Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Economic Viability Of Arkansas Farms Under The 2018 Farm Bill, Grant Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For over a century, the American agricultural industry has relied on federal government support to aid in the maintenance and expansion of farming operations. Since 1933, a series of 18 farm bills have shaped agricultural policy into what is commonly known as the agricultural safety net. The 2018 farm bill was passed on December 20, 2018 and is the most recent update of the agricultural safety net. Commodity programs and federal crop insurance are two key components of today’s agricultural safety net, and many times, these programs may be the difference between a net loss and a positive net income …

Agriculture, Food, And Health: Changes In Industry Structure And Consumer Behavior, Xi He

Doctoral Dissertations

Since the 1970s, almost every sector along the agrifood supply chain, such as production, processing, distribution, and retailing, has been characterized by increasing concentration, and this has raised concerns over the welfare of small farms and final consumers. For consumers, the significant external costs associated with unhealthy food consumption have also raised concerns about how to make people, especially those in low-income households, eat healthier. This dissertation explores two key issues in the U.S. agrifood sector: the changing market structure and the impact of public policies on consumers’ healthy eating behavior.

The first essay develops a model of firm behavior …

Evaluation Of Family Inc.'S Home Visitation Program, Brooke A. Linnenbrink

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

FAMILY, Inc. is a nonprofit that provides public health and family support services to women, children, and families in Pottawattamie and Mills counties. It's home visitation program provides health education information to families in the communities that are expecting a child or have a child less than five years of age. This project looked at FAMILY, Inc.’s database regarding the health of children enrolled in their home visitation program and use that information to help develop health education tools as they prepare to expand their programming to include Early Head Start (EHS). Currently FAMILY uses the Parents as Teachers curriculum, …

Piloting A Cooking Demonstration Curriculum For Dietetics Students, Jill Henderson

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

Cooking demonstrations are a unique and effective way to teach nutritional concepts and basic cooking skills in a community setting. They have been found to be beneficial for participants in attendance as they improve confidence in the kitchen, cooking skills development, and the promotion of healthier foods into the diet. Classroom learning facilitates critical thinking but does not necessarily provide a platform for hands-on learning. In planning and executing community-involved cooking demonstrations, students are able to connect content learned in the classroom to professional practice. Over the last decade the field of dietetics has involved more community-based programs designed to …

Barriers, Roles, And Information Source Preferences For Utilizing Agricultural Science Projects Among Utah 4-H Extension Professionals, Aleigh Aurin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Agriscience is the growing study of biotechnology, business, and economics within the agriculture industry. Through 4-H, youth can experience hands on learning through different program areas. The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers, roles, and how Utah 4-H personnel preferred to learn about new programs. The study showed time and available volunteers were a barrier for 4-H Extension personnel to implement Agriscience projects. Other results included internet and workshops as the top choices for training programs. The Extension personnel agreed it was their job to involve and educate youth. Yet, need training in how to integrate Robotics; …

Characterization Of Biofilms In A Synthetic Rhizosphere Using Hollow Fiber Root-Mimetic Systems, Michelle Bonebrake

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The area around a plant’s roots hosts a complex and diverse microbial community. This environment can include a large number of bacteria that live on the surface of the root and benefit from the nutrients that the roots exude into the soil. These microbes can in turn be beneficial to the plant by protecting the roots from harmful fungi or stressful environmental conditions such as drought. In this thesis, several root-mimetic systems (RMSs) were developed for the study and growth of plant-beneficial bacteria in the laboratory environment. The RMS uses a porous hollow fiber used in hemodialysis as a surface …

Urban Alaskan Moose: An Analysis Of Factors Associated With Moose-Vehicle Collisions, Lucian R. Mcdonald

