Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Binge Eating Rates Between Caucasian-American And African-American Men, Elizabeth Anne Raky

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Eating disorders (ED) are maladaptive eating patterns that can have social, biological, health, and occupational consequences. The purpose of this study was to explore and compare binge eating episodes, locus of control, and body dissatisfaction between African-American men (n = 66; 53.70%) and Caucasian-American men (n = 57; 46.30%). There is a current gap in the existing literature regarding the study of men who BE and a sampling bias with regard to ethnic minorities. Based on Bandura's social learning theory model and Rotter's locus of control, the purpose of this research was to determine and compare the relationship between BE, …

Development And Validation Of An Adult Diet And Physical Activity Program In Primary Care Setting, Christiana Chinyere Keke-Ekekwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a national health problem with serious medical, psychological, and economic outcomes. Nurses and nurse practitioners (NPs) are frequently the first point of patient contact and play an essential role in the management of obesity. The current literature noted that practitioners working in primary care settings demonstrate inadequate knowledge related to evidence based practice (EBP) strategies to treat obesity, including diet modification and physical activity. The purpose of this DNP project was to develop and validate an EBP provider educational module related to diet modification and physical activity education for adult patients diagnosed with obesity in a primary care …

Narratives Of Men Living With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Kimberly Vandermark Lynch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been traditionally viewed as a woman's disease, SLE impacts men as well. Although most research on SLE has concentrated on how it affected women, little is known about how it impacts men. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine how men who live with SLE perceive its psychological impact. Using the lens of the biopsychological theory, common themes were examined pertaining to how men with SLE perceive the impact that SLE has on their cognitive and emotional functioning. Data were collected via interviews with 9 men with SLE, and the data were …

Tier 2 Interventions For Students In Grades 1-3 Identified As At-Risk In Reading, Jennifer S. Ray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The majority of Grade 4 students in the United States do not read at the proficient level. In response to this problem, which has persisted for decades, the United States Congress in 2004 mandated response to intervention as a multitiered classroom support system designed to improve reading skills for students in K-12 public schools. However, little research has been conducted about how classroom teachers use diagnostic assessments, provide small group instruction, and monitor progress in reading interventions. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how teachers used assessments and instruction in reading interventions for students in Grades 1-3 …

A Case Study Exploration Of Teachers' Perspectives On Children's Mental Health Service Needs In Title I Elementary Schools, Natalie Denise Yates

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children go to school for approximately 32 hours each week of an academic year. Many children who are in need of mental health treatment do not get the services they need because of barriers such as lack of access and stigma. Teachers are one of the primary sources of referrals for children's mental health services, and they often make referrals based on their perceptions of their students' mental health needs. Although teachers are typically the primary source of referrals for mental health services, they usually do not have any specialized mental health training. The purpose of this study was to …

Exposure To Hiv Prevention Messages On Social Media And Behavior Change Intent, Yoshika Shajuan Eason

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans living in the Southeastern region of the United States disproportionately contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Facebook and other social media sites are becoming a way to deliver health-related messaging to targeted populations. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine the association between selected demographic factors and impact of social media on intent to change sexual behaviors among 112 African Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 in the Southeastern United States who viewed STI/HIV prevention materials on Facebook within 1 year prior to the study. The theory of planned …

The Effect Of Two Modes Of Aerobic Assessment On Fifth Grade Students' Self Efficacy, Debra Roth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Declining youth physical activity levels and lack of aerobic fitness have been well documented with a corresponding rise in obesity levels and health issues. Based on Bandura's social cognitive theory, healthy physical activity levels and aerobic fitness are strongly connected to positive physical activity self-efficacy beliefs. This study examined whether student physical activity self-efficacy, motivation, and effort were different for the FitnessGram-® (FG) 1-Mile Run when compared to the 15-minute Aerobic Assessment Based on Improvement (AABI). A concurrent mixed method quasi-experimental approach measured 5th grade students' physical activity self-efficacy beliefs through a pretest and posttest survey while aerobic assessment scores …

