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Increasing Parents Knowledge On Reducing Child Lead Exposure Through Education Provided By Community Health Workers In El Paso, Texas, Jaleen Gabrielle Avila

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and significance: Childhood lead exposure continues to be a significant public health concern, especially within Hispanic and Latino communities. Exposure to environmental lead is associated with various adverse health outcomes among children. Unfortunately, parents may have limited knowledge on the topic of lead exposure and may be unaware of screening and mitigation options available to their families. Research on culturally competent educational interventions that focus on increasing parents' knowledge on reducing childhood lead exposure is limited, particularly within Hispanic border communities. This study aimed to assess if a brief education session provided by Community Health Workers increased parents' knowledge …

Stability Of Blood Lead Levels In Children With Chronic Low-Level Lead Absorption, Michelle Del Rio

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance: Despite the many historical efforts by the U.S. to reduce lead (Pb) in the environment, childhood Pb poisoning continues to be a public health issue today. Pb has been identified as a child hazard because children are highly vulnerable to the effects even at lower levels of exposure (blood lead levels (BLLs) < 10 μg/dL), and these effects can be physical, cognitive, and behavioral. Current state and federal blood lead level screening guidelines for identifying exposed children are based on assumptions that BLLs < 10 μg/dL will remain stable or decline over time (with age); disregard the effects of lowest-range Pb exposure; and disregard Pb levels in children older than approximately age 6. We have observed in past clinical studies that in one U.S./Mexico border community, children in high-risk neighborhoods experienced substantially higher proportions of elevated blood lead levels (CDC reference level of ≥ 5 μg/dL) than the rest of the U.S., and a large proportion of children had detectable blood lead levels. To test current policy assumptions regarding child blood lead level screening, this study examined whether time and/or other possible factors over time, predicted child blood lead levels in children with chronic low-level Pb absorption. Whether time was a significant predictor was examined, and also whether age, sex, and living in families with incomes below the U.S. poverty line, living in an older home, and living near industries predicted child blood lead levels.

Aims and Objectives: Changes in current policy must be evidence-based. The over-arching goal of this study was to test current assumptions that one blood lead level test is sufficient to rule out child lead exposure, and that lead exposure and risk of lead exposure, reliably …

Patterns Of Use In A Division I University Fueling Station Before And After Implementing A Nutrition Education Intervention, Cady L. Peters

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Well-timed nutrition strategies are a well-established way to improve athletic performance and minimize recovery time, however, athletes often do not prioritize nutrition as a strategy to gain an edge over their competitors. Even with a resource such as a Fueling Station, which provides athletes with nutrient dense, convenient pre- and post-workout snacks, athletes still struggle understanding which foods are an appropriate choice for their purpose of eating.

The purpose of this research was to examine the changes in the appropriateness of the athlete’s meal choices at the Fueling Station based on their macronutrient distribution and timing of workout or training …

Fatty Acid Composition Of Forages And Their Effect On The Fatty Acid Composition In Beef Cattle, Britney G. Allen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study focused on how diet changes the rumen microbiome in the cattle and the effects of that on the long chain fatty acids (LCFA) by microbes in the rumen, and on the short chain fatty acids (SCFA) these microbes produce from feed carbohydrates like fiber and starch. The abundance of bacteria belonging to the phyla Tenericutes and Proteobacteria increased in response to high-fiber or high-starch diets, respectively. The production of two SCFA was positively correlated with the presence of increased Tenericutes (acetate) and Proteobacteria (propionate). A greater acetate to propionate ratio is associated with elevated production of enteric methane …

A Longitudinal Study Of Interprofessional Education In Graduate Students From Rehabilitation Sciences, Francesca Julia Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: The importance of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and interprofessional education (IPE) have been well recognized in the healthcare field and health professions programs. However, the long-term benefits of IPE experiences for students from various health professions has not been well investigated.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term effectiveness of IPE experiences on rehabilitation sciences graduate students’ interprofessional knowledge and perceptions of other disciplines’ roles and responsibilities across time.

