Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Immigration And Acculturation Stressors Among First Generation Peruvian Adults Residing In Utah, Mery Lipscomb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Among the literature, various stressors related to acculturation between immigrants. The goal of this study is to recognize factors that take place when immigrating to the United States. Unfortunately, studies have found most Latinos experience high levels of stress regardless of age and gender. Recognizing those factors that increase stressors can help immigrants from Latin America to cope with stressors and avoid mental health problems during the acculturation process. As the Latino population continues to grow, it is critical for mental health professionals to learn about the Latino culture and the factors that create mental health problems to better diagnose …

To Plant Or Not To Plant? A Decision Support Tool To Minimize Risk Associated With Water Level Uncertainty In Reservoir Habitat Management., David M. Norris

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoir mudflats limit development of healthy fish assemblages due to the lack of structural habitat provided by plants. Seeding mudflats with agricultural plants may mimic floodplain wetlands once inundated and provide fish habitat. However, planting success is uncertain because of unpredictable water level fluctuations that affect plant growth. Decision support tools can quantify uncertainty that influences decision outcomes, thus reducing risk in the decision-making process. I used Bayesian Decision Networks and sensitivity analyses to quantify uncertainty surrounding mudflat plantings as supplemental fish habitat in four northwest Mississippi reservoirs. When averaged across all uncertainty, planting was the optimal decision only in …

Biodiversity Of Bariditae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae) In Mississippi, Ryan Whitehouse

Theses and Dissertations

A survey of Bariditae in Mississippi resulted in records of 75 species in 32 genera and included two undescribed species and 36 new state records. An additional two species were recognized as possibly occurring in Mississippi as well. Diagnoses for all of the genera and species in the state are provided and keys to the genera as well as all of the species were made. Species were found in every county within Mississippi and are representative of the Bariditae fauna of the southeastern United States. Open, prairie-like habitats and aquatic wetland habitats were the habitats with the highest biodiversity of …

Assessment Of Social Media Technical Support Efforts For Extension Agents, Mary Annabelle Stokes

Theses and Dissertations

Extension agents are tasked with disseminating educational content, announcing events, and promoting the outreach efforts of Extension. Social media can be a powerful resource for Extension agents (Skrabut, 2014). Integrating social media into outreach efforts can be an efficient way for agents to meet increasing work demands (Gharis & Hightower, 2017). Still, many Extension agents are not fully integrating social media as a means to communicate with their audiences (Garcia et al., 2018). To address this, Extension communication units are developing social media technical support efforts to increase the agents’ social media activity (Garcia et al., 2018, Newbury et al., …

Biological, Cultural, And Psychological Factors That May Predispose Young Adults To Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, And Binge Eating Disorders, Madison Christian

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the extent biological, cultural, and psychological factors predispose individuals to eating disorders and compared the prevalence between (N = 103) male and female students (18-27 years of age) from Mississippi State University (MSU). Data was collected from the Eating Disorder Screen for Primary Care (ESP), a media consumption questionnaire, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS), the Diet History Questionnaire III (DHQ III), the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale. Age of onset was collected if participants identified as having an eating disorder. Data was analyzed using the Mann-Whitey U test and Pearson correlations …

Effect Of Housing Environment And Laying Hen Strain On Performance, Egg Quality And Bone Properties As Well As Cloacal And Eggshell Microbiology, Milan Kumar Sharma

Theses and Dissertations

Laying hen welfare is gaining importance in the United States and several states have passed legislation for a welfareriendly housing environment, which has forced the egg industry to explore alternative housing environments. For this reason, our first objective was to determine the effect of housing environment and laying hen strain on production performance and egg quality. Results showed that production performance of the hens raised in the alternative housing system was similar to the conventional system. The second objective was to compare the eggshell and cloacal microbiology. Our results indicated that the microbial load observed was higher in the alternative …

