Digital Commons Network^™

Mental Healthcare In Costa Rica: A Critical Perspective, Claire Elise Decelles

Theses and Graduate Projects

The country of Costa Rica often ranks high on happiness metrics and healthcare quality metrics. Mental healthcare in Costa Rica is often not discussed when reviewing those metrics. This paper attempts to explore mental healthcare in Costa Rica through a critical lens. Specifically, what factors affect the mental health of Costa Rican’s, if they experience mental health issues at the same rates as other areas of the world, what access is like, the prevalence of stigma surrounding mental illness, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health. Through literature review and conversing with locals, it was found that mental …

A Literature Review: What Mental Health Challenges Are Experienced By First-Generation Latino Immigrant And Refugee Families Entering The U.S.?, Hunnaan M. Khan

Theses and Graduate Projects

It is believed that people leave their homeland and come to America for better opportunities, freedom, safety, or second chances at life. As of 2021, Latino’s account for Americas largest minority population however measures to support their communities medically and socially have fallen short. The downfalls of misunderstanding the traumas experienced in their homelands, accounting for premigration, during migration, and postmigration stressors, and systemic issues that fall short in providing culturally sensitive care creates room for mental health challenges to accumulate. Cases of traumas experienced in homelands, cultural implications, the controversies, and difficulties of being held in detention centers, challenges …

Umbilical Cord Clamping: How Timing Affects Infant Health Outcomes, Lauren Snell

Theses and Graduate Projects

The timing of umbilical cord clamping is commonly seen as an innocuous act. Many providers simply cut the cord as soon as they see fit without consideration as to what the impacts of this may be. Early umbilical cord clamping was initially considered a preventative measure for postpartum hemorrhage, but this myth has since been debunked. Now, the practice is still commonly implemented, but for reasons unknown. Delaying the clamping of the umbilical cord is thought to not only provide no risk to the mother but provide benefit to the newborn in relation to their fetal to adult physiologic transition. …

What Is The Effect Of Physical Activity On The Reduction Of Macrovascular Complications In Patients Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?, Rachael M. Gordon

Theses and Graduate Projects

The increasing prevalence and healthcare burden of type 2 diabetes is a worldwide concern. It is the seventh leading cause of mortality and a significant cause of morbidity. While both the macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes can have a profound impact on overall health and quality of life, cardiovascular events are the leading cause of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Adults with diabetes have a two to four-fold increased risk of cerebrovascular events and myocardial infarctions. Oral medications combat insulin resistance and aid in the control of hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol, therefore, contributing to a …

A Study Of Disproportionality In Discipline For Black Girls In Texas: Does District Type Matter?, Tonelli L. Hatley

Public Affairs Dissertations - Archive

The number of African American girls that experience exclusionary discipline in Texas schools is an area of concern that needs to be addressed. In the Southern States, African American female students are five times more likely to receive out-of-school suspension than White female students. The research surrounding the topic of school discipline outlines the disparities concerning students of color and the likelihood of students of color receiving discipline more often and more severe than their counterparts (Fenning & Rose, 2007, Fowler, 2007, Townsend, 2000). Directly related to this concern is the makeup representation of the discipline committee members that decide …

Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticle Delivery Of Notch Intracellular Domain Plasmid To Restore Notch Signaling, Victoria L. Messerschmidt

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Notch signaling is a highly conserved signaling system that is required for embryonic development and regeneration of organs. When the signal is lost, maldevelopment occurs and leads to a lethal state. Delivering exogenous genetic materials encoding Notch into cells can reestablish downstream signaling and rescue cellular functions. Here, we utilized the negatively charged and FDA approved polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) to encapsulate Notch Intracellular Domain-containing plasmid in nanoparticles. We show that primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) readily uptake the nanoparticles with and without specific antibody targets. We demonstrated in vitro that our nanoparticles are nontoxic, stable over time, and …

Mediating Effect Of Cognitive Function On Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Older Adults With Cardiovascular Disease In The United States, Julie K. Peterson-Newman

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are related to disorders of the heart and blood vessels. They may become serious problems, especially in older adults. They could also negatively affect the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. Moreover, patients with CVDs may also experience cognitive issues, such as memory loss, that could be considered as a mediator in the association of CVD with HRQoL. The purpose of the study was to analyze the relationship among cognitive function, HRQoL, and CVD among older adults using a cross-sectional sample from a secondary database, including the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) representing the …

Alcohol Advertisements On Social Media: A Study Of How Alcohol Advertisements On Social Media Platforms Appeal To Young People, Alexis Campbell

