Digital Commons Network^™

From Deviance To Disease: How Congress Frames Opioid Use, 1994-2019, Stephanie Kirkland

All ETDs from UAB

Over the past thirty years, the use of opioids like heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, and hydrocodone led to tens of thousands of deaths from overdoses and caused a public health crisis. Researchers have noted the roles of various social organizations and groups in creating a public discourse around this topic and have studied the changing public views of opioid use in light of new scientific research. And yet, there remains a gap in research on the role of the members of Congress in this public discourse. These legislators pass policies that directly affect people who live with or who know someone …

Using Authentic Online Resources In Russian For Stem Coursework For Novice Through Superior Level Learners, Molly Thomasy Blasing

Russian Language Journal

This article makes a case for incorporating STEM content into Russian language courses at the Novice through Superior levels of proficiency. The author presents models of asynchronous learning activities based on authentic online resources developed for a Russian for STEM pilot course taught during the COVID-19 pandemic. These lessons can be employed in online or face-to-face courses to prepare students to speak, read, write, and understand the language of STEM fields in Russian.

Dna Barcoding Approach To Characterize Microalgae Isolated From Freshwater Systems In Ecuador, Isabel Ballesteros, Paulina Terán, Cristina Guamán-Burneo, Nory González, Alejandra Cruz, Pablo Castillejo

Neotropical Biodiversity

The use of suitable DNA barcodes and the generation of databases with reference sequences have been considered a promissory approach for the identification of Chlorophyta and Cyanophyta microalgae. In this study, we carried out a molecular characterization and identification of strains isolated from freshwater systems in Ecuador using a dual barcode method. The target sequences for Chlorophyta were 18S rDNA and rbcL genes, and 16S rDNA and 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer (ITS) for Cyanophyta. We reported these DNA barcodes for 20 different Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) for Chlorophyta and 10 for Cyanophyta. Our results show that the 18S V4 …

Lachryphagy By Cockroaches: Reptile Tears To Increase Reproductive Output?, Matthijs P. Van Den Burg, Javier Aznar González De Rueda

Neotropical Biodiversity

Lachryphagy, or tear-feeding, is generally considered as supplementary feeding by invertebrates with a long proboscis to acquire essential nutrients. Commonly reported vertebrate host species of lachrypaghic interations are humans and birds, and in reptiles concern large species: turtles and crocodiles, with one report from an iguanid host. Here, we report tear-feeding by a cockroach, a species lacking a proboscis, on a small squamate species, Anolis fuscoauratus. We address how the nutritional needs for the reproductive cycle may force cockroaches to explore any dietary source with essential nutrients. In addition to birds, our report adds Anolis as invertebrate predators that are …

The Structure Of Tardigrade Communities At Fine Spatial Scales In An Andean Polylepis Forest, Balbina P.L. Ramsay, Nigel J. Marley, David T. Bilton, Simon D. Rundle, Paul M. Ramsay

Neotropical Biodiversity

Little is known about distribution patterns of micrometazoan organisms at different spatial scales and the mechanisms driving these patterns across different environments. Here we explore the fine-scale structure of tardigrades in a high-elevation Polylepis forest in northern Ecuador. To investigate spatial patterns of tardigrade abundance, we collected samples from different bryophyte taxa (hosts) on the woodland floor. We identified some tardigrades to species, but most taxa were considered at the level of morphological operational taxonomic units. Tardigrade assemblages differed in composition between host taxa, with some tardigrade taxa associated more with certain hosts, which might relate to host architecture or …

Herbivory And Leaf Traits Of Two Tree Species From Different Successional Stages In A Tropical Dry Forest, Fernando Henrique De Sena, Bruno Melo Lustosa, Silvia Roberta Santos Silva, Hiram Marinho Falcão, Jarcilene Silva De Almeida

