Digital Commons Network^™

Positive Deviance Inquiry Of Breastfeeding In Egypt, Ayah Sarhan

Theses and Dissertations

Increases in malnutrition among Egyptian children under five years have been associated with decreases in rates of breastfeeding. International and national research have identified personal and contextual challenges that lower the chances of women breastfeeding. These challenges include lack of knowledge and support by medical personnel and family, negative societal attitudes, and institutional practices that inhibit breastfeeding. In this study, a positive deviance approach was used to identify the practices that enabled middle-class Egyptian women to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Data was collected from 33 positive deviant mothers using a survey and a semi-structured interview. Findings confirmed that they faced …

The Afterlives Of Government Documents: Information Labor, Archival Power, And The Visibility Of U.S. Human Rights Violations In The “War On Terror”, Rachel Daniell

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation is about access to information.

It examines the different ways that access to U.S. government records related to the “War on Terror” is generated through the intersection of law, bureaucratic policy and procedure norms, and the everyday work of archivists and transparency advocates. I argue that, both through their labor pushing for access to government records via complex records searches, Freedom of Information Act requests, and legal action, and also through their labor layering those records with new forms of metadata in public digital circulation platforms, these individuals, in the context of their organizations, generate new forms of …

The Capabilities Of Students In Poverty: Student Outcomes From A United States Department Of Education Trio Program, Arthur Valiant

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The aim of this thesis is to describe, analyze and support the purpose, function and outcomes of U.S. Department of Education TRIO programs. Throughout the world educational attainment and escape from poverty are linked. By achieving a college degree, one increases their odds of rising from poverty; conversely, poverty reduces one’s chances of attending a higher education institution in the first place. Since 1964, TRIO programs have worked to close the achievement gap for low income and first-generation students across America by providing supplemental assistance for college access. After more than 50 years, these programs continue to foster college readiness …

Nutritional Strategy And Social Environment In Redtail Monkeys (Cercopithecus Ascanius), Margaret Bryer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

An animal’s nutritional strategy involves the complex interplay between its dynamic physiology and its environment, an environment that includes a landscape of foods that vary in nutritional composition as well as a social environment of other feeding individuals. Social behavior—cooperative or competitive, with conspecifics or with other sympatric species—influences individual feeding behavior. Investigation of social feeding by estimating individual intake of multiple nutritional components, sometimes referred to as “social nutrition,” can give insight into how social variables may lead to shifts in nutritional niche.

In this study, I examined the effects of temporal shifts in diet, reproductive status and conspecific …

Synthesis And Antitumor Activity Of Potentially Tumor Targeting Analogues Of The Tetrahydrofuran Containing Acetogenins, Patricia Gonzalez Periche

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The tetrahydrofuran containing acetogenins (THF-ACGs) are a naturally occurring class of compounds with potent toxicity against a broad range of tumors, including multidrug resistant (MDR) strains. However, the equally high toxicity to normal cells presents a hurdle for their clinical advancement. This study entails synthetic and tumor targeting strategies that are relevant to their therapeutic development.

Chapter 1 presents a review of the synthesis and biological activity of the THF-ACGs. Chapter 2 covers a modular approach for the synthesis of libraries of THF-ACGs. This strategy is illustrated in the synthesis of C-10 epimers of 4-deoxyannonomontacin (4-DAN), one of the more …

The Effect Of Static Stretching On Proprioception, Pennation Angle, And Muscle Power Production, Lacey G. Dennis, Eva Alyss Blais, Kolyse E. Wagstaff, Li Li, Duke Biber

Health Sciences & Kinesiology: Faculty Publications

With widespread use of pre-exercise stretching methods across sport and exercise, recent studies have questioned the effectiveness of such methods (Kay & Blazevich 2012; Cramer et al., 2005; Curry, Chengkalath, Crouch, Romance, & Manns, 2009). The purpose of this study was to examine how the relationship between pennation angle, proprioception, and muscle power are influenced by a static stretching protocol. Participants (n = 17) from a southeastern university in the United States consented to participate and were divided into an experimental group (n = 12) and control group (n = 5). The experimental group engaged in static stretched by placing …

