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Mis(Representations) Of Health On A College Campus: A Story Of Disturbed Body Image And Excessive Exercise, Emily Ferren

All Theses

The American College Association has recognized the growing trend among college students of body image disturbance to be one in need of attention. Clemson University recently noticed a visible shift in student fitness culture in which excessive exercise is embraced, elevating university health and fitness professionals' concern because excessive exercise is a dangerous disordered behavior associated with body image disturbance. In 2015, these two phenomena became top priority for campus health efforts as they directly impact students' well-being and daily lives. In light of research related to health promotion, intervention, and campaigns, however, the need for formative research engaging the …

Urban Greenway Use And Benefits In Diverse Cities: A Tale Of Two Trails, Samuel James Keith

All Theses

One type of urban park, greenways, represent unique "corridors of benefits" that have attracted a great deal of attention from urban planners and recreation practitioners. Well-designed greenways can contribute to sustainable urban development by improving health and wellness, facilitating connections with nature, fostering social interaction and inclusion, adding value to marginal land, and enhancing connectivity across the urban landscape. However, little is known about the extent to which these benefits are realized and how they are distributed across diverse populations in different types of settings. To answer these questions, our study explored patterns of greenway use, constraints to use, and …

Influences Of Body Composition, Multimorbidity And Polypharmacy On Physical Mobility Of Older Adults, Chieh Chen, Linna Sestini, Rachel Wilde

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: The prevalence of falls, and the resulting injuries and complications reflect a key concern in the older adult population. An increased risk of falls is highly correlated with decreases in physical mobility and related functions. The Timed Up-and-Go test (TUG) has an established reliability and validity in assessing physical function and the risk of falling in the older adult population. With age, a person typically has an increased number of health morbidities, which may be reflected in changing body composition and the number of medications associated with diseases. However, the influence of these factors on physical mobility …

Ochratoxicosis In Monograstric Animals - A Review, Nafeesa Qudsia Hanif

Journal of Bioresource Management

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by several fungi of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium, principally P. verrucosum in temperate climate and A. ochraceous in warm regions. In poultry feed materials, mycotoxins are found most commonly in cereals and to a lesser degree, in meals. The presence of OTA in animal feed contributes significantly to health disorders and decreased production. In addition to aflatoxins, which is an ubiquitously distributed toxin, OTA is one of the reasons for economic losses in the poultry industry due to poor performance and immunosuppression. Moreover, OTA has also been noted for the carryover …

In Vitro Propagation Of Morchella Esculenta And Study Of Its Life Cycle, Nazish Kanwal, Kainaat William, Kishwar Sultana

Journal of Bioresource Management

Among the edible mushrooms, Morchella esculenta (Pers.) is a highly prized mushroom which consists of a short stalk and a conical, pitted, hollow pileus. It is commonly known as a morel or sponge mushroom, or gucchi, etc. It belongs to the class Ascomycetes, order Pezizales and family Morchellaceae. It is found throughout the world. In Pakistan, it is found in northern areas from Murree, Patriata, and Gilgit under pine vegetation. It is therapeutic in nature; therefore its medicinal and biochemical properties are under investigation throughout the world, especially in regard to treating the hazardous diseases such as cancer, tumors, …

Culturally Responsive Policy In An Urban Headstart Program, Tanya M. Johnson

Dissertations

The purpose of this Culturally Responsive policy is to provide a framework for implementing and enhancing cultural responsiveness in an urban Head Start program. By increasing awareness of culturally responsiveness and providing on-going professional development and resources, the policy will have a significant impact on ensuring that staff are prepared and supported in the implementation of culturally responsive best practices. The policy maintains that culturally responsive pedagogy facilitates and supports the achievement of all students. Teachers must create a culture where all students regardless of their cultural background are welcomed and provided with the best opportunity to learn.

Describing Pediatric Hospital Discharge Planning Care Processes Using The Omaha System, Diane E. Holland, Catherine E. Vanderboom, Adriana M. Delgado, Marianne E. Weiss, Karen A. Monsen

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

Although discharge planning (DP) is recognized as a critical component of hospital care, national initiatives have focused on older adults, with limited focus on pediatric patients. We aimed to describe patient problems and targeted interventions as documented by social workers or DP nurses providing specialized DP services in a children's hospital.