Total Nutrient Uptake And Partitioning In Midsouthern U.S. Irrigated Soybean, Brian Kimbrell Pieralisi

Theses and Dissertations

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] biomass and yield has increased over the past several decades in the midsouthern United States; therefore, a better understanding of the nutrient requirements of the crop is needed. Nutrient uptake and partitioning in soybean is fundamental to understanding the physiology of nutrient accumulation relative to crop yield. Technological advances and improved management strategies in soybean production have contributed to significant yield increases. Research was established in 2017 and 2018 in Stoneville, MS, to evaluate soybean nutrient uptake and partitioning across multiple soybean cultivars and two planting dates. Coarse- and fine-textured soils commonly cropped in Mississippi …

Measuring The Effectiveness Of The Mississippi Agriculture In The Classroom Program On Elementary Students’ Agricultural Literacy Levels, Alyssa Hutcheson

Theses and Dissertations

Currently, the United States faces a time where the majority of the population is illiterate about the origins of their food. Thus, the population is considered to be agriculturally illiterate. Agricultural illiteracy allows skewed and misconceived agricultural information to infiltrate the populations’ beliefs about how their food is made. The United States Department of Agriculture along with the National Research Council have taken the initiative to start programs like the National Agriculture in the Classroom program to help combat low agricultural literacy levels. This study observes agricultural literacy levels in elementary students in Mississippi before and after new and existing …

Phase Of Enhancement And Plane Of Reconstruction Affect The Appearance Of The Normal Canine Small Intestine When Utilizing Triple-Phase Computed Tomographic Angiography, Jordan Taylor Hatfield

Theses and Dissertations

The use of computed tomography in patients with gastrointestinal disease is increasing. However, the triple-phase computed tomographic angiographic appearance of the canine small intestine and the effects that phase of contrast enhancement and plane of reconstruction have on the appearance of the small intestine have not been fully evaluated. The purposes of this study were to investigate these effects on the appearance of the small intestinal wall. The minimal and maximal small intestinal diameter, wall thickness, number of wall layers identified, and degree of mucosal enhancement were recorded. The plane of reconstruction did not have any significant effects on wall …

Draft Genome Sequences Of Two Extensively Drug-Resistant Strains Of Acinetobacter Baumannii Isolated From Clinical Samples In Pakistan, Sara Lomonaco, Matthew A. Crawford, Christine Lascols, Debra J. Fisher, Kevin Anderson, David R. Hodge, Segaran P. Pillai, Stephen A. Morse, Erum Khan, Molly A. Hughes, Marc W. Allard, Shashi K. Sharma

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Infections in immunocompromised patients that are caused by extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Acinetobacter baumannii strains have been increasingly reported worldwide. In particular, carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strains are a prominent cause of health care-associated infections. Here, we report draft genome assemblies for two clinical XDR A. baumannii isolates obtained from hospitalized patients in Pakistan.

Agronomic And Physiological Responses Of Resistant And Susceptible Cotton Genotypes To Reniform Nematode Severity And Soil Nitrogen, Bhupinder Singh

Theses and Dissertations

Rotylenchulus reniformis (RN) nematode infection has been identified as a major biotic factor limiting cotton yield (~8%) in Mississippi. Cotton researchers are striving to develop resistance to RN and develop management practices to mitigate the problem. Reniform nematode and soil nitrogen (N) directly affect cotton growth and physiology, however, responses to RN and N may vary across a wide genetic background. The overall objective of this research was to determine the role that host plant resistance to reniform nematode and soil nitrogen plays in cotton growth, physiology, and yield and controlling RN populations. In experiment 1, the effect of RN …

The Application Of Food Grade Short Chain Fatty Acids To Prevent Infestation Of Tyrophagus Putrescentiae On Dry Cured Ham And The Effects On Sensory Properties, William D. Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

