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Evaluating And Predicting The Risk Of Algal Blooms In A Freshwater Lake Through A 4-Dimensional Approach: A Case Study On Lake Mitchell, Sumit Kumar Ghosh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Excessive algal growth in freshwater lakes can negatively impact ecosystems, recreation, and human health. Though algae are a natural part of freshwater ecosystems, elevated nutrient loading from anthropogenic and natural sources can lead to algal blooms. Both algae and blue-green algae (BGA) are responsible for algal blooms; however, BGA (cyanobacteria) is more dangerous. The first objective of this research was to prepare a conceptual model to understand how various environmental variables affect algae. This conceptual model was used to choose the environmental variables that help increase or decrease algae in the water environment. The second objective was to develop empirical …

Enabling Conceptual Learning To Prepare Students For The New World Of Nutrition Communication, Sabine Zempleni

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

During the last decades, the flow of nutrition information between nutrition professionals and consumer has changed profoundly. Newest scientific findings are freely available from public data bases and often make it prematurely into the media and social media. Therefore, students need to require a precise knowledge of nutrition concepts, be able to explain the concepts to the consumer, and apply those concepts to eating decisions. Many students have not made the transition from memorizing individual facts to conceptual learning. Students will need appropriate learning tools and instructions to help them make this transition successfully. The goal of this Peer Review …

Vbms 403: Integrated Principles And Prevention Of Livestock Diseases, Christina L. Topliff

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This portfolio documents the teaching objectives, strategies, assessments, and changes implemented for VBMS 403: Integrated Principles and Prevention of Livestock Diseases, an Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) 10 Capstone course taught during the Spring Semester through the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Teaching methods and course activities included traditional lecturing with quizzes and examinations, in-class discussions, short reading assignments, and the generation of a scholarly term paper demonstrating broad knowledge, technical proficiency, information collection, synthesis, interpretation, and presentation. This portfolio documents the qualitative and quantitative methods used to assess the course learning objectives (goals). My …

Fdst205 Food Composition Analysis — A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Mei Lu

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

The purpose of this peer review of the teaching portfolio was to document and evaluate the course activities that are aimed at improving student learning in FDST205 Food Composition Analysis. This FDST205 is unique that it is offered exclusively to the students in the 3+1 International Food Science Dual Degrees Program established between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University (NWAFU) in China. Students that enrolled in this course were a cohort of 55 sophomores in the 3+1 Food Science Dual Degrees Program. In spring 2021, the lecture part of FDST205 was offered online synchronously, while …

Fdst 420: Fruits And Vegetables Technology – A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Charles Nwaizu

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

The aim of this portfolio is twofold: first, the portfolio serves to document the author’s approach to teaching while also providing necessary tools to revamp the course delivery methods to a more active learning format from traditional lecture format. Secondly, this portfolio evaluates the effects of students’ group lab discussion, students Interactive class trivia and interdisplinary students’ collaboration active learning approaches on student learning and performances in the course. The student group lab discussion activity involved modification of some of the lab tasks to include short questions listed under the lab procedure. These questions were discussed within the group and …

Vulnerable And Resilient Phenotypes In A Mouse Model Of Anorexia Nervosa, Jeff A. Beeler, Devry Mourra, Roseanna M. Zanca, Abigail Kalmbach, Celia Gellman, Benjamin Y. Klein, Rebecca Ravenelle, Peter Serrano, Holly Moore, Stephen Rayport, Susana Mingote, Nesha Burghard

Advanced Science Research Center

Background

Increased physical activity is a common feature of anorexia nervosa (AN). Although high activity levels are associated with greater risk of developing AN, particularly when combined with dieting, most individuals who diet and exercise maintain a healthy body weight. It is unclear why some individuals develop AN while most do not. A rodent model of resilience and vulnerability to AN would be valuable to research. Dopamine, which is believed to play a crucial role in AN, regulates both reward and activity and may modulate vulnerability.

Methods

Adolescent and young adult female C57BL/6N mice were tested in the activity-based anorexia …

Impact Of The Coronavirus And Federal Responses On Indigenous Peoples’ Health, Security, And Sovereignty, Libby Smith

American Indian Law Review

No abstract provided.

