Digital Commons Network^™

Increasing Mental Health Awareness In The Homeless Youth Community, Kelly Joyce

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Mental illness within the homeless community is a pressing issue, which requires an increase in awareness throughout the community in order for it to be properly addressed. A lack of funding for low-cost or free mental health care, difficulty accessing existing programs by the homeless, and few options for care have contributed to the issue of mental illness and poor mental health among the homeless youth community. This can lead to various severe consequences, such as declining mental state for those within the community, prolonged homelessness, and an increased risk of developing a substance abuse disorder.

The Youth Homeless Response …

Parent And Child Cookbook For Parental Involvement, Natali Juarez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The agency with the internship opportunity is the Greenfield Branch Library. The purpose of this capstone project is to address the problem of lack of parental involvement. The lack of parental involvement in the community could have major consequences like low academic achievement, low literacy rates, and childhood obesity. The project is a cookbook with healthy recipes consisting of both meals and snacks. The recipes are made specifically for children to be able to make with their parents. The capstone project is a 6 week program. Every Wednesday there is a grab and go bag with a copy of a …

Veganic Farming In The United States: Farmer Perceptions, Motivations, And Experiences, Mona Seymour, Alisha Utter

Urban and Environmental Studies Faculty Works

Veganic agriculture, often described as farming that is free of synthetic and animal-based inputs, represents an alternative to chemical-based industrial agriculture and the prevailing alternative, organic agriculture, respectively. Despite the promise of veganic methods in diverse realms such as food safety, environmental sustainability, and animal liberation, it has a small literature base. This article draws primarily on interviews conducted in 2018 with 25 veganic farmers from 19 farms in the United States to establish some baseline empirical research on this farming community. Its qualitative perspectives illuminate farmer perceptions of and experiences with veganic growing, including definitions, knowledge acquisition, values, and …

Getting Old And Technology, Brenden A. Davis

Masters Theses

It is generally agreed upon that the purpose of technology is to aid humanity through various means like: making a task more convenient, or overcoming something previously deemed “impossible.” From the dawn of man to the era in which we stand, technology has steadily improved alongside civilization. This steady progress has seemingly hastened every year. Looking at technology from the viewpoint of “necessary everyday life tasks,” the past three decades have changed dramatically. With every year that passes, more things have become accessible through the web. Not everyone can keep pace with this rapid expansion into the “non-physical” digital world …

Medicaid To Schools Technical Assistance Guide, Lucy Hodder, Kelsi West, Victoria Forkus, Department Of Health And Human Services (Dhhs), Medicaid To Schools (Mts) Team

All Materials

Purpose: The purpose of this Medicaid to Schools (MTS) Technical Assistance Guide is to memorialize in one document the formal existing rules and guidance approved by New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services for the Medicaid to Schools program. The administrative rules (He-W) and formal guidance in the form of “Information Bulletins” is referenced and categorized by topic. The user can link internally to sections for clarification and can link to external sources for clarification.

Scope: This Technical Assistance Guide includes only those resources that have been formally adopted by DHHS.

Contents: Each section of this Technical Assistance Guide …

Growth Kinetics Of Salmonella Spp. During Post-Harvest Storage Of Fresh And Fresh-Cut Papaya, Amandeep Singh

Theses and Dissertations

Fresh produce safety is major concern in United States. Fresh produce has been associated with numerous food-borne outbreaks each year. Salmonella has been a recurring issue in the papaya industry. Since 2010, imported papayas have been implicated in 8 multistate outbreaks associated with Salmonella spp. causing 480 illnesses, 113 hospitalization and 3 deaths. The main reason behind this problem is as fresh papaya is grown on fields where they are constantly exposed to preharvest microbial contamination through contaminated irrigation water, agricultural soil, raw manure and/or feces deposited by intruding domestic or wild animals. Moreover, majority fresh papaya is also consumed …

Characterization Of Soil Nematode Community As Influenced By Weedy Plants And Edaphic Properties, Orlando Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

Nematodes are one of the most critical species globally as they are part of most nutrient recycling. While nematodes play a vital role in nutrient cycling, little is known about them from an ecological standpoint. The majority of current research has focused on a singular component of the community, being those of herbivore/plant-parasitic nematodes. In this study, the community shifts of the nematode trophic groups were analyzed as influenced by native and invasive grasses species in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) with the addition of edaphic soil properties.