Vitamin D And Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Mandy Hemphill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in individuals aged 50 years and older and is estimated to affect as many as 11 million individuals in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between vitamin D and AMD disease progression. The life course epidemiology framework model was used to explore how vitamin D level as a risk factor may have an association to AMD disease through time. Data in the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database were collected on vitamin D levels and identified stages of AMD …

Effects Of Temperature And Precipitation On Giardiasis In Missouri, Lori Michelle Calderas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Global Climate Change has empirical evidence to support the idea that CO2 levels may be affecting weather and health, including rates of infectious diseases. The Midwest region of the United States of America has had the highest increase in giardiasis rates in recent years, and Missouri was chosen for this study as a representative state in the Midwest. There is no definitive answer as to why the rates of giardiasis have changed from 2003 - 2013. The Theory of Climate Change was used as the theoretical framework for this study. The purpose of this research was to determine whether temperature, …

Parental Stress And Parent-Child Relationships In Recently Divorced, Custodial Mothers, Kelly Lyn Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Divorce creates significant stress that can have an impact on parent-child relationship satisfaction. Past researchers have indicated that in times of high stress, parents may not be available for their children due to their personal issues. Attachment theory demonstrates the importance of the parent-child bond for the child as he or she matures, so this bond needs to be protected. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to examine the predictive relationship between parental stress as measured by the Parenting Stress Index, 4th Edition, Short Form (PSI-4-SF) and the parent-child relationship satisfaction as measured by the Parent-Child Relationship Inventory …

Diagnostic Prevalence Of Diabetes Among Older Adults In Rural Appalachia, Gabriella Hodges

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background

The rural, mountainous Appalachian region continuously has poorer health outcomes than the rest of the United States. This is true for many chronic diseases including diabetes: the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. This study assessed differences in the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes between older adults in rural, Appalachian counties and rural, non- Appalachian counties.

Methods

Data for the year 2013 was extracted from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Public Use Files for Medicare beneficiaries (September 2015), which provides county level prevalence for diabetes as well as several other conditions among Medicare fee-for-service …

Exploring The Diversity Of Southwest Florida Fungi Through The Amplification Of The Internal Transcribed Spacer Region, Kristine Cerbone

Theses & ETDs

The kingdom Fungi consists of a largely diverse array of organisms responsible for the natural decomposition of organic compounds. These organisms are essential for every ecosystem on Earth and can be found all rural, urban and suburban communities. Classification of fungal species in a given environment provides insights into the condition of its ecosystem. In addition, these organisms provide sources of nutrition and alternatives to harsh chemical processes in industry use, such as in the production of paper. This thesis represents an attempt to begin the characterization of the diversity of Southwest Florida fungi in rural, urban and suburban environments …

Say Bi Bi To Mommy: Investigating Differences In Bisexual Mothers’ Experiences By Partner Gender, Meghan Cromie

Theses & ETDs

Bisexual women experience a disproportionate rate of mental health disorders compared to both heterosexual and lesbian women, including postpartum depression. Some have suggested the difference is due to prejudice from straight and LGBT people, which may depend on partner gender. Despite social support being shown to be important for mothers, little research has focused on how bisexual mothers experience support. In this study 62, predominantly male-partnered, bisexual mothers took an online survey containing questions about anti-bisexual experiences, outness, social support, community connectedness, and open-ended questions about their transition to motherhood, comfort in the LGBT community, and use of bisexual resources. …

Strategies For Implementing Advertisements In The Green Industry, Ashley Deal Castle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After a growth in sales of 30% from 2007 to 2010, green product market sales declined 2% from 2010 to 2014 in the United States. Business leaders need to incorporate sustainable business practices and use green messaging within advertisements and marketing campaigns to assure that present needs do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This qualitative case study explored marketing strategies that business leaders in the green advertising industry use to increase the sale of green products. The social cognitive theory was the conceptual framework used in this study. In-depth interviews with 5 purposively selected …

