Digital Commons Network^™

Stage-Structured Predator-Prey Interactions In A Warming World: A Case Study In Riverine Rock Pools, Andrew T. Davidson

Theses and Dissertations

Warming can impact predator-prey interactions through a variety of mechanisms. For example, warming can both alter the rate at which predators consume prey and the rate prey develop through vulnerable life stages. Thus, the overall effect of warming on consumer-resource interactions will depend upon the strength and asymmetry of warming effects on predator and prey performance. Here, we describe the consequences of these asymmetrical responses to temperature by first developing a simple stage-structured modeling framework, then applying that framework to predation of American rock pool mosquito larvae, Aedes atropalpus, by several common predators in riverine rock pools. We then …

The Future Of Anti-Poverty Legislation, Andrew Hammond, Ariel Jurow Kleiman, Gabriel Scheffler

Articles by Maurer Faculty

The era of big-government COVID relief is over. The initial pandemic- relief legislation, followed by two years of Democratic control in Washington, seemed to herald the expansion and modernization of the U.S. safety net. But sustained reform proved elusive. Now that this window of opportunity has closed, it’s time to step back and take stock. For those who focus on anti-poverty programs, one question persists: The next time there is such an opportunity to strengthen anti-poverty programs through legislation, how should federal law change?

This Article suggests the answer to that question lies in lessons from recent experience, including, but …

Ptsd, Cannabis Use, And Expected Symptom Relief: Gender-Moderated Mediational Effects, Luna Fernandes Ueno

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Introduction. The widespread, debilitating condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often covaries with cannabis use. A substantial number of individuals report experiencing temporary symptom relief when using cannabis. Nonetheless, most of the existing research that delves into the correlation between PTSD and cannabis use heavily features male samples. This lack of data from women is alarming given the gender discrepancies in cannabis use and cannabis-related expectancies. In this study, our goal is to validate the interplay between expectancies and use in women and explore gender differences in our sample. We predict that both women and men will expect cannabis …

Maternal Exposure Of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) During Pregnancy And Wheeze In Children : The Upstate Kids Study, Faria Sharmin

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a group of persistent environmental chemicals with endocrine disrupting abilities, has been associated with immunomodulation and may contribute to the etiology of asthma in young children. The need for research and additional prospective analysis clearly exists to measure the impact of the chemicals (PFAS) on child wheeze or asthma. We used newborn dried blood spots to quantify two PFAS and their associations with infant wheeze in the Upstate KIDS population.Methods: We measured, perfluoro octane - sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in 2071 singleton and 1040 twin infants born to mothers in …

The Moderating Role Of Food Cravings In The Relationship Between Weight Suppression And Binge Eating And Purging In Emerging Adults, Susana Cruz Garcia

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Weight suppression (WS), the difference between an individual’s current and highest adult weight, is predictive of bulimic symptoms and poor eating disorder treatment outcomes, but findings from non-clinical samples have been mixed. Cravings are strong urges for specific foods that are subjectively difficult to resist. Food cravings are now widely conceptualized as cognitive-affective states characterized by intrusive thoughts that are perceived as distressing and can interfere with adaptive functioning. Food cravings are known antecedents of binge eating, but little is known about how they interact with WS. This study examines the obsessive-compulsive aspects of food cravings as potential moderators of …

Dart-Hrms And Chemometric Analysis For Applications In Forensic Entomology, Amy Marie Osborne

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Forensic entomology, the utilization of insects in the course of legal investigations, is a broad field which encompasses three main branches: medico-legal, stored-product, and urban. This body of research focuses on the first two branches. The first branch, medico-legal forensic entomology, generally applies to death investigations. In death investigations it is imperative to establish the time since death (postmortem interval) and cause of death. Both of these queries can be difficult to assess for remains that are in mid- to late- stages of decay. Carrion insects found on and near the body can assist forensic investigators in this task, as …