In our study, the results indicate changes in the composition of …

Early Embryology In Collembola With An Emphasis On Wing Development, Samantha A. Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this study was to further the understanding of the wing origin in insects. Currently there are several theories which are popular such as the tergum theory, the pleural plate theory, and the dual theory of wing origin. Studies for these theories have been done on crustaceans, the ancestors to modern day insects. By utilizing a pre insect hexapod, it may be possible to better understand the transition to insect wings. Members of the Collembola species Hypogastrurid are one of these pre-insect hexapods which may provide a clue into origins of wing development. During this study, the …

Electrospun Pcl And Pcl/Gel Microfiber Scaffolds As Prototypes For Anterior Cruciate Ligament (Acl) Regeneration And Repair, Diego Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a polymer that has been a focus of tissue engineering due to its range of applicability for biomedical applications. Synthesis of PCL from a microwave-assisted and stannous octoate-catalyzed ring-opening reaction with ε-caprolactone was accomplished. Aligned-fiber microfiber mats were generated via electrospinning for characterization. PCL microfiber mats were characterized via FTIR and scanning electron microscopy. These PCL microfiber mats were mechanically tested to examine their applicability as tools for knee ligament repair. During tensile testing, non-fiber aligned mats lacked the sufficient elastic modulus. Fiber-aligned PCL samples both and gelatin-coated were tested and showed enhanced elastic modulus and extension …

Study Of Certain Biomarkers In Iraqi Female Patients With Breast Cancer, Abeer M. Hussain, Ali Hussein Mohammed Al-Khafaji, Alia Hussain Ali, Haider Latif Mohammed

Baghdad Science Journal

The prospective study has been designed to determine some biomarkers in Iraqi female patients withbreast cancer. The current study contained 30 patients whose tissue samples have been collected fromhospitals in Medical City in Baghdad after consent patients themselves and used immunohistochemicaltechnique to determine these markers. The results showed a significant correlation between ER and PR tissuemarkers (Sig = 0.000) and a significant correlation between cyclin E phenotype and cyclin E intensity (Sig =0.001).

An Investigation Of Outsourcing Ticket Sales In Division I College Athletics, Kyle John Brannigan

Dissertations

Understanding the phenomenon of outsourcing ticket sales in collegiate athletics can help athletic departments make more informed ticketing decisions. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to help create new and emerging knowledge of outsourcing ticket sales in collegiate athletics from the interactions with the study’s participants. The study had 15 participants who experienced the decision-making process as well as the stakeholder impact of outsourcing ticket sales in collegiate athletics. After doing a thematic analysis of the data, eight final themes were used to help describe the phenomenon. It was clear that the importance of being able to …

Trained Immunity Enhances The Immune Response And Maintains Microbiome Diversity In Aging And Sepsis, P. Spencer Gill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The global population is rapidly aging. It is estimated that over the next thirty years, the number of individuals >60 years of age will increase by over a billion, and the number of individuals over age 80 may increase by 300 million. As humans age, our immune system becomes progressively weaker through a process called immune senescence. This age-related decrease in immune function increases susceptibility to infection and chronic diseases. Sepsis is a leading cause of death worldwide. Over the past two decades, there has been an increased incidence of sepsis which is due, in part, to our aging population …

Role Of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Kinase In Western-Type Diet-Induced Cardiac Outcomes Under Basal And Ischemic Conditions, Mary Wingard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM), a serine/threonine kinase, plays a role in DNA damage repair, redox sensing, and metabolism. In the heart, ATM contributes significantly in the myocardial infarction (MI)-induced cardiac remodeling with effects on fibrosis, hypertrophy, apoptosis and inflammation. This study investigates the role of ATM deficiency in 14 weeks Western-type diet (WD)-induced cardiac outcomes prior to and 1-day post-MI in a sex-specific manner using wild-type (WT) and ATM heterozygous knockout (hKO) mice. In male mice, ATM deficiency induced rapid body weight gain and preload-associated dysfunction, while WT mice displayed afterload-associated dysfunction 14 weeks post-WD. Myocyte apoptosis and hypertrophy were …

Does Naturalness Influence Positive Learning Outcomes During Environmental Education Field Trips?, Lydia Kiewra

