Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of A School-Based Garden Program On Academic Performance: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Jaimie N Davis, Katie Nikah, Matthew J Landry, Sarvenaz Vandyousefi, Reem Ghaddar, Matthew Jeans, Michele Hockett Cooper, Bonnie Martin, Lyndsey Waugh, Shreela V Sharma, Alexandra E Van Den Berg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: School gardening programs have consistently been found to improve dietary behaviors in children. Although several quasi-experimental studies have also reported that school gardens can enhance academic performance, to date, no randomized controlled trial has been conducted to substantiate this.

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the effects of Texas Sprouts (TX Sprouts), a gardening, nutrition, and cooking program vs control on academic performance in primarily low-income, Hispanic children.

Design: This is a secondary analysis of the grade-level academic scores from schools that participated in the TX Sprouts program, a school-based cluster randomized controlled trial, consisting of …

Diet, Physical Activity, And Stress Among Wheelchair Users With Multiple Sclerosis: Examining Individual And Co-Occurring Behavioral Risk Factors, Stephanie L Silveira, Brenda Jeng, Gary Cutter, Robert W Motl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: This study examined individual and co-occurring behavioral risk factors (diet, exercise, and stress) in wheelchair users with multiple sclerosis (MS) and potential association with MS symptoms (ie, fatigue, depression, anxiety, pain, sleep, and health-related quality of life [HRQOL]).

DESIGN: Survey.

SETTING: General Community.

PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty-three wheelchair users with MS completed this study (N=123).

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were mailed instructions for accessing online questionnaires (demographic and clinical characteristics, Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool, and MS symptoms).

RESULTS: Standard cut-points were used to categorize behavioral risk factors …

Metabolomics Of Dietary Intake Of Total, Animal, And Plant Protein: Results From The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (Aric) Study, Lauren Bernard, Jingsha Chen, Hyunju Kim, Kari E Wong, Lyn M Steffen, Bing Yu, Eric Boerwinkle, Casey M Rebholz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Dietary consumption has traditionally been studied through food intake questionnaires. Metabolomics can be used to identify blood markers of dietary protein that may complement existing dietary assessment tools.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify associations between 3 dietary protein sources (total protein, animal protein, and plant protein) and serum metabolites using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

METHODS: Participants' dietary protein intake was derived from a food frequency questionnaire administered by an interviewer, and fasting serum samples were collected at study visit 1 (1987-1989). Untargeted metabolomic profiling was performed in 2 subgroups (subgroup 1:

RESULTS: In this study …

Blueprints For Well-Being Modeling The Way Through Human-Centered Leadership And Pathway To Excellence, Lucy Leclerc, Christine Pabico

Group: American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

As the ground in healthcare continues to shift beneath our feet, we can now confidently describe the world we live in as peripandemic. Not quite pandemic and not quite postpandemic. Assuredly, the ship of hope that we'd return to a "normal" prepandemic state has sailed. Persistent workforce turbulence alongside persistent high-acuity and high-volume patients has created what one nurse leader describes as "the eye of the hurricane that never moves on."

The Charter School Network (Almost) No One Wants, Joni Hersch, Colton Cronin

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

Publicly funded, independently operated charter schools entered the public sector three decades ago with the promise of innovating public education to better serve students in underperforming schools. Despite limited evidence of improved educational outcomes, charter schools are now an established part of the education system, with around 7,800 charter schools serving more than seven percent of public, school students.