Methods: A group of seventy-one students from occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate programs at the University of Texas at El Paso …

Determination Of Perceived Calorie Content Of Common Foods, Sarah Leticia Ruiz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Currently, dietary weight-loss interventions focus on recommended caloric intake aimed at creating an energy deficit through the use of calorie-based education. This approach assumes individuals can accurately estimate caloric content of foods and beverages, yet little is known about the validity of such assumptions. This study assessed the accuracy of perceptions of calorie content for individual food items and mixed meals and determined its association with education level, nutrition background, body composition, fruit and vegetable intake, and the domains of eating (emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, and cognitive restraint). A cross-sectional survey assessed calorie perceptions using both visual food displays and …

Predictive Measures Of College Academic Success For Secondary Students At An Hispanic Serving Institution, Steven Smith

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of one of the latest Texas legislative efforts to increase the college readiness of Texas high school graduates. The study assessed whether students falling under this mandated measure of college readiness are as successful in their college level math and English courses as students who pass the Texas Success Initiative Assessment. Using a secondary data set, a set of binary logistic regression models were developed to analyze the predictive value of six variables in determining student success in their first college level math or English course. Descriptive statistics were used …

Effects Of Carbohydrate Mouth Rinsing Plus Ingestion On Cycling Time Trial Performance, Henry D. Gebhardt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to limited glycogen stores, carbohydrate (CHO) consumption during exercise is effective at improving performance in endurance events lasting longer than 90 minutes in duration. Recent research has established that CHO mouth rinsing may improve performance over shorter durations, independent of actual consumption. However, research is lacking in determining if an extended period of mouth rinsing has any additive benefit in conjunction with typical CHO beverage consumption over longer competition durations, where CHO ingestion/consumption is likely warranted. PURPOSE: Determine the effects of CHO mouth rinsing combined with consumption compared to CHO consumption alone on cycling performance. METHODS: Following …

Evaluation Of Grain Type And Processing Method On Steer Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Nutrient Digestion, Caitlin A. Coulson

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A feedlot finishing study evaluated the effect of replacing corn with dry-rolled wheat in diets containing wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS; Exp 1). Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of corn type [dry corn (DC), high-moisture corn (HMC), or a blend of dry and high-moisture corn (BLEND)] processed with either AutomaticRoller Mill (ROLL) or hammer mill (HAMMER) on steer performance, carcass traits, and nutrient digestibility (Exp. 2 and 3). In Exp. 1, steers were fed diets containing 100% dry-rolled corn (DRC) or a 50:50 blend of dry-rolled corn and wheat (WHEAT) in diets containing 12 …

Understanding Rumen Microbial Community Structure And Function Towards Decreasing Methane Emissions, Allison L. Knoell

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Resource use is continually being limited due to this growth, therefore, production of high-quality animal protein sources, such as meat and milk, are challenged. The rumen microbiome is extensive and serves to provide several metabolic requirements for the animal for growth. Recently, a significant amount of research is being driven towards understanding the rumen microbiome due to its large effect on metabolic requirements.

A study was conducted to replace alfalfa with nonforage fiber sources in dairy cows. It was determined milk yield and intake are maintained when nonforage fibers replace forage sources, while decreasing methane levels. Water consumption decreased when …

Characterization Of The Sneathia Amnii Cytotoxin And Its Potential Role In Health Disparities Affecting Women Of African Ancestry, Ivypel Amankwa-Asare

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Women of African descent are more likely to develop bacterial vaginosis (BV) and bear twice the risk of preterm birth and the increased risk of other pregnancy complications. Sneathia amnii is a pathogenic anaerobe found in the female urogenital tract that is associated with adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, BV, and chorioamnionitis. S. amnii has been found at a greater prevalence in the vaginal microbiota of women of African ancestry, which links it to a potential role in the disparities observed in health outcomes for these women. S. amnii encodes the cytopathogenic toxin A (CptA), an exotoxin that perforates …

Examining The Everyday Life Of Child Care Workers: How Low Wages And The Lack Of Benefits Affect Their Lives And Decisions About Employment, Amanda Megan Mcdougald Scott

All Dissertations

Child care workers’ wages have been an issue that has plagued the early childhood education field for over five decades. Although research exists on child care workers’ low wages, turnover rates, and lack of benefits, the details of daily life experiences from child care worker perspectives are scant. This study aims to add a lived experience perspective to the child care worker research, as well as provide stories which may be used as examples to inform policy change.