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As human populations continue to grow and encroach into wildlife habitats, instances of human-wildlife conflict are on the rise. Increasing numbers of reported wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) provide tangible evidence of anthropogenic impacts on wildlife as well as increasing threats to human health and safety. Increasing WVCs are of particular concern, especially those involving large-bodied ungulates such as moose (Alces spp.), because of the increased risk of property damage, personal injuries, and human fatalities. Motorists directly involved in a WVC are at risk of injury or mortality, but other motorists are also put at risk due to road obstructions and traffic …

Effect Of Supplemental Prebiotics, Probiotics And Bioactive Proteins On The Microbiome Composition And Gut Physiology In C57bl6/J Mice, Ye Li

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The composition and metabolic activity of the microbiome affect many aspects of health, and there is current interest in dietary constituents that may affect this system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a mix of probiotics, a mix of prebiotics and a bioactive protein fraction on the microbiome, when fed to mice individually and in combination. Mice were fed the total western diet (TWD) supplemented with prebiotics, probiotics, and Tri-Factor (bioactive proteins) individually and in combination for four weeks. Subsequently, effects on the composition of gut microbiome, gut short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration, gut …

Ecosystem Functioning Of Great Salt Lake Wetlands, Maya Cassidy Pendleton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) wetlands account for ~75% of all Utah wetlands and provide not only critical habitat for millions of migratory birds, but also provide valuable ecosystem functions and services as well as economic benefits to Utahns. However, these wetlands are facing an aggressive invader, Phragmites australis, that has spreading across the GSL wetlands and replacing native wetland habitats. Wetland managers have spent countless resources and time trying to control the spread of P. australis and restore GSL wetlands. However, we do not fully understand how these wetlands functions and services are being altered with this habitat …

Dementia Caregiver Coping Strategies And Caregiver-Care Recipient Relationship Closeness: Associations With Care-Recipient Outcomes, Stephanie Behrensberg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This project used data from the Dementia Progression Study, a longitudinal, population-based study based out of Cache County, Utah. Statistical models were used to examine the association between caregiver factors, the care environment, and cognitive outcomes in persons with dementia. Mediational analyses were also used to examine if the care environment, inferred for nutritional status, engagement in physical and cognitively stimulating activities, mediated the relationship between the closeness/caregiver coping strategies and cognition in persons with dementia. Results showed that closer caregiver-care recipient relationships were associated with better nutritional status and more engagement in number of cognitively stimulating activities as well …

Development And Validation Of An Agricultural Literacy Instrument Using The National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes, M. Rose Judd-Murray

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was conducted to develop a standardized agricultural literacy assessment using the National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes (NALOs) as benchmarks. The need for such an assessment was born out of previous research, which found that despite numerous programs dedicated to improving agricultural literacy, many students and adults remain at low or very low levels of literacy. Low literacy levels lead to negative associations with the production and processing of food, clothing, and shelter, as well as misinformed public perceptions and policies. Agricultural literacy researchers recognized that the development of a standardized assessment for post-12^th grade, or equivalent, could unify …

Feature Selection And Analysis For Standard Machine Learning Classification Of Audio Beehive Samples, Chelsi Gupta

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The beekeepers need to inspect their hives regularly in order to protect them from various stressors. Manual inspection of hives require a lot of time and effort. Hence, many researchers have started using electronic beehive monitoring (EBM) systems to collect critical information from beehives, so as to alert the beekeepers of possible threats to the hive. EBM collects information by applying multiple sensors into the hive. The sensors collect information in the form of video, audio or temperature data from the hives.