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

Underage drinking is not uncommon and is associated with a number of school, social, legal, emotional, behavioral, health problems, and even death. This research seeks to explore alcohol-related social media advertisements across a variety of alcohol types, alcohol brands, and social media platforms. This was accomplished by a content analysis of the most popular alcohol brands’ advertisements on the Internet that examined the strategies used to appeal to consumers and the overall content patterns and characteristics of online alcohol advertisements. The strategy used differed by brand and alcohol type, but the most common themes included “taste,” “seasonal,” “holiday,” “recipe,” and …

Expanding Accountability: Using The Negligent Infliction Of Emotional Distress Claim To Compensate Black American Families Who Remained Unheard In Medical Crisis, Nia Johnson

UC Law Journal

Black Americans have constantly been victims of health disparities and unequal treatment in healthcare facilities. This is not new. However, more attention has been paid to accounts from Black Americans alleging that their providers ignored them or their families in crisis, leading to grave consequences. Though we do have a medical malpractice system that is equipped to remedy physical manifestations of medical negligence, there has been minimal dialogue about how to hold provider accountable for more abstract medical grievances like ignoring Black patients. This Article argues that the negligent infliction of emotional distress claim is an appropriate forum to address …

Long-Term Crop Rotation Diversification Enhances Maize Drought Resistance Through Soil Organic Matter, Leah L.R. Renwick, William Deen, Lucas Silva, Matthew E. Gilbert, Toby Maxwell, Timothy M. Bowles, Amélie C.M. Gaudin

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Climate change adaptation requires building agricultural system resilience to warmer, drier climates. Increasing temporal plant diversity through crop rotation diversification increases yields of some crops under drought, but its potential to enhance crop drought resistance and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a drought manipulation experiment using rainout shelters embedded within a 36-year crop rotation diversity and no-till experiment in a temperate climate and measured a suite of soil and crop developmental and eco-physiological traits in the field and laboratory. We show that diversifying maize-soybean rotations with small grain cereals and cover crops mitigated maize water stress at the …

Importance Of Coaches' Communication: A Pathway To Understanding The Effect On High School Female Athletes And Body Image, Michelle Kraemer

Leadership Education Capstones

This paper explores the importance of communication on body image issues between coaches and high school female athletes. The purpose of this study is to better understand how coaches’ communication on body image issues effect high school female athletes. This research focused on two high schools in southwest Wisconsin. The research design was a combination of quantitative and qualitative data collected through a survey. The data from the study focused on the high school female athletes’ responses to the “Fat Talk Questionnaire” and their perspective on four multiple choice questions. The four multiple choice questions included a demographic question about …

Effects Of Flex Periods On High School Student Failure Rates, Michael Ongie

Leadership Education Capstones

Schools, in their current form, do not allow for personalized amounts of time for students to learn concepts. Students do not have the opportunity to meet with teachers during the school day to get support on specific concepts they do not understand. The purpose of this study is to research the potential link between implementation of a flex period and student achievement, measured by failure rates, in high school semester courses. The study investigates how failure rates changed after the implementation of a flex period. The sample population for this study are all students who attended a specific small rural …

The Impact Free Universal Meals Have On Standardized Test Scores For Public School Students, Megan Budnik

2021 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

This project seeks to explore the impact free universal meals has on standardized test scores. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows eligible schools to provide USDA school meals at no charge to all students in high-poverty schools. Student demographic and testing data was collected using school report cards from the Texas Education Agency and meal data was collected from the Food Research and Action Center. Statistical analysis is presented using a Linear Regression Analysis model in RStudio comparing STAAR test scores in DFW and individual school participation in the CEP program. Research concluded the dependent variable of students meeting STAAR …

Overexpression Of Non-Photochemical Quenching (Npq) Related Genes Alters Plant Development And Enhances Plant Osmotic Stress Resistance In Creeping Bentgrass, Zihe Zhu

All Theses

Photosynthesis, an important pathway for plants to accumulate organic matters, is critical for plant productivity. This process transforms the carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and releases oxygen. However, when the light intensity is too high, more reactive oxygen species (ROS) is generated in the photochemical reaction center, leading to the photodamage of plants. Plants have evolved different photoprotection mechanisms, such as Non-photochemical Quenching (NPQ), to prevent this damage at the expense of photosynthetic rate. NPQ converts excess light energy into heat energy and dissipates it, avoiding damage to plants under excessive light. Overexpression of photoprotection proteins violaxanthin de-epoxidase (VDE), …

For The Father Of A Newborn: Soviet Obstetrics And The Mobilization Of Men As Medical Allies, Amy E. Randall

History

This article introduces the translated pamphlet For the Father of a Newborn by contextualizing it in Soviet medical eff orts to deploy men as allies in safeguarding reproduction and bolstering procreation in the 1960s and 1970s. It examines the pamphlet as an illustration of how doctors and other health personnel tried to educate men to protect their wives’ pregnancy and the health of their wives and newborns in the postpartum period, and it considers the implications of these initiatives for women’s bodies, gender norms, sexual practices, models of masculinity, and the socialist goal of promoting women’s equality.