This qualitative Participatory Action Research entailed semi-structured interviews with 14 child care workers to investigate: (a) the everyday life of child care …

360-Degree Analysis Of The Produce Prescription (Rx) Program, Joel Hamilton

All Dissertations

The Produce Prescription (Rx) program served patients who utilized a local free clinic, had incomes below 200.0% of the federal poverty line, were uninsured, and had a diet-related chronic health condition. Participants received nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, recipes, and a bag of local produce (their nutrition prescription). Their nutrition prescription aimed to provide enough produce for participants to eat two servings each day for fourteen days. The hope was to improve disease management through nutrition education and the promotion of plant-based diets.

A combination of Produce Rx participants, Clemson Free Clinic personnel, healthcare professionals, patients of a separate local clinic, …

Spatial Planning To Examine Regional Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Obesity And Diabetes By Analyzing The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) Retail Environment: Applying A Machine Learning Approach, Michelle Eichinger

All Dissertations

In the United States, food insecurity has been an ongoing concern nationwide, with over 17.4 million Americans affected. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as “food stamps,” aims to improve food security by providing financial assistance on food purchases to income-eligible households. SNAP participants redeem their benefits at SNAP-authorized retailers, including supermarkets, small discount stores, convenience stores, corner stores, and pharmacies. The retail food environment influences food purchasing behavior, thus contributing to poor diet. In the United States, low-income residents, including SNAP participants and minority residents, are more likely to have diet-related …

Evaluation Of Nickel Stress On Anabaena Cylindrica, Danielle L. Maragh

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Heavy metal contamination due to anthropogenic activities has steadily been on the rise over the past few decades. Cyanobacteria can thrive in water bodies that have been contaminated by heavy metal runoffs and are able to tolerate heavy metal stress even in relatively high concentrations. Cyanobacterial species can secrete toxins which can prove harmful to humans and life stock. Due to their high adaptation to heavy metal stress, understanding the potential mechanism behind their response may lead to solutions in curbing excessive cyanobacterial growth especially in water bodies that serves as sources of drinking water. Anabaena spp. is a genus …

Acetyl-Coa And Metabolite Fluxes Regulate White Adipose Tissue Expansion, Jessica B Felix, Aaron R Cox, Sean M Hartig

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

White adipose tissue (WAT) depends on coordinated regulation of transcriptional and metabolic pathways to respond to whole-body energy demands. We highlight metabolites that contribute to biosynthetic reactions for WAT expansion. Recent studies have precisely defined how byproducts of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism affect physiological and endocrine functions in adipocytes. We emphasize the critical emerging roles of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites that connect lipogenesis to WAT energy balance and endocrine functions. These insights address how adipocytes use small molecules generated from central carbon metabolism to measure responses to nutritional stress.

Dietary Factors And Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Risk Among Us Veterans, Mimi C Tan, Niharika Mallepally, Quynh Ho, Yan Liu, Hashem B El-Serag, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Studies on diet and gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) risk are lacking in US populations.

AIM: To determine the associations of dietary factors and risk of GIM among a US population with typical American diet.