Although charter schools have long been associated with the controversial school choice movement, a recent entrant into the charter school arena has created new and urgent concerns. Hillsdale College, through its affiliate Barney Charter School Initiative, has been making escalating inroads …

Ecological Studies Of Wolves On Isle Royale, Sarah Hoy, Rolf O. Peterson, John A. Vucetich

Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale

Annual Report 2022-2023

Improving The Quality Of Field Experiences: A Program Improvement Plan, Cody Geisler

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

For early childhood education students, field experiences are a critical component of applying content knowledge to real-world experience in the classroom. The problem is the number of field experience hours does not assure quality learning for the early childhood education student. A review of literature on the topic of quality field experiences revealed a need for scaffolded experiences, positive relationships with mentor teachers and integration of reflective practice. 13 participating mentor teachers and 14 students currently enrolled in the early childhood education program at Minnesota North College were surveyed to collect data related to scaffolded experiences, mentor teacher roles and …

Racial Justice And Marijuana, Steven Bender

Faculty Articles

Current legalization approaches for recreational marijuana fall short of performing and delivering racial justice as measured by materiality and outcomes rather than promises of formal legal equality. As a small first step for unwinding the War on Drugs, this Article considers how legalizing recreational marijuana can help move law and society toward true racial justice, measured by material and actual outcomes for systemically subordinated groups. In the same way that criminalization of marijuana was one of the tools for racial control, legalization of marijuana can be a revenue-based tool toward an anti-subordination future of material equality. While recognizing the shortcomings …

Plasma Metabolites Associated With Cognitive Function Across Race/Ethnicities Affirming The Importance Of Healthy Nutrition, Einat Granot-Hershkovitz, Shan He, Jan Bressler, Bing Yu, Wassim Tarraf, Casey M Rebholz, Jianwen Cai, Queenie Chan, Tanya P Garcia, Thomas Mosley, Bruce S Kristal, Charles Decarli, Myriam Fornage, Guo-Chong Chen, Qibin Qi, Robert Kaplan, Hector M González, Tamar Sofer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: We studied the replication and generalization of previously identified metabolites potentially associated with global cognitive function in multiple race/ethnicities and assessed the contribution of diet to these associations.

METHODS: We tested metabolite-cognitive function associations in U.S.A. Hispanic/Latino adults (n = 2222) from the Community Health Study/ Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) and in European (n = 1365) and African (n = 478) Americans from the Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) Study. We applied Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses to assess causal associations between the metabolites and cognitive function and between Mediterranean diet and cognitive function.

RESULTS: Six metabolites were consistently associated …

Evaluation Of Rise Ii Integrated Social And Behavior Change Activities In Niger: Family Planning; Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health; Immunization; Nutrition; Water, Sanitation, And Hygiene, Breakthrough Research

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

Breakthrough RESEARCH is conducting a mixed-methods study including baseline, midline, and endline surveys to assess differential changes over time in key health outcomes associated with the integrated social and behavior change (SBC) strategy and qualitative methods to explain how and why gender-related changes occurred or were associated with these changes. The goals of this study are to provide information to inform project implementation and to build the global evidence base related to multisectoral integrated SBC programming. These briefs present select baseline and midline findings among female and male respondents of reproductive age residing in three intervention sites—Hamzari (Maradi region) and …

Oral Health Considerations For Aging Patients Living With Hiv/Aids, Madeleine Daily Dds, Susan Liu Dds, Yuna Park Dds, Mph, Ms, Emily Byington Msw, Ivette Estrada Ma, Mphil, Sunil Wadhwa Dds, Carol Kunzel Phd

The New York State Dental Journal

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) have an increased life expectancy due to advances in antiretroviral therapy. In 1996, the life expectancy for a 20-year old living with HIV was 39-years old; today, it is >70-years old. As life expectancy increases, PLWH are burdened with age-associated comorbidities. This paper reviews the interaction between aging and HIV and how it affects social, physical, and oral health issues. The shift in demographics presents new challenges for clinicians in how to identify, address, and manage these complex manifestations. This review summarizes how to approach HIV-related changes when providing care as a dental clinician.

