Digital Commons Network^™

Disordered Eating Habits And Theory Of Mind In Undergraduate Students, Stephanie Kuhlman

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Theory of mind, the ability to ascribe mental states to oneself and others, has intimate connections with mental disorders like autism and schizophrenia. Recent research has suggested a connection between eating disorders and theory of mind ability, but these findings have been mixed. The idea that disorders lie along a continuum (Johns & van Os, 2001) leads to the hypothesis that people with disordered eating habits will have a lesser theory of mind ability than those without. Data was collected on 25 undergraduate students at Butler University. Results showed a positive correlation between theory of mind and negative eating attitudes. …

Evaluating Ventilation Rates Based On New Heat And Moisture Production Data For Swine Production, Yanxi Lu, Morgan D. Hayes, John P. Stinn, Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Hongwei Xin

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Heat and moisture production (HMP) rates of animals are used for calculation of ventilation rate (VR) in animal housing. New swine HMP data revealed considerable differences from previously reported data. This project determined new design VRs and evaluated differences from previously recommended VRs. The swine production stages evaluated included gestation, farrowing, nursery, growing, and finishing. The ranges of ambient temperature and ambient relative humidity (RH) evaluated for VR were -25°C to 15°C in 10°C increments and 15% to 75% in 15% increments, respectively. Indoor set points for temperature and RH were, respectively, 15°C, 20°C, 25°C and 60%, 70%, 80% for …

Effects Of Biochar Treatment Of Municipal Biosolids And Horse Manure On Quality Of Runoff From Fescue Plots, Rachel Williams, Dwayne R. Edwards

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Land-applied horse manure and municipal biosolids can increase nutrient and bacteria concentrations in runoff. Biochar has been demonstrated to have beneficial impacts on nutrient retention and runoff quality when used to treat other land-applied organic soil amendments (e.g., poultry manure). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of biochar addition to horse manure and municipal biosolids on runoff concentrations of nutrients and fecal coliforms. Biochar was added at 5% to 8% (wet basis) to horse manure and biosolids that were applied to 2.4 m x 6.1 m fescue plots followed by application of simulated rainfall (102 mm …

Ready, Print, Fire! Regulating The 3d-Printing Revolution, Joseph J. Pantella Iv

Journal of Law, Technology, & the Internet

"This Article argues that governments ought to proactively consider preemptive legislative or regulatory actions regarding 3D printing. To accomplish this objective this Article looks at the concepts of “permissionless innovation” and the “precautionary principle.” These concepts represent opposing ends of the regulatory spectrum; the former promoting a “wait-and-see” approach while the latter promotes a preemptive or preventative approach to government regulation. After defining these terms the Article will describe the characteristics of technologies that lend themselves either to permissionless innovation or to the precautionary principle. It will provide a few specific areas where policies of each type have been employed, …

Food Insecurity In Kalamazoo, Nicholas Sweda, Cheryl A. Dickson, Jeffrey Friedman, Michelle L. Knapp, David Lee, Vina Tran

Research Day

Introduction: Food insecurity is both an inconvenience and problem. As of 2013, over 16 million children in the USA were food insecure. The consequences of food insecurity include health issues from nutritional deficits, developmental difficulties, and behavioral problems that manifest in educational, personal and professional challenges. Overall, food insecurity and its impact on individuals and families is under-recognized. Additionally, the extent to which physicians play a role in helping patients secure access to food assistance programs remains unclear. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and methodologies of current healthcare practices based in Kalamazoo County, MI, …

Catalyzing Social Innovation: Leveraging Compassion And Open Strategy In Social Entrepreneurship, Thomas Pittz, Laura T. Madden, David Mayo

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

We implement an inductive, case study approach to explore the motivations and methods of five successful social entrepreneurs. Our findings show that founders noticed, felt, and responded to someone else’s pain, demonstrating compassion as the genesis of the business venture. Successful social innovation, however, was the result of the creation of an organization structured to include diverse stakeholder input and participation in the decision-making process. Thus, compassion motivates entrepreneurs to pursue broad gains as opposed to singular interests and enhances a willingness to incorporate others’ ideas through an open-strategy process. Our study suggests that interaction with stakeholders can impact the …

From Prep To Delivery: Peer Instruction For First-Year Business Students, Teresa Williams

Scholarship and Professional Work

First-year students face many challenges in adjusting to university life, including making the most of the university library. Librarians are constantly addressing student misconceptions about libraries and locating information, and have been working hard to reach first-year students and create high-impact practices in student retention.