Feeding Habits Of The Non-Native Mayan Cichlid, Mayaheros Urophthalmus, In Estuarine Tributaries Of Southwest Florida, Copley H. Smoak, Jeffrey R. Schmid

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Foraging habits of the non—native Mayan Cichlid (Mayaheros urophthalmus) were investigated in the tidal tributaries to the Estero Bay and Wiggins Pass estuaries in southwest Florida (USA) during 2011—2013. Dietary analysis was conducted by identifying contents in the digestive tracts of 747 fish and volumetrically measuring the food items. Detritus was the predominant food item by frequency (97–100%), volume (34–48%), and alimentary importance index (47–64%). Bivalves, gastropods, decapod and cirriped crustaceans, coleopterans, serpulid polychaetes, and fish scales frequently (>50%) occurred in samples but volume and importance differed among tributaries. Results indicate that the Mayan Cichlid in southwest Florida tidal …

On The Use Of Virtual Reality In Mitigating Hypothetical Bias In Choice Experiments, Di Fang, Rodolfo M. Nayga Jr., Grant H. West, Claudia Bazzani, Wei Yang, Benjamin C. Lok, Charles E. Levy, Heather A. Snell

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Choice experiments have been extensively used in many stated preference studies and disciplines. In order to give external validity to stated preferences, participants must behave the same in an experiment setting as they do in reality. The difference between a decision made in a real experiment and a hypothetical experiment is commonly attributed to "hypothetical bias." In this paper, we investigate whether virtual reality can reduce hypothetical bias in choice experiments. We conducted a set of experiments using the Food and Drug Administration's new Nutrition Facts Label for yogurts. Participants were randomly assigned to non-hypothetical and hypothetical experiments, which differed …

Winning Entry For 2021, Nhi Doan

Library Research Prize

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Social Isolation And Cognitive Decline In Older Adults: A Systematic Literature Review, Jody L. Doll-Wilhelm

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and dementia patients surged. Increased social isolation and decreased activity levels in older adults have been suggested as contributing factors to accelerating AD and dementia. However, assessment tools to gauge interventions and outcomes of cognitive decline are variable among the literature.

Objective: Examine the impact of social engagement versus social isolation, like that experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, on cognitive decline/dementia in older adults (greater than 60 years of age).

Method: A systematic search for studies evaluating the relationship between social isolation and social activity in cognitive …

Effectiveness Of Behavior-Based Counseling For Weight Loss Maintenance: A Systematic Literature Review, Jaime V. Stanczyk

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Obesity is linked to the development of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) at an annual expense of $147 billion in related healthcare costs. Effective lifestyle modification treatment for long-term WLM remains elusive. Traditional advice from primary care providers regarding dietary modification and increased physical activity has not led to WLM as a long-term outcome. Newer guidelines for the treatment of obesity now recommend high-intensity behavior-based counseling (BBC) programs that deliver traditional weight loss education in tandem with behavior-change strategies. Methods: A database search was conducted for peer reviewed literature published in 2012-2020 on …

Why End-Of-Life Discussion Matters: A Systematic Literature Review, Emily Grandson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

End-of-life (EOL) discussions are a challenging yet vital topic of conversation in intensive care units (ICU) between healthcare providers, patients, and their families. There is great disparity in where, when, and how EOL discussions take place, but the consequences of neglecting their importance can be devastating physically, psychologically, and financially for all parties involved. Multiple inadequacies in the EOL discussion process have not only contributed to a personal and societal financial burden but an unacceptable quality of death for many ICU patients. A literature review was performed to determine what practice and policy changes could be made to improve EOL …

Reducing Polypharmacy In Older Adults At End Of Life: The Outcome On Quality Of Life, Melissa Jenson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Background: Older adults at the end of life are commonly prescribed multiple medications which can lead to polypharmacy. Research has shown that optimizing medications through targeted deprescribing reduces inappropriate medications, reduces adverse effects and improves select outcomes. However, the impact of deprescribing remains uncertain--specifically whether this intervention improves quality of life (QOL). Objective: Explore polypharmacy in older adults at the end of life examining outcomes of deprescribing on the QOL. Methods: A systematic literature search using Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Medline, JSTOR and Nursing and Allied Health Database was conducted between October 2020 to November 2020. Select articles …

Cannabis Treatment Of Autism In Children: A Literature Review, Mai Xiong

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objectives: This literature review aims to summarize the effects of medical cannabis use in children on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms, side effects and provide recommendations for practice, education, and research. Background: ASD is characterized by core behaviors of significant impairment in social communication and interaction and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities (APA, 2013). In addition to these core behaviors, individuals with ASD often have noncore behavioral disorders and several medical comorbidities. Treatment for ASD symptoms includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), aripiprazole (Abilify) and/or risperidone (Risperdal). As of this review, 14 states have added ASD …