Methods

Text from 67 clinical notes for 28 patients was mapped to a standardized terminology (Omaha System). Data were deductively analyzed.

Results

A total of 517 phrases were mapped. Eleven of the 42 Omaha System problems were identified. The most frequent problem was health care supervision (297/517; 57.4%). …

Impact Of Healthy Food Labels On Consumer Choice And Valuation, Mattingly Perlinger

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The obesity epidemic is prevalent across the entire United States, but minority communities are affected most of all. The Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota is a minority community that has been particularly affected by the obesity epidemic, exhibiting higher rates of obesity and lower life expectancy than the rest of the country.

In this study we conducted a hypothetical choice experiment to test the effectiveness of three healthy food labels in increasing the likelihood of consumers choosing to purchase healthy products. We also calculated the consumer willingness to pay for each of these labels and examined differences in label …

Handcrafted Electrocorticography Electrodes For A Rodent Neural Activity, Nishat Tasnim

Theses and Dissertations

Electrocorticography (ECoG) is a minimally invasive neural recording method that has been extensively used for neuroscience applications. Although many neural recording methods exist, ECoG provides a combination of stability, high spatial and temporal resolution with chronic and mobile capabilities. This paper presents an animal study using a low cost and simple handcrafted ECoG electrode that is made of commercially accessible materials. The study is performed on a Lewis rat implanted with a handcrafted 32-channel non-penetrative ECoG electrode covering an area of 3 x 3 mm 2 on the cortical surface. The ECoG electrodes were placed on the motor and somatosensory …

Translating Ecology, Physiology, Biochemistry And Population Genetics Research To Meet The Challenge Of Tick And Tick-Borne Diseases In North America, Maria Dolores Esteve-Gassent, Ivan Castro-Arellano, Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo, Ramiro Patino, Andrew Y. Li, Raul F. Medina, Adalberto A. Pérez De León, Roger Iván Rodríguez-Vivas

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Emerging and re-emerging tick-borne diseases threaten public health and the wellbeing of domestic animals and wildlife globally. The adoption of an evolutionary ecology framework aimed to diminish the impact of tick-borne diseases needs to be part of strategies to protect human and animal populations. We present a review of current knowledge on the adaptation of ticks to their environment, and the impact that global change could have on their geographic distribution in North America. Environmental pressures will affect tick population genetics by selecting genotypes able to withstand new and changing environments and by altering the connectivity and isolation of several …

Teachers’ And Administrators’ Perceptions Of The Under-Representation Of African American Males In Gifted And Talented Education Programs, Roy Sermons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological case study is to explore the reasons for specific perceptions by urban middle and high school teachers and administrators about the underrepresentation of gifted African American male students in educational programs for the gifted and talented. Perceptions about gifted African American male students are generally defined as the views, thoughts, and patterns of educators pertaining to the characteristics of gifted students, recommendations for admission into gifted and talented education programs, and social and psychological factors that impede the enrollment of urban African American males into such programs. The phenomenological case examines social, cultural, and psychological …

Vitamin D Status And Insulin Resistance Among Young Obese Saudi Females, Hala M. Abdelkarem, Mervat A. El-Sherif, Sahar B. Gomaa

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the association of vitamin D level with insulin resistance, among healthy student’s obese women, and to identify factors that may elucidate this association. Methods: One hundred and forty-seven female students between the age group of 18 and 25 years were included in this cross-sectional study, and the related socio-demographic and anthropometric data were obtained. They were selected randomly from Aljouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia between November 2013 and June 2014. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D), glucose, insulin was measured and insulin resistance was calculated using the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Results: The results showed the percentage of …

Knowledge, Awareness, Attitudes And Sources Of Vitamin D Deficiency And Sufficiency In Saudi Children, Fatimah M. Alshamsan, Bassam S. Bin-Abbas