This thesis involves the automatic classification of audio samples from a beehive into bee buzzing, cricket chirping and …

The Thermal And Physical Properties Of Beef From Three Usda-Quality Grades Cooked To Multiple Degrees Of Doneness, Jessica Mcclellan Hadfield

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of quality grade (QG) and degree-of-doneness (DOD) on thermophysical properties of beef strip steaks. The “Prime” eating experience must be marketed to compete with cheaper protein sources, and so palatability is a major concern with beef products. Thermal and physical properties help shed light on the impacts various components have on beef palatability, mainly tenderness and juiciness. Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and the textural property of springiness are both influenced by a combination of QG and DOD. This is also true for viscoelasticity and the degradation of myosin and sarcoplasmic …

Synthesis And Biological Studies Of Amphiphilic Compounds Derived From Saccharides And Aminoglycosides, Madher N. Alfindee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Adjacent cells communicate through gap junctions (GJs). These GJs are formed by head to head docking of two hemichannels (HCs) from two adjacent cells. HCs are connexin hexamer proteins. Connexin mutation is the most frequent cause of childhood hearing loss. This hearing impairment affects 2 in every 2000 children. Inhibition of the HCs might be the key factor to treat such disorders. A library of amphiphilic kanamycins was synthesized to be tested as HC inhibitors. These compounds showed excellent inhibition activity in comparison with the parent compound (kanamycin A) with less toxicity.

A library of monosaccharide esters with varying carbon …

The Effect Of Lactation And Energy Status On Gene Expression In The Main Reproductive Tissues Of Lactating Dairy Cattle, Sameer M. Alhojaily

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Modern high-yielding dairy cows are currently producing far more milk than their ancestors due to a prolonged and intensive genetic selection for milk production trait accompanied by the revolutionary improvement in technology, management, and nutrition. On the other hand, a noticeable decline in fertility and reproductive performance was undeniably consistent with the increase in milk yield. This decline in fertility and reproductive performance are recognized worldwide and well documented in several studies. Dairy cows typically experience a period of energy deficit during the first few months of lactation due to the rapid increase in milk production and limited feed intake. …

Subsistence Strategy Tradeoffs In Long-Term Population Stability Over The Past 6,000 Years, Darcy A. Bird

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I conduct the first comparative analysis of long term human population stability in North America. Questions regarding population stability among animals and plants are fundamental to population ecology, yet no anthropological research has addressed human population stability. This is an important knowledge gap, because a species’ population stability can have implications for its risk of extinction and for the stability of the ecological community in which it lives. I use archaeological and paleoclimatological data to compare long term population stability with subsistence strategy and climate stability over 6,000 years. I conduct my analysis on a large scale to better understand …

Unimóvil: A Mobile Health Clinic Providing Primary Care To The Colonias Of The Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, Eron G. Manuosv, Vincent P. Diego, Jacob Smith, Jesus R. Garza Ii, John Lowdermilk, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero, Francisco Fernandez

School of Medicine Publications

Background: We describe a mobile unit (UniMóvil) designed to improve poor healthcare access delivery to residents in two South Texas underserved Colonias. The interprofessional team measured seven clinical outcomes [obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, and depression], and using the Duke Health Profile, assessed the health-related quality of life (HrQoL).

Methods: The investigators used previously reported disease prevalence, an implementation model, and community needs-assessments to design an outreach healthcare delivery model. A retrospective review of the cohort provides data used to determine potential predictors of clinical variables, 11 domains of HrQOL, and inter/intra Colonia …

Effects Of Alternative Carbohydrate Sources And Soybean-Derived Isoflavones On The Microbiome And Immune System Of Nursery Piglets And Intestinal Porcine Epithelial Cell Line J-2, Sydney Kinstler

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Four experiments were conducted to characterize the microbiome of the piglet and observe effects of diet on growth performance and immunity. In Exp. 1, 96 nursery piglets were fed varying carbohydrate sources and in Exp. 2, 64 piglets were fed a soy protein concentrate or soybean meal as-is or supplemented with an isoflavone concentrate. Body and feeder weights were measured for growth performance estimation. Luminal contents and scrapings were isolated for microbial composition analysis. Fecal and blood samples were extracted in Exp. 2 for microbiome and immunity analysis. Diets did not affect growth performance (P > 0.10); however, Exp. 1 …

