Digital Commons Network^™

Are Curcuminoids Effective In Reducing Knee Pain In Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis?, Katie Jo Wacker

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not curcuminoids are effective in reducing knee pain in adults with knee osteoarthritis.

STUDY DESIGN: A review of two English language double-blind placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials and one double-blind randomized control trial (RCT) published within peer-reviewed journals after the year 2013. The studies include adult participants age 40 and over.

DATA SOURCES: Double-blind randomized controlled trials were found using PubMed database. These studies compared treatment with curcuminoids with ibuprofen or a placebo.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Clinical outcomes of pain, stiffness and function were measured using the traditional Western …

Does The Use Of Prophylactic Probiotics Prevent Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea In Adults Using One Or More Antibiotics?, David E. Castillo

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) review is to determine if the use of probiotics can prevent the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in adults using one or more antibiotics.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trials in the English language published between 2013 and 2014.

DATA SOURCES: Data sources obtained for this review were articles published in peerreviewed journals found using PubMed and Cochrane databases.

OUTCOME MEASURED: All three studies defined diarrhea as the passage of three or more loose stools in a 24-hour period. All the studies used the Bristol …

Tennessee Coordinated School Health Annual Summary 2017-18, Tennessee. Department Of Education.

Coordinated School Health

No abstract provided.

No.72 An Order Suspending Certain Vehicle Restrictions And Allowing Medical And Other Health-Related Services To Provide Relief To Victims Of Hurricane Florence, Bill Haslam

Executive Orders

No abstract provided.

Availability Of Fermentable Nutrients Affect Gut Microbiota Composition, Trupthi Mehta

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies have increasingly established the role of gut microbiota in human health and disease. Diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, cardiovascular disease and many neurological disorders have been linked to specific gut microbiota composition and disturbances. There have also been attempts in recent years to modulate gut microbial composition with the use of prebiotics and probiotics to promote healthy gut and prevent diseases. This thesis investigates whether the availability of fermentable nutrients high in fiber and antioxidants such as found in green coffee, roasted coffee, and salami infused with various prebiotics altered the composition and abundance of …

Exercise And Cancer: A Summary Of Therapeutic Intervention, Cassandra Gillespie

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Background: There is strong evidence to support the benefits of exercise for cancer patients. However, there are few literature reviews that summarize exercise as it plays a role in all aspects of the cancer diagnosis including during cancer prevention, prehabilitation in surgical cancer patients, cancer treatment, and cancer recovery. This review serves to provide a comprehensive resource for students and health care professionals for research based findings related to the interactions between exercise and cancer.

Purpose: To summarize the current research findings involving the relationship between cancer and exercise.

Data Sources: ZipSearch, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE; 2008-2018

Methods: All data …

Reaching Food Insecure College Students Through An On-Campus Interactive Education Program, Danielle Buchbinder

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Need/Purpose: Emerging research suggests food insecurity is a problem for college students. Unpublished data from our campus (a large, Midwestern public institution) suggests 36% of students struggle with food insecurity, yet the campus has no pantry or meals/swipe donation program. While little research has been conducted examining food insecurity’s impact on academic success in college, it is well established that food insecurity negatively impacts academic performance in adolescents, mental and social health, dietary choices, and overall health. Program/Participants: In order to learn more and begin to mediate this problem on our campus, a series of nutrition education classes was created …

Safety-Net Medical Clinic Behavioral Health Integration, Melanie K. Stephenson

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to obtain an improved understanding of behavioral health needs and social determinants of health among the patient population at the safety-net clinic Reach Out of Montgomery County (ROMC). The aims of the study include: 1) identify valid and reliable screening tools that are appropriate for use in primary care to measure behavioral health concerns, 2) identify valid and reliable screening tools that are appropriate for use in primary care to measure social determinants of health, 3) administer the developed survey to a representative sample of patients served by ROMC, 4) conduct statistical analysis of …

Are The Adverse Human Effects Of Air Pollution Underestimated In The Literature? Implications For Science, Medicine And Public Policy, Stephen Jay

Health Supplemental Files

Researchers have not addressed the question “Are the adverse human effects of air pollution underestimated in the literature?” and to date we lack an answer to it. This scan is a non-scientific review of diseases causally linked to air pollution and reported infrequently in the peer reviewed literature. I think a prospective study of the true estimate of mortality and morbidity and harm of air pollution would confirm current statistics upon which policy decisions are based are underestimated.

