water Flow-Through Aquaculture System, Gaylynn Elise Johnson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Aquaponics is the integration of aquaculture (the rearing of fish) and hydroponics (the conventional method of soilless farming). Effluent produced from the production of fish can be utilized as a source of nutrients by plants for growth in a hydroponic subsystem. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an economically important vegetable crop that can be grown aquaponically. However, the suitability of lettuce for production in cold water flow-through systems (FTSs) is poorly described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth, market rating, and nutrient uptake of lettuce grown in a cold water FTS. Three objectives were established to examine …

Grain Finishing Beef: Alternative Rations, Cattle Performance And Feeding Costs For Small Feeders, Dillon M. Feuz, Jesse Russell

All Current Publications

In a feeding trial at Utah State University during the summer of 2013, it was found that cattle had higher ADG when fed SFC compared to whole corn. However, when the relative cost of SFC and whole corn were considered, feeding whole corn compared to SFC resulted in nearly identical feed costs per pound of gain. Actual and relative costs of SFC and whole corn can and do vary over time and across geographic regions. Therefore, feeders could use the information in this fact sheet to determine which feed will be the most economical for them.

Interprofessional Education On Oral Care For Cancer Patients In Dental Hygiene And Nursing, Shaun Christenson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: Interprofessional education (IPE) provides academic experiences for students to learn about different professions, their roles, and improving attitudes toward communications between professions with the intent of improving patient overall healthcare. This study evaluated the impact of IPE and knowledge the students gained on oral healthcare for cancer patients.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a convenient sample of nursing and dental hygiene students. Participants were given a pre and post survey to collect quantitative data that included a Readiness for Interprofessional Survey (RIPLS) and a PI-designed multiple-choice survey to determine students’ attitudes and learning. A module of IPE and oral …

Students' Perspectives Of Ngo Service-Learning Experiences: A Case Study Of Operation Smile, Suzanne B. Unger, Shana Pribesh, Linda Bol, Daniel Dickerson

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Past research demonstrated both strong and questionable benefits to students participating in domestic service-learning. However, we know little about high school and college students' perspectives of service-learning while working with nonprofit, non-governmental (NGO) agencies that serve international populations. This qualitative, exploratory study aims to determine how students perceive their lives are impacted as a result of their service-learning experiences at Operation Smile. Data were collected from two focus groups comprised of high school and university youth. Results indicated service-learning in an international setting positively influences areas of personal growth, career choice, and future philanthropic participation. It also affects level of …

The Long-Term Impact Of Educational And Health Spending On Unemployment Rates, Zafer Pirim, William A. Owings, Leslie S. Kaplan

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This study used panel data regression analysis to evaluate the long-term effects of several measures of U.S. education expenditure on unemployment rates in 50 states and Washington D.C. over 25 years. The data included state-level statistics for fiscal effort, graduation rates, education spending per pupil, gross state product per capita, welfare spending, health spending, political party affiliation, union versus nonunion states, and unemployment rates. Results find that the best way to effectively reduce unemployment is investment in improving the quality of human capital through funding education. Findings specifically conclude that over the long term, investment in human capital through education …

Community-Based Interventions For The Prevention And Control Of Helmintic Neglected Tropical Diseases, Rehana A. Salam, Hasina Maredia, Jai K. Das, Zohra S. Lassi, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

In this paper, we aim to systematically analyze the effectiveness of community-based interventions (CBIs) for the prevention and control of helminthiasis including soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) (ascariasis, hookworms, and trichuriasis), lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, dracunculiasis, and schistosomiasis. We systematically reviewed literature published before May 2013 and included 32 studies in this review. Findings from the meta-analysis suggest that CBIs are effective in reducing the prevalence of STH (RR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.54), schistosomiasis (RR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.50), and STH intensity (SMD: -3.16, 95 CI: -4.28, -2.04). They are also effective in improving mean hemoglobin (SMD: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.20, …

Message Matters: Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior To Increase Household Hazardous Waste Program Participation, Amy Dyer Cabaniss

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Removing household hazardous waste (HHW) from the municipal solid waste stream is important to protect health, safety and the environment. Communities across the U.S. separate HHW from regular trash for disposal with hazardous waste, however nationally, participation rates are low with only five to ten percent of households estimated to participate in any given collection. This two-part study used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to understand individuals’ beliefs and attitudes toward HHW collections, and to develop a print message intervention to increase participation. In Study 1, respondents (N = 983) completed a survey administered to homeowners in the Connecticut …

Feasibility And Perceived Efficacy Of The Neurosequential Model Of Therapeutics, Catherine F. Caplis

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Child abuse and neglect can have serious negative physiological and psychological effects on the developing brain. Children who suffer from early and ongoing abuse and neglect often develop further problems as they mature, even if they are subsequently in safe environments. Many trauma-based therapies have been created in order to help these children develop increased emotional and social regulation, and decrease their behavioral problems. The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) is a newer approach to working with traumatized children that has garnered great enthusiasm despite very limited outcome data. In this dissertation, I explore the promise of NMT and describe …

