Digital Commons Network^™

Maize Growth, Yield, Water Productivity And Evapotranspiration Response To Different Irrigation Methods And Amounts And Different Timing And Methods Of Nitrogen Applications, Ali T. Mohammed

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Declining the quantity and quality of freshwater resources in many parts of the world, including Midwestern USA, especially in the light of rapidly growing world’s population and changing climate, imposes significant and, in some cases imminent, challenges for producers, policy- and decision-makers to produce more yield with less water and other inputs, particularly in water scarcity regions.

There is not comprehensive previous research has quantified and evaluated coupled impacts of irrigation rates and nitrogen timing management strategies and their interactions on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity and its various attributed efficiency index metrics under different irrigation methods under the …

An Analysis Of Social Dominance In The Feeding Of Ex Situ Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus Humboldti), Robert Gabel

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

In the field of ecology, complex social structures, including dominance hierarchies, have been demonstrated in a variety of fauna, including bird species. While wild Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) do not exhibit a feeding hierarchy, captive penguins are under very different conditions. Humboldt penguins feed on schooling fish in the wild, but in captivity are hand fed from a zookeeper. I investigated whether there is a nonrandom pattern of dominance in the feeding order of the penguins at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, in Lincoln, NE, USA. Using a camera and tripod, with assistance from four of the zookeepers, I …

Mothers’ Experience With Infant Complementary Feeding Practices: A Phenomenological Study., Tyler Martin

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Background. Complementary feeding practices include what, when, and how to feed (Birch and Doub, 2014). The gradual transition from feeding exclusively human milk, formula milk, or a combination of both to complementary foods over the first 24 months of life is necessary to ensure proper growth and development (Dewey, 2001; Pearce & Langley-Evans, 2013). While research does exist on complementary feeding, such as infant diet composition, limited research exists on exploring complementary feeding practices from first-time mothers’ experiences.

Methods. This study utilized transcendental phenomenological qualitative research methodology. A pilot tested semi-structured interview guide was used to examine demographics as …

Comparisons Of Celiac Disease And Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, Victoria Thomas

Senior Honors Theses

Celiac disease (CD) and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) are often confused or grouped together due to their commonalities. However, this is careless behavior because there are clinically significant differences between the two diseases. Similarities between them include varying degrees of damage or permeability in the lining of the small intestine, involvement of the innate immune system, alleviation of symptoms upon implementation of a gluten-free diet (GFD), and the possibility for complications if the pathology is not adequately treated. Despite these similarities, minor details such as the following make CD and NCGS worth differentiating: the question of gluten as the true …

Current Strategies In Prevention Of Postoperative Infections In Spine Surgery., Kivanc Atesok, Efstathios Papavassiliou, Michael J Heffernan, Danny Tunmire, Irina Sitnikov, Nobuhiro Tanaka, Sakthivel Rajaram, Jason Pittman, Ziya L Gokaslan, Alexander Vaccaro, Steven Theiss

Rothman Institute Papers

Study Design: Narrative review.

Objectives: Postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most common acute complications in spine surgery and have a devastating impact on outcomes. They can lead to increased morbidity and mortality as well as greater economic burden. Hence, preventive strategies to reduce the rate of SSIs after spine surgery have become vitally important. The purpose of this article was to summarize and critically analyze the available evidence related to current strategies in the prevention of SSIs after spine surgery.

Methods: A literature search utilizing Medline database was performed. Relevant studies from all the evidence levels have …

The Effects Of Mat Pilates Training On Vascular Function And Body Fatness In Obese Young Women With Elevated Blood Pressure, Alexei Wong, Arturo Figueroa, Stephen M. Fischer, Reza Bagheri, Song-Young Park

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND

Effective nonpharmacological interventions targeting the enhancement of vascular function and decline of body fatness (BF) in obese individuals are indispensable for the prevention of hypertension and cardiovascular events in young adults. Mat Pilates training (MPT) has gained significant popularity worldwide, yet its effects on vascular function and body composition are understudied. We examined the effects of MPT on vascular function and BF in young obese women with elevated blood pressure (BP). METHODS

Twenty-eight young obese women with elevated BP were randomized to an MPT (n = 14) or a nonexercising control (CON, n = 14) group for 12 …

Wellness Programming For Adults With Disabilities: A Qualitative Inquiry Of Stakeholders’ Perspectives, Courtney Roca