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To examine the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding vitamin D and its sources among Saudi Arabian children. Methods: One hundred patients (vitamin D-deficient children) and 100 healthy children participated in the study. Participants were interviewed separately on topics including their awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding vitamin D using multiple-choice, and short-answer questions. This prospective, cross-sectional study was performed on children and adolescents between January 2011 and December 2011 at the Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Results: Only 28% were aware of the sources of vitamin D, while 64% of healthy subjects were aware. Similarly, only 50% of patients …

Friend Or Foe—Light Availability Determines The Relationship Between Mycorrhizal Fungi, Rhizobia And Lima Bean (Phaseolus Lunatus L.), Daniel J. Ballhorn, Martin Schädler, Jacob D. Elias, Jess A. Millar, Stefanie Kautz

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Plant associations with root microbes represent some of the most important symbioses on earth. While often critically promoting plant fitness, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) also demand significant carbohydrate allocation in exchange for key nutrients. Though plants may often compensate for carbon loss, constraints may arise under light limitation when plants cannot extensively increase photosynthesis. Under such conditions, costs for maintaining symbioses may outweigh benefits, turning mutualist microbes into parasites, resulting in reduced plant growth and reproduction. In natural systems plants commonly grow with different symbionts simultaneously which again may interact with each other. This might add complexity …

Selenate Uptake By Symphyotrichum Ascendens Western Aster, Nathan Hankes

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Symphyotrichum ascendens is a native forb species responsible for selenium poisoning of livestock grazing on mine wastes in the American Intermountain West. While S. ascendens has long been assumed to be a Se accumulator species, this report details the first investigation into its Se uptake, affinity, partitioning, and growth in response to selenate fertilization. The study was performed in a hydroponic growth environment at selenate concentrations of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mM selenate. Symphyotrichum ascendens absorbed selenate in percentage concentrations, with the highest tissue concentration of 3.6% Se. Symphyotrichum ascendens exhibited signs of stress, producing 69.2% less biomass at …

Salt Tolerance Of Forage Kochia, Gardner's Saltbush, And Halogeton: Studies In Hydroponic Culture, Joseph Sagers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) is a halophytic, invasive species that displaces Gardner’s saltbush (Atriplex gardneri) on saline rangelands. Forage kochia (Bassia prostrata) is a potential species to rehabilitate these ecosystems. This study compared the salinity tolerance of these species and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Plants were evaluated for 28 days in hydroponics where they were maintained at 0, 150, 200, 300, 400, 600, and 800 mM NaCl. Shoot growth and ion accumulation were determined. Alfalfa and tall wheatgrass were severely affected by salt with both species’ shoot …

Increasing The Sustainability Of Utah Farms By Incorporating Quinoa As A Novel Crop And Protecting Soil Health, Kristine R. Buckland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Most of the western United States faces increasing water shortages in the coming years, that will present a major challenge for maintaining sustainable farms. Incorporating an alternative crop that is well adapted to projected changes in climate could be a successful approach to increasing the sustainability of farms in the region. Quinoa, Chenopodium quinoa Willd., may be an ideal alternative crop to meet the demands of the Intermountain West. Before widespread adoption of this novel crop can occur, best management strategies need to be documented. This paper provides research on cropping systems, irrigation rates, and weed competition with quinoa. Additionally, …

Soil Nutrient Cycling And Water Use In Response To Orchard Floor Management In Stone-Fruit Orchards In The Intermountain West, Catherine Mae Culumber

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

An organic peach orchard trial evaluated the effectiveness of different organic management approaches to enhance soil quality and conserve water without compromise to fruit tree growth and fertility. Two tree-row treatments: ‘straw mulch’ (Triticum aestivum L.) and ‘living mulch’ (Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv.) were tested in combination with two alleyway groundcovers: ‘grass’ (Festuca rubra L. with Lolium perenne L.) and a legume, ‘Birdsfoot trefoil’ (Lotus corniculatus L.). The novel treatments were compared with tillage and weed fabric tree-rows with grass alleyways. After mowing, cuttings from the trefoil alleyway were deposited into tree-rows, which provided additional N …

