Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Association Between Depression And Obesity Among Alzheimer's Patients, Stephanie Clugstone

Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurological disorder that affects elderly individuals, and is becoming an increasing concern among the aging population of the world. Due to the projected increase in incidence of AD, modifiable risk factors such as depression and obesity should be evaluated, as prevention is the only current option. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and depression among AD patients, and to evaluate the association between depression and obesity. Patients were chosen from a subset of the South Carolina Alzheimer’s disease registry, which included information about weight status and depression, as well as several other …

Diversity, Genetics, And Health Benefits Of Sorghum Grain, Davina Rhodes

Theses and Dissertations

Staple cereal crops provide the majority of nutrients to the world's population, and thus, can significantly impact human nutrition and health. Phenotypic and genetic diversity within a crop can be useful for biofortification and crop improvement, but quantitative phenotyping is needed to identify varieties with high or low concentrations of a nutrient of interest, and to identify alleles responsible for quantitative trait variation of the nutrient. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a diverse and widely adapted cereal crop that provides food for more than 500 million people in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, and is becoming increasingly popular in specialty …

Weight-Gain And Energy Balance, Benjamin Thomas Gordon

Theses and Dissertations

Energy balance is the result of a dynamic relationship between energy intake (EI), energy expenditure (EE) and energy storage (ES). These three components of energy balance have extremely complicated associations, and all three major components are consistently influenced by physiologic, psychological, and sociologic factors. Concerted changes between EE and EI result in alterations of the ES. Most often in clinical and research settings, bodyweight is used as marker of body composition (i.e., ES) changes. Traditional measurements of bodyweight do not give an accurate portrayal of ES change or the role it has in energy balance. This dissertation supplies new methods …

Portland Spectrum, December 2014, Portland State University. Student Publications Board

Portland Spectrum

Editor: Corinne Hutfilz

Articles in this issue include: GMO: An Informed Right to Know; Aetna: Is it Worth it?; Torrenting on Campus; Food Insecurity Across College Campuses; Raise the Umbrella: Protests in Hong Kong Continued; A Point of View..... Arrival at Tangier (A Snapshot in Time; Meeting a Writer); and ISIS: A History of Terror;

Characterizing The Fitness Landscapes Of Gut Symbionts In Defined Community And Diet Contexts, Meng Wu

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

A species' niche is the description of all the environmental conditions required to permit a population of that species to persist, including the effects of the population on those conditions. This definition includes the species' resource requirements, as well as stress tolerances and interactions with other species acting as competitors, predators, parasites, and mutualists. The human gut microbiota serves as a microbial `metabolic organ' tasked in part with the biotransformation of many components of our diet. Relatively little is known about the factors that allow members of the human gut microbiota to persist in a habitat that experiences marked changes …

Early Screening And Identification Of Preschool Children Affected By Serious Emotional Disorders, Cathy Renee Robey-Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Mental illness has surpassed physical health problems as the leading cause for morbidity and mortality in American children. National prevalence of serious emotional disorders in the 0-5 age group has ranged from 9.5% to 14.2%. Of the 15 million children affected by mental illness, less than 20- 25% receive any treatment. Nationwide, early screening, identification, and treatment of preschoolers with emotional or behavioral disorders have become a critical priority in order to reduce the increasing burden of healthcare costs for mental illness and psychiatric care. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of a screening process for …

Analysis Of Heart Rate Variability Amongst Cyclists Under Perceived Variations Of Risk Exposure, Ronan Doorley, Vikram Pakrashi, Eoin Byrne, Samuel Comerford, Bidisha Ghosh, John A. Groeger

NIMBUS Articles

Cycling as a mode of travel provides an opportunity for many people to increase their levels of regular physical activity and contribute to their mental and physical health. Heart rate is often used as a means of measuring the intensity and energy expenditure of physical activity. However, heart rate is also linked to emotional factors such as anxiety and fear. Perceptions of risk due to external factors such as other road users and infrastructure may arouse such emotions in urban cyclists. The present study set out to investigate whether or not perceptions of risk among urban cyclists may lead to …

How The Esa Can Swallow Alaskan Tribal Sovereignty: The Story Of The Iliamna Lake Seals, Charisse Arce

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Habitat And Harvest: The Modern Scope Of Tribal Treaty Rights To Hunt And Fish, Whitney Angell Leonard

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Gestational Weight Gain, Pregnancy Outcomes, And Use Of Perinatal Health Services, Lujing Zhan

