Digital Commons Network^™

Urban Tree Community: Living With Tree Spirits, Xueying Chen

Masters Theses

In my thesis, I want to discuss the problem of how to use landscape design to change people’s attitudes toward nature through demonstrating the interconnectedness of all living and non-living parts of the Earth, and with hope, changing people’s behavior—starting with studying trees in the urban area and people’s relationship with them.

The project aims to introduce a new lifestyle for people living in the urban areas to engage more with trees by developing more opportunities for people to interact with trees through design. I hope to build an urban tree community where people live with tree spirits and make …

Reimagining The Damage: An Exploration On Urban Brownfield Regeneration Strategies, Jun Jiang

Masters Theses

Residents of the Olneyville neighborhood in Providence, RI are at the cusp of being gentrified and forced to relocate. Revitalization of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway and the redevelopment of adjacent neighborhoods such as the West End and Federal Hill are attracting investors' attention on undeveloped post-industrial properties in Olneyville. This study aims to determine how gentrification can be reduced to minimize the impacts on the inhabitants of Olneyville Specifically, it investigates the social and physical conditions and designs potential solutions that can regenerate the urban brownfields in a way that fortifies the neighborhood from gentrification. In this context, "Regenerate" is …

Regional Food Self Sufficiency: New Visions For Productive Landscapes, Yiling Wang

Masters Theses

Food is an important resource for the survival and development of civilization. Its potential is so huge that it affects physical and mental health in an individual sense, and it affects landscapes and even public relations in a social sense. For most people, having food is never a problem that the importance of food is overlooked. However, the right to food is not equal. There are still a considerable number of people have low food access, which means…, and they may also be forced to be in an unbalanced diet leading to health problems such as obesity. A large amount …

An Exploratory Examination Of Internalized Weight Stigma In A Sample Living With Food Insecurity, Carolyn Black Becker, Keesha M. Middlemass, Francesca Gomez, Lisa S. Kilpela

Psychology Faculty Research

Internalized weight stigma (IWS) is associated with various health concerns, regardless of body size. One weakness of existing IWS research is that it largely lacks diverse study populations. One recent exception, however, found increasing IWS was associated with higher levels of food insecurity (FI) in a low-income, majority Latinx sample. Using the same sample (N = 530), the present study further explored levels of IWS as compared to documented (mostly White/European) samples; we also investigated IWS in relation to three dichotomous eating disorder (ED) outcomes (e.g., any/no vomiting). Finally, based on previous qualitative findings regarding dietary restraint in the most …

Lead Pastor Support In Balancing Marriage, Family, And Ministry As It Related To Stress And Depression, Yolanda K. Mcbride

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The role of a pastor encompasses many duties and responsibilities within the church as well as in the home. In particular, associate pastors are akin to lead pastors in dealing with issues that arise in their personal marriages, family, and ministry. Balancing the three can be daunting and arduous tasks without proper guidance and leadership. Lead pastors have a responsibility to assist associate pastors in balancing those three areas of concern to ensure the ability to serve in ministry with a strong state of mind necessary for a full and thriving career in leading others to Christ. Without the assistance …

Molecular Mechanisims Underlying The Anti-Cancer Activity Of Gum Arabic From Acacia Sp. In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells., Sawsan Yaslam Alyafii

Theses

Metastatic breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive, accounting for 15-20% of all breast cancer cases. As TNBC cells lack the expression of hormone receptors estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), TNBCs are unresponsive to hormonal therapy and often become highly resistant when exposed to standard chemotherapy, which has been identifies as a major obstacle in TNBC treatment. Gum Arabic, a natural exudate produced from plants, is widely used traditionally for religious, cosmetics as well as medical purposes …

Enhancing The Quality Of Student Teachers’ Reflective Teaching Practice Through Building A Virtual Learning Community, Wai Cheong Jacky Pow, Kwok Hung Lai

Journal of Global Education and Research

Microteaching and reflection remains an important technique that pre-service student teachers can use to practice their teaching in a safe environment. However, improvements in teaching are not guaranteed without the support and feedback from peers. Previous studies suggest that a learning community supported by information technology promotes improved pedagogical decisions. This study aimed to examine whether virtual learning communities can facilitate student teachers’ reflection upon their teaching practice. A video database with both text- and voice-comment functionalities was designed to facilitate the process of giving peer feedback and improve the quality of teaching practice. Student teachers’ experiences in using the …

The Contribution Of Dysphagia To Acute Stroke Morbidity And Mortality In Nigeria: A Prospective Study, O O. Olajide, Philip Adebayo, F T. Taiwo, M O. Owolabi, A Ogunniyi

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: The assessment of time-trend morbidity and mortality in acute stroke is critical to clinical policy decisions and resource allocation.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dysphagia in acute stroke and the impact of dysphagia on short term stroke outcome (30 days post-stroke).

Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study. Bedside screening for dysphagia modified Rankin score (MRS) and Barthel Index (BI) were performed on acute stroke patients on day 1, day 7, day 14 and day 30 after stroke to determine the frequency of dysphagia. Patients with dysphagia were then compared with age- and gender-matched controls (stroke patients without …

Wandering Land: Landscape On Space Station, Xin Wen

Masters Theses

When the exploration of the universe and the colonization of the universe are getting more and more attention, this thesis book focuses on the question of “What role will landscape play in space resettlement?”, and conducts research and design based on this, trying to explore the possible landscape attempts and experiences on space stations in the future.

This thesis starts with the background research of space habitats and clarifies the definition and advantages of the space station landscape. And through the study of the physical models of the future space station, Stanford Torus was selected as the subsequent design site. …

Optics / Perception / Experience: Regenerating Agricultural Landscape Through Railways, Tianyi Xie

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the relationship between two large infrastructure systems: the railway and agriculture. It’s becoming increasingly important as unhealthy nation-wide industrial agriculture is destroying people’s health and decreasing the long-term capacity of sustainable production of food. In the discipline of landscape architecture, there is a necessity to reform our thinking to match the modern-day development in population growth, transportation and mass production. There exists vast farmlands outside our city, which support our city life with energy and food sources. How could we get people to understand its significance? In chapter I and II, the history of agriculture and railway …

Incidence Of Intestinal Parasitic Infections Among Random Samples At Al- Aziziyah Hospital In Wasit Province/Iraq, Zeina Anwar Jaffar, Ashwak Jasim Kzar Shammari, Maysoon Abdul-Zahra Merdaw

Baghdad Science Journal

The study is designed to identify intestinal parasitic infections examined at Al-Aziziyah Hospital in Wasit Governorate in Iraq. In this study, a total of (460) internal and external patients were monitored for intestinal parasitic infections. All stool samples were analyzed by the direct method (microscopic exam.) to discover the trophozoite stages and cyst stages for intestinal protozoan parasites. The most incidence parasites in different sex, area residence and different age groups. Out of (460) patient sample were infected with 217 at a percentage of (47.17%), 101(46.5%) were for males and 116 (53.5%) were for females. It was found that the …

India’S Calorie Consumption Puzzle: Insights From The Stochastic Cost Frontier Analysis Of Calorie Purchases, Gautam Hazarika, Sourabh Bikas Paul

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

Between the early 1970s and very nearly the present, Indians’ per capita calorie consumption declined. This decline, perplexing in the face of rising per capita income when malnutrition is rampant, has been termed India’s Calorie Consumption Puzzle. It has been partially attributed to a squeeze in the household food budget. This study employs Stochastic Cost Frontier Analysis to evaluate this explanation, upon the logic that such a squeeze shall likely result in the rising cost-efficiency of calorie purchases, that is, the more economical purchase of calories. Analysis of household expenditure data from India’s National Sample Survey reveals that Indian households’ …

In Vitro Fecal Fermentation Patterns Of Arabinoxylan From Rice Bran On Fecal Microbiota From Normal-Weight And Overweight/Obese Subjects, Inah Gu, Wing Shun Lam, Daya Marasini, Cindi Brownmiller, Brett J. Savary, Jung Ae Lee, Franck Carbonero, Sun-Ok Lee

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Arabinoxylan (AX) is a structural polysaccharide found in wheat, rice and other cereal grains. Diets high in AX-containing fiber may promote gut health in obesity through prebiotic function. Thus, the impact of soluble AX isolated from rice bran fiber on human gut microbiota phylogenetic composition and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production patterns from normal-weight and overweight/obese subjects was investigated through in vitro fecal fermentation. Results showed that rice bran arabinoxylan modified the microbiota in fecal samples from both weight classes compared to control, significantly increasing Collinsella, Blautia and Bifidobacterium, and decreasing Sutterella, Bilophila and Parabacteroides. Rice …