Evaluation Of Alpha Amylase Containing Corn On Beef Cattle Performance And Digestibility And Double-Cropped Annual Forages Following Corn Harvest, Mckenna Brinton

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

One digestion and three feedlot trials evaluated the effect of a new corn hybrid containing an α-amylase enzyme trait, Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn (SYT-EFC) on site and extent of digestion, ruminal fermentation parameters, and feedlot performance. Experiments utilized corn containing the enzymatic gene (SYT-EFC) compared to commercially available corn (CON), processed as corn silage (CS) kernel processed or not (KP), dry-rolled corn (DRC), high-moisture corn (HMC), or a blend of DRC and HMC. Growing calves fed high inclusions of CS, displayed increased G:F when CS was KP, resulting in a 6.5% improvement in G:F. Hybrid and kernel processing did not …

The Effect Of Year-Round Education On Middle School Student Achievement In Math: A Program Treatment Within The Equity Project Charter School, Jason D. Skeeter

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare the academic growth and proficiency in mathematics among a population of primarily low-socioeconomic students in a year-round school calendar at The Equity Project (TEP) charter school through comparison of year-round education student group and traditional education student group. Using a quasi-experimental design, an independent samples t-test and one sample t-test were used to compare the academic growth of the two student cohorts at TEP. Results for the fifth and sixth grade cohorts attending a year-round calendar supported a significant and positive impact using proficiency and growth as a measure of success; …

Leaf Fiber Strength And Fruit Nutrient Content Of Yucca Species Native To The Navajo Nation, Anna Therese Bartlett

Theses and Dissertations

The strength of leaf fibers and the nutritional value of the edible fruit of several yucca species native to the U.S. southwest were studied to aid in the determination of species best suited for commercial cultivation by the Navajo Nation. The leaves were softened in an autoclave to facilitate the removal of the leaf matrix, conditioned in environmentally controlled chambers, and the fibers were broken using a texture analyzer. The fibers were frozen and cross sectioned and photographed to determine cross sectional area. Official methods were used to determine the nutritional content of the fruit. The mean tensile strength of …

Development Of A Novel Bioprinting System:Bioprinter, Bioink, Characterizationand Optimization, Chandler Alan Warr

Theses and Dissertations

The use of 3D printing in biological applications is a new field of study given that 3D printing technology has become more available and user friendly. Possible uses include using existing 3D printing polymers to use in extracorporeal or in vitro devices, like Lab-on-a-Chip, and the development of new biologically derived materials to print cell-containing constructs. The latter concept is what is more commonly known as bioprinting. Our research had the goal of developing a bioprinting system including the printer, a bioink, and a feedback system for printing parameter optimization which could be done cheaply and within the reach of …

Effectiveness Of Educational Intervention On Diabetic Knowledge & Hba1c Levels On Kenyan Adults With T2dm, Sabina Jeruto Bett

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common chronic metabolic disease affecting millions of people globally, which causes many long-term complications such as high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, improper wound healing and loss of sight. Literature supports that most people, in general and diabetic patients specifically, in Africa, including Kenya are currently not taught about the importance of proper management of their disease. Therefore, many have difficulty following treatment plans, resulting in improper eating, poor glucose control, and diabetic complications. The limited knowledge concerning T2DM contributes to the negative impact this serious disease has on those who live …

The Society Of Abdominal Radiology At 10 Years: Reflections, Status Report, And Look To The Future, Manju Ambelil, David M Saulino, Atilla Ertan, Andrew W Dupont, Mamoun Younes

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

CONTEXT.—: Recent studies examining immunohistochemical staining of colorectal biopsies for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reported that some cases showed only occasional small positive nuclei that were called equivocal for CMV.

OBJECTIVES.—: To determine the extent and clinical significance of equivocal CMV staining in colorectal biopsies.

DESIGN.—: Two-hundred twenty-one consecutive cases of colon and rectal biopsies that were stained for CMV by immunohistochemistry were retrieved from our files and reviewed. Staining results were recorded as negative, unequivocal, or equivocal. Results were correlated with clinicopathologic data, results of polymerase chain reaction studies for CMV, and treatment history.