Hourly Associations Between Heat Index And Heat-Related Emergency Medical Service (Ems) Calls In Austin-Travis County, Texas, Kijin Seong, Junfeng Jiao, Akhil Mandalapu

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This paper aims to investigate the following research questions: (1) what are the hourly patterns of heat index and heat-related emergency medical service (EMS) incidents during summertime?; and (2) how do the lagged effects of heat intensity and hourly excess heat (HEH) vary by heat-related symptoms? Using the hourly weather and heat-related EMS call data in Austin-Travis County, Texas, this paper reveals the relationship between heat index patterns on an hourly basis and heat-related health issues and evaluates the immediate health effects of extreme heat events by utilizing a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM). Delving into the heat index intensity …

Vascular Mechanisms Of Rhabdomyolysis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury, Jeremiah Moyinolu Afolabi

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

In patients with rhabdomyolysis, the overwhelming release of myoglobin into circulation is the primary cause of kidney injury. Myoglobin causes direct kidney injury as well as severe renal vasoconstriction. An increase in renal vascular resistance (RVR) results in renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) reduction, tubular injury, and acute kidney injury (AKI). The mechanisms that underlie rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI are not fully understood but may involve the local production of vasoactive mediators in the kidney. Myoglobin stimulated endothelin-1 (ET-1) production in proximal tubular cells, an effect driven by NADPH oxidase-dependent oxyradical generation. Rats subjected to glycerol-induced rhabdomyolysis also …

Firefighter: 24/48 Versus 48/96; Sleep, Strain, And Recovery, Amy Sprague

Honors Theses

Firefighters provide important safety services for a 24-hour society. Sleep is very important to the human body. Without sleep a person can experience both short- and long-term side effects. These side effects not only put the sleep deprived person in danger but can also put the public in danger as well. There are many different shift schedules that fire departments can run on. While on duty firefighters must be ready to respond to any emergency call, they receive no matter the time. This can impact the amount of sleep they get while on duty. The current study used biometric straps …

Computational Investigation Of Porphyrin-Based Host Design For Anions And Ion Pairs, Symphony Hill

Honors Theses

Little research has heretofore been devoted to studying the binding interactions between porphyrin-based molecular hosts and anions or ion pairs. Such interactions could be important in synthesizing molecules capable of detecting, binding, extracting, and transporting ions of biological, environmental, and industrial significance. With this in mind, computational studies of nine different porphyrin hosts were performed to examine the structural and binding properties of each molecule and potential ion guests. Using the Spartan computational chemistry software, each porphyrin was modeled and binding was tested with a number of ions of different shapes and sizes. Data was then collected regarding the distances …

Redefining The Agency Of Jewish Communities Through Ghetto Humor, Addison E. Lomax

Student Publications

While the Holocaust is remembered by historians and victims as a time of suffering and genocide, Jewish ghetto survivors recall numerous occasions in which humor was used to combat the oppression of Nazi authorities. Although many historians emphasized the physical hardships and tragic conditions faced by Jewish victims of the Holocaust, the existence of jokes throughout Eastern European ghettos articulated the legitimacy of humor within the greater context and discussion of coping, resistance, and unification for the preservation of Jewish life and identity in the post-war period. Rather than depicting Jews as solely victims, humor returns agency to the Jews …

Juicemania: Interpreting Jay Kordich’S Health Empire As Religion, Deirdre M. Sullivan

Student Publications

John “Jay” Kordich, an American “health reformer,” salesman, author, and celebrity, is best known for his recipe books on diet and health and his series of television infomercials. With his charismatic presentations and playful sense of humor, he captivated audiences with his demonstrations of various models of juicers and the delicious taste of his fresh juices. Kordich is part of a long line of health reformers, fasters, and practitioners of alternative medicine that has persisted in American culture for over 200 years. These advocates of alternative medicine have not only met a need for medical treatment, but also for religion …

Self-Reported Intake Of High-Fat And High-Sugar Diet Is Not Associated With Cognitive Stability And Flexibility In Healthy Men, Hendrik Hartmann, Lieneke K. Janssen, Nadine Herzog, Filip Morys, Daniel Fängström, Sean J. Fallon, Annette Horstmann

School of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Upward Transfer Advising Experience Of First-Generation Latinx Community College Students, Lizette Avalos-Morales