Assessing Effective Interventions In Pregnant And Postpartum American Indian And Alaska Native Women, Hope Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Through the creation of the Indian Health Service in 1955, the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) has improved; however, AI/AN women of reproductive age still have some of the poorest health outcomes of all populations. This study aimed to examine effective interventions that seek to improve the health of AI/AN women during pregnancy, and immediately postpartum (up to 12 months post delivery). This study addressed the research question: What effect does parental competence have on early parenting and/or infant/toddler outcomes? The life course conceptual framework was used to demonstrate how life experiences impact current health. The …

Acute Temporal Changes Of Mri-Tracked Tumor Vascular Parameters After Combined Anti-Angiogenic And Radiation Treatments In A Rat Glioma Model: Identifying Signatures Of Synergism, Rasha Elmghirbi, Tavarekere N. Nagaraja, Stephen L. Brown, Swayamprava Panda, Madhava P. Aryal, Kelly A. Keenan, Hassan Bagher-Ebadian, Glauber Cabral, James R. Ewing

Neurology Articles

In this study we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers to monitor the acute temporal changes in tumor vascular physiology with the aim of identifying the vascular signatures that predict response to combined anti-angiogenic and radiation treatments. Forty-three athymic rats implanted with orthotopic U-251 glioma cells were studied for approximately 21 days after implantation. Two MRI studies were performed on each animal, pre- and post-treatment, to measure tumor vascular parameters. Two animal groups received treatment comprised of Cilengitide, an anti-angiogenic agent and radiation. The first group received a subcurative regimen of Cilengitide 1 h before irradiation, while the second group …

Technique For Normalization Of Cross-Linked Peptide Ion Intensity To Elucidate Enzymatic Conformational Changes, Donna Hogan

Master's Theses and Capstones

Cross-linking coupled to Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (CXMS) has become an invaluable technique for examining protein-protein interactions and monitoring enzymatic conformational changes. Thus far, comparative quantitation of cross-linked peptides measured by their mass spectrometry (MS) ion intensity is employed to deduce residue cross-linking propensity and spatial proximity. Using two distinct conformations of a structurally well-characterized model protein, we examined the correlation of cross-linked peptide MS signals and distances, but were not able to observe any obvious correlation. Conceivably, several physiochemical factors can affect residue reactivities thus MS signal intensity of the corresponding cross-linked peptides. For NHS ester chemical cross-linkers, the NHS …

Understanding The Efficacy Of Fish Ladder Use By Alewife (Alosa Pseudoharengus), Kevin M. Sullivan

Master's Theses and Capstones

River herring, the collective name given to North American populations of Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and Blueback Herring (A. aestivalis), are iteroparous, anadromous members of the family Clupeidae, with similar morphology, ecological roles, and overlapping distributions. Once abundant in coastal rivers of New Hampshire, many factors including commercial fishing, habitat degradation, and dam construction resulted in a precipitous decline of the species along the entire coast. Successful efforts to restore populations have included the construction of fish ladders at dams. However, fish ladders require constant operation and maintenance to efficiently pass river herring, and only provide access to spawning habitat up …

Pre-Commercial Thinning In Even-Aged Forest Management Of Northern Hardwoods: Case Studies From The Bartlett Experimental Forest, Meghan Colleen Thornton

Master's Theses and Capstones

Pre-commercial and commercial thinning are common silvicultural treatments in northern hardwood forests throughout the New England, New York, and Great Lakes regions. There are few studies on how pre-commercial thinning influences net timber value over time. This research uses a long-term study from the Bartlett Experimental Forest in Bartlett, New Hampshire to examine how pre-commercial and commercial thinning influence net timber value in 2016 and estimated net timber value in 2026, and whether the costs associated with pre-commercial thinning are justified in the return. We also examine differences in understory species abundance and composition, down dead wood volume and abundance, …