Dose–Response Functions And Methodological Insights For Sensory Tests With Astringent Stimuli, Jonathan C. Kershaw, Cordelia Running

Department of Food Science Faculty Publications

Sensations such as bitterness and astringency can limit the acceptance of many purportedly healthy foods. The purpose of this study was to investigate dose–response relationships of various astringent and bitter stimuli in a beverage, and to simultaneously gain additional methodological insight for the effects of wording, repeated tasting, and beverage matrix on these sensations. Untrained participants were presented with samples of a “flavored beverage” or water containing various concentrations of four stimuli (alum, malic acid, tannic acid, and quinine) and were asked to rate intensities of tastes (bitterness, sourness, and sweetness) and astringency subqualities (roughing, drying, and constricting or puckering) …

Don's Conference Notes, Donald T. Hawkins

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Proposal For A University Of Akron Chronic Condition Support Group, Kendra Taylor

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

With constant advancements in modern medicine, new opportunities are opening up to those diagnosed with chronic conditions during childhood and adolescence. Children who would have died early on due to their life-altering medical conditions are now living well into adulthood, with approximately 500,000 youth with chronic conditions turning 18 years old each year in the Unites States. Despite them having similar high school graduation rates as their peers, students with one or more chronic condition are only half as likely to graduate from college after starting. Data on this specific population while in college is very limited, but what is …

The Effect Of Lactation Consultation On The Duration Of Breastfeeding In New Mothers: A Systematic Review, Jillian Leiter, Jennifer Naegeli, Lilyana Walkley

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In the United States, 3.978 million babies were born in the year 2015 (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2016). Statistics show that less than 25% of newborns in the United States are breastfed for half of the recommended time by The American Academy of Pediatrics. There are many benefits to breastfeeding, but babies are not receiving these benefits. This systematic review identifies, reviews, and critically appraises the evidence regarding the effect of lactation consultation on duration of breastfeeding in new mothers. Literature was retrieved from CINAHL and Google Scholar. Each study was vetted based on criteria to fully …

Physical Education, Physical Activity & Academic Achievement: A Longitudinal Study For 1st And 8th Grade Students, Jessica Marita

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Purpose: To examine the physical education requirement, factors that affect physical activity levels for grade-school children, and how physical activity can affect academic achievement. The purpose of the present investigation is to demonstrate a relationship between physical education, physical activity, and academic achievement in K-8th graders.

Hypothesis: Increased physical education in grade-school will be associated with higher academic achievement, higher levels of physical education will be associated with greater amounts of physical activity outside of the classroom.

Methods: Participants were children selected from secondary, publically available, de-identified data from the nationwide Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten 2011 (ECLS-K: 2011). . …

Preventing The Spread Of Illness In College Residence Hall Populations, Lacey Burkholder, Katherine Allensworth, Haley Schaffter

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Illness contributes to a decrease in student class attendance which can lead to increased academic stress. Decreasing the spread of illness among those living in residence halls is essential to academic success. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify interventions implemented in residence halls on college campuses to reduce the spread of illness. The PICO question directing the research for this study asks, “How do interventions affect the spread of illness in university residence hall populations?”. The research conducted was completed by means of a systematic review of literature including 20 peer reviewed articles published between 1999-2017 from …

Security Blankets: The Art Of Maladaptation, Megan Stobaugh

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In times of stress or trauma, each person has their own means of coping. There are countless ways to deal with stressors in a positive way, such as journaling, problem solving, or meditation. However, many distressed individuals turn to negative, or maladaptive, coping mechanisms. These are behaviors which seem to help ease distress in the moment, but prove to have negative consequences. While they vary greatly, some common maladaptive coping mechanisms include substance and tobacco use, self-harm, disordered eating, violence, and isolation.

This project aims to shed light on the subject of maladaptive coping mechanisms, as it is an increasingly …

Vapor Compression Refrigeration System For Cold Storage On Spacecrafts, Cai Stephen Rohleder, Kunal Bansal, Bryce Shaffer, Eckhard A. Groll

International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference

NASA’s future missions involve sending astronauts back to the moon, and further. Challenges associated with this goal are not limited to the science involved with propelling these astronauts to their destination. Life support systems must also advance to improve astronaut health during their long flights in space. Currently, food consumed in space is processed to be shelf stable, and recent experiments have shown that nutrients of these shelf stable foods decay over time. Refrigeration storage for more nutritional food has remained undeveloped due to fluid flow and heat transfer management difficulties in microgravity. As part of a NASA SBIR Phase …