All Theses And Dissertations

There is a well-established need for a wellness program for adults with disabilities in the regional community. In alignment with best practice guidelines, and as a first step in the development of a program in the regional community, qualitative methodology was utilized to explore the views of key community stakeholders to gain an in-depth understanding of their perceptions of wellness programming needs for adults with disabilities in the regional community. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews which specifically explored barriers and facilitators to wellness programming for this population in the regional community to inform future steps of program development. Three …

Clinical Preparedness Amongst Recent Dental Hygiene Graduates: A Phenomenological Study, Daniela M. Taranto

All Theses And Dissertations

The focus of this phenomenological study is to evaluate the lived experiences of recent dental hygiene graduates’ as they relate to their curriculum preparation as clinicians. Individual interviews of ten newly graduated hygienists were conducted, consisting of seventeen open-ended questions related to their experience with feeling prepared to enter the workforce specific to their clinical skills, professionalism skills, and critical thinking skills. This study documented the experiences these participants had as they transitioned from master student, to novice clinician specific to their newly acquired skills. A positive perception of preparedness was found directly to their instrumentation, professionalism, and critical thinking …

Comparison Of Perceptions Of Single Mothers And Christian Leaders Through Transformational Change, Brienne Denise Robertson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to examine the transformational change process of single mothers from their perspective, and to then assess the influence of Christian leaders in this transformational change process from the leaders’ perspective, with respect to the single mother’s family stability: spiritually, emotionally, financially and generationally. The two theories working simultaneously in this study was the transformational leadership theory and transformational learning theory. The implementation of these two theories could spark an authentic life-long change in the single mother. Understanding the role of transformational leadership in Christian leaders then becomes necessary to guide single mothers …

April Campus Emails

COVID-19

No abstract provided.

The Ground On Which We All Stand: A Conversation About Menstrual Equity Law And Activism, Bridget J. Crawford, Margaret E. Johnson, Marcy L. Karin, Laura Strausfeld Esq., Emily Gold Waldman

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

This essay grows out of a panel discussion among five lawyers on the subject of menstrual equity activism. Each of the authors is a scholar, activist or organizer involved in some form of menstrual equity work. The overall project is both enriched and complicated by an intersectional analysis.

This essay increases awareness of existing menstrual equity and menstrual justice work; it also identifies avenues for further inquiry, next steps for legal action, and opportunities that lie ahead. After describing prior and current work at the junction of law and menstruation, the contributors evaluate the successes and limitations of recent legal …

Borderplex Business Barometer, Volume 4, Number 4, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr., Steven L. Fullerton, Ana Gutierrez Zubiate, Ignacio Santana

Border Region Modeling Project

No abstract provided.

Congenital Zika Syndrome - Background And Nutrition Care Of Affected Infants, Ann Gaba, Ghada Soliman

Publications and Research

This review provides a history and overview of Zika infection, with special attention to resultant birth defects and the nutrition care required by Zika affected infants.

Implementing A Digital Imaging Platform Using Tissue Analytics In A Level 1 Trauma Center, Victoria Donaldson, Msn, Aprn, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: More than 2.5 million people develop pressure ulcers (PUs) annually. PUs cost the U.S. $9.1-11.6 billion per year and add about $43,180 to a hospital stay. The Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) stopped reimbursement for hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs). Documentation of PUs must indicate if they are present on admission (POA) and include accurate stages and treatment plan of PUs. Aims/Objectives: To use Digital Imaging platform using Tissue Analytics (TA) along with the standard care protocol. The objectives of this study were to (1) Improve identification of PUs, (2) Increase accuracy of PU staging and (3) Improve documentation …

Optimization Of Methods For Cross-Species Infection Of Cell Cultures With Wolbachia, Sarah J. Lane

Honors Thesis

The common intracellular endosymbiont genus of bacteria called Wolbachia is of interest due to the promise it shows for playing a role in disease control. Wolbachia have a number of widely variable effects on its many species of host insects. In combination with these roles, Wolbachia largely affects reproduction and development of its host species. It can lead to feminization and cytoplasmic incompatibility (Werren et al. 2008). Furthermore, this species is vertically transmitted which means that it passes from mother to offspring (Caragata et al., 2016). In combination with its effects on reproduction, which can allow Wolbachia to propagate through …

Data Management Law For The 2020s: The Lost Origins And The New Needs, Przemysław Pałka

Buffalo Law Review

In the data analytics society, each individual’s disclosure of personal information imposes costs on others. This disclosure enables companies, deploying novel forms of data analytics, to infer new knowledge about other people and to use this knowledge to engage in potentially harmful activities. These harms go beyond privacy and include difficult to detect price discrimination, preference manipulation, and even social exclusion. Currently existing, individual-focused, data protection regimes leave law unable to account for these social costs or to manage them.