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three studies that were undertaken to better understand 1) the role of gestational weight gain (GWG) during early pregnancy on subsequent blood pressure changes and the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), 2) the causal effect of GWG in both early and mid-late pregnancy on the subtypes of preterm births, and 3) the impact of personal capital on the use of perinatal health services (i.e., prenatal care use and preconception care counseling). The first two studies were based on the data from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey and the third study employed the data …

Essays On Battle Clusters In Internal Armed Conflicts And Insurgencies: Concept, Causes And Consequences, Chifeng Liu

Theses and Dissertations

With the purpose to re-conceptualize the intensity of internal armed conflicts, I argue that the characteristics such as location, scale and duration of “major battlefields,” i.e. the spatio-temporal clusters of combat events are important in the evaluation of impact of modern civil wars and insurgencies. I start with elaborating and constructing a new concept of conflict magnitude with battle clusters using up-to-date geo-referenced data and spatial statistic methods. In the second article, I first explain the location and duration of major battlefields. The findings indicate that an area with multiple non-state armed groups (NSAGs) is more likely to become main …

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms In Dna Repair And Oxidative Stress Genes, And Their Interaction With Antioxidants On Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness, Samuel Antwi

Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer is the leading invasive malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer death among American men. Despite compelling evidence that oxidative stress, ineffective DNA damage repair, and habitually low antioxidants intake may act in tandem to influence prostate carcinogenesis, few studies have examined gene-diet interactions involving these risk factors. Even fewer studies have examined such interactions in relation to prostate cancer aggressiveness. This study investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA repair- and oxidative stress-related genes modulated associations between antioxidant intake and prostate cancer aggressiveness. We utilized data from the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP) …

Metabolic Engineering Of Cyanobacteria For Photosynthetic Production Of Drop-In Liquid Fuels, Bertram Michael Berla

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cyanobacteria are oxygenic phototrophs with great potential as hosts for renewable fuel and chemical production. They grow very quickly (compared with plants) and can use sunlight for energy and CO2 as a carbon source (unlike yeast or E. coli). While cyanobacteria have been engineered to make many chemicals that are native and non-native parts of their metabolism, this work is concerned with the production of heptadecane in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Heptadecane is in a class of natural products produced by all cyanobacteria, but in quantities insufficient for industrialization. Towards this future goal, we have built enabling systems for the …

Infant Mortality: Cross Section Study Of The United State, With Emphasis On Education, Daniel C. Sheets-Poling

Student Research – Stevenson Center

On the surface infant mortality is usually thought of as just a unfortunate part of life in what can happen to an individual family, but infant mortality is part of the factors that affect social capital, which can lead back to overall trust in a community. When that trust starts to wither within a community, economic activity will be affected as community members will not behave as they usually do within their given economic boundaries. While social capital is not solely affected by infant mortality, it does show what type of health status an area has. As a community, state, …

Effect Of A Workplace Walking Initiative To Decrease Telehealth Nurses' Fatigue, Rae Ann Heissenbuttel

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

Abstract

Background: Fatigue has been a common problem in the nursing profession. To date, most of the research regarding nurse fatigue has focused on nurses working in hospitals. Minimal research has been completed examining fatigue among nurses working in the telehealth environment and the effects of an evidence-based workplace initiative to decrease fatigue.

Aim: The aim of this translational project was to describe the overall self-reported health and fatigue for a group of telehealth nurses and to evaluate the effectiveness of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) walking program in improving overall health status and decreasing fatigue in telehealth …

Nitrogen Isotopes In The Measurement Of N2-Fixation And The Estimation Of Denitrification In The Global Ocean, Richard Dabundo

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

A Study Into The Diagnosis Of Obesity In Infants Less Than Two Years Old In The State Of Virginia, Lindsay Ann Bruno

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

In 2007, the CDC reported approximately 12.5 million children and adolescents in the U.S. were obese. Among 24-month old clinically obese children, only 23% were diagnosed as obese. The most concerning is the prevalence of obesity in 6-month olds; 16% of 6-month old infants in the U.S. are obese, of which only 14% are diagnosed as being obese. Previous research concentrates on the factors that influence infant obesity, but does not address the prevalence of diagnosing obesity in children, particularly those under two years of age. The purpose of this project was to pioneer a survey exploring the prevalence of …

Commencement Convocation Program, Usf, Graduate, December 13, 2014, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters - Gilbert A. King