Strain Improvement Of Pleurotus Giganteus (Berk.) Karunarathna & K. D. Hyde Via Conventional Mating Techniques, Kwan Yun Ha

Student Works (2020-2029)

Recently, a commercial strain of Pleurotus giganteus (Berk.) Karunarathna & K.D. Hyde from China has been cultivated in Malaysia. Pleurotus giganteus was prone to insect infestation which led to heavy losses for farmers. The aim of this study was to generate new hybrids of P. giganteus that maybe resistant to pest and contamination. The commercial strain of P. giganteus from China (KLU-M 1227) and a wild strain from Malaysia (KLU-M 1391) were subjected to intraspecific breeding. Of the 56 combinations, 16 hybrids were obtained. All the 16 hybrids together with the parents were subjected to radial and linear growth study. …

¿Cómo Nos Une El Nopal A Los Hispanos Que Vivimos En El Valle Del Río Grande De Texas?, Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

“Le falta un grado para ser carne” solía decir mi papá cuando estábamos comiendo nopal. Innumerables los platillos que mis abuelas cocinaban con él. Tradición culinaria y medicinal que data de tiempos prehispánicos y que aún se pasa de generación en generación en la cultura mexicana. Con sus grandiosas adaptaciones ecológicas, propiedades medicinales, sabores y colores, el nopal es más que una planta—representa tradiciones, cultura, religión, y en una sola palabra, a toda una nación, pues es uno de los símbolos más importantes en México: ¡se encuentra al centro de nuestra bandera nacional! Tan fuerte es la influencia del nopal …

Maternal Weight Affects Placental Dna Methylation Of Genes Involved In Metabolic Pathways In The Common Marmoset Monkey (Callithrix Jacchus), Laren Narapareddy, Derek E. Wildman, Don L. Armstrong, Amy Weckle, Aleeca F. Bell, Crystal L. Patil, Suzette D. Tardif, Corinna N. Ross, Julienne N. Rutherford

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulation of placental DNA methylation (DNAm) is a mechanism linking maternal weight during pregnancy to metabolic programming outcomes. The common marmoset, Callithrix jaccus, is a platyrrhine primate species that has provided much insight into studies of the primate placenta, maternal condition, and metabolic programming, yet the relationships between maternal weight and placental DNAm are unknown. Here, we report genome-wide DNAm from term marmoset placentas using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. We identified 74 genes whose DNAm pattern is associated with maternal weight during gestation. These genes are predominantly involved in energy metabolism and homeostasis, including the regulation …

A Study Of Grit In The Crossfit Population, Cierra Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Exercise has extensively shown to provide both physical and mental health benefits. CrossFit is one type of exercise program, and although the workouts can be strenuous, it has continued to increase in popularity since its inception in 2001. Grit has been defined as “unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger” (Merriam-Webster.com, 2019, definition of grit [entry 1 of 2], para. 4). Duckworth et al. (2007) developed a valid and reliable 12-item measure of grit – the Grit Scale. Duckworth and Quinn (2009) later adapted the original Grit Scale (Grit-O) to be a briefer and more efficient version, which …

Media And Technology Use Education In Pediatric Primary Care, Greta Jayne Hilbrands

Theses and Dissertations

Youth media and technology use is growing at rapid rates and is quickly becoming a necessary tool for effective functioning in the modern world. However, such use has been shown to result in negative consequences for children and adolescents, including impaired executive functioning, increased violence and aggression, and physical and psychological health problems. As such, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that all pediatric providers educate parents about healthy media and technology practices for children and families. The present study sought to examine the proportion of parents who receive media/technology education from their child’s providers, the rates of compliance …

Why Electric Pressure Cookers Are Not Pressure Canners, Cathy Merrill, Karin E. Allen, Susan Haws, Teresa Hunsaker, Patricia Mathis, Paige Wray, Ellen Serfustini

All Current Publications

Electric Programmable Pressure Cookers, such as the "Instant Pot, are being used for small batch pressure canning. This fact sheet explains research showing why this is a food safety hazard, with a high risk of producing home canned foods that could develop the deadly botulism toxin. Other Frequently Asked Questions about these cookers are also addressed.

