Digital Commons Network^™

Inefficiency Of United States Maternity Leave Policies, Kimberly Merkley

AWE (A Woman’s Experience)

In the United States, many aspects of the workplace are incompatible with motherhood. These include lack of childcare facilities, inflexibility of workplace hours, and the large amounts of time required to attain top positions. One of the most widespread deficiencies in all industries and workplaces is maternity leave, which is neglected at both the state and federal level. Consequently, a woman is often given little or no job protection, let alone compensation or benefits, while focused on the birth and early nurturing of her child. The United States falls well behind other developed and developing countries in this area.

Proceedings Of The 2nd Annual Cuny Games Festival, Robert O. Duncan, Joe Bisz, Francesco Crocco, Carlos Hernandez, Kathleen Offenholley, Maura A. Smale, Deborah Sturm, Cuny Games Network

Publications and Research

Proceedings of the CUNY Games Conference, held from January 16-17, 2015, at the CUNY Graduate Center and Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Health Games - Language and Composition - Design: Classroom Considerations - Games in the Physical Environment - Games and Behavioral Science - Play, Politics & Economics - Gaming Curricula, Disciplines & Programs - Gaming and History - Institutional Programming with Games - Philosophy and Roleplaying - Ed. Game Design: Strategy & Tactics - Repurposing Game Genres - Narrative, Storytelling & Games - Community & Social Justice - Extemporaneity - Personal & Social Transformation - Cognition, Design & Play …

Growth Inhibitory Properties Of Lactose Fatty Acid Esters, Seung-Min Lee, Guneev Sandhu, M. K. Walsh

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Sugar esters are biodegradable, nonionic surfactants which have microbial inhibitory properties. The influence of the fatty acid chain length on the microbial inhibitory properties of lactose esters was investigated in this study. Specifically, lactose monooctanoate (LMO), lactose monodecanoate (LMD), lactose monolaurate (LML) and lactose monomyristate (LMM) were synthesized and dissolved in both dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethanol. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined in growth media. LML was the most effective ester, exhibiting MIC values of

Chemical Investigation Of Candidate Probiotics In Aquaculture And Formulation Of A Probiotic Agent For Oyster Larviculure, Christine Anh Dao

Open Access Dissertations

Aquaculture is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. The United States is a significant consumer to both fresh and marine aquaculture products. Aquaculture sales in Rhode Island have dramatically increased in the last 20 years. In Rhode Island nearly 4.3 million oysters were produced via aquaculture in 2012. Currently, hatcheries and nurseries in the United States produce large amounts of a variety of species of oysters, clams and scallops. Oysters are filter feeders and are exposed to many microbes in the hatchery. Infectious diseases from bacterial pathogens in the hatcheries can have serious impacts on production. Vibrio species are often responsible …

Predatory Behavior And Physiological Response Of Chinese Mantids To Toxic And Non-Toxic Lepidopteran Prey, Jamie L. Rafter

Open Access Dissertations

Prey have evolved a number of defenses against predation, and predators have developed means of countering these protective measures. Monarch caterpillars, Danaus plexippus, for example, feed on milkweed plants in the genus Asclepias and sequester cardenolides as an anti-predator defense. However, some predators are able to consume this otherwise unpalatable prey. The observation of a Chinese mantid, Tenodera sinensis, consuming the body tissue of a monarch caterpillar while ‘gutting’ the prey (i.e., removing the gut and associated internal organs) without any apparent ill-effects prompted this research. In a series of behavioral trials we explored how adult T. sinensis …

The Stigma Of Obesity: Examining The Relationship Between Bmi And The Treatment Of Pain In Surgery Patients, Dennis H. Sewchuk Jr.

Open Access Dissertations

There is a growing epidemic of obesity in the United States and a corresponding increase in the number of morbidly obese patients receiving healthcare. Despite the increasing focus and research on obesity over the years, the prevalence of obesity in the United States has continued to worsen. A stigma against obesity exists in the general public including among healthcare professionals. Attitudes and bias of healthcare professionals against obesity can negatively affect judgment and choices related to the enactment of care, affecting both the quality of healthcare delivered and patient outcomes. Studies have shown that stigmatization against groups of patients such …

Role Of Nuclear Factor E2 Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) In Environmental Chemical Induced Steatosis And Adipogenesis, Prajakta Shimpi