Sensitivity Of Quagga Mussels (Dreissena Rostriformis Bugensis) To Cyanobacteria At Multiple Life History Stages, Anna Boegehold

Wayne State University Dissertations

Quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) originate from brackish waters of the Ponto-Caspian area and are nuisance invasive species in North American and European freshwaters. Their invasion has caused major economic and ecological damages in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Through selective filter feeding, quagga mussels have promoted the growth of cyanobacteria. Harmful cyanobacteria blooms have the potential to produce toxins, which can be toxic to humans and wildlife. Although quagga mussels can increase the prevalence of cyanobacteria blooms, it is unknown how they are physiologically affected by cyanobacteria and understanding these dynamics can be useful in the management of this invasive …

Fostering Resilience: Leader Strategies And Practices For Overcoming Adversity In Military Organizations, Eugene Coughlin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to identify leadership strategies and practices for overcoming adversity in military organizations. This entailed determining what challenges military leaders face in implementing practices aimed at fostering resilience in their organizations. Also examined was how military leaders measure success at fostering resilience in their organizations. Finally, this study considered what recommendations military leaders would make to aspiring leaders wanting to foster resilience in their own organizations in the future. The researcher used a phenomenological approach that incorporated interviews and content analysis. The population for this study was United States Marine Corps infantry officers who …

Student Achievement And Parental Involvement In A Private School: Grades K-8 Learning Outcomes, Darcy Brent Calvillo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) To determine whether there is a relationship between parental involvement and test scores in a K-8 school; and (b) What parental methods and strategies surveyed show an effect on test scores based on research and parental surveys? Approximately 300 parents participated in a parental methods survey. Parents were surveyed and provided English and Math performance data. Data from this researcher’s survey adapted from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE; APPENDIX B) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including the top 5 methods or strategies according to the parent survey that have an effect …

A Study Of The Perceived Value Of The National Association Of Schools Of Art And Design (Nasad) Accreditation By Fashion Students In Fashion Programs At Public And Private Colleges, Cynthia R. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

When one thinks of the fashion industry, one might think of famous designers and celebrity fashion shows. Today, fashion is a $1.2 trillion global industry, employing 1.9 million people in the United States, creating a positive impact on regional economies across the country (JEC, 2015; US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). Presently, 90% of apparel design and production has gone overseas or elsewhere in the world (Robinson, 2013). Manufacturing today requires “universal participation” (Bill, 2011); meaning garments designed in one country, made in fabric from a second country, assembled in a third country, then shipped back to …

Arts Education As A Pathway To College: A Case Study Of Title I Latino Students, Eva Lara Arrechiga

Theses and Dissertations

Latino high school graduates enroll into 4-year colleges at disproportionately lower rates compared to their White peers. The visual and performing arts have been documented for having a positive influence on academic achievement. The current study measured the influence of a visual and performing arts high school program and nine independent factors that might explain Latino 12th grade students' decision to apply to a 4-year college. A total of 160 Latino students from one visual and performing arts (VAPA) high school in an urban school district participated in this study. 40 students from each academy (dance, music, theater and visual …

Qualitative Analysis Of Emotion Regulation As Seen In Middle Eastern American Psychotherapy Clients, Jennifer Nehme

Theses and Dissertations

Middle Eastern individuals represent a heterogeneous group comprised of different nationalities, languages, and religious identifications. Yet, Middle Eastern Americans are widely underrepresented in the psychotherapy literature. Extant literature appears to focus on professional opinions about what psychotherapists should do when working with this population, including understanding cultural factors, such as incorporating family in treatment and acculturation status. Considering cultural communication patterns among this population, emotion in generally understood to be inhibited or suppressed, as disclosing personal problems and expressing emotion outside the family sphere can be viewed as disloyal and/or shaming. Thus, one of the many areas mental health clinicians …

Enhancing Personal And Professional Performance Within Boundaryless Work-Life Contexts, Bethany Jones

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined strategies that seven corporate leaders use to enhance their performance within boundaryless work contexts. Participants described their best and worst days as examples of interrole facilitation and conflict. The behaviors, values, and beliefs underlying interrole facilitation strategies were then deduced. Experiences of interrole facilitation were characterized by wellbeing, efficacy, and connection. Interrole conflict was experienced as the absence of these, combined with stress, pressure, feeling out of control, and having a sense of defeat. Various planning and executing behaviors as well as internal and external conditions were believed to impact interrole facilitation. Participants' values and beliefs emphasized …