Neotropical Biodiversity

Leaf traits are analyzed as essential drivers for the evolutionary and ecological role of plant defense mechanisms. Plants show leaf trait variation as a response to the diverse environmental conditions, like different successional stages. Those variations can impact leaf herbivory rates and drive changes in the allocation of plant resources. In this study, we aimed at comparing the expression of leaf defenses in established plants over different successional stages in a tropical dry forest to understand how these defenses modify the plant–herbivore interactions based on herbivory rates. We analyzed physical leaf traits (specific leaf area, thickness, and density), nutrient content …

Sampling Performance Of Bait Traps In High Andean Fruit-Feeding Butterflies, Carlos Federico Álvarez, Alejandra Clavijo-Giraldo, Sandra Inés Uribe, Tomasz Wilhelm Pyrcz, Cristiano Agra Iserhard, André Victor Lucci Freitas, Mario Alejandro Marín

Neotropical Biodiversity

Studies on model organisms such as butterflies are useful tools for conservation decision-making. However, in tropical ecosystems with an intrinsic high diversity a full understanding of biotic communities is difficult to obtain. Bait trap samplings have traditionally been used for community appraisals related to ecological and conservation issues. Nonetheless, in the Andes Mountains, there is little knowledge related to the effectiveness of bait traps for butterfly sampling. In this study, we tested the success of fermented fruits and rotten fish baits for butterfly sampling in four land-cover types (páramo, cloud forests, mixed, and pasture) in the upper Rio Chico basin …

Developing And Evaluating A Quality Improvement Intervention To Facilitate Patient Navigation In The Accountable Health Communities Model, Jennifer L Holcomb, Gretchen H Walton, Itunu O Sokale, Gayla M Ferguson, Vanessa R Schick, Linda Highfield

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model was designed to address the health-related social needs of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services beneficiaries. Bridge organizations across the AHC Model have identified lack of technical assistance and peer planning as potential barriers to Model success, particularly around patient navigation. The technical assistance and peer planning literature lacks an organizing, conceptual framework, but implementation science frameworks could serve as useful guides. The Strengthening Peer AHC Navigation (SPAN) research protocol seeks to fill this gap and will apply three implementation science frameworks, Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, Intervention Mapping, and the Expert Recommendations …

Can The Circular Economy Concretize Sustainability? A Construal Level Approach To Encourage Sustainable Consumption., Jolie Gutentag

Theses and Dissertations

Despite a growing awareness and understanding of the impact our lifestyles have on the environment, most people have not adequately changed their consumption patterns. One possibility for the disconnect is the perceived abstractness of sustainability. Drawing on construal level theory, this research proposes that framing environmental sustainability as circularity, using the principles of the circular economy, reduces the perceived abstractness of sustainability. Four studies investigate the effects of circular framing on sustainable consumption behavior, including the moderating role of consumers’ chronic level of construal, an innate mindset reflecting a tendency to view information more concretely or abstractly. Findings provide initial …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Technology-Based, Rural Weight Management Int Ervention In Older Adults With Obesity, John A. Batsis, Curtis L. Petersen, Matthew M. Clark, Summer B. Cook, David Kotz, Tyler L. Gooding, Meredith N. Roderka, Rima I. Al-Nimer, Dawna M. Pidgeon, Ann Haedrich, K. C. Wright, Christina Aquila, Todd A. Mackenzie

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background

Older adults with obesity residing in rural areas have reduced access to weight management programs. We determined the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of an integrated technology-based health promotion intervention in rural-living, older adults using remote monitoring and synchronous video-based technology.

Methods

A 6-month, non-randomized, non-blinded, single-arm study was conducted from October 2018 to May 2020 at a community-based aging center of adults aged ≥65 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2. Weekly dietitian visits focusing on behavior therapy and caloric restriction and twice-weekly physical therapist-led group strength, flexibility and balance training classes were delivered using video-conferencing …

Heeding The Call Of Covid-19, David Wiebers, Valery Feigin

Animal Sentience

We are grateful to all of our commentators. They have provided a wide range of valuable perspectives and insights from many fields, revealing a broad interest in the subject matter. Nearly all the commentaries have helped to affirm, refine, expand, amplify, deepen, interpret, elaborate, or apply the messages in the target article. Some have offered critiques and suggestions that help us address certain issues in greater detail, including several points concerning industrialized farming and the wildlife trade. Overall, there is great awareness and strong consensus among commentators that any solution for preventing future pandemics and other related health crises must …

Identifying Meaningful Dietary Intake And Physical Activity Questions For Individual And Population Health, Jennifer Bennett Shinall, David G. Schlundt, Et Al.