The First-Year Experience Cookbook provides librarians with a series of innovative approaches to teaching and assessing information literacy skills during a student’s first year. Featuring four chapters—Library Orientation, Library Instruction, Programs, and Assessment—and more than 60 practical, easy-to-implement recipes, this book compiles lessons and techniques for you to adapt, repurpose, and implement in your libraries. …

The Relationship Between Body Image And Eating Patterns In Collegiate Cross Country Runners, Justine Myers

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The cross country running environment places an increased emphasis on body size that can lead to manipulation of eating behaviors to obtain the perceived ideal competitive body. Understanding body image within/outside the sport of cross country running may give insight into development of negative body image and/or disordered eating. A quasi-experiment was conducted using a convenience sample of collegiate cross-country runners competing at Illinois NCAA colleges (n=85; 30 male, 55 female). Participants completed the Body Image Assessment Scale -- Body Dimensions (BIAS-BD), Contextual Body Image Questionnaire for Athletics (CBIQA), and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Related and independent-samples t-tests, Wilcoxon …

A Novel Diffuse Fraction-Based Two-Leaf Light Use Efficiency Model: An Application Quantifying Photosynthetic Seasonality Across 20 Ameriflux Flux Tower Sites, Hao Yan, Shao-Qiang Wang, Kai-Liang Yu, Bin Wang, Qin Yu, Gil Bohrer, Dave P. Billesbach, Rosvel Bracho, Faiz Rahman

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

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Diffuse radiation can increase canopy light use efficiency (LUE). This creates the need to differentiate the effects of direct and diffuse radiation when simulating terrestrial gross primary production (GPP). Here, we present a novel GPP model, the diffuse-fraction-based two-leaf model (DTEC), which includes the leaf response to direct and diffuse radiation, and treats maximum LUE for shaded leaves (ε_msh defined as a power function of the diffuse fraction (D_f)) and sunlit leaves (ε_msu defined as a constant) separately. An Amazonian rainforest site (KM67) was used to calibrate the model by simulating the linear relationship between …

Healthy Aging In The North: Sociocultural Influences On Diet And Physical Activity Among Older Adults In Anchorage, Alaska, Britteny M. Howell

Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology

Increasing rates of overweight, obesity, and related cardiovascular diseases among older adults in the United States present unique public health challenges. Cross-cultural research has shown marked variation in health across the world’s elder populations because aging is a biological process rooted in sociocultural context. The sociocultural environment contributes to complex negotiations of food and physical activity patterns for older adults. It is well established in the literature that urban residents report low levels of physical activity and have easy access to fast food outlets, which tend to be concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods. I utilize a biocultural framework, integrating nutritional anthropology …

Expanding Access To Integrated Family Planning Intervention Packages For Married Adolescent Girls In Urban Slums Of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Fauzia Akhter Huda, Hassan Rushekh Mahmood, Sadia Afrin, Anisuddin Ahmed, Nafis Al Haque, Bidhan Krishna Sarker

Reproductive Health

This research report describes an intervention study conducted among married adolescent girls aged 15–19 years in four urban slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Objectives of the study were to examine the acceptability and feasibility of forming married adolescent girls’ clubs, and involving community health volunteers (Shasthya Skebikas) and marriage registrars to increase access to family planning (FP) information and services, to promote the uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods, and to provide FP information to newlywed couples at the time of marriage registration. The study findings revealed that a noteworthy number of married adolescent girls received FP-related information, mostly from the …

Attitude Importance And Attitude-Relevant Knowledge: Motivator And Enabler, P. S. Visser, J. A. Krosnick, Catherine Norris

Psychology Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Improvised Courtship Feeding By An Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus) Pair, James R. Thomas

Florida Field Naturalist

No abstract provided.