Tyrophagus putrescentiae, (ham mite) is difficult for commercial dry cured ham producers to control. This research was conducted to test the efficacy of C8C9C10 fatty acids combined with and without food grade coatings to control mite infestations on dry cured hams. Ham cubes were coated directly or wrapped in nets saturated with combinations of xanthan gum (XG) or carrageenan (CG), propylene glycol alginate (PGA), and either propylene glycol or C8C9C10 fatty acid. The use of 10% C8C9C10 with XG and CG + PGA in direct coatings and 1% C8C9C10 with XG or 10% with both XG and CG/PGA in saturated …

Instrumental And Sensory Quality Differences In Marinated Chicken Breasts And Chicken Patties Formulated With Varying Severities Of Wooden Breast, Tessa Jarvis

Theses and Dissertations

Wooden breast (WB) is a Pectoralis major muscle myopathy in broilers that has negatively impacted breast meat quality and the poultry industry for over five years. The objective of this research was to evaluate quality differences in normal (NOR), moderately woody (MOD), and severely woody (SEV) broiler breast meat marinated with water (control), water, sodium phosphate, and salt (traditional) and water, potassium carbonate and salt (clean label). The second objective of this research was to evaluate quality differences in chicken patties made with varying percentages of NOR to SEV breast meat (0% NOR, 33% NOR, 67% NOR, 100% NOR) and …

Metagenomic Sequencing, Microbiome Reconstruction, And Analysis Of Ancient North And Central American Dental Calculus, Jonathan Belanich

Theses and Dissertations

Analyses of human oral microbiomes reveal substantial amounts of information about health, diet, and diseases of individuals and their communities within the archaeological record. In order to examine bacterial genomes from the past, specific archaeological samples that contain remnants of the microbial communities in question must be utilized. Recent developments in high-throughput, next-generation DNA sequencing have enabled the characterization of entire oral microbiomes and genomes from the remains of the bacteria trapped in calcified dental plaque. This project analyzed samples of ancient human dental calculus from North and Central America, which were examined for the changes within the oral microbiome …

Physiological Consequences Of Adverse Early-Life Experiences: A Skeletal Investigation Of Frailty And Resilience Within An Institutionalized Sample Using A Modified Version Of The Skeletal Frailty Index (Sfi), Ashley Dafoe

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates frailty, defined as the accumulation of deficits in physiological functioning, by applying the Skeletal Frailty Index (SFI) to a skeletal sample (N=67) recovered from the Mississippi State Asylum (MSA), and in a comparative sample, the Terry Collection. The SFI was statistically modified to increase its utility here. Variables that influence frailty, including age, sex, stress in early-life, and resilience, were assessed relative to four SFIs: Overall, Nutritional, Activity, and Infection. This study finds that the predicted relationships between the SFIs and the aforementioned variables are largely absent in the MSA sample. When compared to individuals in the …

Genome Editing In Kenaf: Initial Studies And Target Gene Characterization, Kangqi Li

Theses and Dissertations

The potential for Hibiscus cannabinus L. (kenaf) improvement via genome editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate gene knock-outs was explored. Studies included target gene identification, target guide RNA (gRNA) selection, plant tissue (explant) choice and media composition for plant regeneration. A putative kenaf phytoene desaturase gene (pds, GEED01047592.1) was identified in the kenaf transcriptome, and molecularly confirmed. Kenaf seedling tissues were transformed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the cas9 gene (endonuclease required for gene knock-out) and each gRNA separately; putative transgenic calli and adventitious shoots arose on a medium containing 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, thidiazuron and silver nitrate. Tissues appeared chlorotic/albino and …

Increasing Knowledge Of Lack Of Physical Activity Within The Special Needs Community, Vanessa Garcia

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Children with special needs often lack physical activity in their daily lives. Along side of physical activity their health concerns could increase. Implementing physical activity in these children's lives early on is key to their health and future, but no matter what age you start it is never too late. The following project works to implement physical activity in these children's lives, beginning with a 3 day workshop on baseball skills. All students with special needs at Highland Elementary are included in this activity.