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

We aimed to identify valid screening questions for adults regarding physical activity and dietary behaviours that (a) were correlated with BMI, (b) were deemed by patients and providers to be relevant to clinical care, and (c) have utility for longitudinal understanding of health behaviours in populations. The goal was to identify screening questions that could be implemented at annual health care visits. First, we identified dietary behaviour questions and solicited patient input. Next, we tested both physical activity and dietary behaviour questions in a large sample to test their potential utility. Finally, we used cognitive interviews with patients and physicians …

Characterizing Industrial And Artisanal Fishing Vessel Catch Composition Using Environmental Dna And Satellite-Based Tracking Data, Demian A. Willette, Gabriela Navarrete-Forero, Zachary Gold, Apollo Marco D. Lizano, Leonardo Gonzalez-Smith, Giovanna Sotil

Biology Faculty Works

The decline in wild-caught fisheries paired with increasing global seafood demand is pushing the need for seafood sustainability to the forefront of national and regional priorities. Validation of species identity is a crucial early step, yet conventional monitoring and surveillance tools are limited in their effectiveness because they are extremely time-consuming and require expertise in fish identification. DNA barcoding methods are a versatile tool for the genetic monitoring of wildlife products; however, they are also limited by requiring individual tissue samples from target specimens which may not always be possible given the speed and scale of seafood operations. To circumvent …

Parental Substance Use And Its Impact On Children’S Health And Safety. Increased Need For Collaboration And Multidisciplinary Efforts, Blerta Shehaj, Joanne Chopak-Foss

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

Pengaruh Jam Kerja Orang Tua Terhadap Kognitif Anak Di Indonesia, Pradini Ajeng Gemellia, Turro S. Wongkaren

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

The current phenomenon shows an increasing work activities by both fathers and mothers to fulfil household needs. This social change is feared to give children imbalance time, causing children’s development to be not optimal. This study aims to see the influence of parental working hour on children’s cognitive scores in Indonesia. This study used data from IFLS Survey in 2007 and 2014 with a unit of analysis of children aged 7 to 14 used an OLS estimation method. The results of this study indicate that parental working hours had negative influence on children’s cognitive scores.

Rethinking Behavior - Winter 2021, Midwest Symposium For Leadership In Behavior Disorders

ReThinking Behavior Magazine

A magazine for professionals serving children and youth with behavioral needs.

Winter 2021, Volume 4, Issue 2

Modeling Substance Use And Mental Disorder Comorbidity Using Latent Variable And Network Approaches, Courtney T. Blondino

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a common condition that affects millions of Americans. Addressing SUD has been complicated by comorbid mental disorders and co-occurring substance use. Consequently, detailing and addressing SUD and comorbid SUD represent an important goal to improve the health of Americans.

Objective. The research goal of this dissertation was to characterize the comorbidity between substance use, including tobacco use, and mental disorder symptoms measured as negative affect and externalizing symptoms in a population-based sample using latent variable and network approaches.