The American Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes Epidemic: Considerations For Targeted Diabetes Prevention Programs, Dolores Dodson

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Childhood obesity is an identified risk factor for several long-term health issues such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death within the United States. The CDC has implemented an evidence-based program, The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), to prevent the development of T2DM among individuals with prediabetes. Prediabetes is defined as having elevated glucose levels glycated hemoglobin [A1C] levels between 5.7%-6.5%) that are not elevated enough to meet diabetes diagnosis criteria (A1C levels > 6.5%). The DPP is a lifestyle change program that has …

Vital Signs, Winter 2017, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Vital Signs

A forty eight page newsletter created by the Boonshoft School of Medicine to document the current affairs of the school. This issue includes a variety of feature articles, a research spotlight, alumni notes, and more.

Erk3 As A Braf-Regulated Tumor Suppressor Is A New Potential Cancer Target In Melanoma, Minyi Chen

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Melanoma is the highest mortality rate skin cancer and the sixth most common cancer in the U.S..[1, 2] Arising from melanocytes, melanoma is known for frequent mutation of BRAF to its constitutive activation state BRAFV600E, thus over-activating its downstream MAPK targets ERK1/2 and contributing to melanoma progression.[3, 4, 5] ERK3, a less studied MAPK family protein which contributes to promoting lung, breast, cervical, head and neck (HNC) cancer metastasis, has also shown a correlation with upregulation of BRAF.[6, 7, 8, 9] However, the BRAF-ERK3 regulatory mechanism and the function of ERK3 in melanoma are still unclear. Here, we first elucidate …

Engineering Inpatient Discharges: Disposition Prediction And Day-Of-Discharge Planning, Nicholas A. Ballester

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Inpatient discharge planning is a critical decision point in patient care, with implications for the efficiency of the inpatient unit as well as other units of the acute care hospital. Inefficient discharge planning can cause patient boarding (waiting for beds) in the upstream units. While this is a poignant and well-known problem in healthcare, very little quantitative research exists that proposes approaches to alleviate it. To address this issue, we apply Systems Engineering methods with focus on three key challenges in inpatient discharge planning. First, to aid inpatient care providers in predicting discharge disposition (home vs. non-home) within 24-hours of …

Urinary Metabolomics To Detect Polycystic Kidney Disease At Early Stage, Amnah Mahmoud Obidan

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Urinary metabolomics abilities in detection of biological effects (i.e., toxicity, disease) is compounded by high background variability. Previously, we showed mild kidney dysfunction was detectable under the stress imposed by furosemide (diuretic). Here we tested whether furosemide (FUR) can enhance the sensitivity to detect autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) at an early stage. ADPKD is one of the most common inherited renal disorders and is characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys. Urinary metabolomics analyses, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, were conducted in control (WT) and diseased mice (RC) at 7 and 24 weeks of …

Audiology 2017, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

The Third Tier In Treatment: Attending To The Growing Connection Between Gut Health And Emotional Well-Being, Joseph Verdino

Publications and Research

The microbial environment of the human gut has powerful influence on immunity, metabolism, and obesity. There is now emerging evidence that the microbiome of our gastrointestinal system may also be a key factor impacting our emotional and behavioral health. The purpose of this article is to elucidate how this emerging area of science can further educate and encourage mental health professionals to explore an additional means to treatment. Since much of this research is found in the biological and neuroscientific literature, it can be quite cumbersome for clinicians to digest and apply, who would critically benefit from a concise discussion …

We Like Fried Things: Negotiating Health, Taste And Tradition Among Spanish Caribbean Communities In New York City, Melissa Fuster