Design, Mechanical Modeling And 3d Printing Of Koch Fractal Contact And Interlocking, Mona Monsef Khoshhesab

Master's Theses and Capstones

Topological interlocking is an effective joining approach in both natural and engineering systems. Especially, hierarchical/fractal interlocking were found in many biological systems and can significantly enhance the system mechanical properties. Inspired by the hierarchical/fractal topology in nature, mechanical models for Koch fractal interlocking were developed as an example system to better understand the mechanics of fractal interlocking. In this investigation, Koch fractal interlocking with and without adhesive layers were designed for different number of iterations N. Theoretical contact mechanics model was used to capture the deformation mechanisms of the fractal interlocking with no adhesive layers under relatively small deformation. Then …

Microbial Source Tracking In Coastal Recreational Waters Of Southern Maine: Relationships Between Enterococci, Environmental Factors, Potential Pathogens, And Fecal Sources, Derek Rothenheber

Master's Theses and Capstones

Coastal water quality has been an issue for centuries. Fecal pollution of these waters represents a significant public health concern, as a variety of fecal sources can harbor human pathogens that range from bacteria and viruses to protozoa. Anthropogenic activities have exacerbated water quality through development such as housing, sewage infrastructure, and agriculture have increased fecal pollution sources and transport pathways, ultimately leading to increased pollution loading at the coast. For decades, federal, state and local municipalities have been using fecal indicator organisms to assess coastal water quality to assess public health risks. This thesis focuses on key factors that …

Manganese Limitation As A Mechanism For Reduced Decomposition In Soils Under Long-Term Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition, Emily D. Whalen

Master's Theses and Capstones

Long-term atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has been shown to reduce leaf litter and lignin decomposition in forest soils, leading to an accumulation of soil carbon. Reduced decomposition has been accompanied by altered structure and function of fungal communities, the primary decomposers in forest ecosystems; however, a mechanistic understanding of fungal responses to chronic N enrichment is lacking. A reduction in soil and litter manganese (Mn) concentrations under N enrichment (i.e., Mn limitation) may explain these observations, because Mn is a cofactor and regulator of lignin-decay enzymes produced by fungi. We conducted a 6-month incubation study to evaluate the effect of …

Rates And Drivers Of Nitrate Uptake In Fluvial Wetlands In Urbanizing, Coastal Watersheds, Christopher Thomas Whitney

Master's Theses and Capstones

Humans have had a substantial impact on the global nitrogen cycle, releasing large amounts of reactive nitrogen to the landscape. Watersheds have been found to remove substantial quantities of this anthropogenic nitrogen, with aquatic networks preventing much of it from reaching the coast. Within these aquatic networks, channelized streams have been studied extensively. However, in many coastal watersheds, fluvial wetlands are a large component of the aquatic network yet have not been studied as broadly as channelized reaches. As fluvial wetlands are also likely to have a sizeable impact on river network-scale nitrogen removal, a greater understanding of their effect …

The Paladin Suite: Multifaceted Characterization Of Whole Metagenome Shotgun Sequences, Anthony Stephen Westbrook

Master's Theses and Capstones

Whole metagenome shotgun sequencing is a powerful approach for assaying many aspects of microbial communities, including the functional and symbiotic potential of each contributing community member. The research community currently lacks tools that efficiently align DNA reads against protein references, the technique necessary for constructing functional profiles. This thesis details the creation of PALADIN – a novel modification of the Burrows-Wheeler Aligner that provides orders-of-magnitude improved efficiency by directly mapping in protein space. In addition to performance considerations, utilizing PALADIN and associated tools as the foundation of metagenomic pipelines also allows for novel characterization and downstream analysis.