Methods. Waves 1 – 3 from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study were used. …

Streptococcus Sanguinis: The Good, The Bad, And The Metal-Binding Lipoprotein, Cody Murgas

Theses and Dissertations

Streptococcus sanguinis is an opportunistic bacterium living beneficially in the human mouth. When S. sanguinis gains access to the bloodstream, it can result in colonization on damaged tissue and generate heart valve vegetations that can develop into infective endocarditis. It has been suggested that Mn and Fe are cofactors in the pathogenic capacity of this bacterium, and that these redox active metals are imported by the metal binding lipoprotein S. sanguinis adhesin B (SsaB). The SsaB lipoprotein is an integral part of SsaACB, an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport system in S. sanguinis. When SsaB is deleted, the resulting strain displays …

Kaleidoscope Wellness | Destigmatizing Mental Health For Teens By Design, Rhode L. Baptiste

Theses and Dissertations

Motivation

Mental health is a global public health crisis. (Marcus et. al, 2012; WHO, 2020). Although there is a growing acceptance of the complexities surrounding mental illness, care delivery for adolescents with mental health concerns remains highly stigmatized, which contributes to delays in care (Hoisington et. al, 2019; Burns & Birrell, 2014). Half of all mental illnesses can be detected prior to the age of 14 (National Alliance for Mental Health, 2020). While research exploring how the physical health care environment impacts health and well-being for patients has evolved immensely over the past two decades, research on how facility design …

A Study On The Pupal Development Of Calliphora Vomitoria (L., 1758) (Calliphoridae: Diptera) At Different Temperatures, Osman Sert, Ceyda Ergi̇l

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this study, the pupal development process of the Calliphora vomitoria (L. 1758), widely used in the estimation of postmortem time in forensic entomology, was examined. In the last decade, studies of the development periods in the pupal stage and the development times of these periods have increased around the world and specifically in Turkey. In this study, the aim was to detect the pupal development periods of the Calliphora vomitoria via a process of hourly pupal dissection, a process that would be the only one of its kind in the literature for this species. This method was repeated under …

From Quandary Cases To Ordinary Life: New Opportunities To Connect Social Ethics And Health Care Ethics, Conor M. Kelly

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

In Christian bioethics, the call for a greater integration of social ethics and medical ethics is a popular refrain, yet lasting progress toward this goal has been elusive, in part due to the traditional emphasis on quandary cases in medical ethics. This article develops an alternative approach to moral discernment in health care, employing a theological interpretation of solidarity to promote greater social consciousness in ordinary health care decision making. This shifts the ethical analysis from abstract scenarios to everyday choices, elevating the moral significance of seemingly mundane concerns like antibiotic use and diet and exercise.

Dominance Or Leverage? An Analysis Of Female Power In Captive Varecia, Jessie E. Birckelbaw

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Lemurs are unusual in that, unlike in most other primates, females have more power than males. This is evident by females receiving priority access to foods and preferred spaces, and frequent grooming. Rebecca Lewis provided a framework to analyze the basis of female power that distinguishes between true dominance and leverage. Dominance is defined as the physical ability to overpower an individual, whereas leverage is the ability to influence others based on intangible resources, such as social currency like grooming or the potential for mating. This study aimed to investigate female power in the critically endangered ruffed lemurs (genus Varecia). …

Correctional Education As Therapeutic Change: Exploring The Use Of Animal-Assisted Therapy Programs With Incarcerated Women, Terrie Ciez

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Throughout history and in every culture and country, animals and humans have formed special bonds often as pets. Well trained pets have often been used in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) programs in hospitals and nursing homes to help patients cope with illnesses and recovery while away from home. Pet visits to these facilities have documented reductions in medications, stress, and loneliness when a simple wet nose reaches on to a patient’s bed for attention. A variety of animals have been incorporated into various facilities ranging from birds, fish tanks, and puppies and kittens to relieve the stress of residents. A …

Secret Literate Lives: Rural Adolescent Title I Reading Students, Zoe A. Cassady

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the self-efficacy and identity beliefs about literacy of 10 rural adolescent Title I Reading students. Sociocultural theory influenced by knowledge of self, culture, identity, and self-efficacy served as the theoretical framework for the study. The research employed a qualitative case study design using a photo-elicitation interview (PEI) technique. Participants were asked to bring 20 photos picturing literacy to the interviews. An interview guide provided basic questions, and probes and discussions focused on the participants’ photographs, which are included in the dissertation. The audio- and videotaped interviews and the researcher notes concerning the participants’ photographs were transcribed for …

