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The Nutritional Management And Glycemic Control In Adolescents With Diabetes, Jennifer Durham

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this literature review is to explore the relationship of nutritional management on glycemic control amongst adolescents who have diabetes. The adolescent population has significant negative or positive peer influence on the management of their diabetes (Yang, 2018, p.104). These peer perceptions can include empathy, curiosity, knowledge seeking, enthusiasm, fearfulness, and bullying (Yang, 2018, p.104). These influences directly affect nutritional management, blood glucose levels, and insulin management. When the peer influence is negative the individual is less inclined to acknowledge their medical condition (Yang, 2018, p.105). Other influences on the management of diabetes include technology, physical exercise, and …

Tiny Tusks Internship: Barriers To Breastfeeding Surrounding Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Brianna Purser, Quinn Owen

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

It is known that breastfeeding is beneficial to mothers and their children, and it is recommended that mothers exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of their infant's life. Despite this, in the United States only 1 in 4 infants is exclusively breastfed for the first six months. After being an intern for Tiny Tusks Breastfeeding and Infant Support, a program designed to facilitate and educate about breastfeeding, we have seen firsthand the barriers to breastfeeding. The goal of this literature review was to investigate barriers to breastfeeding specifically surrounding neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and how to address those …

Tribal Identity And The Rise Of The American Indian/Alaskan Native Population, Angel M. Stevens

Political Science Theses and Capstones

Today, most tribal nations in the United States identify by federal recognition, yet on the American Community Survey, American Indian/Alaskan Native respondents can self-identify as a member of a specific tribal nation. Most researchers argues that this tribal identification fortifies the reflection of the American Indian/Alaskan Native identity. There are 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States today. Between 2000-2020, the US Census Bureau and the American Community Survey noted a significant surge in the American Indian/Alaskan Native population. This population growth went from a mere 2 million to almost 10 million in a 20-year time span. In this …

Effects Of Tannin-Free Grain Sorghum Varieties On The Metabolizable Energy, Performance, And Intestinal Health Of Poultry, Alissa Moritz

All Dissertations

The single largest cost of poultry production is the cost of feed, and it is favorable to seek more sustainable, alternative feed ingredients to reduce the competition between human, animal, and industrial users. Grain sorghum is a potential alternative feedstuff to minimize the dependence of corn by the poultry industry. Not only is it nutritionally similar to corn, but it is tolerant to dry, sandy soils, which allows it to grow successfully in arid climates. This is highly desirable because of its potential to alleviate the production pressure of growing other cereal grains like corn that are less tolerant to …

Methodological Considerations For The Study Of Cognitive Reserve And Its Relationship To Cognitive Decline In Older Adults, Kerry A. Howard

All Dissertations

Cognitive reserve (CR) is a key construct in promoting healthy cognitive aging. Methodological inconsistencies have limited the ability for researchers to make broad conclusions about relevant life experiences that may build CR and delay cognitive decline. This dissertation explored notable issues within the operationalization of CR based on proxy life experiences by applying a systematic approach toward understanding the use of CR, as well as an understanding of consequences of inconsistent operationalization. The project had three aims: review and explore the association between various CR proxies utilized in the literature and develop a composite score for CR, describe differences in …

Teaching Programmable Microcontrollers To Novice Users In A College Of Agriculture: Effects On Attitude, Self-Efficacy, And Knowledge, Grant T. Hood

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis consists of two articles that examined an instructional treatment based on the use of Arduino UNO R3 programmable microcontrollers in a fundamentals of agriculture systems technology course at the University of Arkansas. The first article examined students’ breadboarding and programming self-efficacy and knowledge of Arduino. The treatment consisted of a three-class-period instructional treatment, starting with a pretest before instruction to measure students’ baseline interest, knowledge, and self-efficacy of breadboarding and programming Arduino. This was followed with a short 30-minute instructional video explaining basic Arduino programming and breadboarding. Next a hands-on laboratory activity requiring students to breadboard and program …

Multi Elemental Analysis Of Cannabis Oil Based Products Using Icpms And Microwave Assisted Digestion., Kevin Trevon Marchbanks-Owens

Theses (2016-Present)

Due to the presence of CBD-(cannabidiol), bioavailable elements as well as industry versatility and relatively low levels of toxicity to the environment. CBD oils have driven the overall demand for Cannabis based plant products in the commercial and medical sector. However, dependent upon the environmental circumstances upon which these plants are grown can leave them susceptible to toxic heavy metal exposure. In fact, the natural metabolism of Cannabis plants makes them a hyperaccumulator of trace metals. This creates a severe health risk for CBD product consumers especially for more vulnerable populations with pre-existing conditions. Furthermore, the risk of heavy metal …

