Digital Commons Network^™

Farmers' Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Towards African Indigenous Vegetables In Kenya, Donatien Ntawuruhunga

All Master’s Theses

Food and nutrition insecurity has been a major challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). With land frontier closing, farmers in SSA must intensify and diversify food production to alleviate food and nutrition insecurity. In the face of climate change, African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) can offer opportunities to diversify production systems and improve food, nutrition and income security in many countries of SSA. Despite their potential, the importance of AIVs in alleviating food, nutrition and economic insecurity are not fully exploited in Kenya. Further until recently there is less research and development efforts and limited information on farmers' knowledge, attitude and perceptions …

Heavy Metals In Sugarcane Juice And Soils: A Comparative Study Of Part Of Nairobi River Basin And Nyahururu Farms, Solomon Kamau

All Master’s Theses

The contamination of food is increasingly becoming a concern in developing countries due to the mounting amounts of heavy metals in urban environments. Juices are common beverages in the usual diet and contribute significantly to the nutritional intake of essential and harmful trace elements. Currently, there is inadequate information regarding the amounts of heavy metals in juice from sugarcane produced along rivers in Nairobi city. In the present study, the levels of heavy metals in sugarcane juice and soils from Nairobi and Nyahururu are determined. This study quantitatively determined the levels of heavy metals such as Fe, Cu, Zn and …

Management Of Mycotoxigenic Fungi And Associated Mycotoxins In Maize By Use Of Hermetic Storage, Angeline Maina Wanjiku

All Master’s Theses

Maize is a staple food crop in Kenya with about 90% of the rural households depending on it. However, the grain is vulnerable to degradation by mycotoxin producing fungi in the field and during storage. Mycotoxins produced by these fungi cause significant economic losses and deleterious health effects to humans and animals. Strategies such as storage of maize in hermetic bags have been developed to reduce post-harvest grain losses due to pest attack, fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of hermetic storage on the population of fungal species and levels of …

Effects Of Hermetic Bag Storage On Insect Pest Damage, Mould Infection And A Flatoxin Contamination On Maize Grain In Makueni County, Kenya, Jeremiah Kinuthia Ng'ang'a

All Master’s Theses

For centuries, maize producers in sub-Saharan Africa have been plagued by post-harvest losses from insect infestation and mould infections, with small-scale producers representing the most vulnerable populations. Participatory on-farm trials were conducted to assess the effectiveness of triple layer hermetic (PICSâ„¢) bags for storage of maize in small-scale farmers' stores in rural villages in Makueni County,Kenya. PICS bags are three-layer hermetic bag-system that forms a barrier against the influx of oxygen and the escape of carbon dioxide.Shelled maize grain was purchased from the participating farmers, filled into jute,woven polypropyleneor PICS bags, and kept in the farmers' own stores for 35 …

Genetic Diversity Of Aphid Species Attacking Amaranth And Nightshades In Different Agro-Ecological Zones Of Kenya And Tanzania, Alex Cherutich Kipnyargis

All Master’s Theses

Aphids are the major pests of vegetables leading to a significant yield loss in African indigenous vegetables including amaranth and nightshades. Information on the types of aphids that infest these vegetables and their genetic diversity in Kenya and Tanzania is scanty. This is an important diagnostic component in developing management strategies such as integrated pest management and early detection and control of invasive species. This study used a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene region called the barcode region to characterize the species of aphids that attack amaranth and nightshades in different agro-ecological regions of …

The Kanza 2016, Pittsburg State University

The Kanza, 1910-2023

The Kanza 2016 is Published by Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas.

Design And Commissioning Of A Community Scale Solar Powered Membrane-Based Water Purification System In Haiti, Shavin Pinto, Yung Wong, Kyle Fennesy, Yan Tang, Marc Compere

Publications

This paper presents the design and commissioning of a solar powered water purification system at the Ryan Epps Home for Children (REHC) in Michaud, Haiti. This system supplies clean drinking water to the 200 children who live and go to school at REHC and also to the community in the form of a micro-business. This micro-business is the mechanism for income generation for sustainable system operation. The purifier uses a three stage filtration system with a disc-type sediment filter, a 0.1 micron ultrafiltration membrane, and an ultraviolet light for disinfection. The backwash cycle extends the life of the ultrafiltration membrane …

The Relationship Between Problem-Solving Ability/Eating Motivation And Perceived Quality Of Life In Individuals Diagnosed With Celiac Disease, Vincenzo Zaccheo