Comparing Students’ Academic Achievement And Attitudes In Undergraduate Flipped And Non-Flipped Classrooms: A Mixed-Methods Study, Rabab Alareifi

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Today’s classrooms are filled with a diversity of students of different cultural backgrounds, languages, and socioeconomic statuses, and these differences can impact the students’ learning styles and outcomes. To meet their individual needs, the focus of educational institutions has been on transforming the role of teachers from lecturers to “guides on the side” by developing student-centered active learning strategies and employing effective instruction.A flipped classroom model of instruction is student centered and grounded in the constructivist theory of learning and serves as a potential instructional model to achieve these goals. Recently, a movement has emerged in higher educational institutions in …

A Qualitative Evaluation Of A Pre-College Summer Program: The Research Apprentice Program, Stanford B. Oglesby Iii

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The Research Apprentice Program is a pre-college, summer enrichment program that seeks to recruit underrepresented students into the field of agriculture and the College of ACES at the University of Illinois. The program has been in operation for more than thirty years and has reported many successes. Among these successes are a recruitment rate of 55% and a graduation rate of 96%. This program has yet to be formally evaluated. This study was conducted to provide a formative evaluation of the program to assess if the intended outcomes of the administrative participants are consistent with the lived experiences of the …

Longitudinal And Concurrent Contributions Of Verbal And Physical Scaffolding To Toddlers’ Inhibitory Control, Anton Petrenko

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Executive function (EF) is crucial to lifespan development and environmental factors have been found to impact its development. Previous research has shown that parenting can make meaningful impacts on children’s EF, with scaffolding receiving broad support. Scaffolding refers to an adult’s ability to guide a child through a challenging task without providing too much or too little support. However, many of the studies which have examined scaffolding have been done in preschool- and school-aged samples, with limited research conducted in younger samples. Very few studies have separately examined verbal and physical components of scaffolding, which may differentially contribute to children’s …

“They Just Think No One Struggles Here”: A Qualitative Case Study On The Experiences Of Students With Food Insecurity At A Small, Liberal Arts College In The Midwestern United States, Rachel Costello Pridgen

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Food insecurity is more prevalent on college campuses than nationwide, though many assume it is not an issue. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the experiences of students with food insecurities at a small, liberal arts college. This study particularly focuses on how the liberal arts context influences the experiences of students with food insecurities. Data was collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis and analyzed through a single qualitative case study. Five themes emerged from the research: a) the perceptions of students as well-off created unique barriers; b) student participants had limited access to food …

The Power Of Presidential Rhetoric: The State Of The Union And Legislative Productivity, Kaylar M. Recker

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Congressional scholars have long debated what factors influence legislative productivity. Mayhew argues that “landmark enactments” are more likely to occur under divided-party control of government, while Binder takes exception to this contention by incorporating legislative demand and different types of divided-party governments. Dodd and Schraufnagel argue that topical legislative productivity is the best measure of legislative competence and quasi-divided government is especially counterproductive, when accounting for polarization. This research incorporates all of these factors: divided government, legislative demand, and polarization; however, my interest is more about the imperial presidency thesis, which argues that presidents have become too powerful relative to …

The Gut Microbiome Of Hapalemur Griseus Griseus, Propithecus Diadema, And Propithecus Coquereli: A Comparative Study Between Wild And Captive Lemur Species, Brenna Ritchie

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Madagascar is home to thousands of endemic species, making it a biodiversity hotspot that is rapidly losing its fauna due to deforestation and human expansion. Efforts to restore and preserve this unique island are ongoing and several researchers have placed their focus on preventing species extinctions. One research avenue that can help contribute to these efforts is to study health and wellness of animals located in areas affected by these changes. In this study, I sought to characterize microbial community composition of two native lemur species found in Madagascar and compare those profiles to similar species found in captivity in …