RESULTS.—: Fifty-two cases (24% of all tested, …

Examining The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Care Training On Educators' Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behavior: A Qualitative Study, Emily Smith Schafer

All Dissertations

According to the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), nearly 35 million children in the United States have experienced one or more types of significant childhood trauma. In the average public school, this statistic translates to as many as half of the students in a given teacher's classroom. Children exposed to the toxic stress of trauma often experience negative consequences that affect their academic, psychological, social-emotional, and behavioral health. To aid educators in addressing this reality, trauma-informed care practices have increasingly begun to be translated into professional development opportunities for educators. One such training, Compassionate Schools, has been recently evaluated …

Spectrum Of Neurological Disorders In Neurology Outpatients Clinics In Urban And Rural Sindh, Pakistan: A Cross Sectional Study, Safia Awan, Alam Ibrahim Siddiqi, Ahmed Asif, Naveeduddin Ahmed, Hazim Brohi, Sajad Jalban, Mohammad Wasay

Section of Neurology

Background: Neurological disorders are the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Available evidence on urban–rural differences on neurological diseases is scare in such countries. Our study objective was to determine the prevalence of neurological diseases in urban and rural tertiary care hospitals of Sindh, Pakistan.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted in selected urban and rural region of tertiary care hospitals of Sindh, Pakistan. The outpatients medical records of adults (18 years and above) was obtained from January 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2014.

Results: A total of 10,786 outpatients visit were recorded in …

Examining Dimensions Of The Organizational Culture At Colleges Of Veterinary Medicine In The United States, Rachel A. Hendricks

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to explore the organizational culture present in veterinary medicine academia from the perspective of the female faculty. According to the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), during the 2016-2017 academic year 80.5% of students enrolled at a college of veterinary medicine (CVM) in the United States were women while 35.4% of tenure or tenure-track veterinary professors were female (AAVMC, 2017). There is no empirical, published literature that has examined the organizational culture at the colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States. In this quantitative study, a survey entitled, Culture Conducive to Women’s …

Pathways, Not Punishment: An Annotated Snap Employment And Training Advocacy Toolkit For Policy Newbies, Angela Eastlund

Student Research – Stevenson Center

For someone brand new to public policy advocacy, the concept can seem broad and putting it to practice can seem vague. In part, this is because the spectrum of public policy advocacy is broad and contains a vast variety of actions under its umbrella. The Chicago Jobs Council’s policy advocacy strategies around SNAP Employment and Training that are recounted in this toolkit are shared in context with the intent of shedding some light on the why, how, and when particular strategies are utilized. Our hope is that the examples shared here can be used to inform anyone that is a …

Health Coaching To Encourage Obese Adults To Enroll In Commercially-Available Weight Management Programs: The Path To Health Study, Natalia I Heredia, Minjae Lee, Kevin O Hwang, Belinda M Reininger, Maria E Fernandez, Lorna H Mcneill

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Physicians are recommended to screen and refer obese patients to weight management programs (WMPs). There are often limited referral options for physicians, though commercially-available WMPs could be a potential solution. The purpose of this study (Path to Health) was to evaluate the efficacy of health coaching to promote enrollment in commercially-available WMPs through a two-arm, RCT with obese patients (n = 168) randomly assigned to intervention (n = 84) or control groups (n = 84). Intervention participants received phone health coaching to help them select and enroll in WMPs. We collected data on program enrollment, weight, self-reported physical activity (PA), …

Knowledge Of Women Of Childbearing Age Regarding Preconception Counseling, Allison Britt, Shelby Jackson, Jessica Mcgee, Jenna Pugh

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of the current research study was to assess the knowledge of women of childbearing age regarding key components of preconception counseling and look at relationships between demographics and knowledge of preconception health care.