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Celiac disease (CD) is a digestive disorder resulting from gluten intolerance that leads to damage of the small intestine. The only current available treatment for CD involves adherence to a strict gluten-free diet. Due to the restrictive nature of this treatment diet, and the increasing prevalence of CD in recent years, much research has been conducted examining factors that impact the quality of life (QOL) of individuals with CD. However, there has been a dearth of literature identifying those factors which can be modified within a treatment setting. Thus, a need for further research in this area was identified. Through …

Isolation And Identification Of Bacterial Endosymbionts In The Brooding Brittle Star Amphipholis Squamata, Abbey Rose Tedford

Honors Theses and Capstones

Symbiotic associations with subcuticular bacteria (SCB) have been identified and studied in numerous echinoderms, including the SCB of the brooding brittle star, Amphipholis squamata. These SCB, however, have not been studied using current next generation sequencing technologies. Previous studies on the SCB of A. squamata placed these bacteria in the genus Vibrio (γ-Proteobacteria), but subsequent studies suggested that the SCB are primarily composed of α-Proteobacteria. The present study examines the taxonomic composition of SCB associated with A. squamata from the Northwest Atlantic. DNA was extracted using a CTAB protocol and 16S rRNA sequences were amplified …

Project Oasis: Optimizing Aquaponic Systems To Improve Sustainability, Siddharth Nigam, Paige Balcom

Honors Theses and Capstones

Started in Fall 2015, Project OASIS (Optimizing Aquaponic Systems to Improve Sustainability) is an interdisciplinary capstone project with the goal of designing a sustainable and affordable small-scale aquaponic system for use in developing nations to tackle the problems of malnutrition and food insecurity. Aquaponics is a symbiotic relationship between fish and vegetables growing together in a recirculating system. The project’s goals were to minimize energy consumption and construction costs while using universally available materials. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software OpenFOAM was used to create transient and steady-state models of fish tanks to visualize velocity profiles, streamlines, and particle movement. …

The Ability Of Horseshoe Crabs (Limulus Polyphemus) To Detect Changes In Temperature, Vilma Vaattovaara, Winsor H. Watson Iii

Honors Theses and Capstones

Previous studies have suggested that horseshoe crabs prefer warm water, suggesting that they may be able to detect changes in water temperature. The overall goal of this study was to test this hypothesis. Our specific objectives were to: 1) find out if horseshoe crabs can detect temperature changes; 2) determine the magnitude of temperature change they can detect, and; 3) determine whether their temperature receptors are located internally or externally. Animals were placed in a light-tight chamber that received a constant flow of cooled seawater. Their heart rates were continuously recorded and a change in heart rate following the addition …

Unf Journal Winter 2016, University Of North Florida

UNF Journal

A university periodical for alumni and friends of the University of North Florida

Controlling Microbial Safety Challenges Of Meat Using High Voltage Atmospheric Cold Plasma, Lu Han, Dana Ziuzina, Caitlin Marie Heslin, Daniela Boehm, Apurva Patange, David Millan-Sango, Vasilis Valdramidis, Patrick J. Cullen, Paula Bourke

Articles

Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is a non-thermal technology, effective against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. Inactivation efficacy results from plasma generated reactive species. These may interact with any organic components in a test matrix including the target microorganism, thus food components may exert a protective effect against the antimicrobial mode of action. The effect of an in-package high voltage ACP process applied in conjunction with common meat processing MAP gas compositions as well as bacteria type and meat model media composition have been investigated to determine the applicability of this technology for decontamination of safety challenges associated with meat …

Exercise As A Treatment For Conduit Artery Dysfunction In A Comorbid State Of Metabolic Syndrome And Depressive-Like Symptoms, Chris Skinner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Metabolic Syndrome (Mets) is a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors that results in a three-fold increase in cardiovascular disease. MetS is known to be associated with adverse arterial remodeling, endothelial dysfunction, decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, increased inflammation, and conduit artery dysfunction. Depression/chronic stress is emerging as a potent contributor to MetS, with MetS also aiding in the progression of depression, and thus increased vascular dysfunction. These bi-directional comorbidities are continually increasing in prevalence, justifying a need for research on their interplay and potential treatments. Aerobic exercise is a widely accepted therapy for the risk factors associated with MetS, mental …

Evaluation Of A Silica Hydride Based Diol Stationary Phase For High Pressue Liquid Chromatogrphy, Kathleen Talbott

Master's Theses

The impact of chromatography across many scientific fields and applications is limitless. It is a vital everyday separation, characterization, and purification tool for many scientists worldwide. Innovations in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) stationary phases have led to more diverse separations essential to many fields including the pharmaceutical industry and research. Silica hydride based stationary phases have been shown to display both reverse phase (RP) and aqueous normal phase (ANP) chromatographic behavior. This is a result of both the silica hydride surface and the bonded phase. The goal of this work was to characterize silica hydride based diol stationary phases …