A Phenomenological Study Of Social Workers' Meaning Of Food, Mood, And Their Readiness To Adopt Dietary Interventions With Clients Who Are Depressed, Ronald Anthony Bunce

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

As incidence of depression rises worldwide and treatment effectiveness remains flat, interest grows in developing novel treatments to improve outcomes for those seeking help for depression. Research on diet, nutrition, and depression suggests that food affects mood. The literature addresses how a certain dietary pattern may be incorporated in clinical treatment as a modifiable risk factor with those presenting with depression, but the voices of social workers are absent. Given that social workers are the largest providers of therapeutic services for those experiencing depression, the field has much to contribute to the development and assessment of new, non-pharmaceutical, treatment protocols. …

Investigating The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Obesity While Considering Race, Ethnicity, Sex, And Sexual Orientation, Mariama Ceesay

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

AbstractObesity is a chronic disease that plagues about 34% of the world population and rising (CDC,2023). Obesity develops over time due to lifestyle factors, biological factors, and the environment. Life course epidemiology approaches understanding the etiology of obesity by pinpointing how particular events in a lifetime can facilitate later life obesity. One emerging important early life factor that may influence adult obesity risk is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Rates of ACEs are higher in sexual minorities, women, and nonwhite individuals (Hughes et al., 2022). Furthermore, the rate of obesity is higher in women and nonwhite communities (CDC,2023). Knowing this information, …

Gestational Epigenetic Aging : Prenatal Influences And Early Life Associations, Emilia Pawlowski

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Development Origins of Health (DOHaD) evidence suggests that prenatal exposures have an important impact on offspring health throughout the life course. Environmental and psychosocial exposures during fetal development are associated with a range of health outcomes for offspring, and effects are often sex specific. One of the mechanisms which may explain differences in health outcomes is epigenetic alterations, which are the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression and can be modified during fetal development. Many studies have shown that psychosocial stress and social adversity can modulate epigenetic mechanisms and affect health. While there are several methods for measuring epigenetic alterations, …

Examining The Association Between Childhood Adversity And Later Life Cardiometabolic Diseases, Shreya Shrinivas

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ACEs stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences, which are traumatic or stressful events that occur in childhood before the age of 18 (Wisner, 2022). These experiences can include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; neglect; household dysfunction, such as parental separation, domestic violence, substance abuse, or incarceration; or exposure to community violence, racism, or discrimination. Research has shown that individuals who experience ACEs are at a higher risk for developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and mental health disorders later in life (Felitti, 2002). This is because ACEs can cause toxic stress, which is chronic activation of the stress …

Immune System Dysfunction To Toxicant Exposure: An Examination Of Mismatch Theory With Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Pcbs) And Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (P,P'-Ddt), Florence Lee

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Exposure to environmental contaminants, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can disrupt normal immune function. As POPs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p’-DDE, a metabolite of p,p’-DDT), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) are synthetic chemicals with long half-lives and can bioaccumulate and biomagnify within organisms throughout the food chain. This dissertation proposes that pollutant exposure can affect the immune system based on a sample of Native American women, thereby influencing human biological variation, and the development of an autoimmune phenotype. Data was collected from a sample of Native American women utilizing anthropometric measurements, medical diagnoses of autoimmune disease, autoimmune dysfunction symptoms, and serum samples. …

Caregiving Automatons: Gender, Care, And Disability In Poland, Michalina Grzelka

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The last few years in Poland have seen the increasing visibility of disabled people and family caregivers who demand the introduction of public policies more responsive to their needs. Such development suggests a shift from deeply rooted gendered ideas about caregiving and the rise of activism of people with disabilities and family caregivers who call for solutions to the neoliberalization of care work. However, despite growing attention to disability and care within anthropology, few studies have focused explicitly on caregiving relations in the context of disability, especially in the formerly socialist states of Central and Eastern Europe. This dissertation attempts …

Endothelial And Stromal Cell Contributions To Salivary Gland Injury And Repair, Amber Altrieth