Polyphenol-Rich Purple Corn Pericarp Extract Adversely Impacts Herbivore Growth And Development, Mandeep Tayal, Pavel Somavat, Isabella Rodriguez, Tina Thomas, Bradley O. Christoffersen, Rupesh R. Kariyat

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Plant secondary metabolites such as terpenes, phenolics, glycosides, and alkaloids play various functional roles including pigmentation, foliar and floral volatile synthesis, hormonal regulation, and direct and indirect defenses. Among these, phenolic compounds are commonly found in plants, but vary in the distribution of their specific compounds among plant families. Polyphenols, including anthocyanins and tannins, are widely distributed and have been well documented for their roles- primarily in plant pigmentation and also in plant defenses. However, commercialization of such compounds for use in insect pest management is severely hampered by expensive, inefficient, and time-consuming extraction protocols. Using a recently developed inexpensive …

Endocrinopathies Complicating Transfusion-Dependent Hemoglobinopathy, Abdulmoein E. Al-Agha, Noor S. Bawahab, Sarah A. Nagadi, Shaimaa A. Alghamdi, Dalia A. Felemban, Asmaa A. Milyani

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and significance of different endocrinopathies in children and adolescents with transfusion-dependent thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia. Methods: This is a descriptive, retrospective study between January 2010 and July 2018 in King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected through reviewing electronic hospital medical records then filling out data collection sheets and was interpreted through the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 20.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The total sample size was 119 patients, gender equality was almost achieved with 55.5% being male and 45.5% being female. The most common endocrinopathies were identified …

Perioperative Care Of The Geriatric Patient For Noncardiac Surgery, Jonathan D Wolfe, Natasha K Wolfe, Michael W Rich

Open Access Publications

Adults age 65 and over are the fastest growing segment of the population in the United States and around the world. As the size of this population expands, the number of older adults referred for surgical procedures will continue to increase. Due to the physiologic changes of aging and the increased frequency of comorbidities, older adults are at increased risk for adverse outcomes, and perioperative care is inherently more complex than in younger individuals. In this review, we discuss the physiologic changes of aging relevant to the surgical patient, comprehensive preoperative assessment, and postoperative management of common complications in older …

Parental Deployment And Distress, And Adolescent Disordered Eating In Prevention-Seeking Military Dependents, M K Higgins Neyland, Denise E Wilfley, Et Al

Open Access Publications

OBJECTIVE: Parental military deployment can lead to stress in the family system due to concerns about the deployed service-member's safety and increased responsibilities for those not deployed. Parent-related stress can impact adolescent disordered eating. Given the important role that stress plays in disordered eating and obesity, it is crucial to understand the impacts of unique stressors to which vulnerable populations are exposed.

METHOD: We studied 126 adolescent (14.3 ± 1.6 years; 59.5% girls; 44.4% non-Hispanic White; BMI-z, 1.91 ± .39) military dependents prior to entering an obesity and binge-eating disorder prevention trial. The Eating Disorder Examination was used to assess …

Cooperative Extension And Sustainability Outreach: Programmatic Successes, Administrative Support, And Areas For Improvement, Roslynn Brain Mccann, Mark Apel, Clark Dove, Ramona Madhosingh-Hector, Jennison Kipp Searcy, David Kay

Extension Research

According to the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, without urgent global changes, climate catastrophe caused by warming of greater than 1.5°C will occur by 2030, endangering the planet's capacity to sustain human populations and livelihoods. The National Network for Sustainable Living Education administered a national survey in January 2017 to assess how well-positioned Extension is to address sustainability in the communities the organization serves. Educators from 40 states responded, and 1,395 usable surveys were received. Survey results will help Extension employees discover opportunities for innovation and relevancy in their programming.