Patients’ Perceptions Of Nurses As Role Models Of Healthy Behaviors, Sarah C. Baker

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nurses are caregivers who are instrumental in improving patient outcomes through providing hands-on care and health education. In addition to performing prescribed interventions and providing instruction to patients, nurses can also have a positive impact by modeling healthy behaviors for their patients (Blake & Harrison, 2012). Nurses educate patients on the importance of maintaining healthy habits such as eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise, and avoiding alcohol and drug use; however, studies demonstrate that nurses have similar difficulty maintaining healthy lifestyles as the general population’s and in some cases are even more prone to develop problems with unhealthy habits. …

The Relationship Between The Behaviors Of The Top 50 Most Endorsed Athletes In The World And The Monetary Value Of Their Endorsement Deals, Rogerio B. Ribeiro

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The top endorsed athletes in the world are most likely the ones who have the biggest impact on their sport. These athletes are usually among the best in their sport or they might have something special that creates a strong relationship between the athlete and his or her fans. It is possible to say that this relationship combined with their skills on and off of the fields, courts, or arenas is what makes these athletes special. Big companies all over the world feel attracted to these athletes and, as a result, they spend millions of dollars every year in order …

Harnessing Teams And Technology To Improve Outcomes In Infants With Single Ventricle., Girish S. Shirali, Lori A. Erickson, Johnathan Apperson, Kathy Goggin, David D. Williams, Kimberly J. Reid, Andrea Bradley-Ewing, Dawn Tucker, Michael Bingler, John Spertus, Leslie Rabbitt, Richard Stroup

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Infants with single ventricle require staged cardiac surgery, with stage I typically performed shortly after birth, stage II at 4 to 6 months of age, and stage III at 3 to 5 years of age. There is a high risk of interstage mortality and morbidity after infants are discharged from the hospital between stages I and II. Traditional home monitoring requires caregivers to record measurements of weight and oxygen saturation into a binder and requires families to assume a surveillance role. We have developed a tablet PC-based solution that provides secure and nearly instantaneous transfer of patient information to a …

An Evaluation Of Factors Which Can Affect The Implementation Of A Health Promotion Programme Under The Schools For Health In Europe Framework, Annemarie Bennett, Cara Cunningham, Charlotte Johnston Molloy

Articles

The Health Promoting Schools concept helps schools to promote health in a sustainable and long-term fashion. However, developing the capacity to promote health in this way can be challenging when a busy teaching curriculum must be fulfilled. This study aimed to identify factors which affect the acceptability of health promotion programmes to the everyday school environment.

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were audio-taped with primary school teachers in one Irish county and transcribed verbatim. The resulting transcripts were analysed using content analysis.

Thirty-one teachers were interviewed. The factors which may adversely affect the acceptability of health promotion programmes include the: attitude of …

Factors Influencing The Eating Practices Of Hospital Nurses During Their Shifts, Tina Maria Monaghan

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Background

Nursing is the largest health care profession in the U.S. There are 3.1 million registered nurses (RNs) nationwide, over four times as many as there are physicians. Hospital nurses have a vital presence in the healthcare industry as highly skilled professionals who perform the essential service of patient care on the front line. Research points toward an association between work environment and nurse outcomes. Several studies have linked favorable nurses’ work environments to improved patient experience and care quality. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence hospital nurses’ eating practices during their shifts.

Methods …

Weight Loss Apps : Behavioral And Psychological Factors Related To Usage And Success, Kelsey Alexandra Gatto

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Mobile weight loss applications (‘apps’) such as MyFitnessPal® and Lose It!® have millions of downloads and allow users to track their intake on the go by accessing a massive digital nutrition database, and while the apps have been successful tools for participants in structured weight loss initiatives, little research has explored their efficacy for stand-alone users. The aim of this study was to examine the role of user adherence behavior, portion estimation and consumption norms, and the potential for the app to act as a behavior change tool. An online survey was administered to individuals 18 years or older who …