Student-Parenting During A Global Pandemic: A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Impact Of Covid-19 On The Experience Of Community College Student-Parents, Malinde Althaus

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Approximately one-quarter of undergraduate students are parents or guardians of dependent children. While having similar or higher GPAs, student-parents have lower rates of graduation than peers without children and often struggle with finances, childcare, and scheduling. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many new stressors to our lives. In addition to the mental and physical health risks during the pandemic, college students experienced a change in delivery of classes to largely online and for parents of school age children, it has added challenges of supporting children at home in distance learning. This study used a feminist phenomenological approach to discover the lived …

Navigating Integration: A Grounded Theory Of Practicing Clinicians' Experiences Integrating Neuroscience In Their Mental Health Clinical Practice, Barbara K. Skodje-Mack

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to generate a grounded theory from practicing clinicians’ experiences integrating neuroscience in their mental health clinical practice. The research consisted of interviews with eight practicing clinicians across Minnesota. The qualitative study design relied upon the Corbin and Strauss (2015) Grounded Theory and theoretical sampling. Participants in this study described taking complex neuroscience information and translating it into user-friendly concepts and applying clinical interventions that affect the mind-body symbiotic relationship, providing a holistic way to address mental and physical health. The participants integrated neuroscience knowledge alongside other psychotherapy theories and utilized psychoeducation approaches to further …

Creating The Role Of Lady Macduff In Macbeth, Ashley D'Lyn Gunn

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre. It is a detailed account of author Ashley Gunn’s artistic process in creating the role of Lady Macduff in Minnesota State, Mankato’s production of Macbeth in the spring of 2019. The thesis chronicles the actor’s artistic process from pre-production through performance in five chapters; an early production analysis, a historical and critical perspective, a rehearsal and performance journal, a post-production analysis and a process development analysis. Appendices and works cited are included.

Assessing Consistency With Standards Of Care Recommendations For Patients With Type 2 Diabetes At Hospital Discharge, Katherine Brown Pharmd, Timothy L. Johnston Bpharm, Pharmd, Bcps, Bcccp, Andrea Sloat Pharmd

Parkview Pharmacy Department

2021 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting / Poster ID#1129514

Objective: To assess the number of patients prescribed diabetic regimens consistent with American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care recommendations upon hospital discharge.

Cultivating Opportunities For At-Risk Youth And Nutritious Food For The Community, Keith Leighton Rongstad Jr.

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Garden City Harvest is a Missoula, Montana nonprofit organization. Garden City Harvest sponsors the Youth Harvest program. Youth Harvest teaches at-risk youth job and life skills. The program’s mission is to improve participants’ professional and personal outcomes as adults. Participants utilize farming and retail skills they learn in the program to improve their employment opportunities and learn important life skills, such as money management, nutritional literacy, and food preparation. Participants also have the opportunity to assist other vulnerable people in Missoula and to become more connected to their communities. This paper is an analysis of questionnaires that Youth Harvest staff …

The Impact Of The Th17:Treg Axis On The Iga-Biome Across The Glycemic Spectrum, Heather T Essigmann, Kristi L Hoffman, Joseph F Petrosino, Goo Jun, David Aguilar, Craig L Hanis, Herbert L Dupont, Eric L Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Secretory IgA (SIgA) is released into mucosal surfaces where its function extends beyond that of host defense to include the shaping of resident microbial communities by mediating exclusion/inclusion of respective microbes and regulating bacterial gene expression. In this capacity, SIgA acts as the fulcrum on which host immunity and the health of the microbiota are balanced. We recently completed an analysis of the gut and salivary IgA-Biomes (16S rDNA sequencing of SIgA-coated/uncoated bacteria) in Mexican-American adults that identified IgA-Biome differences across the glycemic spectrum. As Th17:Treg ratio imbalances are associated with gut microbiome dysbiosis and chronic inflammatory conditions such as …

Exploited And Empowered Inclusion: Contesting The Flawed Consumer In The United States, Wendy A. Wiedenhoft Murphy

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Compared to affluent consumers, the consumption practices of poor and low-income consumers have received less attention in the global North, where they have been marginalized as flawed. This paper hopes to address this neglect by providing an exploratory profile of poor and low-income consumers in the United States. It will challenge that these consumers are flawed by explaining how they participate in consumer society via exploitative inclusion and empowered inclusion. It concludes by suggesting ways that less-affluent consumers can experience expanded empowerment.