Contribution Of International Development Activities To Comprehensive Internationalization Of U.S. Public Universities, Ielyzaveta Shchepetylnykova, Samantha Alvis

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Women Through The Development Gaze Of The World Bank: Legal Reforms And The Myth Of Empowerment In The Global South, Mariam Salem

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, women were largely invisible to early development planners and they were only discussed in passive terms. This was based on the assumptions about the gendered division of labor and women's supposed absence from the productive labor. However, development discourses today are full of images of the empowered women in the Global South; she is the selfless mother, the strong entrepreneur and the resourceful breadwinner. The World Bank in particular depicts women in the Global South as vulnerable, marginalized, yet a major "untapped resource". The key is to acquire them with appropriate means along with the necessary legal reforms that …

A Decision Support System For Managing Results-Based Financed Mega Infrastructure Programs, Kareem Zahran

Theses and Dissertations

International Financial Institutions are exploring solutions that can ensure the effectiveness of funds with respect to the achievement of desired results/outputs. Results-Based finance (RBF) considers this goal through linking desired outputs to the disbursement of funds. This may require borrowers to pre-finance programs and then receive their allocated disbursements after results are achieved, which could form cash flow gaps. The management of this type of programs requires the integration of multiple projects management and finance-based scheduling with the financial requirements of results-based funding mechanisms. For proper management of received funds, this research introduces a framework for the simulation and optimization …

Sustainable Rural Community: Waste To Business (W2b) Model, Hala Omar

Theses and Dissertations

Many environmental issues are facing rural villages in Egypt. The main problems rural villages are suffering from are lack of adequate sewage system, absence of wastewater treatment plants, poor agricultural and municipal solid waste management. These problems are causing environmental, economic and social issues in rural villages. Rural communities’ residents suffer from many disease, unemployment as well as poor living conditions. It becomes imperative to find solutions to this tragic situation facing rural villages associated with dumping and burning waste. Unfortunately, not enough research is published to propose solutions to approach full utilization of all types of wastes generated in …

Diarrhoeal Disease And Subsequent Risk Of Death In Infants And Children Residing In Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries: Analysis Of The Gems Case-Control Study And 12-Month Gems-1a Follow-On Study, Myron M. Levine, Dilruba Nasrin, Sozinho Acácio, Quique Bassat, Helen Powell, Sharon M. Tennant, Samba O. Sow, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Shahida Qureshi, Farheen Quadri

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: The Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS) was a 3-year case-control study that measured the burden, aetiology, and consequences of moderate-to-severe diarrhoea (MSD) in children aged 0-59 months. GEMS-1A, a 12-month follow-on study, comprised two parallel case-control studies, one assessing MSD and the other less-severe diarrhoea (LSD). In this report, we analyse the risk of death with each diarrhoea type and the specific pathogens associated with fatal outcomes.
Methods: GEMS was a prospective, age-stratified, matched case-control study done at seven sites in Africa and Asia. Children aged 0-59 months with MSD seeking care at sentinel health centres were recruited along …

Safe Processing, Safe Food: Food Processing Infosheets For Extension Educators, Nicole Arnold, Lily Yang, Renee Boyer

Journal of Extension

An infosheet series titled Safe Processing, Safe Food has been developed and branded. The series is composed of peer-reviewed infosheets depicting conventional and emerging food processing technologies (FPTs) used to make foods safer. The goals of developing the infosheet series were to help Extension educators and, subsequently, the general public become more aware of FPTs and to dispel common myths associated with them. Extension educators can use the infosheets to familiarize themselves with the science and application of FPTs and can disseminate the infosheets to clientele such as small-scale agricultural producers, processers, and consumers.

Keys To Embracing Aging: Curriculum To Promote Healthful Living Across The Life Span, Amy Kostelic, Erin Yelland, Alison Smith, Kaylee Goss

Journal of Extension

Keys to Embracing Aging is a research-based, peer-reviewed curriculum intended to increase 12 healthful behaviors correlated with overall wellness and longevity. Both comprehensive and interactive, this scripted initiative can be used to creatively motivate and empower participants to embrace healthful lifestyles, make healthful living a habit, and create more healthful homes and communities. The lessons address well-being from a life span perspective, emphasizing the importance of starting good habits early and reinforcing that a person is never too old to choose health. The curriculum has been successfully pilot tested in multiple states, in a variety of formats, and with various …

Offering A Hyflex Fisheries Science Course For Stakeholders Of New Jersey's Fisheries, Douglas R. Zemeckis