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the student experience of Latinx first-generation community college students who graduated from a community college and transferred to a 4-year university. The research examined if intrusive advising served as a mechanism to aid academic persistence despite the challenges of first-generation Latinx students. Eleven first-generation community college students who graduated from a Hispanic Serving Institution in southwest Kansas were interviewed. The thematic analysis conducted led to five themes emerging. The themes included family, meaningful relationships, belonging, independence, and embracing uncertainty. The theme of family was separated into two subthemes: family support and …

A Cross-Sectional Evaluation Of The Food Environment At An Australian University Campus, Daisy H. Coyle, Laura Sanavio, Eden Barrett, Liping Huang, Kristy K. Law, Pabasha Nanayakkara, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Merita O’Connell, Belinda Meggitt, Carrie Tsai, Simone Pettigrew, Jason H. Y. Wu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

University food environments have a strong influence on the dietary choices of students and staff. The aim of this study was to assess the food environment at a large university in Sydney, Australia. Data were collected between March and July 2022 from 27 fixed food outlets and 24 vending machines. The healthiness of the food environment was evaluated using the Healthy Food and Drink in NSW Health Facilities for Staff and Visitors Framework (‘Framework’), which assesses food environment parameters including the availability, placement, and promotion of ‘Everyday’ (healthy) and ‘Occasional’ (less healthy) products. Each parameter was evaluated overall and across …

Association Between Classes And Subclasses Of Polyphenol Intake And 5-Year Body Weight Changes In The Epic-Panacea Study, Jazmin Castañeda, Mercedes Gil-Lespinard, Enrique Almanza-Aguilera, Fjorida Llaha, Jesús-Humberto Gómez, Nicola Bondonno, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad, Verena Katzke, Matthias B. Schulze, Giovanna Masala, Claudia Agnoli, Maria Santucci De Magistris, Rosario Tumino, Carlotta Sacerdote, Guri Skeie, Magritt Brustad, Cristina Lasheras, Esther Molina-Montes, María-Dolores Chirlaque, Aurelio Barricarte, Emily Sonestedt, Marisa Da Silva, Ingegerd Johansson, Johan Hultdin, Anne M. May

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations among the intake of total polyphenols, polyphenol classes, and polyphenol subclasses and body weight change over 5 years. Methods: A total of 349,165 men and women aged 25 to 70 years were recruited in the Physical Activity, Nutrition, Alcohol, Cessation of Smoking, Eating Out of Home and Obesity (PANACEA) project of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort from nine European countries. Body weight was measured at baseline and at follow-up after a median time of 5 years. Polyphenol intake, including four main polyphenol classes and …

Can We Really Say Getting Stronger Makes Your Tendon Feel Better? No Current Evidence Of A Relationship Between Change In Achilles Tendinopathy Pain Or Disability And Changes In Triceps Surae Structure Or Function When Completing Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review, Myles C. Murphy, Mervyn Travers, Paola Chivers, James Debenham, Sean I. Docking, Ebonie K. Rio, William Gibson, Clare Ardern

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: Determine if improvements in pain and disability in patients with mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy relate to changes in muscle structure and function whilst completing exercise rehabilitation. Design: A systematic review exploring the relationship between changes in pain/disability and muscle structure/function over time, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Methods: Six online databases and the grey literature were searched from database inception to 16th December 2022 whereas clinical trial registries were searched from database inception to 11th February 2020. We included clinical studies where participants received exercise rehabilitation (± placebo interventions) for mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy if …

2023-04-01 Retired & Senior Volunteer Program Newsletter, Morehead State University. Alumni Association.

Morehead State Alumni Association Publications

The April 2023 newsletter of the Morehead State University Retired & Senior Volunteer Program.