This Article suggests a way out, by proposing to re-conceptualize the problem of social costs of data analytics through the …

Food In Prison: An Eighth Amendment Violation Or Permissible Punishment?, Natasha M. Clark

Honors Thesis

This piece analyzes aspects such as; Eighth Amendment provisions, penology, case law, privatization and monopoly, and food law, that play into the constitutionality of privatized prisons using food as punishment. Prisoners have protection from excessive bail and fines and from cruel and unusual punishment, as per the 8^th Amendment; however, deprivations such as restricted diets and harm caused by them is only a valid violation if the prisoner can prove deliberate indifference. Privatization of the prison industry has led to reduced quality, choice, and diversity in areas such as food, which comes at a detrimental cost to prisoners. Serving …

Biological And Social Links Between Eating Behavior And Stress Among College Students, Kailyn M. Mutsch

Honors Thesis

Stress and eating behaviors are known to be correlated in all ages but is primarily associated with young adults. This correlation can be attributed to both biological and social links. In this review, I detail the effects of stress on the brain in a biological manner and the areas of the brain associated with eating behavior. I will also discuss social factors that could contribute to the correlation between stress and eating behavior in college students. Stress is a major factor in optimal digestion and health. A majority of students report experiencing times of stress or feeling overwhelmed throughout their …

From Finance To The Food Industry: The Prospects For Consumer-Facing Blockchain Systems, Rachel Keough

Gabelli School of Business Honors Thesis Collection

This research studies the impact of varying levels of supply chain information and information providers on consumer trust, perceived convenience, perceived transparency, and information overload; specifically, focusing on the utilization of blockchain technology to collect this information within the food industry. This paper begins by investigating the current deficiencies found in supply chains within the food industry, the current implementations of blockchain technology to optimize these supply chains, and consumer psychology regarding consumer decision-making. Prior research found that consumers prefer to have a third-party certify information provided by a brand. Additionally, prior research dictates that while higher levels of information …

The Green Revolution, Sustainable Agriculture, And Food Security, April 2020, Helix Bins

Monteverde Institute: Culture, Community, and Health

This essay provides an in-depth synthesized examination concerning the complicated relationship between sustainable agriculture and food security. In doing so, this analysis describes the history of the green revolution and its connection in pushing, what is now considered conventional yet harmful, agricultural methods and the impacts it has. While the evidence will have a concentration on Costa Rica, it will draw comparative examples from other developing countries, mainly India in order to offer a more thorough and nuanced perspective. This will demonstrate that the ideology of the green revolution failed to properly adapt to the needs of its country regardless …

Manual For A Vegetable Garden, April 2020, India Fleming-Klink

Monteverde Institute: Culture, Community, and Health

This manual seeks to generate support material for the families of Monteverde in order to strengthen diversification and value the contributions that the orchards generate in the food security of the area. These productive systems provide immediate benefits to the food, health and economy of the families and their communities where they are located. The manual describes the different stages of the preparation, establishment and handling /care of the vegetables that are planted in the garden.

Perceived Effectiveness Of Stem Cell Injections In Adults With Joint Injuries, Delaney Marie Merrill

Senior Theses

Introduction: Osteoarthritis plagues around 27 million Americans. Stem cell injections are a new method of treatment that could potentially cure this by regenerating cartilage in joints. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the perceived effectiveness of stem cells at regenerating cartilage in joints, specifically the knees, hips, and shoulders. Methods: Participants were recruited via social media, forums, and from healthcare clinics that offer stem cell treatments. They were asked to complete a survey focusing primarily on the treatment protocol and how the injured joint felt post-stem cell injection. Frequencies were calculated to describe problematic joints, treatment history, …

Examining Prevalence Of Eating Disorder Risk And Body Image Dissatisfaction In Female Adolescent Cheerleaders, Kelsi K. Mariner

Senior Theses

Content: Cheerleading has evolved into a highly competitive and physically demanding sport where athletes must balance academics, intense training, and pressure to maintain expected aesthetic qualities of the sport. These requirements can cause distress which may lead athletes to suffer from eating disorder (ED) risk and body image dissatisfaction (BID). Objective: To examine the prevalence of risk for ED and determine the presence of body image dissatisfaction within adolescent cheerleaders. Design: This study was conducted as a part of a larger concurrent study with Dr. Torres-McGehee and Allison Smith. It is a cross sectional study. Setting: Online survey. Participants: Female …