Nasogastric Feeding Tube/Dobhoff Placement: A Multidisciplinary Approach To The Management Of Malnutrition During Radiation Therapy In Patients With Head And Neck Cancer, Alexandra V. Coke, Marissa Gilbert, Sue Hill, Farzan Siddiqui

Radiation Oncology Articles

Background: Radiation therapy (RT)-associated oral mucositis, xerostomia, thick mucoid saliva, nausea/vomiting, and loss of taste may result in significantly compromised oral intake in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancers (HNC). Feeding tube placement allows patients to receive enteral nutrition and continue the planned course of treatment.

Objectives: RT-associated oral mucositis, xerostomia, and loss of taste may result in significantly compromised oral intake in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancers. We sought to determine if reactive nasogastric (NG) tube placement was an effective strategy for nutritional support in these patients and if invasive percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) …

The Synchronization Of Nocturnal Pollinator Behavior And Apple Flower Nectar Production, Madison Jennings

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Insects perform an essential ecological service by facilitating the pollination of crops for food production worldwide. Recent declines in diurnal bee populations threaten food security and has led to growing concerns about existent pollination methods. Pollination contributions by native nocturnal insects have been documented to occur in a variety of systems, thought to be supported by the plant’s attractant and reward system. If this is the case, pollination of flowers by nocturnal vectors may be influenced by circadian cycles of nectar production and insect activity. To test this hypothesis, we recorded insect abundance of nocturnal pollinators periodically throughout the night …

Self-Rated Function And Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (Doms) Responses To 6-Week Supplementation With Waters With Anti-Inflammatory Capabilities (Wac), Kristin Garner

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: Researchers have examined the effects of sedentary lifestyles on diminished health outcomes and are pleading individuals to take on a more active lifestyle to prevent these. However, initial efforts to exercise are often dampened by delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle fatigue. This can greatly reduce exercise adherence, making it difficult for individuals to overcome this temporary discomfort. Background: Research has extensively evaluated nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and fruits as anti-inflammatory supplementation to treat DOMS. Berry-derived essences are more highly concentrated in anti-inflammatory substances than regular fruit juices, but there is minimal research on their effects on exercise …

Tiny Tusks Internship: Barriers To Breastfeeding Surrounding Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Quinn Owen, Brianna Purser

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breastfeeding has proven itself beneficial to both baby and mother for many reasons. However, many mothers do not breastfeed their infants. In fact, only 1 in 4 mothers breastfeed for the first 6 months of life. Experiences in the clinical setting and knowledge gained as interns for Tiny Tusks, a breastfeeding and infant support group for sporting events at the University of Arkansas, sparked the desire to understand the staggering statistic.This literature review seeks to understand barriers to breastfeeding, specifically, barriers to breastfeeding as it pertains to neonatal intensive care units (NICU).

Essential Tools For Sustainability Of A Student-Led, Pro-Bono Back School, Cory Brown, Rosalie Gutierrez, Jennifer Montes, Rondale Scruggs

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: In 2018, University of Nevada Las Vegas Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students and faculty, in cooperation with a community partner, created a student-led pro bono Back School to address a gap in healthcare for underinsured individuals with low back pain in Southern Nevada. To support the sustainability of the Back School, the authors of this paper set out to develop a student club to recruit and train DPT students to volunteer in the program using a specifically designed electronic training manual. Overall, the aim was to encourage students to join the new club's leadership team to prepare future …

Efficacy And Benefits Of Providing A Screening Clinic For Performing Arts Students, Shaun Bean, Joanna Centeno, Elizabeth Williams

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In past years, University of Nevada, Las Vegas physical therapy students (UNLVPT) have provided UNLV dance students with screening clinics, injury evaluations, and treatment sessions to help address their need for direct and specialized services. Through this project, UNLVPT has worked to help reduce injury risk in dancers and provided treatment and rehabilitation for injuries that have occurred. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our group was unable to treat dancers in person over the course of the 2020-2021 school year. In response to these limitations, we worked to reformat our screening process to make it practical in a virtual setting. …

Research Report: High Tunnel Tomato Fruit Cluster Pruning, Caterina Roman, Rebecca G. Sideman