Journal of Extension

Introductory Fisheries Science for Stakeholders (IFISSH) is an Extension course for educating stakeholders of New Jersey's marine fisheries on the science, management, and responsible stewardship of fishery resources. The IFISSH course is offered in a Hyflex (i.e., hybrid and flexible) format to allow for live participation in class or remote participation via webinar, making the course available to a broader audience than what is possible when only one mode of participation is offered. The course serves as a useful model for Extension programming related to fisheries as well as other disciplines, particularly for those interested in serving diverse clientele over …

Designing Educational Farm Tours To Improve Consumer Trust In Modern Agriculture, Theodore A. Ferris, Julia M. Smith, Mary A. Dunckel, Faith Cullens, Ashley Kuschel

Journal of Extension

Breakfast on the Farm educational farm tours were introduced in Michigan in 2009 to improve consumer knowledge about, impressions of, and trust in modern food production. Over 89,000 participants have attended events on 40 commercial dairy, beef, crop, and fruit farms. This article addresses organization and funding of the events and some of their general impacts. Volunteers staff stations on topics such as animal care, food safety, nutrition, and water quality. Surveys indicate that attendees' impressions of and trust in farmers and food production improve and that product purchases increase. Events patterned after Michigan's model have occurred in several states …

Understanding Factors That Support Well-Functioning Community Coalitions, Laurel Jacobs, Kathryn Orzech, Greg Goodman, Greg Goodman, Theresa Legros, Stephanie Martinez

Journal of Extension

Coalitions are central to Extension's community-based programs. To assess characteristics that support well-functioning coalitions and to support coalitions in which Extension stakeholders participate, we used the Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory to assess 10 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education coalitions on the basis of research-tested collaboration success factors. Overall, the 103 coalition members who responded reported strengths related to communication and shared purpose and weaknesses in the areas of resources and process and structure for achieving the coalitions' aims. Our project represents a low-burden method for assessing Extension coalitions to understand the characteristics that are likely to support the achievement of …

Burnout: Examining The Effects Of Job Characteristics Across Extension Disciplines, Mia B. Russell, Girvin L. Liggans

Journal of Extension

We conducted a cross-sectional study grounded in job demands–resources theory to examine the relationship between job characteristics and burnout across Extension disciplines. Job demands predicted burnout regardless of discipline; however, job resources predicted burnout for only three of the five disciplines studied—agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and 4-H. Accordingly, reducing job demands may be preferable to enhancing job resources as a strategy for combating burnout. Additionally, findings for community development and 4-H educators suggest that they may be at higher risk for burnout and warrant further examination. Extension leadership should consider implementing programmatic policies and strategies that address Extension educators' …

A Critical Time For Extension Leadership In Public Policy Education Programming, Eric Walcott, Heather A. Triezenberg

Journal of Extension

We conducted research to examine 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant and Sea Grant Extension program leaders' perceptions about Extension public policy education (PPE). Most agreed that PPE is important work. Existing PPE has focused on issue-oriented community development, natural resources, or agriculture topics. Our results indicate that there is no clear priority, funding, or support for Extension PPE and that most programs lack associated policies or staff training. For Extension to fulfill its role in society, increased focus must be placed on PPE through administrative support and professional development that empowers everyone in Extension to build PPE into their work.

Brain Health Innovation Diplomacy: A Model Binding Diverse Disciplines To Manage The Promise And Perils Of Technological Innovation, Kylie Ternes, Vijeth Iyengar, Helen Lavretsky, Walter D. Dawson, Laura Booi, Agustin Ibanez, Ipsit Vahia, Charles Reynolds, Steven Dekosky, Jeffrey Cummings, Bruce Miller, Carla Perissinotto, Jeffrey Kaye, Harris A. Eyre

Institute on Aging Publications

Background: Brain health diplomacy aims to influence the global policy environment for brain health (i.e. dementia, depression, and other mind/brain disorders) and bridges the disciplines of global brain health, international affairs, management, law, and economics. Determinants of brain health include educational attainment, diet, access to health care, physical activity, social support, and environmental exposures, as well as chronic brain disorders and treatment. Global challenges associated with these determinants include large-scale conflicts and consequent mass migration, chemical contaminants, air quality, socioeconomic status, climate change, and global population aging. Given the rapidly advancing technological innovations impacting brain health, it is paramount to …