Comparing Public Preprimary Systems In South Carolina & Estonia: Closing Gaps In Educational Opportunities, Emily C. Herd

Senior Theses

The following research aims to explore and compare the assets and drawbacks of the public preprimary education systems in Estonia and South Carolina for the purpose of developing policy recommendations for altering funding systems to expand access. First, preprimary education is defined along with its importance, effectiveness, and affordability. Next, funding continuity and public funding are discussed with relation to public preprimary programs. Then a basis is established for comparing Estonia and South Carolina. The methods and limitations are described. A deep dive of data organizes the programmatic and funding data of Estonia and South Carolina, highlighting enrollment, providers, curriculum, …

Dietary Choline Supplementation Attenuates High-Fat-Diet-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Mice, Amanda L. Brown, Kelsey Conrad, Daniela S. Allende, Anthony D. Gromovsky, Renliang Zhang, Chase K. Neumann, A. Phillip Owens, Michael Tranter, Robert N. Helsley

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. Choline deficiency has been well studied in the context of liver disease; however, less is known about the effects of choline supplementation in HCC. Objective: The objective of this study was to test whether choline supplementation could influence the progression of HCC in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-driven mouse model. Methods: Four-day-old male C57BL/6J mice were treated with the chemical carcinogen, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, and were randomly assigned at weaning to a cohort fed an HFD (60% kcal fat) or an HFD with supplemental choline (60% kcal fat, …

Evaluation Of The United Kingdom-Primary Biliary Cholangitis And Global Primary Biliary Cholangitis Group Prognostic Models For Primary Biliary Cholangitis Patients Treated With Ursodeoxycholic Acid In The U.S. Population, Mohammad Alomari, Fahrettin Covut, Laith Al Momani, Pravallika Chadalavada, Asif Hitawala, Mark F. Young, Carlos Romero-Marrero

ETSU Faculty Works

JGH Open: An open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology published by Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley and Sons Australia, Ltd. Background and Aim: The United Kingdom-primary biliary cholangitis (UK-PBC) and global primary biliary cholangitis group (GLOBE) prognostic models have been recently developed to predict long-term outcomes in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). However, these predictive scores have not yet been well evaluated in the U.S. population. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed newly diagnosed PBC patients at the Cleveland Clinic between November 1998 and February 2017. Adverse events were defined as liver transplantation, liver-related mortality, and all-cause mortality. …

Fostering Empathy In Middle School Boys: A Path To Peace, Jessica Preciado

MATL Action Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Alarm Forecasting In Natural Gas Pipelines, Colin Quinn

Master's Theses (2009 -)

This thesis examines alarm forecasting methods for a natural gas production pipeline to assure the efficient transportation of high-quality natural gas. Natural gas production companies use pipelines to transport natural gas from the extraction well to a distribution point. Forecasting natural gas pipeline pressure alarms helps control room operators maintain a functioning pipeline and avoid costly down time. As gas enters the pipeline and travels to the distribution point, it is expected that the gas meets certain specifications set in place by either state law or the customer receiving the gas. If the gas meets these standards and is accepted …

La Revolución Verde, La Agricultura Sostenible Y La Seguridad Alimentaria, April 2020, Helix Bins

Monteverde Institute: Culture, Community, and Health

This essay provides an in-depth synthesized examination concerning the complicated relationship between sustainable agriculture and food security. In doing so, this analysis describes the history of the green revolution and its connection in pushing, what is now considered conventional yet harmful, agricultural methods and the impacts it has. While the evidence will have a concentration on Costa Rica, it will draw comparative examples from other developing countries, mainly India in order to offer a more thorough and nuanced perspective. This will demonstrate that the ideology of the green revolution failed to properly adapt to the needs of its country regardless …

Covid - Tourism, April 2020, Christina Pevey

Monteverde Institute: Culture, Community, and Health

The COVID-19 virus has affected everyone around the world. At the moment there is no cure for the virus but thousands have recovered. This has caused economic problems from big companies down to individual families. For example, Costa Rica. I will focus on the town of Santa Elena and surrounding areas. The data that was collected was based on a survey that was sent out to the community. The survey included questions referring to their jobs, sectors, and reasons for suspension of contracts. I limited the surveys to the surrounding areas and to specific questions that I wanted to focus …