Parent Engagement In African American Communities: Pre-Covid And Peri-Covid Perspectives Of School Efforts, Arin D. Dixon

Social Work Theses - Archive

African American youth perform lower in main subjects and are suspended at higher rates compared to their peers. In Fort Worth ISD only three out of ten 3rd graders read on grade level, and 62% of African American female students and 52% of African American males are suspended. Parent engagement is a tool found to improve attendance, grades, and campus behavior leading to future college enrollment. However, campuses focus on a parent involvement approach that is reported to be ineffective for families of color as race, culture, socioeconomic status, and other factors can be disregarded. With the disparities found amongst …

Continuously Renewed Copper Electrode For Amperometric Measurement Of Carbohydrates, Shane R. Wilson

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses - Archive

Currently the benchmark method for carbohydrate analysis in a variety of application areas involves anion exchange chromatography followed by electrochemical detection at a gold electrode. The gold electrode surfaces foul from deposition of oxidation products over time; pulsed waveforms with oxidative cleaning and surface reduction are used to improve electrode longevity. After fouling, the electrode needs polishing, or, if using disposable gold electrodes, replacement; both remedies require subsequent recalibration. I describe here a novel electrochemical amperometric detector using a copper electrode that is consumed during the measurement process and a new surface is continuously generated without a change in the …

Proceedings Of The Global Conference On Education And Research: Volume 4, Waynne B. James, Cihan Cobanoglu, Muhittin Cavusoglu

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

This is the fourth volume of the Global Conference on Education and Research Proceedings Series.

ISSN: 2572-6374

DOI

10.5038/2572-6374-v4

An Exploratory Study On Cognitive Internship Perception Of Tourism Students, Ozge Buyuk, Gulsah Akkus

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Tourism and hospitality education fills the need of skilled employees for tourism industry. Turkey has many vocational schools which provide the qualified personnel need. Students training in these institutions concerned carry out compulsory internships in tourism enterprises. Internship is a beneficial process that leads students the opportunity to transform their theoretical knowledge into practice. However, many problems exist during the internship. During this period, interns recognize both the sector and themselves further. Positive perceptions of internship period increase the willingness of students to work in the tourism industry after graduation. So defining the students’ perceptions and complaints during the internship …

Prospective Chemistry Teachers’ Evaluations About The Instruction Of The Graphic Organizers Course, Canan Nakiboglu

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Graphic organizers (GOs) are visual teaching and learning tools that provide an organized expression of knowledge by explaining concepts and events. If the teachers incorporate the GOs into their lessons as instructional material and assessment tools, they can make the teaching period more effective and also help their students' understanding of the chemistry subjects. In this study, the prospective chemistry teachers (PCTs) attended a Graphic Organizers Course, and then their opinions regarding the evaluation of the course were taken. A total of 43 PCTs, 32 female and 11 male, who took the course in four different semesters, participated in this …

Determination Of Food Neophobia Levels Of International Mersin Citrus Festival Participants, Sevda Sahilli Birdir, Nurhayat Iflazoglu, Kemal Birdir

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Mersin Citrus Festival is considered the biggest festival of the province and is an international event held in Mersin every year. The festival aims to introduce citrus fruits, the most important agricultural product grown in Mersin. This study was carried out in order to determine the neophobia levels of attendees’ and to measure their attitudes towards new foods at the 7th International Mersin Citrus Festival. Answers to four research questions were sought in the study. The data were obtained through a survey on 1-3 November 2019, using the convenience sampling method. The obtained 152 usable questionnaires were subjected to statistical …

Survey On Purchasing Methods Of Food Products In Tarragona And Catania, Matarazzo Agata, Vazzano T. Alberto, Squillaci Carmelo

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Marketing can be the strategical difference between two companies. It identifies the way to sell a product, emphasizing the characteristics of the product. The paper aims to examine the relationship between green marketing strategy by food companies and consumers shopping behaviour. In order to better analyse the two factors of green marketing tools, their use and advantages are described, highlighting benefits of their application by food companies. The European Organic standard certification process is fully described by a comparison between quality and ecological labels. The European law set different requirements that companies must follow for the implementation of that standard. …