Anorexia Nervosa: Benefits Of Recovery-Oriented Websites, Sarah L. Hersey

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a mental illness with serious physical, psychological, interpersonal, social, and economic consequences. AN is difficult to treat, with affected individuals experiencing symptoms after treatment completion. Recovery-oriented AN discussion boards are online forums on which individuals with AN can communicate with the goal of promoting their recovery. Using inclusion criteria, the author selected Mirasol, Something Fishy, Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), and PsychForums. The research questions asked were: (a) What are the themes of recovery-oriented AN Internet discussion boards? (b) What types of support can be found on the boards? (c) How frequently are potentially 'triggering' …

The Impact Of Need For Uniqueness, Loyalty Proneness, And Identification On The Likelihood Of Brand Extension Purchases, Stephen Ross, Patrick Walsh, Megan B. Shreffler

Global Sport Business Journal

As sport organizations seek new ways to generate revenue and interact with their fans, brand extensions will continue to be a popular strategy to do so. While research has examined how consumers evaluate brand extensions in sport, little is known as to what impacts a consumer’s decision to purchase team related extensions. This study examined the impact on potential brand extension purchase of three factors suggested to influence consumer purchase behavior (need for uniqueness, loyalty proneness and identification). Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used to collect 509 useable surveys though a paper-based instrument. The results of the study suggest that of …

Utah Vegetable Production And Pest Management Guide 2014, Utah State University Extension

All Current Publications

No abstract provided.

The Identity Of The Heart Patient In The Context Of The Gift Economy: Heartnet And Media Framing, Lynsey Uridge

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This health communication research examines the identity levels of the heart patient on a therapeutic website HeartNET through an empirical investigation of site interactions as manifestations of a gift economy. The thesis also explores the media’s representation of heart health in both television and print.

This research utilised a longitudinal qualitative ethnographic and netnographic approach involving twenty-six participants who completed two in-depth interviews. The first one-on-one interview occurred during the early stages of the participants’ heart journey, explored their heart story and use of interactive technology for heart health support. The second interview occurred six to twelve months later, and …

Identification Of Plasma Lipid Biomarkers In Alzheimer's Disease, Rhona Creegan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the commonest form of dementia, is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease which manifests clinically as a slow global decline in cognitive function, including deterioration of memory, reasoning, abstraction, language and emotional stability, culminating in a patient with end-stage disease, totally dependent on custodial care. With an ageing population, there is predicted to be a marked increase in the number of people diagnosed with AD in the coming decades, making this a significant challenge to socio-economic policy and aged care. Currently there is no cure for AD and while current therapies may temporarily ameliorate symptoms, death usually occurs …

Lays: Halal/Haram Crisis, Jami Moiz, Nida Aslam Khan

Business Review

The following case revolves around Frito Lays which is a highly popular Snack-food Company in various Muslim nations. One of Frito Lays biggest brands, Lays Potato Chips, is a major competitor in the Pakistani Snack foods market. However in 2009, Lays faced a major controversy when it was targeted with a campaign saying that an ingredient found in the manufacturing is Haram (prohibited for Muslims).This claim proved to be disastrous from Lays as it meant a loss in the consumer base as well as a dent onto the Brand's image amongst its wide base of Muslim consumers. The case further …

Food Deserts And Migrant Farmworkers: Assessing Food Access In Oregon's Willamette Valley, Katie Grauel, Kimberlee J. Chambers

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Food insecurity, often correlated with “food deserts,” affects migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW) at greater rates than other populations. Our research evaluates the food desert experiences of MSFW communities in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Through GIS mapping, interviews with MSFW, and food retailer inventories, our research helps elucidate the degree to which the geographical distribution of food retailers and the products they carry affects MSFW. Access to food retailers was assessed for distances of 0.25, 1.5, 5, and 10 miles. Mapping locations of registered MSFW labor camps (n = 62) and food retailers (n = 215) in the Willamette Valley revealed …

An Assessment Of Mayor Bloomberg's Public Health Legacy, Rodger D. Citron

Scholarly Works

This article contains Rodger D. Citron's interview with Lawrence O. Gostin, Professor of Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center and the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Public Health Law and Human Rights, regarding Gostin's article for the Hasting Center Report addressing former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s public health legacy.