Safeguarding The Lives Of Children Affected By Boko Haram: Application Of The Safe Model Of Child Protection To A Rights-Based Situation Analysis, Rosie O'Connor, Theresa S. Betancourt, Ngozi V. Enelamah

Faculty Publications

The Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria is responsible for the highest number of lives lost in Africa in the past decade. The country has witnessed significant violations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Nigeria has signed and ratified. For instance, Nigeria had the second-highest number of children recruited to armed groups and the third-highest number of abductions in 2018. Current humanitarian efforts primarily target camps for internally displaced persons, while state strategies focus mainly on addressing security through combatant-targeted interventions. However, there is a need for more rights-based, integrated, and multifaceted approaches to …

Evaluating Motor Performance With The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test Of Motor Proficiency In Impoverished Pakistani Children, Zehra Habib Hasan, Fariha Shaheen, Arjumand Rizvi, Jelena Obradovic, Aisha Khan Yousafzai

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity of the modified Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test in identifying motor differences secondary to malnutrition and poverty.
Methods: This longitudinal cohort study was conducted at Nowshero Feroze, Sindh from 2013 to 2014 and comprised data drawn from children who participated in a randomised controlled trial, that assessed responsive stimulation and nutrition interventions in the first two years of life. Outcome measures included motor development assessed using Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test, child anthropometry and household economic and demographic information. Data was analysed using SPSS 15 and STATA 12.
Results: Of the 1058 children, …

Pancrelipase Use With Eating Disorders: Summary, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Critically Appraised Topics

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Vitamin D In The Management Of Chronic Pain In Fibromyalgia: A Narrative Review, Hannah Haddad, Allison C. Jumonville, Katarina J. Stark, Shavonne N. Temple, Chukwudum C. Dike, Elyse M. Cornett, Alan D. Kaye

Student Publications

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex disorder characterized primarily by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of three medications to treat FM: pregabalin, duloxetine, and milnacipran. The pharmaceutical intervention has lacked consistent pain relief among all patients. Therefore, the investigation into alternative treatment options has grown in interest. This narrative review aims to evaluate the evidence regarding vitamin D for the treatment of FM.

Methods: Narrative review.

Results: Low serum vitamin D has been linked to various chronic pain states. An association between vitamin D deficiency and FM has been reported …

Novel Facet Of An Old Dietary Molecule? Direct Influence Of Caffeine On Glucose And Biogenic Amine Handling By Human Adipocytes, Wiem Haj Ahmed, Nathalie Boulet, Anaïs Briot, Barry J. Ryan, Gemma K. Kinsella, Jeffrey O’Sullivan, Francisco Les, Josep Mercader-Barceló, Gary T. Henehan, Christian Carpéné

Articles

Caffeine is a plant alkaloid present in food and beverages consumed worldwide. It has high lipid solubility with recognized actions in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues, notably the adipose depots. However, the literature is scant regarding caffeine’s influence on adipocyte functions other than lipolysis, such as glucose incorporation into lipids (lipogenesis) and amine oxidation. The objective of this study was to explore the direct effects of caffeine and of isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) on these adipocyte functions. Glucose transport into fat cells freshly isolated from mice, rats, or humans was monitored by determining [3H]-2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake, while the incorporation …

Epigenetic Modifications In Metabolic Syndrome: Identification And Evaluation Of Early Indicators Using A Rodent Model System, Ashok Daniel Pragasam

Dissertations

It is increasingly realized that mechanisms of developmental plasticity rather than pathology independently facilitate the size of developing embryos during early development. Changes in the early developmental environment alter the metabolic traits resulting in diseases, including metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes and obesity in adulthood. Molecular and epidemiological studies have documented an association between Lower Birth Weight (LBW) and increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Henceforth, using birth weight as a marker, two groups of normal birth weight range rat pups, Lower Birth Weight (LBW, 5th to 25th percentile) and Average Birth Weight (ABW, 50th to 75th percentile) as …