An Occupational Therapist's Role As A Prospective Payment System Coordinator And Identifying Patient Trends In An Inpatient Rehab Center, Autumn Idalski

Capstone Projects

This capstone experience explores the role of a Prospective Payment System (PPS) Coordinator within an inpatient rehabilitation setting and how the skills of an occupational therapist qualify the profession to contribute to the success of a PPS team. A literature review revealed the importance of non-traditional education placements within the occupational therapy curriculum to provide well-rounded experiences to students to leverage their professional careers. A needs assessment revealed a need to identify patient outcome trends within different Rehabilitation Impairment Categories at the capstone site. Objectives for this capstone experience and project include gaining competence in reviewing patient charts within the …

Occupational Therapy's Impact Utilizing Trauma-Informed Care With At-Risk Youth, Kerri Lindeman

Capstone Projects

The 14-week capstone experience aimed to advocate and implement occupational therapy (OT) alongside a non-profit organization serving at-risk youth while utilizing trauma-informed care (TIC) approach. Alongside various staff and volunteers, this capstone project focused on aiding underserved children in a variety of age-specific after-school programs. This specific population of youth have limited resources at home. The families in the community have limitations with basic needs including food, water, and shelter. The organization was able to fulfill these basic needs along with activities to meet the developmental needs of each child. Due to their minimal resources, the children also have limited …

Traveling With A Purpose, Nina Rossman

Capstone Projects

The act of traveling is often seen as exciting for many travelers looking for adventure or to experience something different than their everyday routines. However, many current tourism trends force negative burdens onto local communities and environments. For instance, when development increases consumption in an area where natural resources are scarce to begin with, it can put pressure on those resources. There is a certain level of visitor use that an environment can manage; negative impacts occur when the changes in visitor use exceed this limit.

While tourist destinations experience negative impacts from the tourism industry, tourism also supports the …

Service Gap In Kalamazoo County: Establishing A Reimbursable, Child-Led Multidisciplinary Feeding Tube-Weaning Protocol, Piper Friend

Capstone Projects

I partnered with the feeding team at Bronson Methodist Hospital (BMH) including outpatient pediatric occupational therapy, gastroenterologists, and dietitians to implement an evidence-based tube-weaning guideline for tube-dependent infant and pediatric patients. There is limited research in the area of tube-weaning and therefore limited national standards and guidelines to support clinicians and families going through this process. Current options for feeding tube-weaning services for Kalamazoo residents include traveling to Helen DeVos’s Intensive Feeding Program in Grand Rapids which places a heavy emphasis on behavioral intervention. This does not support the autonomy of the child or support the holistic occupation of feeding. …

Making Nature Accessible: Building An Accessible Wellness Retreat Within Nature For People With Physical Disabilities And Their Communities, Jenna Morell

Capstone Projects

Nature impacts our lives in such a way that it can be incredibly detrimental to our health and wellbeing to be away from nature (1). Nature helps us heal faster, relax more, and just generally lead a more well-rounded life (2). It provides an opportunity to feel the sun on our face, breathe fresh air, and get the exercise we need. When deprived of these experiences, our bodies truly suffer (1). People with physical mobility limitations suffer from mental health issues at a much higher rate (3), this issue is often exacerbated by the fact that much of the built …

Impact Of Cooking Groups On Children And Adolescents With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Abigail Willinger

Capstone Projects

Engagement in play and leisure activities is an important component of daily life for individuals of all ages. However, there is still a lack of leisure and recreation availability and knowledge regarding children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their participation in daily activities specifically related to play, recreation, and socialization. With healthcare advocacy efforts on the rise, the implementation of a meaningful leisure occupation, such as cooking, through group classes is evident in order to improve one’s overall quality of life. The aim of this 14- week education and program development based capstone project is to improve inclusivity and …

Update: Oral Health Equity And The Ada, Jessica A. Rickert Dds, Elizabeth Carmen Lense Dds, Msha

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The American Dental Association (ADA) defines "Health Equity" as the attainment of optimal oral health for all individuals, acknowledging oral health's crucial role in overall well-being. The article underscores the need for consistent and equitable access to oral care services, collaboration with other organizations to address societal health determinants, and enhancing diversity within healthcare providers and cultural understanding in dental teams to achieve Health Equity. Highlighting the impact of untreated dental disease on quality of life and productivity, the article discusses ADA's initiatives to promote Oral Health Equity, including advocating for comprehensive Medicaid benefits, promoting diversity in leadership, and supporting …