All Theses

Environmental education (EE) field trip programs in the United States often take place in outdoor, natural settings. Such natural environments provide ample opportunity for hands-on and immersive learning to occur, which may allow for positive cognitive and moral development in children. However, recent research on the impact of more natural settings on youths’ academic success has produced mixed outcomes, suggesting that the relationship between levels of naturalness and student success is more complex than previously assumed. Utilizing student surveys collected during 283 EE field trip programs and remotely sensed land cover data, this study examines the relationship between levels of …

Fine Mapping Of Chilling Requirement And Bloom Date To Enable Marker-Assisted Breeding Of Climate Resilient Peach, Gizem Demirel

All Theses

Peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) fruit is a delicious summer treat appreciated for its sweet, juicy, and aromatic taste all over the globe. With only 44 calories and zero fat per fruit, peach has a great popularity among consumers and producers for its nutritional and economic value. Peach production is threatened by unpredictable climate changes, rising temperatures that reduce winter chill, especially in the warmer growing areas, resulting in fruit and yield loss. Therefore, it is necessary to develop cultivars that are resilient to environmental changes. Peach breeding takes a long time, and this process can benefit from the …

Stress And Anxiety Experience Of Dental Hygiene Students, Kristen Ford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ETSU dental hygiene program is very competitive and rigorous for those admitted. Student dental hygienists may experience higher levels of anxiety and more stressors while completing their course work and clinical hours than they have previously experienced in general education and prerequisite courses. These increased number of stressors and higher levels of anxiety may have negative impacts on students’ academic performance and success in clinical learning environments. A better understanding of the actual need for a stress reduction and anxiety management curriculum will facilitate creating and implementing this type of curriculum. A total of 44 current ETSU dental hygiene …

The Influence Of Social Media On The Tourism Industry: A Content Analysis Of Culinary Tourism Brands Via Instagram, Angela White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The tourism industry in the United States is constantly changing and being influenced by social media, specifically Instagram. Culinary brands use Instagram to advertise their restaurants and dishes in a creative, visual way. As a result, Instagram is now being used as a tool by tourists and both potential and current customers to share their dining experiences and find these locations based on the visual appeal. This study provides a content analysis of Instagram account information and photo composition within eight popular culinary tourism destinations by examining the strategies used by the accounts. 50 randomly selected photos were used from …

Cardenolide, Potassium, And Pyrethroid Insecticide Combinations Reduce Growth And Survival Of Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Annie J. Krueger, Emily A. Robinson, Thomas J. Weissling, Ana M. Vélez, Troy D. Anderson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus L., has evolved to be insensitive to milkweed cardenolides via genetic modifications of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. There is concern for insecticide exposures near agriculture, with little information on monarch caterpillar toxicology. It is unclear how cardenolide insensitivity may affect the sensitivity of monarch caterpillars to pyrethroid insecticides. Additionally, potassium fertilizers may affect monarch caterpillar physiology and cardenolide sequestration. Here, we investigated the growth, survival, and development of caterpillars exposed to the cardenolide ouabain, bifenthrin, and potassium chloride (KCl) alone and in combination. Caterpillars were either exposed to (1) ouabain from third- to fifth-instar …

Reintegrating Biology Through The Nexus Of Energy, Information, And Matter, Kim L. Hoke, Sara L. Zimmer, Adam B. Roddy, Mary Jo Ondrechen, Craig E. Williamson, Nicole R. Buan

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Information, energy, and matter are fundamental properties of all levels of biological organization, and life emerges from the continuous flux of matter, energy, and information. This perspective piece defines and explains each of the three pillars of this nexus. We propose that a quantitative characterization of the complex interconversions between matter, energy, and information that compose this nexus will help us derive biological insights that connect phenomena across different levels of biological organization. We articulate examples from multiple biological scales that highlight how this nexus approach leads to a more complete understanding of the biological system. Metrics of energy, information, …

Narrative Review-Drug Delivery In Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Rachel Israilevich, Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh, Mirataollah Salabati, David Xu

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

This narrative review highlights routes of ocular drug delivery for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrialized countries and accounts for 8.7% of blindness worldwide. Advanced AMD can be classified into two subtypes: late-stage dry AMD [known as geographic atrophy (GA)] and neovascular AMD (nAMD). GA is often bilateral and results from progressive and irreversible loss of photoreceptors and areas of the retinal pigment epithelium. Wet AMD is characterized by angiogenesis from the choroid to the normally avascular regions underneath the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) or retina, a process known as choroidal neovascularization …

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Of Muscle Perfusion May Indicate Patient Response To Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy., Lauren J. Delaney, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Maria Stanczak, Priscilla Machado, John W..C. Entwistle, Flemming Forsberg, Gordon R. Reeves

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support is associated with peripheral vascular abnormalities beyond those associated with heart failure (HF). These abnormalities are associated with persistent functional impairments that adversely impact quality of life (QoL). Methods for measuring peripheral vascular function in this population are needed.