Nudge Communication: A Causal-Comparative Study Of Interventions That Impact Persistence Of Higher Education Students, Helene Vance

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal-comparative study focuses on nudge communication and its impact within online higher education. Due to prior studies confirming the relationship between motivation and persistence, this study focuses on whether or not nudge communication, or intentional interventions that include reminders, encouragement, and other motivational factors, helps students persist toward successful completion of courses within a semester. This study included over 10,000 undergraduate students at a private institution that offers online education. The students were enrolled in over 98,600 general education courses, which were included in the analysis of the test and control populations. Successful course completion was defined as …

From At-Risk To Graduation: A Causal Comparative Study Of Mentoring The At-Risk Student With The Jag Model, Stacy Bishop Carlton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is imperative for students to graduate career-ready in order to enter the employment field and fill this gap. This research examined a non-experimental causal-comparative quantitative study of at-risk students and their career readiness upon graduation. The effectiveness of Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) mentoring program was analyzed to determine the impact of career readiness among these at-risk students. A comparison of the data of at-risk students enrolled in the JAG program versus at-risk students not enrolled was compared to determine their career-readiness skills upon graduation. A review of the research showed that early intervention significantly increased the success of …

A Novel Biomarker Panel For The Early Detection And Risk Assessment Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Patients With Cirrhosis, Ilvira M Khan, Donjeta Gjuka, Jingjing Jiao, Xiaoling Song, Ying Wang, Jing Wang, Peng Wei, Hashem B El-Serag, Jorge A Marrero, Laura Beretta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Novel biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in patients with cirrhosis are urgently needed. We previously identified osteopontin (OPN) as a promising biomarker for the early detection of HCC. This study is to further validate the performance of OPN and identify fatty acids (FA) that could improve OPN's performance in HCC risk assessment in patients with cirrhosis. To that end, we selected 103 patients with cirrhosis under surveillance. Among them, 40 patients developed HCC during follow-up. We investigated in these 103 patients, the association between HCC incidence and prediagnostic serum levels of AFP, OPN, and 46 FAs. OPN performance was …

Effect Of Individual, Simultaneous And Sequential Inoculation Of Pseudomonas Fluorescens And Meloidogyne Incognita On Growth, Biochemical, Enzymatic And Nonenzymatic Antioxidants Of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.), Ahmed Noureldeen, Mohd Asif, Taruba Ansari, Faryad Khan, Mohammad Shariq, Faheem Ahmad, Manar Fawzi Bani Mfarrej, Amir Khan, Moh Tariq, Mansoor Ahmad Siddiqui, Amal Al-Barty, Hadeer Darwish

All Works

This study was conducted on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. K-21) to investigate the bioprotective nature of Pseudomonas fluorescens and its interactive effects with Meloidogyne incognita in terms of growth biomarkers, changes in biochemical attributes and modulation in antioxidant enzymes of the tomato plant. In this study, we grew tomato plants with M. incognita and P. fluorescens in separate pots, simultaneously and sequentially (15 days prior or post) after 15 days of seed sowing. The sequential inoculation of Mi15→Pf maximally increased the root-knot index and decreased the nematode population. It was also noted that inoculation suppressed the plant growth biomarkers in …

Factors Associated With Delayed Initiation And Cessation Of Breastfeeding Among Working Mothers In Abu Dhabi, The United Arab Emirates, Zainab Taha, Ahmed Ali Hassan, Ludmilla Wikkeling-Scott, Dimitrios Papandreou

All Works

Introduction Despite the enormous benefits of breastfeeding, working mothers face more challenges to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations regarding successful breastfeeding practices. Little research has been done to understand the breastfeeding practices among working mothers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with delayed initiation and cessation of breastfeeding among working mothers with children under the age of two years in Abu Dhabi, the UAE. Methods A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted from March to September 2017. The study included both Emirati and non-Emirati mothers …

Ube2i Deletion In Adipocytes Causes Lipoatrophy In Mice, Aaron R Cox, Natasha Chernis, Kang Ho Kim, Peter M Masschelin, Pradip K Saha, Shawn M Briley, Robert Sharp, Xin Li, Jessica B Felix, Zheng Sun, David D Moore, Stephanie A Pangas, Sean M Hartig

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: White adipose tissue (WAT) expansion regulates energy balance and overall metabolic homeostasis. The absence or loss of WAT occurring through lipodystrophy and lipoatrophy contributes to the development of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. We previously demonstrated that sole small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) E2-conjugating enzyme Ube2i represses human adipocyte differentiation. The role of Ube2i during WAT development remains unknown.