Factors That Are Associated With Readiness To Transition From Pediatric To Adult Health Care In Cystic Fibrosis, Lindsay A. Corman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Life expectancy of patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) has been increasing, with most children with CF expected to live at least into middle age adult years. Consequently, the majority of patients with CF will have to transition from a pediatric to an adult clinic. Unfortunately, few transition programs exist that attend to the physical, developmental, and psychological factors of adolescents with CF who need to transfer to adult clinics. Moreover, to date, there is a dearth of quantitative research that has been conducted to assess factors that may influence readiness to transition. The purpose of this study is to examine …

The Development Of An Insect Succession Model Suitable For Time-Since-Death Statistics, Anne E. Perez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For academic carrion insect succession studies to be applicable to forensic casework, the study must provide statistically defensible postmortem interval (PMI) estimates. Multiple statistical approaches have been used to describe insect succession, but no study to date has been able to determine a confidence interval about a succession based PMI estimate. The ability to reject PMI values, and thereby create a confidence interval is determined by statistical power, of which sample size is a positive correlate. A proposed model established prospective sample sizes for desired levels of statistical power, indicating a target sample size of ~50 carcasses for estimating PMI …

The Role Of Self-Efficacy In Predicting Treatment Adherence In Youth With Cystic Fibrosis, Margo M. Szabo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) demonstrate relatively poor treatment adherence in comparison to other age groups, which can lead to adverse health outcomes. Though previous research has examined various factors associated with treatment adherence in pediatric CF samples, no studies to date have explored the interrelations among self-efficacy, parental style, level of responsibility for CF care, and treatment adherence in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the role of self-efficacy, parental style, and level of responsibility for CF care in predicting treatment adherence in adolescents with CF. A sample of 59 adolescents with CF (M …

Ion Current Rectification In Nanomicro-Fluidic Interfaces And Pulsed Glow Discharge Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometric Chemical Speciation, Han Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microfluidics continues to be of interest for analyzing chemical and biological samples because of the disposability, portability, low sample consumption, fast analysis time, and parallel analysis potential for multiple samples in a single device. To improve microfluidic device functionality, integrated systems-nanofluidic/microfluidic interfaces (NMIs) have been fabricated for concentrating samples and performing as molecular gates. Ion current rectification has been confirmed in NMI with an asymmetric system. In chapter 2, the asymmetry of the NMI is systematically altered by varying the inner diameter of the nanocapillary membrane (NCM) reservoir, and the current rectification factor is observed to increase as the inner …

Socio-Demographic And Behavioral Factors Associated With Hiv Testing And Hiv Seropositivity Among Women And Children In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Population-Based Multilevel Analysis, Zelalem T. Haile

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS is one of the leading causes of mortality that disproportionately affects women and children. In this sub-region, 57% of those living with HIV are women and is home for 90% of children under the age of 15 that are living with HIV. This study examined socio-demographic and behavioral factors associated with HIV testing and HIV seropositivity among women and children using nationally representative data.;Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional study design using data from Demographic and Health Survey and AIDS Indicator Survey, conducted between the years 2006 and 2012 from 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. …

Assessment Of West Virginia Public Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge, Attitudes And Behaviors Regarding Of The Oral Implications Of Hpv Following An Educational Presentation, Renee Cooper-Frantz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, was firmly linked to a new subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC's) in late 2007. With growing rates of West Virginians affected by HPV-related oral cancers it becomes pertinent to verify that public healthcare professionals of all disciplines are aware of this causal relationship and educating their patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge level, attitudes and behaviors of a convenience sample of West Virginia's public healthcare professionals regarding the oral implications of HPV before and after and educational presentation. A pre- …

Health-Promoting Behaviors And Well Being Among Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Valerie K. Blake

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of adherence to nutrition guidelines and engaging in regular physical activity on the physical and psychological dimensions of well-being in a sample of middle-aged and older adults. All available sociodemographic indicators were also analyzed in order to investigate potential interactions. A structural equation model was constructed utilizing data from 348 middle-aged and older adults who completed the Health Behavior and Knowledge Survey. Results indicated the model was a good fit to the data, accounting for 40.4% of the variance in physical well-being and 26.3% of variance in psychological well-being. …

Measuring Capability For Healthy Diet And Physical Activity, Robert L. Ferrer, Inez Cruz, Sandra Burge, Bryan Bayles, Martha Castilla

Public Health (Archived)

PURPOSE Patterns of diet and physical activity, major drivers of morbidity and mortality, are contingent on people’s feasible opportunities to pursue healthy behaviors. Our objective for this mixed methods study was to develop measures of feasible opportunities for diet and activity.

METHODS The Capability Approach framework for evaluating people’s real freedoms to pursue their values guided the research. A community-based participatory model was applied to conduct focus groups of adults with obesity or diabetes mellitus from an economically disadvantaged Latino community. Focus group themes were developed into survey items that assess how individual circumstances and neighborhood contexts influence opportunities for …

An Electronic Delphi Study To Establish Pediatric Intensive Care Nursing Research Priorities In Twenty European Countries*, Lyvonne N. Tume, Den Hoogen A Van, Joke M. Wielenga, Jos M. Latour

School of Nursing and Midwifery

No abstract provided.