Testing Camera Trap Density Estimates From The Spatial Capture Model And Calibrated Capture Rate Indices Against Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Spp.) Live Trapping Data, Timothy A. Walker

Master's Theses

Camera trapping studies often focus on estimating population density, which is critical for managing wild populations. Density estimators typically require unique markers such as stripe patterns to identify individuals but most animals do not have such markings. The spatial capture model (SC model; Chandler & Royle, 2013) estimates density without individual identification but lacks sufficient field testing. Here, both the SC model and calibrated capture rate indices were compared against ten sessions of live trapping data on kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp). These camera and live trapping data were combined in a joint-likelihood model to further compare the two methods. From …

Evaluation Of A Silica Hydride-Based Undecynoic Acid Stationary Phase For High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Veena Menon Kozhikote

Master's Theses

Undecynoic acid (UDA) attached to a silica hydride surface has been found to exhibit weak cationic exchange properties and an aqueous normal phase (ANP) type of retention. ANP is a mechanism similar to normal phase chromatographic retention, except for the use of a polar solvent such as water in the mobile phase. In ANP, the retention of a polar molecule is increased with a higher concentration of the non-polar mobile phase solvent (usually acetonitrile). Non-polar molecules exhibit retention behavior as in reverse phase (RP) chromatography. The goal of this research was to characterize the chromatographic retention pattern of an undecynoic …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Silica Hydride-Based Pentynoic Acid Stationary Phase, Nasrin Syed

Master's Theses

High performance liquid chromatography is an important analytical technique used for the separation and identification of components in a mixture. The aim of this research project was to synthesize and characterize a silica hydride-based pentynoic acid stationary phase. Analytical techniques like elemental analysis and diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT) were used to confirm the success of bonding between silica hydride and pentynoic acid moiety. The pentynoic acid Si-H column allows for retention of both polar and non-polar compounds by carefully selecting the concentration ratio of organic solvent to water in the mobile phase. The characterization of the column …

Fda's Troubling Failures To Use Its Authority To Regulate Genetically Modified Foods, Leslie Francis, Robin Kundis Craig, Erika George

Faculty Scholarship

This Article concerns the particular regulatory responsibilities only of FDA. It sets to one side the possible regulatory authority of agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") or the U.S. Department of Agriculture ("USDA"). This approach risks replicating the regulatory fracture introduced during the Reagan Administration and criticized by some scholars,¹⁵ but there is a great deal to say about current FDA practices. Out of similar considerations of space and focus, this Article also sets to one side many other important issues that surround GM foods: intellectual property rights; rights to free speech or commercial speech; fair trade …

Peace Meal: A Senior Citizen's Right To Food In East Central Illinois, Jessica Aceves, Chris Wellin

Capstone Projects – Politics and Government

This study provides a formative evaluation of the Older Americans Act (OAA) Senior Nutrition Program, Peace Meal. Peace Meal provides home delivered and congregate meals for older adults in 14 counties in east central Illinois. The East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging (ECIAAA) is a funding source for Peace Meal and advocates that the OAA Senior Nutrition Program help older adults have improved food security and reduced social isolation. Key informant interviews and focus groups provided personal stories of how people in the community access food, what dietary and nutritional elements affect their food …

Characterizing Pediatric Primary Care In Greater New Haven, Meredith Ann Camp Binford

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Healthcare access is a complex concept that involves more than insurance coverage and resource utilization. Influenced by milieu, an understanding of the local dimensions of access is essential to develop community strengths as well as create appropriate solutions to access gaps. Accordingly, the objectives of the study were to identify, enumerate, and characterize medical practices delivering primary care to children within greater New Haven.

In partnership with community leaders, a community-based participatory approach was used to design a 57-question and 21-observation item, practice-based survey. The survey was administered in-person to 17 pediatric practices and 19 school-based health centers (SBHCs) in …

Acute Effects Of Theacrine Supplementation On Muscular Strength And Muscular Endurance, Caleb J. Snyder

Research Papers

There are many performance-enhancing supplements on the market. Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid) is a new product similar to caffeine. Both are purine alkaloids thought to act as adenosine receptor antagonists. It has been reported to increase subjective energy levels among other beneficial effects, but has not yet been tested on muscular strength and muscular endurance. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study, eleven healthy resistance trained college-aged males received a 200mg dose of theacrine or a placebo. One-repetition max (1RM) and maximal repetition tests were performed after supplementation. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was completed between the treatments (placebo, …

Social Contexts Of Infant Feeding And Infant Feeding Decisions, Ellen J. Schafer, Natalie A. Williams, Siri Digney, Marion E. Hare, Sato Ashida

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Background: Infant feeding takes place within a network of social relationships. However, the social context in which infant feeding advice is received remains underresearched.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the social contexts of infant feeding by examining individual and relationship characteristics of mothers and network members associated with advice to exclusively breastfeed, exclusively formula feed, or use a combination of breast milk and formula.