Open Access Dissertations

Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity both in the young and adult population is increasing at an alarming rate globally. Along with traditional risk factors, such as diet and sedentary life style, exposure of environmental chemicals is suspected to be a risk factor for metabolic disruption. Moreover, the ‘fetal basis of adult disease’ hypothesis implicates that early life exposure to environmental chemicals is more impactful in causing lipid homeostasis disturbances than exposure in maturity. Nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a cytoprotective transcription factor known to combat oxidative stress. The contribution of Nrf2 to other …

The Risk Of Losing National Identity In The Twenty-First Century Romania, Or National Identity From Adaptation To Self-Censorship, Andreia-Irina Suciu, Mihaela Culea

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

In the contemporary world of extremely dynamic movements in the fields of territorial state reconfiguration, economic “colonization”, globalization, Europeanization, migration of population, borrowing of cultural values and intensified cultural exchange or transfer, defining national identity has become a process which registers numerous changes and encounters various challenges. The classical features that assisted this process of defining national identity in the past – a historic territory, common myths, historical memories and values, a common public culture, common legal rights and duties, a common economy with territorial mobility (A. D. Smith 1991: 14) – undergo significant transformations each decade and the definition …

Domestic Violence Against Women In Bangladesh: A Review Of The Literature And The Gaps To Fill-In By Future Interventions, Anisur Rahman Khan

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Although Bangladesh maintains inadequate records of the various forms of violence against women, it is clear that domestic violence against women is the most insidious problem for women in Bangladesh. For many Bangladeshi women, home is a place of pain and humiliation and violence is an integral part of everyday life. Domestic violence against women, perpetrated by their husbands, is a multi-faceted problem in Bangladesh. The efforts of the scholars to empirically investigate the problem are inadequate and a lot of issues are yet to be explored. This review is an attempt to present the findings of the major empirical …

Report Of The Special Rapporteur On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples On The Situation Of Indigenous Peoples In The Republic Of The Congo, S. James Anaya

Publications

No abstract provided.

Food Policy And Cognitive Bias, Paul F. Campos

Publications

No abstract provided.

The Risks We Are Willing To Eat: Food Imports And Safety, Alexia Brunet Marks

Publications

Recent efforts to regulate the safety of U.S. food imports have not kept up with the complexity of global trade and the risks that accompany globalization. Congress drafted the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 ("FSMA") in response to heightened food safety risks, surging imports, and an outdated food import safety system. While the FSMA provides the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") additional authority to regulate food facilities, establish standards for safe produce, recall contaminated foods, and oversee imported foods, vulnerabilities still exist.

This article exposes problems with the old system of food import rules and significant challenges facing the …

Effects Of Academic And Activity Class Participation On Cognition In Young Adults, Emily N. Simpson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Sushi And Sashimi: The Contaminated Bacteria And Helminthes, The Guidelines, Prasert Saichua, Amonrat Jumnainsong

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

Sushi and sashimi are the fashionable dishes in Thailand over the last decade. The consumers believe that marine fish and other ingredients are the low calorie food and have various dietaries such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins and vitamins. However, several countries reported that the health risks of consuming sushi and sashimi are bacteria and helminthes infection. The contamination of these pathogens has been reported from many areas. In this paper, the illness from contaminated sushi and sashimi are reviewed. Additionally, the guidelines to control the quality in each step of sushi and sashimi preparing are noted. This paper …

Determining The Effects Of Cd151 And Β1 On Tumor Cell Adhesion And Migration, Rachel R. Essex

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Previous studies have shown that the upregulation of CD151 and β₁ is associated with poor prognosis in many cancers such as breast cancer. Studies have provided evidence that these proteins are associated with the adhesion and migration of tumor cells. In this study, a microfluidic flow chamber was utilized to determine how CD151 and β₁ affected the firm and initial adhesion of metastatic breast cancer cells to a planar endothelial monolayer under shear stress. This system mimicked the adhesion of metastatic breast cancer cells to the endothelial cells of the circulatory system. CD151 and β₁ increased the …

Can Consumers Perceive A Difference In Quality When Comparing Whole-Grain Gluten-Free Baked Goods To Refined Gluten-Free Baked Goods At Varying Flour Levels, Jenna R. Carlson

Masters Theses

The prevalence of celiac disease and gluten intolerances has increased drastically in the last few decades, accounting for 1 in 100 individuals, or about 1% of Americans (Mager, Qiao, & Turner, 2012). The only treatment for celiac disease or any other gluten intolerance is the gluten-free diet. The gluten-free diet can lack many essential nutrients. The purpose of this research was to identify if consumers could perceive a difference in quality when comparing whole-grain gluten-free baked goods to refined gluten-free baked goods at varying flour levels of 20%, 50%, and 100%.