Erasure No More: Canada's First Nation's Resurgence Of Land-Based Practices, Tonalla Renteria

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Resurgence is the 21st century revitalization of traditional practices and governance to create an alternative future for Indigenous communities as articulated by North American Indigenous scholars: Leanne Simpson, Glen Coulthard, Taiaike Alfred, and Jeff Corntassel. Theoretical works and findings of Resurgence were a response to the settler-colonial narrative of dispossession policies directed at the removal of Indigenous communities from their land. In response, Indigenous scholars have used Resurgence to showcase alternatives to protecting Indigenous land rights and cultural practices. This is being done through a national liberation and the rejuvenation of cultural values, practices, language, and art. This paper shows …

Increasing Accessibility To Key Social Determinants Of Health In Monterey County, Tabitha Vargas

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Monterey County Health Department’s Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Unit provides agency-wide support in promoting health equity. Obesity and diabetes rates in Monterey County are too high and there needs to be an increase of accessible data, which may help increase targeted prevention services. A health brief was developed for the purpose of increasing access to county-wide obesity and diabetes data and increasing knowledge of the role of how social determinants of health may affect health outcomes. A survey was conducted to measure the effectiveness of the health brief with results demonstrating that 100% of respondents agreed that the brief was …

Addressing The Dietary Needs Of The Food Insecure, Ana Chrisman

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many of the people receiving food assistance through food pantries may have dietary restrictions that are in conflict with the packaged food provided by the pantries. In order for the staff and volunteers to be able to adjust to the needs of their clients, they must be knowledgeable about how the content of the food impacts those recipients who are on specialized diets and be able to provide appropriate foods for them. Therefore, I will be conducting a one hour workshop to the staff and volunteers at Saint Joseph's food pantry in Gilroy, California.

Increasing Nutrition Awareness Among Preschoolers, Keli Mulvey

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Increasing Nutrition Among Preschoolers through a 3-day interactive lesson at the Monterey Peninsula College Early Childhood Education Lab School with connection to Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory.

Investigation Of Acute Response To Carbohydrate In Subsequent Resistance Training, Damon Mccune

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Resistance training has been shown to have several positive benefits to health including increasing muscle size and strength, reducing risk of sarcopenia with aging, and is associated with reduced risk of mortality. A cornerstone in accomplishing these goals is to progressively overload the muscle by increasing training volume to promote muscle protein synthesis following training stimulation. Total training volume has been demonstrated in the literature to be a prime determinant of muscle hypertrophy and overall training performance. Carbohydrate (CHO) manipulation has been observed as a potential ergogenic aid when training demands are high. Current research investigating nutrition related to exercise …

Zooarchaeology Of Bone, Antler, And Ivory Technologies: A Case Study From The Central Anatolian Bronze And Iron Age Site Kaman Kalehӧyük, Sarah Raffae Macintosh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The proposed dissertation research investigates bone, antler, and ivory technologies in central Anatolia (present-day Turkey) during the Bronze and Iron Ages (ca. 3000-100 Before Current Era or BCE). At this time, rural agrarian societies were transforming into more complex polities and states. This transformation was marked by a rapid increase of social complexity as documented in the archaeological record in terms of monumental administrative and religious buildings, uniform ceramic ware, and writing. The current archaeological record also informs us about the rate of technological change in pottery, architecture, and metallurgy, as typology, style, and function are widely documented and studied …

An Alternative Approach To Food Market Design: Strategies That Nurture Human Health And Well-Being, Kendall Marsh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Access to food is being implemented in newer and more convenient forms now more than ever before. However, many of the methods that people utilize to purchase food may have substantial adverse health effects. Markets were once centered around a direct exchange of locally grown food and intimate social gatherings. Major developments like the industrialization of agriculture, rapid urbanization, and technological advancements introduced a shift in food market settings. Redefining the design of the market environment can transform a routine task into a valuable experience that nurtures human health and well-being.