Effect Of Savings And Credit Co-Operative Societies Lending Policies And Risk-Taking Propensity On Micro And Small Enterprises Performance In Tanzania, Mbowe R. Kabung'a, Muhsin Salim Masoud

Business Management Review

This study investigated the Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOS) lending policies, risk-taking propensity and the performance of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), which are SACCOS loan beneficiaries in Tanzania. Questionnaires with closed-ended questions were used in a survey of 547 respondents to capture the required information. The study employed the quantitative research approach, using Analysis of Moments Structures to test the existing relationships among the variables. Findings from the study established the existence of a moderating effect of risk-taking propensity between SACCOS lending policies and MSEs ' performance. On the basis of the study findings, it is recommended that …

Owner Managers ' Perception Of The Impact Of Regulations On The Competitiveness Of Food Processors In Tanzania, Goodluck Charles, David Rwehikiza

Business Management Review

This paper assesses the owner managers ' perception of the impact of regulations on competitiveness of food processors in Tanzania. Specifically, the paper examines the perceived relevance of existing regulations in the food processing sector, the level of enterprises ' satisfaction with the regulatory authorities in the sector and the extent to which competitiveness of food processors is affected by regulations. Based on review of the legislations directed to the food processing sector and the results of a survey of 115 firms, the findings reveal that even though most enterprises appreciate the value of regulating the food sector, they are …

Antecedents And Consequences Of Business Trust In Retailing And Wholesaling In Tanzania, John Philemon, Lucy M. Mboma

Business Management Review

The objective of the study was to explore antecedents and consequences of trust between suppliers and retailers in Tanzania. Cases were studied in detail to understand suppliers and retailers relationships. The study shows various sources of trust in retailing and wholesaling to include: paying promptly, paying as agreed, having a guarantor (prominent business person, a politician, ward office, clergy, a known customer), group protection, growing business, long-term buyer from the same supplier, regular customer, and background (knowing parents, brother, sister, schoolmates or, college or friends. There was also an indication of trust by virtue of race or ethnicity or sharing …

Refugee Resettlement And Family Reunification In Canada, Yohannes Kenningd Woonssi Sawassi Ys Sawassi

Master's Theses

This thesis addresses the plight of Sub-Saharan Africans who are now Canadians and are trying to settle in a new country in order to reunite with their family members. However, rather than assisting with process of resettlement, current Canadian policy has the opposite effect. It appears to create a route by which people can sponsor their loved ones, but in reality the nature of the process is arduous and filled with time delays, regulatory and processing issues and other kinds of difficulties. Consequently, what therefore appears as a hopeful situation ends up creating despair. This situation is particularly hard for …

Development And Optimization Of A Rapid Assay Kit For The Detection Of Vibrio Cholerae In Bivalves, Demarcus Rashad Carter

Theses and Dissertations

A rapid assay kit for Vibrio cholerae (Vc) was developed to detect and quantify Vc cells in oyster samples within 24 h. The kit, formulated within a two -phase (liquid and solid) 96-well plate, can detect biomarker expression of Vc when the enrichment broth and incubation temperature are optimized. The kit showed 91 % selectivity and 92 % specificity when tested with 23 inclusive Vc and 106 exclusive non-Vc strains. The kit was further optimized using 47 samples of oysters, clams, and soil. There was no significant difference in most probable number between the kit, conventional PCR and BAX PCR …

Comparison: Perception And Knowledge Of Protein Consumption In Female Athletes For Post Weight Lifting Recovery, Samantha Jane Lofton

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

A study was conducted on James Madison University’s campus to assess the knowledge, beliefs, perceptions and habits of protein consumption post resistance training in female student athletes. Sixty-two female athletes who regularly partake in resistance training filled out a recovery-cue questionnaire containing 10 statements/questions on the subject of protein consumption. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS, Version 21.0 and Microsoft Office Excel. Eight percent of respondents stated they are aware of how much protein they should be consuming post workout, and 21% feel what they consume post workout is an adequate amount of protein for muscle recovery. Forty-six percent …

Characterization Of Sediment Microbial Communities And Analysis Of Biogeochemical Responses To Eutrophication In Southeastern Estuaries, Gary Alon Blakeney