METHODS: This pilot study investigated the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using standardized protocols to estimate changes in peripheral (quadriceps) muscle perfusion among patients with HF (INTERMACS profile 3) undergoing LVAD implantation (n = 7). Patients were then stratified by those who did ("responders", n = 4) and did not ("nonresponders", n = 3) …

A Systematic Review Of Parent Training Effects Children's Use Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication Systems, Mia Constransitch

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) are communication systems used when someone cannot express their needs with naturally spoken speech. For children who use AAC, parent training is an essential part because it teaches the parents how to use the device and encourages their child to use the device. A systematic review was completed to explore the literature regarding parent training for parents whose children are AAC users, and how the training impacts the child's success using the AAC system. The results from this can be used to explore if parent training is effective and if there is a need for …

Challenges For Estimating The Global Prevalence Of Micronutrient Deficiencies And Related Disease Burden: A Case Study Of The Global Burden Of Disease Study, Sonja Y. Hess, Alexander C. Mclain Ph.D., Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., Ashkan Afshin, Nicholas J. Kassebaum, Saskia Jm Osendarp, Reed Atkin, Rahul Rawat, Kenneth H. Brown

Faculty Publications

Information on the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies is needed to determine related disease burden; underpin evidence-based advocacy; and design, deliver, and monitor safe, effective interventions. Assessing the global prevalence of deficiency requires a valid micronutrient status biomarker with an appropriate cutoff to define deficiency and relevant data from representative surveys across multiple locations and years. The Global Burden of Disease Study includes prevalence estimates for iodine, iron, zinc, and vitamin A deficiencies, for which recommended biomarkers and appropriate deficiency cutoffs exist. Because representative survey data are lacking, only retinol concentration is used to model vitamin A deficiency, and proxy indicators …

Genetic Fingerprinting And Aflatoxin Production Of Aspergillus Section Flavi Associated With Groundnut In Eastern Ethiopia, Abdi Mohammed, Paola C. Faustinelli, Alemayehu Chala, Mashilla Dejene, Chemeda Fininsa, Amare Ayalew, Chris O. Ojiewo, David A. Hoisington, Victor S. Sobolev, Jaime Martínez-Castillo, Renee S. Arias

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Background: Aspergillus species cause aflatoxin contamination in groundnut kernels, being a health threat in agricultural products and leading to commodity rejection by domestic and international markets. Presence of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus colonizing groundnut in eastern Ethiopia, as well as presence of aflatoxins have been reported, though in this region, no genetic studies have been done of these species in relation to their aflatoxin production. Results: In this study, 145 Aspergillus isolates obtained from groundnut kernels in eastern Ethiopia were genetically fingerprinted using 23 Insertion/Deletion (InDel) markers within the aflatoxin-biosynthesis gene cluster (ABC), identifying 133 ABC genotypes. Eighty-four isolates …

Evidence Of Antioxidant Activity Of Novel L-Glutaminase Purified From L. Gasseri Brlhm, Butheina Hasson, Likaa Mahdi, Rajwa Essa

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

Probiotic strains have the potential to be used as bio-preservatives and functional radical scavenging treatments in the future.  Antioxidant tests, including DPPH radical scavenging, were used to evaluate the antioxidant effects of extracellular L- Glutaminase isolated from L. gasseri BRLHM. Parameters for the promoted production of the enzyme under minimal production media were optimized.    The importance of this study lies in enhancing the production of the L- Glutaminase isolated from L. gasseri BRLHM with a high activity using these L. gasseri bacterial as antioxidant activity. In ion-exchange chromatography, the specific activity was 14.7U/mg protein, with 58.8% yield and 4.6 purification …

A Staged Approach To Address Youth Unresponsive To Initial Obesity Intervention: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Katherine R Arlinghaus, Daniel P O'Connor, Tracey A Ledoux, Sheryl O Hughes, Craig A Johnston

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background/objective: Maintenance interventions inherently require BMI improvement to maintain. This overlooks individuals initially unresponsive to obesity interventions. Staged pediatric clinical treatment guidelines were adapted to the school setting to develop an escalated treatment option for individuals initially unresponsive. This staged randomized controlled trial examined differences between escalated treatment (Take CHARGE!) and a maintenance program (PE Planners). Take CHARGE was hypothesized to have greater improvements in BMI as a percentage of the 95th BMI Percentile (%BMIp95) than PE Planners.