The researcher-developed Carlson Acceptability of Gluten-Free Baked Goods Survey …

An Exploration Of College Student Experiences Regarding Healthy Eating At A Midsized Midwestern University: A Qualitative Approach, E. Jordan Stayer

Masters Theses

This study was an exploration of the experiences college students have while eating in on-campus dining centers at a midsized, Midwest, public university. The present study examined college students' (n = 7) experiences of eating in the dining centers with a campus meal plan. Participants were asked a series of questions regarding their individual beliefs, their surrounding environment, and their physical behaviors while dining.

The study concluded that dining habits are very personal to each and every human being in the world. At the higher education level, because each student brings with them a completely different taste, desire, and …

A Multi-Species Approach To Elucidating The Ecological Function Of Primate Geophagy, Brandon Semel

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Geophagy, or soil consumption, is a behavior observed across a broad diversity of vertebrate species, yet the factors driving this phenomenon remain elusive. Studies of sympatric species that exhibit significant differences in diet can help elucidate the ecological basis of geophagy. Five distinct hypotheses were tested using sympatric species that may best explain the benefit of soil consumption in primates: antacid relief, plant secondary metabolite (PSM) adsorption, parasite mitigation, alleviation of diarrhea, and nutrient supplementation. I conducted observations of diademed sifakas (Propithecus diadema) and common brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus) in primary rainforest habitats of Tsinjoarivo, Madagascar. I studied animals of …

Assessment Of Urinary Methylmalonic Acid Levels In Older Adults On Proton Pump Inhibitors, Tashia Sue Warner

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) affect gastric acid secretion. The use of PPIs in the elderly population (>70 years old) may increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency because gastric acid is needed for vitamin B12 digestion and absorption. However, it's unclear whether adults ages 50--70 years old that use PPIs chronically are at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Objective: To determine whether chronic use of PPIs results in increased urinary methylmalonic acid (uMMA) levels in adults ages 50--70 years old, indicating vitamin B12 deficiency. Methods: Fifteen men and women who had been taking PPIs daily for a minimum …

Effects Of Weight Training And A Whey Beverage On Muscular Hypertrophy And Strength In Trained Males, Anthony Edward Nielsen

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background: Ingestion of protein beverages post resistance exercise have been shown to increase muscle mass and strength.;Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to compare whey protein to whey/carbohydrate supplementation during eight week concentric/eccentric resistance training to determine if one beverage was superior in promoting muscular strength and hypertrophy than the other.;Methods: Twenty resistance-trained males participated in this study and were randomly assigned to either a whey protein or whey/carbohydrate beverage following an 8-week concentric/eccentric resistance training protocol. Seventeen subjects completed all testing and were included in the statistical analysis. Muscle strength was assessed by a one-rep maximum on the …

The Effects Of A Coconut Beverage On Blood Glucose And Lactate Concentrations, Josh Alis

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Consumption of a carbohydrate (CHO) beverage during prolonged exercise has been shown to maintain plasma glucose levels. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a coconut beverage on blood glucose and lactate levels. Eleven endurance trained males participated in a repeated measures randomized double blind study. Each subject completed a VO2max followed by three 90 minute trials on treadmill run at 60-70& of their VO2max, while consuming one of three beverages per trial (W=water, G=carbohydrate beverage, CB=coconut beverage). Every 15 minutes the subject drank 12 ounces of the beverage. A treadmill anaerobic test (TAT) was performed …

Interactions Between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi And Plants Under Climate Change, Phyllis H. Pischl

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Along with the increase in temperature due to global warming, changes in precipitation will also accompany climate change (IPCC, 2014) leading to more severe droughts in some areas. How these changes will effect plant growth requires further investigation. Most vascular plants form symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Gange and Smith 2005). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization of plants has been found to reduce stresses such as drought (Davies et al. 2002) and herbivory (Bennett et al. 2009, Kiers et al. 2010), which may allow plants to survive with less water or in the presence of insect pests. This study examines …