METHODS: To determine how Ube2i impacts body composition and energy balance, we generated adipocyte-specific Ube2i knockout mice (Ube2i

RESULTS: Surprisingly, Ube2i

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that Ube2i expression in mature adipocytes allows WAT expansion during postnatal growth. Deletion of Ube2i in …

A Method For The Evaluation Of Song Texts In Evangelical Churches: A Crucial First Step In Developing Indigenous Songs, Kristi Jeanne Colas

Masters Theses

How important are song texts in worship services? According to the Bible, these songs have a multi-faceted role. Not only do they contain truths about God’s revelation of himself in Scripture, but they also call his people to respond with their whole being. The same song can express worship to God, teach believers truths about him, and challenge unbelievers to turn from their false gods. Therefore, the lyrical content of Christian congregational songs is of utmost importance. However, a survey of ethnodoxological literature reveals a greater focus on songs’ musical content. One reason for this may be the general emphasis …

Applied Research Note: Development Of A Novel Low Flow Water Monitoring System In Poultry/Agriculture Systems, J. Z. Hiltz, S. K. Orlowski, L. N. Harrington, C. W. Maynard, T. W. Tabler, N. B. Anthony

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Water scarcity is a global reality and with the anticipated population growth, freshwater resources will be further strained to meet both human and agriculture applications. To ensure a water sustainable and food secure future, all aspects of agriculture must become more efficient. Two strategies were explored. The first strategy was to develop a more efficient and accurate method for measuring water consumption/inputs in agriculture. To date, water measuring technology has lacked the necessary sophistication to assure accuracy and repeatability of low flow water usage. The second strategy utilized the improved water measuring technology, to develop water-efficient genetics in agricultural populations …

The Effect Of Covid-Related Changes In Diet, Exercise, Sleep Patterns, And Mood On Stress Levels Of Rns Who Work 12-Hour Shifts During The Pandemic, Amber Norman, Trisha Saul, Ross Bindler, Teresa Bigand

2021 Providence Nurse Research Conference

Background: Registered Nurses (RNs) working 12-hour shifts are regularly exposed to high stress situations which has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chronic stress exposure may lead to changes in health habits and impact sleep, exercise or diet, augmenting risk for adverse health outcomes and taking a negative emotional toll. While nursing staff educate patients on reducing stress and engaging in health promotion behaviors, there is little research on perceived stress and relationships to COVID-related changes in sleep, diet, exercise, and mood of nurses working full-time, 12-hour shifts during the pandemic.

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to gain …

Feasibility Of Launching A Multi-State Nursing Health Study In The Midst Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ross Bindler, Shaekira Niehuser, Trisha Saul, Teresa Bigand

2021 Providence Nurse Research Conference

Background: The Quadruple Aim recommends that healthcare institutions support clinician well-being as a strategy to improve patient and caregiver outcomes. During the COVID-19 global pandemic, Registered Nurses (RNs) working full-time, 12-hour shifts have reported increasing health concerns. Therefore, research documenting objective information on preventive health habits of RN’s is needed to support nursing well-being. Yet, conducting bio-behavioral research in this population, especially during the pandemic, presents with unique challenges. Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study to assess the feasibility of collecting and evaluating health data from RNs working full-time, 12-hour shifts across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. …

The Benefits Of Fasting For Patients Who Are Immunocompromised And Undergoing Cancer Treatment: An Integrative Research Review, Lori Burnett

2021 Providence Nurse Research Conference

Background: In the past several decades, remarkable advances in the treatment of cancer have been made. However, a gap remains regarding best practice strategies to reduce the amount of short and long-term side effects and adverse or emergent events related to cancer treatment that may negatively impact patient quality of life. Recent evidence suggests that if patients undergoing cancer treatment fast for a period of time, they may experience reduced chemotherapy-related side effects and enhanced immune potential. Weight loss and malnutrition associated with cancer treatments highlight the importance of evidence appraisal associated with fasting prior to recommending this practice …