In addition to a review of literature, the method …

Comparison Of Digital Treatment Setups And Final Treatment Outcomes Of Class Ii Division 1 Malocclusions Treated With Premolar Extractions, Sogol Shantiyai

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether there are differences between pre-orthodontic treatment dimensions when compared to the virtual treatment simulations and actual orthodontic treatment outcomes in Class II malocclusions treated with two or four premolar extractions.

Introduction: The use of intraoral scanners has become commonplace in orthodontic practices, giving practitioners the ability to scan and assess maxillary and mandibular dental morphology and occlusal relationships chairside and in real-time. Practitioners can use virtual treatment planning to evaluate different extraction patterns, visualize potential non-extraction outcomes using interproximal reduction, and alter anchorage strategies based on the amount of retraction or protraction required …

The Influence Of Motivational And Attentional Focus Factors On Throwing Accuracy In Elite Softball Athletes, Jacquelyn Sertic

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

According to the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning (Wulf & Lewthwaite, 2016), autonomy support (AS), enhanced expectancies (EE), and external focus (EF) of attention are key to effective motor performance and learning. AS allows individuals to exercise control, EE

provides performers with an increased sense of confidence, and EF directs attention to the intended movement effects. Previous research indicates that these factors individually and collectively can improve motor performance and learning in novices and experienced performers. Few studies have used elite performers as participants. Purpose: To determine whether skilled throwing performance can be enhanced by a successive implementation of AS, …

Excavating Gender: The Embodiment And (Re)Presentation Of Social Relations In Mierzanowice Communities Of The Early Bronze Age, Mark Paul Toussaint

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The construction of gender in a society is based on a discursive relationship between culture and biology. Ideological components are often translated into structural factors, which condition access to social and biological resources and exposure to risk. Cumulative differential health outcomes for groups can become embodied in ways that affect the skeleton. By conducting population-level analyses of skeletal markers of health and trauma, bioarchaeologists work backwards to attempt to reconstruct social conditions. Archaeological and mortuary context is an important part of this process.

Cemeteries of the Mierzanowice Culture (MC) in southern Poland (2300-1600 BCE) offer a unique opportunity to study …

Stress And Coping In Food-Insecure African Americans In Clark County, Nevada, Johanna Andrews

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

African Americans have the highest rates of food insecurity than any other racial/ethnic group in the nation as a result of poverty, low household income, unemployment, food injustice, food mirages, and racial segregation. This consistent uncertainty in food access demonstrably results in poor mental health outcomes for food-insecure African Americans. Thus, the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping provides a theoretical framework to investigate how African Americans cope with food insecurity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate processes of coping with food insecurity and determine their impact on emotional well-being for African Americans in Clark County, Nevada. A …

Utilizing Breathing Techniques To Maximize Training Performance, Peyton Cater

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Anaerobic exercise causes metabolic acidosis to occur in the muscle, which is unfavorable for sustaining high intensity activity, as fatigue starts to set in. In order to compensate for the onset of fatigue produced by an acidic environment, respiratory alkalosis, induced by hyperventilation, can be performed to mitigate these effects. In contrast, research has shown that slowing down the breath rate, such as a two second inhale and three second exhale, has led to an increase in performance outcomes. Purpose: To investigate power output and the physiological responses after implementation of different breathing techniques during the recovery periods of intermittent …

Do Compression Garments Work? The Effect Of Compression Garments On Biomechanical And Physiological Factors, Andrew Craig-Jones

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

New and innovative technology is consistently being introduced to help runners gain an edge over their competition. One of the more popular ergogenic aids in running today is compression garments. It is estimated that the compression garment market will surpass $5 billion by the year 2022. Despite the popularity, there is no clear consensus as to if or why compression is effective as an ergogenic aid. Although there has been a large variety of variables tested, there is little agreement on any of them as to the effect compression has. It appears as if the rate at which compression is …