Understanding The Impact Of Covid-19 On Agriculture And Food Supply Chains: System Dynamics Modeling For The Resilience Of Smallholder Farmers, Busra Atamer Balkan, Andreas Nicolaidis Lindqvist, Kelechi Odoemena, Robert Lamb, Monique Ann Tiongco, Stueti Gupta, Arpitha Peteru, Hector Manuel Menendez Iii

Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Faculty Publications

COVID-19 has caused severe agriculture and food supply chain disruptions; significantly affecting smallholder farmers who supply most of the world’s food; specifically their changes in vulnerability; resilience; and food loss and waste. Therefore; the objective of this study was to understand the complex causal and feedback relationships for this system by developing a dynamic hypothesis and causal loop diagrams utilizing the System Dynamics methodology. Results provide a roadmap for dialogue and a framework for case-specific model development and help to guide policy decisions for smallholder farmers’ survival during health crises.

Modulation Of Glucose Homeostasis By Nucleotide P2y2 Receptor And Biological Sex, Hailee Anne Marino

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Recent insights into the pathological role of Nucleotide P2Y₂ receptor suggest P2Y₂R involvement in high fat diet-induced obesity and potentiates insulin resistance. However, these recent insights do not demonstrate how P2Y₂R modulates glucose homeostasis under physiological conditions. Further, it remains unknown how sex biological factors influence P2Y₂R receptor signaling in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. The research objective for the present study is to elucidate the novel roles of P2Y₂ in fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance (basal insulin sensitivity) under resting conditions in males and females. We expected that under physiological …

The Determinants Of Food Insecurity In The United States: A State Level Analysis, Zhuoya Li

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of food insecurity at the state level with the goal of providing policy guidance to reduce the prevalence of food insecurity in the United States. Data for the study was collected from various governmental and non-governmental sources. Linear regression models and sensitivity analyses were conducted. The study found that increase in household income is likely to significantly reduce the prevalence of food insecurity and very low food security. While poverty alleviation is more important than level of education for food insecure households, level of education is more important than poverty …

Corbicula Fluminea Effects On Survival, Growth, And Drift Of Juvenile Lampsilis Siliquoidea In Laboratory Exposures, Allison Nicole Sieja

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, is an invasive species that is abundant and often co-occurs with native freshwater mussels. Corbicula is widely suspected of having negative effects on native mussels, but few studies have empirically tested this hypothesis. I used laboratory experiments to evaluate how adult Corbicula affected the survivorship, growth, and drift of juvenile Lampsilis siliquoidea. Survival and growth of newly metamorphosed mussels were tested in downwelling flow-through chambers with glass-bead substrate. Treatments were control (no clams), small adult clams, or large adult clams. After 28 days, large clams slightly but significantly reduced the number of juveniles …

Physiological, Biochemical, And Metabolic Responses Of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) Exposed To Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (Pfos), Polycarp Chidiebere Ofoegbu

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) on agricultural plants is a serious environmental concern that needs to be addressed. PFOS is a member of a class of organic chemical compounds known as per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These compounds are utility chemicals in household, commercial, and industrial items, but have become environmental contaminants of global concern. Full lifecycle and short-term exposure studies of wheat grown in soil amended with 0, 25, and 50 mg/kg PFOS were conducted to assess the impacts of PFOS on wheat. PFOS uptake analysis, physiological assays, elemental analysis, and metabolomics were carried out in the full …

Pre-Admission Patient Education For A Prostatectomy Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Pathway, Vanessa C. Cotton

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background. In the United States, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men and a common treatment choice is a radical prostatectomy. The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery® Society developed evidence-based guidelines to optimize treatment and improve outcomes in prostatectomy patients, yet not all hospitals are utilizing these guidelines or employing all of the elements, including pre-admission education. Purpose and Objectives. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a pre-admission patient education component for a prostate surgery pathway based on the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery guidelines. Objectives included assessing the nurse’s intention to …

Forage News [2021-08], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Efficacy Of Bacteriological Analytical Manual (Bam) Enrichment Broths For Detection Of Salmonella Spp. In Meat Analogs, Georgia Sampson

Food Science (MS) Theses

Plant-based meat alternatives are gaining popularity as the number of market options increases. However, the recent appearance of these products on the market post-dates the validation of the current approach for isolating Salmonella from meat analogs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of the currently used Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) pre-enrichment broth (lactose broth) with two additional broths (universal pre-enrichment broth and buffered peptone water) for the detection of Salmonella in five plant-based burger products. Each burger product was spiked with a Salmonella serotype (S. Enteritidis or S. Agona) that has previously been linked …