Methods: Information about 287 network members was reported by 80 low-income mothers during a one-time survey. Characteristics of relationships associated with mothers receiving advice (exclusively breastfeed/formula feed, combination feed) from each network …

Learning The Language Of Nature: Young Children As Mathematical Thinkers, Carolyn P. Edwards, Courtney Boise

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Math Early On, funded by the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, involves a partnership between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and the Educares of Nebraska, part of a national network of highquality child care centers for low-income children from birth to age 5. Th e goal of the Math Early On project is to off er professional development opportunities that build on the past successful professional development efforts of UNL’s NebraskaMATH and its Primarily Math initiative. The Primarily Math curriculum for primary teachers was adapted and redesigned to create new experiences for the purpose of enriching preschool teachers’ mathematical knowledge for …

‘Let’S Work Together Towards Children’S Nutrition’: Building Bridge Between Child Care Providers And Parents For Promoting Child Health, Dipti A. Dev, Courtney Byrd-Williams, Samantha Ramsay, Brent A. Mcbride, Ashleigh L. Murriel, Chrisa Arcan, Anna M. Adachi-Mejia

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Objective: To investigate childcare providers’ perspectives for communicating with parents to promote children’s nutrition and health.

Design, Setting, and Participants: In-person, semistructured interviews. Licensed center-based child care. Eighteenfull- time childcareproviders caring for children2-5 years old, 67% caring for children who pay with federal subsidy.

Outcome Measures and Analysis: Participants were selected using maximum variation purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted until saturation was achieved. NVivo, thematic analysis used to code and identify themes and meta-themes regarding providers' perspectives for parent communication.

Results: Two meta-themes emerged from providers’ responses: barriers to communication, and strategies to communication. Barriers to communication include: parents are …

Nutrition Education Resources In North Carolina–Based Head Start Preschool Programs: Administrator And Teacher Perceptions Of Availability And Use, Sarah Lisson, L. Suzanne Goodell, Dipti A. Dev, Kristi Wilkerson,, Archana V. Hegde, Virginia C. Stage

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide new insight into common barriers to the availability and use of nutrition education (NE) resources in Head Start preschool programs based on administrator and teacher perceptions.

Methods: In-depth, semistructured phone interviews (n = 63) were conducted with administrators (n = 31) and teachers (n = 32) from North Carolina–based Head Start programs. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed qualitatively using content analysis to identify common themes.

Results: Five emergent themes were identified within the areas of NE resource availability and use and barriers to NE resource availability and …

Book Reviews

The Bridge

No abstract provided.

Silicon Fertilization In Rice:Establishment Of Critical Silicon Level And Its Impact On Availability Of Nutrients In Soils Of Louisiana, Wooiklee Sundayboy Paye

LSU Master's Theses

While silicon (Si) fertilization is widely practiced in paddy rice production, the establishment of critical soil Si levels has remained understudied. This study was undertaken to: 1) determine the critical soil Si level for rice production in Louisiana using different extraction procedures, and 2) document the relationship between plant-available Si and select essential plant nutrients in soil and their uptake by rice. Field trials were established at 12 sites across Louisiana from 2013 to 2015. Si was applied as silicate slag (SiO3, 14% Si) at the rates of 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 Mg ha-1. Agricultural lime was …

The Influence Of Media Implemented Into The Event-Tourist Career Model: Triyas Triathlon, Abu Dhabi, Nataša Slak Valek, Al Anood Al Buainain

All Works

© University of the Aegean. Using the athletes' career trajectory model, this study implements the influence of media into the trajectory of active sport event participants' decision-making process. It examined athletes' motivation, media influence, travel style and behaviours, and event selection among participants of TriYas triathlon organized in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Data were collected in February 2016 with an online survey sent to all participating athletes and descriptive statistic was used for data analyses. Results indicate that international media are followed by the majority of athletes included in our sample with no statistically significant differences between first-timers and …

Sport Related Concussion Knowledge In Youth Female Soccer Players And Their Parents In Missoula, Seth A. Lindauer

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.