METHODS: We analyzed data from a cross-sectional study of veterans attending primary care and endoscopy clinics at the Houston VA Medical Center. Patients completed a 110-item Block Food Frequency Questionnaire then underwent upper endoscopy with gastric mapping biopsies. We compared cases defined by GIM on ≥ 1 non-cardia gastric biopsy to controls without GIM. Associations of dietary factors and GIM were estimated using logistic regression …

Identifying The Cardiovascular Effects Of Multiple Pollutants., Katlyn Elizabeth Mcgraw

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death from environmental exposures. Although exposure to PM_2.5 is an established risk factor for CVD, the contribution of other hazardous pollutant exposure to CVD is less clear. Overall, this work aimed to examine the effect of pollutants with lesser documented effects on cardiovascular disease using a multi-pronged approach to exposure assessment. The three aims were to examine the relationship between county-level toxic chemical releases and CVD mortality in the contiguous United States between 2002 and 2012, to assess the relationship between individual-level VOC metabolites and vascular function, and to build multipollutant …

Prageru As A Parasite Public., Ryan A Corso-Gonzales

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the media corporation PragerU as a parasite public, using the framework provided by Larson and McHendry (2019). Parasitic publics are “reactionary discursive spaces formed residual and institutionalized affectively through the invention, circulation and uptake of demagogic rhetorics” (Larson & McHendry, 2019, p. 517). The purpose of this thesis is to identify and analyze the argumentative tactics used by PragerU in the public sphere. I argue that PragerU utilizes its extensive network to resist counterpublicity and influence the dominant public sphere. This thesis demonstrates the ways in which this PragerU utilizes its unique position in the public sphere …

Particulate Matter Exposure And Community-Acquired Pneumonia Mortality Among Hospitalized Adults With Pneumococcal Pneumonia: Incidence Study (Happi) Participants., Jack Anthony Pfeiffer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The role of air pollution as an agent of elevated morbidity and mortality has come under increasingly intense scrutiny in recent years. As the body of literature grows, so too does our understanding of how extensive the harm of such pollutants can be. Particulate matter (PM) particularly harmful due to its small size, ability to travel great distance while airborne, and capacity to infiltrate numerous bodily systems, often to the detriment of those exposed. Besides being associated with increased mortality risk in more heavily exposed populations, PM exposure has also been associated with complications in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous …

Annealing Of Encapsulated Heavy Metals From Brine Water Utilizing Microwave Enabled Sol-Gel Process, Adam Michael Flynn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Various waste encapsulation strategies have been investigated to solidify and stabilize heavy metal wastewater for proper long-term storage. This work aims to enhance a method of novel sol-gel encapsulation of heavy metals from mock brine waters using tetramethyl orthosilicate with the addition of an annealing step at various temperatures in order to reduce leaching of metals from the silica monoliths when exposed to water. The metals tested for encapsulation and leaching were mercury (II) chloride, potassium dichromate, sodium selenite, boric acid, cadmium chloride, and copper (II) acetate. The annealing of the silica monoliths led to an increased degree of for …

Type 2 Diabetes Subgroups, Risk For Complications, And Differential Effects Due To An Intensive Lifestyle Intervention, Michael P Bancks, Haiying Chen, Ashok Balasubramanyam, Alain G Bertoni, Mark A Espeland, Steven E Kahn, Scott Pilla, Elizabeth Vaughan, Lynne E Wagenknecht

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: We reevaluated the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) intervention, incorporating diabetes subgroups, to identify whether intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) is associated with differential risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) by diabetes subgroup.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In the Look AHEAD trial, 5,145 participants, aged 45-76 years, with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity were randomly assigned to 10 years of ILI or a control condition of diabetes support and education. The ILI focused on weight loss through decreased caloric intake and increased physical activity. To characterize diabetes subgroups, we applied k-means clustering to data on age …

Methods To Reducing Weaning Stress In Early Weaned Spring Beef Calves, Matthew Daniel Hahn

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Reducing weaning stress in beef calves can have dramatic benefits to the health, growth, and performance to beef calves post-weaning. Studies have shown that providing creep feed to calves during the pre-weaning period can improve their nutritional status, which can better prepare them for the stresses they will be exposed to during the weaning process. Studies have also shown that two-stage weaning can reduce the stresses associated with weaning. Previous research has suggested that this method resulted in dramatic changes in behavioral signs associated with stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two-stage weaning with …