Faculty Publications

Tomatoes are a high value crop grown worldwide. Indeterminate varieties are commonly grown in high tunnel structures throughout New England for the fresh market. Indeterminate tomato plants often suffer from a phenomenon called ‘June drop’ in which the plant’s first four to five cluster of fruit set perfectly but the subsequent two to three clusters have poor set and plant productivity drops suddenly. While cluster thinning (e.g., reducing the number of fruit allowed to mature per cluster) has been successfully shown to increase fruit size, it has generally not increased marketable yield. We hypothesized that reducing the fruit load by …

Modeling Leaf Area Index And Canopy Height Using Growing Degree Days, Ellie J. Kuhn

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

As the global population increases and food security is recognized as a critical issue, crop growth prediction models help ensure the sustainability of reliable food sources. Using a prediction model based on temperature and simple, measurable field parameters, e.g., Leaf Area Index (LAI) or Canopy Height (H_can), may allow farmers and others to intervene mid-season with fertilizer, irrigation, or other inputs to obtain a better harvest.

This study aims to create a general model that could predict LAI and H_can values for numerous rice varieties using Growing Degree Days (GDD) as the time scale. The models use …

Potato Processing In The Home: Sustainability And Nutritional Impacts, Aubin Payne

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Potatoes are the world's fourth most consumed crop. Their versatility and long shelf-life make them a staple food for millions of people worldwide. Still, the increasing consumption of highly processed potato products in developed countries has damaged the public's appreciation of potatoes as a valuable source of essential nutrients. Additionally, as public awareness of environmental sustainability increases, the average consumer is more likely to value processing methods that mitigate environmental damage.

Researchers simulated several home storage and processing conditions to find out how nutrition and environmental impact are affected by the home processing timeline. Then, a nutrient analysis, life cycle …

Sensory Comparison Of Beer Carbonated Using Forced Carbonation And The Carbo Rock-It, Michala Smith

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Craft brewing is a growing market which represents over 12% of beer produced in the United States. Dr. G Scott Osborn, PE invented the Carbo Rock-It™ to improve the carbonation process for craft breweries. The invention allows for shorter carbonation time and uses less CO₂, saving companies money and time. Because of the lack of gas losses through bubbling, Osborn theorized that the Carbo Rock-It could also prevent the “stripping of the nose” that can occur in traditional forced carbonation. Existing research supports the mechanism, as beer flavor and aroma volatiles have been detected during the release of …

Financial Hardship From Purchasing Prescription Drugs Among Older Adults In The United States Before, During, And After The Medicare Part D “Donut Hole”: Findings From 1998, 2001, 2015, And 2021, Anthony W. Olson, Jon C. Schommer, David A. Mott, Olajide Adekunle, Lawrence M. Brown

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

BACKGROUND: Cost-related nonadherence compromises successful and effective management of chronic disease. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) aimed to increase the affordability of outpatient prescription drugs for older adults (older than age 64 years). The Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance coverage gap (“donut hole”) created by the MMA was fully closed in 2020 by the ACA.

OBJECTIVES: To (1) describe prescription drug coverage and financial hardship from purchasing prescription drugs among older American adults for 2021, (2) compare these results with findings from data collected before the MMA …

Anxiety And Immunity: Affecting The Body And The Mind, Katelynn Dobbs

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Speculations have been made within the scientific community that there is a link between the underlying mechanisms that impact anxiety disorders and immune system disorders. While many correlations between these disorders have been observed through various immune system disorder studies, this subject is still severely under-explored. In order to examine the potential relationship between anxiety disorders and immune system disorders, a survey was conducted and distributed among the student population at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. This survey collected data by asking a variety of questions that pertained to anxiety and immune system disorders diagnoses within the student population …

Identification Of Synonymous Genes And Pathways Implicated In Irritable Bowel Disease And Pancreatic Duct Adenocarcinoma, Lavanya Uppala

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Better understanding and genetic characterization of the gut microbiome will allow for the identification of clinically distinct gastrointestinal diseases. Facilitated by high throughput technologies, intestinal flora analyses have elucidated a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric, immunological, and allergic disorders linked with this organ system. Microbiome research especially has shed light on underlying factors of intestinal disorders. This interplay of environmental bacteria versus host tissue gene expression may have implications for disease pathogenicity and etiological determination. For instance, pancreatic disorders are common symptoms of irritable bowel disease (IBD), which is thought to affect approximately 7% to 21% of the population [1]. However, …

Diagnostic Utility Of Red Cell Indices In Relation To Serum Iron Indices For Evaluation Of Iron Deficiency In Heart Failure, Larry Wangai Mburu

Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) in heart failure (HF) causes poorer outcomes, and evaluation using ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) in our setting is hampered by cost and availability. Though the red cell indices (RCIs), routinely used for assessment of ID anaemia, have shown utility in predicting outcomes in HF, they have not been evaluated in this population for prediction of ID relative to the iron indices. A combination of the RCIs, the combined cell index (CCI), may be more accurate. Validating the diagnostic accuracy of the RCIs would improve evaluation of ID in low-resource settings and improve uptake of iron …

Healthy Diet Affordability In North Alabama During Covid-19, Nicholas Knighten

Perpetua: The Journal of Undergraduate Research at UAH

Previous research has shown that nutrient dense, low-calorie foods are bought at higher rates by those with higher incomes. 1 These types of studies have engulfed common knowledge on healthy diet affordability. However, a recent study of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico, California, found a healthy diet filled with popular foods can be afforded by all members of the community.2 By focusing on healthy foods people want to eat and their localized affordability, research applicability in policy clearly increases. This study uses a framework similar to the California study while tweaking a few aspects to better suit a more …

Turtletree: Cultivating Food Sustainably, Fengru Lin

Asian Management Insights

Lin Fengru, co-founder of TurtleTree, speaks about her entrepreneurial journey in the biotech space.

Philanthropy In Asia, Naina Subberwal Batra

Asian Management Insights

Its changing face and evolution.

Strategies To Prevent Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections In Acute-Care Hospitals: 2022 Update., Niccolò Buetti, Jonas Marschall, Marci Drees, Mohamad G. Fakih, Lynn Hadaway, Lisa L. Maragakis, Elizabeth Monsees, Shannon Novosad, Naomi P. O'Grady, Mark E. Rupp, Joshua Wolf, Deborah Yokoe, Leonard A. Mermel

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Exercise Counteracts The Deleterious Effects Of Cancer Cachexia, Stavroula Tsitkanou, Kevin A. Murach, Tyrone Washington, Nicholas P. Greene

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial syndrome characterised by unintentional loss of body weight and muscle mass in patients with cancer. The major hallmarks associated with CC development and progression include imbalanced protein turnover, inflammatory signalling, mitochondrial dysfunction and satellite cell dysregulation. So far, there is no effective treatment to counteract muscle wasting in patients with CC. Exercise training has been proposed as a potential therapeutic approach for CC. This review provides an overview of the effects of exercise training in CC-related mechanisms as well as how factors such as cancer comorbidities, exercise modality and biological sex can influence exercise …

A Broken Market: Can Increased Access To Broken Rice Decrease Food Insecurity In Haiti?, Matthew Greer Richardson, Lawton L. Nalley, Alvaro Durand-Morat, Philip G. Crandall, Andrew Scruggs, Lesly Joseph, Jerome Chouloute, Wei Yang

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Haiti is a unique rice market in the sense that, despite the high poverty rates and dependency on rice as a staple, it relies on imports (80% of total consumption) of high-quality milled rice for which it pays a premium price. Haiti requires that all imported rice have a maximum of 4% broken kernels, which results in Haiti importing one of the most expensive non-fragrant long grain rice in the world. This study implements a non-hypothetical field experiment (300 observations) to elicit which rice attributes Haitians valued as revealed by their purchasing behavior in an open-air market setting. Specifically, we …

What Socioeconomic Factors Influence Breastfeeding Rates?, Keely Ford

Senior Honors Projects

The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends exclusively breastfeeding for six months due to breast milk's nutritional value and protection against various long term and short-term illnesses. Children who are exclusively breastfed for six months have reduced rates of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, severe lower respiratory disease, acute otitis media, sudden infant death syndrome, gastrointestinal infections, and necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. The CDC’s most recent national immunizations study, observing infants born in 2018, discovered that only 56.7% of infants were being breastfed at six months and not exclusively. And only 25.8% of infants born in 2018 were breastfed exclusively …

The Effect Of Cortisol On Abdominal Fat, Zach Guerrieo

Senior Honors Projects

ZACHARY GUERRIEO (Biological Sciences)

The effect of cortisol on abdominal fat accumulation

Sponsor: Brietta Oaks (Nutrition)

Cortisol is the stress hormone of the body, it increases sugars in the bloodstream, enhances the brain's use of glucose, and increases the availability of substances to repair tissues. A healthy person has a daily slope of cortisol where it is high when they wake up and then decreases throughout the day. Cortisol, however, can be high throughout the day for people who live stressful or unhealthy lives. There have been conversations that high cortisol can cause fat gain specifically in the abdominal area. …

Promoting Adult Pneumococcal Vaccinations Through Pharmacy And Provider Educational Campaigns, Krysia Lesniak

Senior Honors Projects

No abstract provided.