Subjects/methods: From 2018 to 2020, 171 middle and high schoolers (BMI Percentile ≥ 85) were recruited from a Houston school district to …

5-Ht Recruits Distinct Neurocircuits To Inhibit Hunger-Driven And Non-Hunger-Driven Feeding, Yanlin He, Xing Cai, Hailan Liu, Krisitine M Conde, Pingwen Xu, Yongxiang Li, Chunmei Wang, Meng Yu, Yang He, Hesong Liu, Chen Liang, Tingting Yang, Yongjie Yang, Kaifan Yu, Julia Wang, Rong Zheng, Feng Liu, Zheng Sun, Lora Heisler, Qi Wu, Qingchun Tong, Canjun Zhu, Gang Shu, Yong Xu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Obesity is primarily a consequence of consuming calories beyond energetic requirements, but underpinning drivers have not been fully defined. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons in the dorsal Raphe nucleus (5-HTDRN) regulate different types of feeding behavior, such as eating to cope with hunger or for pleasure. Here, we observed that activation of 5-HTDRN to hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (5-HTDRN → ARH) projections inhibits food intake driven by hunger via actions at ARH 5-HT2C and 5-HT1B receptors, whereas activation of 5-HTDRN to ventral tegmental area (5-HTDRN → VTA) projections inhibits non-hunger-driven feeding via actions at 5-HT2C receptors. Further, hunger-driven feeding gradually activates ARH-projecting 5-HTDRN …

Dash Diet Adherence And Cognitive Function: Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis, George D Daniel, Haiying Chen, Alain G Bertoni, Stephen R Rapp, Annette L Fitzpatrick, José A Luchsinger, Alexis C Wood, Timothy M Hughes, Gregory L Burke, Kathleen M Hayden

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background and aims: The Adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has been associated with better cognitive function in studies of predominantly White participants; few studies have examined this association in diverse cohorts. Our objective was to examine the association between the DASH diet and cognitive function in the diverse Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort.

Methods: Among 4169 MESA participants, we evaluated prospectively, the association between DASH diet adherence and cognitive function. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire at baseline (2000-2002) and cognitive function was assessed using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI), Digit Symbol Coding …

Intermittent Bolus Feeding Does Not Enhance Protein Synthesis, Myonuclear Accretion, Or Lean Growth More Than Continuous Feeding In A Premature Piglet Model, Marko Rudar, Jane K Naberhuis, Agus Suryawan, Hanh V Nguyen, Barbara Stoll, Candace C Style, Mariatu A Verla, Oluyinka O Olutoye, Douglas G Burrin, Marta L Fiorotto, Teresa A Davis

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Optimizing enteral nutrition for premature infants may help mitigate extrauterine growth restriction and adverse chronic health outcomes. Previously, we showed in neonatal pigs born at term that lean growth is enhanced by intermittent bolus compared with continuous feeding. The objective was to determine if prematurity impacts how body composition, muscle protein synthesis, and myonuclear accretion respond to feeding modality. Following preterm delivery, pigs were fed equivalent amounts of formula delivered either as intermittent boluses (INT; n = 30) or continuously (CONT; n = 14) for 21 days. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and muscle growth was …

Variations In Otolith-Zinc Concentrations Of Brown Surgeonfish (Acanthurus Nigrofuscus) Between Marine Protected Areas And Fished Reefs, Matthew Austin Nichols

Theses and Dissertations

As human populations continue to increase, the growing reliance on exploited fish stocks has furthered patterns of declining body size and biomass worldwide. To mitigate these impacts, fisheries managers have implemented a variety of conservation strategies, including marine protected areas (MPA), as these serve as a refuge for fish, resulting in increases in numerous health metrics (fish density, biomass, body-size, and species diversity). By using fish otolith samples previously concluded to have physiological and morphometric differences between MPA and fished reef (FR) fish, this thesis explores the potential of using microchemical analysis of zinc (Zn) to reveal impacts MPAs might …