Publications and Research

The study was conducted to understand fried-food (FF) consumption among Hispanic Caribbean (HC) communities in New York City. Data were collected through qualitative interviews with 23 adults self-identified as Cuban, Dominican, or Puerto Rican. Most informants considered FFs an important part of their traditional diet. Potential explanations included taste, cost, convenience, and the emotive values attached to FF. FF consumption was contextualized in local foodscapes. Results include strategies to diminish FF consumption and differences across HC groups and migratory generations. The relevance for future nutrition interventions addressing health disparities in this community is discussed

Associations Between Modifiable Health-Risk Behaviors And Personality Types, Jon C. Schommer, Paul D. Tieger, Anthony W. Olson, Lawrence M. Brown

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objectives: The first objective for this study was to explore if characteristics of personality type (using the Preferred Communication Style Questionnaire) are associated with the following modifiable health-risk behaviors: smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, nutrition, sleep, depression-related stress, anxiety-related stress, healthcare professional usage, and self-discipline. The second objective for this study was to explore if characteristics of personality type are associated with (1) the quality of patient-physician relationships, (2) patient-physician communication, and (3) preferred method for receiving information.

Methods: Data were collected from 10,500 adult individuals residing in the United States via an on-line, self-administered survey coordinated by Qualtrics …

Can I Play Too? Transgender Student Athletes’ Inclusion In “Because Of Sex”, Paul Jones

UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment Journal

This article seeks to explore what remedies may be available to transgender student athletes in today's changing legal field. The law is scant as to whether transgender student athletes must be allowed to play on the sex-segregated teams which correspond with their gender identity. New legislation may not be needed. Title VII and Title IX may offer protections for transgender student athletes. The legislative and judicial tools already exist.

Several federal courts have included gender identity under Title VII, yet Title VII currently only protects people who are considered to be employees. There is now a movement across college campuses …

Analyses Of Antioxidant Status And Nucleotide Alterations In Genes Encoding Antioxidant Enzymes In Patients With Benign And Malignant Thyroid Disorders, Nur Siti Fatimah Ramli, Sarni Mat Junit, Khoon Leong Ng, Nurhanani Razali, Jaime Jacqueline Jayapalan, Azlina Abdul Aziz

Research Publications (2016 to 2020)

Background: Synthesis of thyroid hormones and regulation of their metabolism involve free radicals that may affect redox balance in the body. Thyroid disorders causing variations in the levels of thyroid hormones may alter cellular oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to measure the antioxidant activities and biomarkers of oxidative stress in serum and red blood cells (RBC) of patients with benign and malignant thyroid disorders and to investigate if changes in the antioxidant activities in these patients were linked to alterations in genes encoding the antioxidant enzymes. Methods: Forty-one patients with thyroid disorders from University of Malaya Medical …

Comparison Of Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy With Oral Hygiene Instruction Alone For Chronic Periodontitis, M. Asad, A.W.A. Aziz, R.P.C. Raman, W.H. Himratul-Aznita, T.B.T. Ali, K. Chinna, R.D. Vaithilingam

Research Publications (2016 to 2020)

We evaluated changes in clinical variables and microbiological profiles of periodontopathogens among 56 patients with moderate to severe CP who were randomly assigned to oral hygiene instruction (OHI; n = 28) or nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT; n = 28). Periodontal variables were assessed and subgingival plaque samples were obtained from deep pockets (>5 mm) at baseline and 3 months after treatment. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify Actinobacillus actinomycetemcornitans, Tannerella forsythia, Porphyrotnonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia. All clinical variables significantly improved in both groups. Improvements in gingival bleeding index (GBI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and periodontal attachment …

Distinct Biological Potential Of Streptococcus Gordonii And Streptococcus Sanguinis Revealed By Comparative Genome Analysis, W. Zheng, M.F. Tan, L.A. Old, I.C. Paterson, N.S. Jakubovics, S.W. Choo