Implementation Of An Enhanced Recovery Protocol In Gynecologic Oncology., Tanvi V. Joshi, Shaina F. Bruce, Rod Grim, Tommy Buchanan, Sudeshna Chatterjee-Paer, Elizabeth R. Burton, Joel I. Sorosky, Mark S. Shahin, Mitchell I. Edelson

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) is an evidence-based approach that aims to reduce narcotic use and maintain anabolic balance to enable full functional recovery. Our primary aim was to determine the effect of ERAS on narcotic usage among patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy by gynecologic oncologists. We characterized its effect on length of stay, intraoperative blood transfusions, bowel function, 30-day readmissions, and postoperative complications. A retrospective cohort study was performed at Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health in gynecologic oncology. Women who underwent an exploratory laparotomy from 2011 to 2016 for both benign and malignant etiologies were included before and after implementation of …

Addressing Health Disparities Among African American Women In Mecklenburg County : A Mixed-Method Study On The Village Heartbeat Health Promotion Program, Everdith Landrau

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Differences In Player Metrics Between Lacrosse Games And Practices, Kinta Schott

Perpetua: The Journal of Undergraduate Research at UAH

This study was intended to better understand the physiological demands of the sport of lacrosse by analyzing and comparing player metrics during game and practice sessions. A team heart rate monitoring system with global positioning was utilized to measure player metrics during games, which were compared with metrics recorded during practice sessions. Participants in the study consisted of 13 male high school club lacrosse players (16.2 ± 1.5 yr; 175.3 ± 7.7 cm; 69.9 ± 13.6 kg). Game and practice data were compared utilizing paired samples t -tests, while individual position metrics were analyzed by independent samples t -tests. A …

Effect Of A Ketogenic Diet On Glycemic Control In Type 2 Diabetics, Steven William Moore

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

With the increasing rate of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the serious complications associated with this disease, there continues to be controversy surrounding the most effective way to manage glycemic control in this population. The intention of this meta-analysis is to determine the effect of a ketogenic diet as a first-line treatment option on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients. Effectiveness was determined by comparing the ketogenic diet to other popular diets recommended to diabetics by practitioners following guidelines set forth by the American Diabetes Association. Several high-quality studies were selected utilizing PubMed, Dynamed plus, …

The Role Of The Gut Microbiome In Autoimmune Disorders, Sierra Baxter

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), it is estimated that over 24 million Americans are diagnosed with autoimmune disorders, and the cases are increasing (2005). A significant risk factor that has been linked to the formation of these diseases is the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome of the adult plays a vital role in the efficacy of the immune system. The purpose of this research and systematic literature review is to determine how the gut microbiome can influence autoimmune disorders. In this review, five databases were searched including PubMed, DynaMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Clinical Key. A variety …

Comparison Of Oral Glucose Tolerance And Hemoglobin A1c As An Initial Indicator Of Type 2 Diabetes, Shelby L. Knox

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) compared to oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) for diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Databases ClinicalKey, PubMed, Dynamed, and CINAHL withdrew a total of 17 peer-reviewed cross-sectional and retrospective studies, secondary data and pooled data analyses, and meta-analyses. Inclusion criteria included human studies, black, white, Hispanic, and Asian populations, studies < 10 years old, individuals > 15 years of age, fasting plasma glucose in conjunction with OGTT, and subjects without known type 2 diabetes. Exclusion criteria included alternative forms of diabetes, screening and diagnosis of prediabetes, comparisons in relation to specific …

Comparison Of Conjunctive Probiotic Use Versus No Probiotic Use In Outcomes Of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea, Samantha L. Simley

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Antibiotics are utilized in the medical community for the treatment of bacterial infections. Consequently, the use of antibiotics may result in certain gastrointestinal side effects. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is one side effect that can be seen in patient populations that are on an antibiotic regimen. Due to this side effect profile, patient compliance on an antibiotic regimen may be compromised. This lack in patient compliance led to increased interest to determine if there are treatment options available to prevent or reduce instances of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. One treatment option of interest includes the use of probiotics. The purpose of this literature review …