The Interlinkage Between Blood Plasma Donation And Poverty In The United States, Analidis Ochoa, H. Luke Shaefer, Andrew Grogan-Kaylor

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In 2019, plasma centers in the United States received a record 53.5 million blood donations, roughly triple that collected during the Great Recession. Recent ethnographic research and journalistic accounts connect plasma sales and poverty, an association that would carry important public health implications given the vulnerability of disadvantaged populations. This study is the first to examine a range of socioeconomic characteristics of communities where commercial plasma centers situate. We geocode locations of all U.S. commercial plasma centers and merge with census tract demographic data from the American Community Survey. Findings indicate greater odds that plasma centers will locate in urban …

Understanding How Recipients Of Means-Tested Government Assistance Make The Decision To Vote Or Not To Vote And How Social Workers Can Make A Difference?, Adelaide Sandler

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

When voter turnout of any one particular demographic or social group is significantly less than that of other groups, members of that group lose their power to protect their basic economic and social rights. Low voter turnout among recipients of means-tested government assistance is especially problematic because election outcomes impact the benefits on which they depend. This article presents results from a qualitative study to understand how recipients of means-tested government assistance decide to vote or not to vote. Four themes emerged related to the patterns of voting behaviors and described as: dedicated voter, voter, nonvoter, and dedicated nonvoter. Each …

Review Of Reversals Of Fortune: Poverty And Shared Prosperity By World Bank, James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of Reversals of Fortune: Poverty and Shared Prosperity

Addressing The Needs Of African American Grandparents: An Intersectionality Perspective, Dorothy Smith-Ruiz, Kendra Jason

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study seeks to demonstrate the intersecting structural and compounding challenges African American custodial grandparents experience collectively, rather than as separate non-competing factors, which has been modeled in prior studies. Using a mixed-method research design, the study explored the challenges faced by African American and white custodial grandparents. These challenges included difficulties attaining different types of support, respite care, and programs for teens and special needs grandchildren. Results showed that caregiving challenges among African Americans were more pervasive than their White counterparts. These findings have significant implications for the development of intervention programs for custodial African American grandmothers and their …

A Multivariable Model Of Parent Satisfaction, Pain, And Opioid Administration In A Pediatric Emergency Department, Candice D. Donaldson, Thomas W. Heyming, Louis Ehwerhemuepha, Brooke N. Jenkins, Michelle A. Fortier, William Feaster, Zeev N. Kain

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Children and adolescents are not impervious to the unprecedented epidemic of opioid misuse in the United States. In 2016 more than 88,000 adolescents between the ages of 12–17 reported misusing opioid medication, and evidence suggests that there has been a rise in opioid-related mortality for pediatric patients. A major source of prescribed opioids for the treatment of pain is the emergency department (ED). The current study sought to assess the complex relationship between opioid administration, pain severity, and parent satisfaction with children’s care in a pediatric ED.

Methods: We examined data from a tertiary pediatric care facility. A health …

Parent’S Emotional Wellness: Reduce Distress, Emotional Support, And Partnership (Dep) Guide For Supporting Parents During A Young Child’S Illness, Breakthrough Research

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

A formative study was conducted under the Breakthrough RESEARCH project by the Population Council to understand the manifestation of mistreatment and experience of newborns, infants, and young children and co-design (with families and providers) a set of interventions that promote a positive experience of care. This poster is one of the job aids/tools created for the intervention.

Adult Perspectives Of Kaleidoscope Connect: A Social Emotional Program Aimed At Promoting Resilience Among Youth, Samantha Cody Russell

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Purpose. The current study explored the perspectives of adults who participate in Kaleidoscope Connect, and specifically, to understand how effective adults perceive the program in its attempt to promote resilience, school safety, and the psychological well-being of youth.

Background. Youth who encounter stressful life circumstances or experience trauma often experience negative life outcomes, such as lower academic achievement, mental illness, and perpetrating violence (Liu, Reed & Girard, 2016). Research, however, has demonstrated that some youth who have these experiences have more positive outcomes, including psychological health, strong academic achievement, and financial stability (Zolkoski & Bullock, 2012). Resilience is a dynamic …

Promoting Well-Being Among College Students: The Effects Of A Positive Psychology Course, Daniel Jm Salois

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

College students report high rates of mental distress, including depression, high stress, anxiety, lack of social support, and physical ailments. College campuses use a variety of approaches to address the well-being of students. However, existing interventions have mixed results and do not always reach all students who may need mental health support. Positive psychology courses and positive psychology interventions have shown promise in promoting well-being. In this quantitative, quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest archival study, I examined the effects of a semester-long happiness and positive psychology course (COUN 195) on students’ well-being and mental health. This innovative happiness course included didactic lectures, small …