Research Publications (2016 to 2020)

Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus sanguinis are pioneer colonizers of dental plaque and important agents of bacterial infective endocarditis (IE). To gain a greater understanding of these two closely related species, we performed comparative analyses on 14 new S. gordonii and 5 S. sanguinis strains using various bioinformatics approaches. We revealed S. gordonii and S. sanguinis harbor open pan-genomes and share generally high sequence homology and number of core genes including virulence genes. However, we observed subtle differences in genomic islands and prophages between the species. Comparative pathogenomics analysis identified S. sanguinis strains have genes encoding IgA proteases, mitogenic factor deoxyribonucleases, …

Distinct Biological Potential Of Streptococcus Gordonii And Streptococcus Sanguinis Revealed By Comparative Genome Analysis, W. Zheng, M.F. Tan, L.A. Old, I.C. Paterson, N.S. Jakubovics, S.W. Choo

Research Publications (2016 to 2020)

Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus sanguinis are pioneer colonizers of dental plaque and important agents of bacterial infective endocarditis (IE). To gain a greater understanding of these two closely related species, we performed comparative analyses on 14 new S. gordonii and 5 S. sanguinis strains using various bioinformatics approaches. We revealed S. gordonii and S. sanguinis harbor open pan-genomes and share generally high sequence homology and number of core genes including virulence genes. However, we observed subtle differences in genomic islands and prophages between the species. Comparative pathogenomics analysis identified S. sanguinis strains have genes encoding IgA proteases, mitogenic factor deoxyribonucleases, …

Hepatoprotective Effects Of Chinese Medicine Herbs Decoction On Liver Cirrhosis In Rats, N.A. Mat-Rahim, T.-H. Lim, N.A. Nor-Amdan, Sazaly Abubakar

Research Publications (2016 to 2020)

Hepatoprotective and curative activities of aqueous extract of decoction containing 10 Chinese medicinal herbs (HPE-XA-08) were evaluated in Sprague–Dawley albino rats with liver damage induced by thioacetamide (TAA). These activities were assessed by investigating the liver enzymes level and also histopathology investigation. Increases in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were observed in rats with cirrhotic liver. No significant alterations of the liver enzymes were observed following treatment with HPE-XA-08. Histopathology examination of rats treated with HPE-XA-08 at 250 mg/kg body weight, however, exhibited moderate liver protective effects. Reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins within the hepatocytes were noted …

Issues On Halal Meat In Malaysian And Indonesian Markets, M.A. Ramli, A. Salahudin, M.I.A. Razak, M.A.H. Idris, M.I.S. Zulkepli

Research Publications (2016 to 2020)

In recent years, interest in meat issues and research has increased. Many consumers are concerned about the meat they eat because it's a main source of protein in a daily consumption. However in issues pertaining with meat, halal and safety are a vital focus for Muslim consumer, especially in Southeast Asia region. Some of the related issues in halal and safety meat are criminal and terrorist activities, including meat fraudulent such as adulterant substances (adulteration), substitution, livestock stolen, grey market product, smuggling, misrepresentation or mislabelling etc. In parallel with meat fraudulent activities, perpetrator tends to use a harmful and unsafety …

Mimosine Toxicity In Leucaena Biomass: A Hurdle Impeding Maximum Use For Bioproducts And Bioenergy, N. Ramli, A.A. Jamaludin, Zul Ilham

Research Publications (2016 to 2020)

Leucaena biomass could serve as a new commodity for bio energy production. It is well established as a feedstock for animal husbandry, due to its nutrient content and lower cost. However, the existence of mimosine caused loss of hair among ruminants. This paper provides a short review of current uses of Leucaena, from agriculture to bio energy. In the next section, the techniques to remove Leucaena toxicity caused by the toxic non-protein amino acid mimosine will be discussed. A common mimosine inactivation technique adopted for animal rations is dosage-dependent on the Leucaena portion and inclusion of iodine, iron, copper or …