The accuracy and …

Phylogenetic And Phylogeographic Analyses Reveal A Species Complex In The Estuarine Nudibranch Tenellia Adspersa, Amanda Sobel

Master's Theses and Capstones

Until recently, the nudibranch genus Tenellia (Nudibranchia: Fionidae) was thought to include a single or group of species restricted to temperate estuarine waters. Given the addition of numerous other species from recent studies, the genus now encompasses species from polar, temperate, and tropical oceans from oceanic to estuarine salinities. One such fionid, Tenellia adspersa, is found in temperate estuarine waters globally and its presence is ecologically important as its congeners are capable of decimating colonies of their hydroid prey within a single generation (approx. 20-60 days). The literature is historically vague and conflicted on the morphology, taxonomy, and geographic distribution …

Selective Detection Of Multi-Analyte Neurotransmitters Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers, Bo Si

Master's Theses and Capstones

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers produced in the brain that plays an important role in human’s physical, psychological and emotional conditions. The balance of neurotransmitters can affect the brain function, mood, pain response and exercise performances. In particular, dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (EP) are three well-known neurotransmitters that control various functions in the nervous system. Therefore, the detection of DA, NE and EP is extremely important for many instances of mental disease treatment and diagnosis. One of the most promising sensing techniques for neurotransmitter monitoring is the electrochemical detection method because of its high sensitivity, relatively low-cost and ease …

Bink Domain Functional Characterization In The Regulation Of Bioluminescence In Vibrio Fischeri, Ian Ster

Master's Theses and Capstones

Prokaryotes encode a remarkable ability to adapt to niches by sensing environmental cues through signal transduction systems (STSs). Typical STS proteins interact through a phosphorylation relay between histidine (His) and aspartate (Asp) residues within modular domains on sensory kinase and response regulator (RR) proteins to elicit cellular responses. A single point mutation in the sensor kinase BinK (BinK1 R537C) conferred an outstanding ability for the non-native V. fischeri strain MJ11 to successfully colonize Euprymna scolopes by affecting multiple symbiotic phenotypes including luminescence activation. However, the role of BinK in luminescence, the interacting partners, and functional mechanism are unknown. We hypothesized …

Supplementation Of Sodium Butyrate To Post-Weaned Heifer Diets: Effects On Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, And Health, Emily Margaret Rice

Master's Theses and Capstones

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of varying levels of sodium, butyrate (SB) on the growth, digestibility, and health of post-weaned heifers. Forty Holstein, dairy heifers with a mean age of 84 d and average body weight (BW) of 100.88 kg were housed, in a naturally ventilated freestall barn. Heifers were blocked by birth date and randomly assigned, to 1 of 4 treatments in a completely randomized block design: (1) 100 g of soybean meal carrier, (control; CON); (2) 0.25 g SB/kg of body weight + carrier (0.25SB); (3) 0.50 g SB/kg of BW +, carrier …

Designing And Testing A Cost-Effective Device For The Harvest Of White Worms, Andrew S. Pompeo

Master's Theses and Capstones

Rising global populations are causing a food crisis that can only be solved with novel, sustainable methods of food production. Many countries, including the United States, are increasing their aquaculture production to meet the appetites of an increasing population. Alternative feeds for aquaculture are necessary to reduce the pressure on overfished forage fish species and create low cost feeds. White worms are an effective, sustainable live feed for several fish species and cost very little to cultivate. However, for white worms to be a competitive alternative feed, they need to be harvested from the soil in which they are cultivated …

Role Stress, Coping Style, And Mental Health In Late Adolescence And Early Adulthood: An Empirical Analysis Of The Age-Linked Effects Of Coping Style On Depressed Mood And Anxiety, Jordan C. Burke

Master's Theses and Capstones

To what extent does age—that is, late adolescence and young adulthood—influence depressed mood or anxiety? To what extent are age differences between late adolescents and emerging adults explained by differences in coping style? To what extent does coping style moderate the effects of age on depressed mood and anxiety while controlling for chronic stress? I examine data from the Coös Youth Study, a longitudinal research project examining the life-course trajectories of two youth cohorts living in rural New England. Significant differences exist between late adolescents and emerging adults in coping style, stress exposure, and mental health. Relative to late adolescents, …