Theses and Dissertations

Estuaries are valuable economic resources to humans. However, changes in these ecosystems, such as alteration in nutrient availability, can impose eutrophic pressures. Traditionally, estuaries have been monitored through chemical analyses that measure factors such as sediment oxygen demand (SOD) and reduced forms of Fe(II), Mn(II), and H2S. These methods are time consuming and have been proven to be unreliable. This study was conducted to determine if using T-RFLP analysis could be used as a proxy for some of the current methods used to monitor eutrophication. Using SPSS to perform a principle component analysis, it was determined that connections can be …

Efficacy Of An Experiential, In-School Educational Program For Improving Elementary School Students' Attitudes And Knowledge About The Environment, Leslie M. Burger

Theses and Dissertations

Stagnant science achievement by students, greater demands and stresses on natural resources and environmental systems, and societal disengagement from nature highlight the need for education programs to ameliorate subsequent consequences. One attempt to address science performance and environmental apathy is Youth Environmental Science (YES), an environmental education program initiated in 2011 in a rural, minority-dominated, upper elementary school in Mississippi. The program provides five consecutive days (30 hours) of experiential learning in natural sciences. During 2011-2013, I studied cognitive and affective responses of fourth and fifth grade students to YES participation using a pretest-posttest-delayed posttest design. The influence of demographic …

Ecosystem Services Of Moist-Soil Wetlands: Water Quality Benefits And Crayfish Harvest, Economics And Consumer Acceptance, Amy Brooke Alford

Theses and Dissertations

I estimated yield, population metrics, production costs, and evaluated consumer acceptability and nutritive content of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii, P. zonangulus) harvested from moist-soil wetlands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) during springs 2009-2011. I also compared nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads exported from moist-soil wetlands and nearest agriculture fields in the MAV during winters 2010-2012. Daily yield of crayfish from moist-soil wetlands was 2.4 kg (wet) ha-1 (SE = 0.50; 95% CI = 1.3-3.4). When graded by size, yield of large crayfish (> 30 g) from wetlands dominated by P. clarkii was four times greater (P < 0.05) than yield of large crayfish from wetlands dominated by P. zonangulus. Crayfish harvesting costs (2013 US dollars [$]) ranged from $405.69 ha-1 to $917.88 ha-1 and breakeven selling prices ranged from $3.74 kg-1 to $8.49 kg-1. Consumer acceptability, proximate composition, and total fatty acid content of P. clarkii did not differ (0.73 > P > 0.11) …

Evaluation Of Effectiveness, Reproducibility, And Repeatability Of Using Dentition For Estimating Cattle Age, Timothy F. Best

Theses and Dissertations

Study objectives were to determine the effectiveness, reproducibility, and repeatability of dental evaluation for estimating cattle age. Cattle (n = 400) aged 1.5 to 20 yr were evaluated by 3 technicians for estimated age via dentition. A subset (n = 383) was aged again 4 wk later by the same observers. Age estimations were most accurate in YOUNG (< 5 yr old) cattle with at least 95.7% rate of accuracy within 2 yr across all observers and observation events. For MIDDLE (6 to 10 yr old) and OLD (> 10 yr old) cattle, these accuracies were 81.5 and 62.1%, respectively. Reproducibility proved high, with all observers consistently assigning age estimates within 1 yr of one another for more than 9 out of 10 YOUNG animals; all observers agreed on at …

Examining Hepatic Steroid Inactivation And Luteal Function Throughout Bovine Pregnancy, Caitlin G. Hart

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to examine hepatic steroid inactivation and luteal function throughout bovine gestation. In pregnant beef cows, cytochrome P450 3A activity decreased from mid- to late-gestation, while progesterone concentrations tended to increase from mid- to late-gestation. Uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase activity per kg of body weight was increased in pregnant vs non-pregnant dairy cows. Total corpus luteum (CL) blood perfusion tended to be increased in pregnant vs non-pregnant dairy cows. Hepatic portal blood flow per kg of body weight was increased in pregnant vs non-pregnant dairy cows. Hepatic steroid inactivating enzyme activity, CL blood perfusion, and portal blood …

Investigating Knowledge And Behavior Intention Among Ghanaian Smallholder Farmers, Alyssa Marie Barrett

Theses and Dissertations

Rural farmers in developing countries lack knowledge, access to educational resources, and capacity to stay informed of and implement current farming and health practices. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of an educational program on the utilization of native plants in farming and health practices among rural farmers in Ghana. The research objectives were to describe the population, assess farmers’ knowledge of farming and health practices, describe participants’ current and planned behavior, and observe the implementation of the practices taught. Results indicated participants’ knowledge of farming and health practices increased after the workshops. Results also indicated …