Examining The Reciprocal Longitudinal Relations Between Maternal Depressive Symptoms And Infant Positive Emotionality In The First Year Postpartum, Kate B. Oddi

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and infant positive emotionality (PE) in the first year postpartum. It was anticipated that a reciprocal relationship between the variables would be identified. One hundred thirty-five mothers and their infants (62 males, 73 females) were recruited to participate in a larger study examining the development of temperament and emotion regulation in the first three years of life. Mothers provided demographic information and participated in a structured clinical interview when their infants were four months old. When infants reached 6, 8, and 10 months of age, mothers completed questionnaires which assessed …

Tracking The Gap : A Closer Look At Student- And School-Level Characteristics, Aundrea R.J. Lane

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The goals of this study were to evaluate achievement gaps between varying sub-group populations (i.e., ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic status) as well as estimate which student-level and or school-level characteristics account for variance in reading growth over time. This longitudinal study followed a cohort of 2,077 students (1st -- 5th grade) nested within one school district's 21 elementary schools. The participant's early literacy (Letter Sound Fluency), reading-curriculum based measure (R-CBM), and Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) scores were analyzed utilizing univariate and multivariate analyses of variance (ANOVAs and MANOVAs). School-level characteristics were entered into hierarchical linear models to evaluate variance …

Food Sovereignty, Food Security, And Community Gardens In Rockford, Il, Walter William Furness

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Urban agriculture projects seek to ameliorate issues of food access and food sovereignty for people living in areas with low access to fresh foods, including food deserts. Within this discourse, community gardens have been promoted as vehicles to reclaim unused urban space, produce food locally, and connect populations to their food sources and larger community. A variety of community garden models exist, and the efficacy of different models is the subject of some debate. In Rockford, many community gardens grow food for donation to food pantries as part of a program to benefit socioeconomically disadvantaged persons in the city. However, …

Evolutionary And Structural Analyses Of Plant Cell Wall Synthesis-Related Glycosyltransferase Family 43 And 2, Rahil Taujale

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Plant cell wall polysaccharides have been a focus of research for many years mainly due to their potential as a lignocellulosic biofuel resource. An approach to realize this resource is genetically designing plants that are ideal for biofuel production. This requires manipulation of the enzymes that are involved in the synthesis of these polysaccharides. With an aim to improve the understanding of plant cell wall-related enzymes, this study documents a detailed evolutionary analysis and protein structural analyses focusing on two main families of glycosyltransferases as two separate chapters: GT43 involved in xylan backbone elongation and GT2 responsible for cellulose and …

Male Health Promotion Professionals In Higher Education : Why They Enter And Remain, Alicia Katherine Czachowski

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines men in the career of health promotion in higher education. This study was designed to gain insight from men currently working in health promotion in higher education about why and how they entered their career as well as what is keeping them working in this field. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of men working as health promotion professionals in the higher education setting regarding their entry into and persistence in their chosen profession.;Using a basic interpretive qualitative study approach, five participants took part in three semi-structured interviews, in which …

Moderating Factors Between Self-Efficacy And Role Stressors For High School Counselors, Nathan Gene Underwood

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine potential moderators of high school counselors' self-efficacy and role stress. The study provides an overview of the sources of school counselor role stressors, the history of school counseling, self-efficacy, and the Indivisible Self wellness model. Quantitative data was collected on 141 high school counselors who completed a demographic survey, the School Counselor Self-efficacy Scale (SCSE), the 5F-Wel, and the Role Questionnaire (RQ). The RQ measures three role stressors: role ambiguity, role conflict, and role incongruity. Research question one measured the general regression model with each of the role stressors placed as the …

The Granite, 2015, University Of New Hampshire

The Granite – Yearbook

The yearbook of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, 1909-1922, the University of New Hampshire, 1923-

Human Rights In The New Global Strategy., Jyoti Sanghera, Lynn Gentile, Imma Guerras-Delgado, Lucinda O’Hanlon, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

The Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health (2010), with its emphasis on participatory decision making processes, non-discrimination, and accountability, affirmed the importance of human rights. Despite important gains following its launch women, children, and adolescents continue to experience serious violations of their health and health related human rights, including discrimination in access to quality healthcare. A human rights based approach must thus be fully integrated throughout the Global Strategy.

The right to health is recognised by several legal tools and treaties relating to human rights, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Convention on the …