Delivering On Seafood Traceability Under The New U.S. Import Monitoring Program, Demian A. Willette, Samantha H. Cheng

Biology Faculty Works

The United States is the world’s largest fish importer. Recent reports, however, indicate that 25–30% of wild-caught seafood imported into the US is illegally caught, heightening concerns over the country’s significant role in driving Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. In January 2017, NOAA enacted the Seafood Import Monitoring Program in an effort to combat IUU fishing through mandating improved seafood traceability requirements. This program requires reporting of fisheries data from harvest to arrival at the US border. Given the role of the US as a major global importer of seafood, this regulation could be a transformative action on fisheries …

Bioconversion Of Pelletized Big Bluestem, Switchgrass, And Low-Diversity Grass Mixtures Into Sugars And Bioethanol, Bruce S. Dien, Robert B. Mitchell, Michael J. Bowman, Virginia L. Jin, Joshua Quarterman, Marty R. Schmer, Vijay Singh, Patricia J. Slininger

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Three crops of warm-season grasses are being developed for biomass production on northern rain-fed marginal farmland: big bluestem (BBS), switchgrass (SG), and a low diversity mixture of grasses (LDM). In this study, biomass harvested from established fields were compared for pelletization and subsequent conversion to sugars and ethanol. Each biomass was successfully pelletized to similar bulk densities without adding a binder at a commercial feed operation. Pelletizing increased the bulk density by 407% on average and was equally effective on all three biomass samples (528–554 kg/m³). Chemical analysis of the samples indicated that glucan and xylan contents were …

Wolbachia Modifies Thermal Reference In Drosophila Melanogaster, Amy Michelle Truitt, Martin Kapun, Rupinder Kaur, Wolfgang J. Miller

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Environmental variation can have profound and direct effects on fitness, fecundity, and host symbiont interactions. Replication rates of microbes within arthropod hosts, for example, are correlated with incubation temperature but less is known about the influence of host-symbiont dynamics on environmental preference. Hence, we conducted thermal preference (Tp) assays and tested if infection status and genetic variation in endosymbiont bacterium Wolbachia affected temperature choice of Drosophila melanogaster. We demonstrate that isogenic flies infected with Wolbachia preferred lower temperatures compared to uninfected Drosophila. Moreover, Tp varied with respect to three investigated Wolbachia variants (wMel, wMelCS and wMelPop). While uninfected individuals preferred …

Investigations Of Possible Cases Of Scurvy In Juveniles From The Kellis 2 Cemetery In The Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, Through Stable Carbon And Nitrogen Isotopic Analysis Of Multiple Tissues, Georgina Chasse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vitamin C deficiency, or scurvy, is a disease that can occur in humans at any age and has been seen throughout time. Scurvy affects the production of connective tissues, including collagen, which leads to the many symptoms of the disease, including fatigue, anemia, bleeding gums and lost teeth, skeletal changes, and even death. The Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, in use from approximately AD 50-360, contains the remains of many juveniles who exhibit skeletal indicators of scurvy. Tissue samples from juveniles who did (n=31) and did not (n=117) exhibit skeletal indicators of scurvy were analyzed isotopically, with …

Understanding The Perceived Experiences Of Goal Setting Of Mothers Of Preschool Children: A Narrative Analysis, Dawn Eckhoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mothers are often asked to use goal setting to help their children achieve optimal health. Before mothers can be successful, they must grasp the meaning and process of goal setting. Currently there is a glaring lack of published research regarding how goal setting is understood and experienced by mothers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the self-described understanding and experiences of mothers, regarding goal setting for their preschool children. Narrative Inquiry was used to explore mothers' experiences with goal setting. A purposive sample of mothers with children in a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program were recruited from the central …

Food Insecurity And Child And Parent/Caretaker Overweight/Obesity In A Rural, Appalachian Mississippi Community, Sydney Antolini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the differences in parent/caretaker body mass index (BMI) and parent/caretaker-reported child overweight/obesity by food security status in a rural, Appalachian, Mississippi community, as well as the relationship of parent/caretaker BMI and parent/caretaker-reported child overweight/obesity to food security status. A cross-sectional survey of elementary school parents/caretakers recruited at three elementary schools in an economically-distressed Appalachian, Mississippi county was conducted. Parent/caretaker BMI was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Caretaker-reported child overweight/obesity was determined using caretaker report of a medical professional identifying child overweight/obesity within the past year. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS (version 23, 2015) to assess …