Effects Of Differences Of Middle Eastern And American Cultural Backgrounds On Salt Perception Using Facereader : A Pioneering Tool To Capture Instant Emotional Reactions, Mohamad Bassel Khair

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

A preliminary study was conducted (n=65) to compare the consistency of measurements of emotional reactions to salt intake using FaceReader (facial expression analyzer) and hedonic self-reports. Study participants tasted six different samples of mashed potatoes with three different concentrations of sodium (Na) (two samples of 0 mg, 178 mg, and 356 mg/15g each). Emotional reactions were measured with FaceReader and self-reported on a 10-point scale, and the mean for each of the different sodium concentrations was calculated. Six different emotional expressions were measured (happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared, and disgusted) for each of the samples. Differences between the means for …

Growth And Productivity Of Irrigated Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) For A Tropical High Altitude Environment In Rwanda, Elie Rene Gasore

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Yield components, grain yield, biomass and plant N accumulation, and N fertilizer responses of irrigated rice (Oryza sativa, L.) were evaluated for a tropical inland valley environment in the high altitudes in Rwanda. Effects were measured for nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate (0, 60, 90,120,150,180 kg N ha-1), season, growth stage and cultivar of different subspecies and plant types during 2012 dry season (DS) and 2013 wet season (WS) at Cyili Rice Research Farm (1380 m above sea level). Variations in irradiance (17.2± 0.32 MJ m-2 day-1 in DS and 9.4 ± 0.66 MJ m-2 day-1in WS) were linked to seasonal …

Emergence Phenology And Nematode Associates Of The Woodwasp, Sirex Nigricornis F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), In Arkansas And Mississippi Forests, Jessica Ann Hartshorn

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sirex nigricornis F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) is a native woodwasp in eastern North America that inhabits dead and dying pine trees during its univoltine development. Sirex noctilio is native to Eurasia and North Africa and was discovered in the northeastern United States in 2004 after a century of accidental introductions across the Southern Hemisphere. Since then, it has spread to seven states and southern Ontario. There is concern about its potential to negatively affect the multi-billion dollar pine timber industry of the southeastern United States. Effective monitoring tools are necessary to track the spread and establishment of S. noctilio. Deladenus siricidicola …

The Effect Of Protein Quantity And Quality At Breakfast On Energy Metabolism, Appetite And Metabolic Health, Brianna Lynne Neumann

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a global health concern and, within the United States, the current obesity rate is 36% and projected to double within the next two decades. Obesity is linked to many chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. In young females, weight gain (5-11 kg) between the ages of 20-30 years increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders later in life. The cause of obesity is multifactorial in nature, however fundamentally weight gain occurs when energy intake is greater than energy expended (i.e. calories in > calories out). Therefore, identifying and validating nutritional …

Autophagy Regulation After Diet And Exercise In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Megan Elizabeth Rosa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Along with the rise in obesity, rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have also increased. NAFLD may begin with fat accumulation in the liver, but can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and eventual cirrhosis. With no pharmacological treatment for NASH, lifestyle interventions appear vital to maintaining liver health. Previous work has shown aberrant mitochondrial content/quality and autophagy in models of NAFLD. Exercise is known to improve mitochondrial health and possibly autophagy, thus autophagy may be a key regulatory factor for treatment of obesity induced-NAFLD. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine how weight loss from diet …

A Molecular Approach To Understanding The Effects Of Original-Xpc On The Modulation Of The Cecal Microbiota And The Survival Of Salmonella In The Poultry Host, Stephanie Roto

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Salmonella is a foodborne pathogen commonly associated with poultry products; the economic burden to the U.S. is estimated to be approximately $693 million (without factoring in contaminated eggs). Recently, there has been pressure to withdraw sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics (also known as antibiotic growth promoters; AGP) from poultry due to concern over antibiotic-resistant bacteria spreading to the human population. Therefore, various feed additives have been researched for their ability in providing protection against harmful pathogens and their potential growth promoting effects, both of which were attributes of poultry treated with AGP. This thesis consists of a comprehensive literature review that …