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Injury and disease can contribute to excess accumulation of extracellular matrix, which if persistent, results in fibrosis, impeding proper organ function. The salivary gland can develop fibrosis following irradiation treatment for cancer therapy, Sjögren’s Disease, and other causes; however, it is unclear which stromal cells and signals participate in injury responses and disease progression and which cells may be important for restoring proper organ function. Two stromal populations that are implicated in injury and repair are the endothelial cells, lining the inner surface of blood vessels, and pericytes, that wrap around the vessels. One stromal pericyte population, expressing the transcription …

Regulatory Mechanisms In The Drosophila Germline, Shane Breznak

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

To launch the next generation, all sexually reproducing animals must undergo the process of producing mature eggs and sperm. This process is known as gametogenesis. During gametogenesis key developmental checkpoints are met to ensure proper egg and sperm production. Model organisms, such as Drosophila melanogaster, have been used to study gametogenesis to gain insight into the conserved mechanisms that can be attributed to human infertility and disease due to the availability of genetic tools, quick life cycle and the conservation of regulatory mechanisms. During Drosophila oogenesis there are many key developmental transitions that must be completed to produce a fully …

Semiparametric Distributional And Quantile Models Applications In Health, Labor And Banking, Li Lu

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The first chapter study the medical expenditure on prescription drug utilization on racial/ethnic disparities using a partially linear quantile treatment effects (QTE) model. We consider the quantile treatment effect inequity from race conditional on other covariates. We find that people tend to spend more depending on prescription drug use as growing old, especially those with insurance coverage. In addition, females spend more than males generally, and the male minority groups have higher treatment effect values, compared to that White female usually spends a lot on medical expenditure. From a racial disparity perspective, we observe that the male Hispanic group QTE …

Informal Migration Resilience And Response To External Shocks : Evidence From India, Jayanta Talukder

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation explores facets of inter-state migration in India through the lens of various external shocks. The first chapter aggregates descriptive and economic statistics from primary surveys conducted in India in response to COVID-19 lockdowns in the form of a survey paper. The second chapter utilizes the survey data to provide detailed empirical contexts on the migration patterns and occupational choices of informal migrant workers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The third chapter investigates long term changes in inter-state migration flows as a response to extreme climate events in India.

Acceptability And Feasibility Of Arfid-Ptp : A Brief, Virtual, Parent-Training Intervention For Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder In Children, Courtney Elizabeth Breiner

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Introduction. Avoidant/restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a relatively novel feeding and eating disorder diagnosis with limited evidence-based treatment approaches. Current treatment approaches have been adapted from treatments for other restrictive eating disorders, however eating disorder treatment is notoriously inaccessible due to geographic, financial, and/or time constraints. The present study aims to establish the acceptability and feasibility of a two-session, parent-training approach, “ARFID-PTP,” for the treatment of ARFID disseminated via telehealth. ARFID-PTP was adapted into a brief, virtual format from other evidence-based treatment approaches. Methods. Participants (n=27) included children ages five to 12, inclusive who meet criteria for ARFID and …

Black Maternal And Infant Mortality Rates And Food Apartheid In Louisville, Maame Dei

Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether there is a correlation between the Black maternal and infant mortality rates and food apartheid or food deserts. This thesis will highlight that further research is needed in understanding how food insecurity may influence maternal and infant mortality. This thesis collected data from several midsize cities to assess accessibility to healthy food options and maternal and infant mortality rates. The cities were selected based on similarities in demographic and geographic makeup and having experienced a similar pattern of redlining. St. Louis, Memphis, Knoxville, and Pittsburgh were cities that were chosen for …

Metabolic Engineering Of Escherichia Coli For N-Acetyl-Glucosamine Production, Anica Tasnim Protity

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Glucosamine (GlcN) and GlcN-based supplements, such as N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc), are commonly used by osteoarthritis patients to relieve pain and maintain the health of bone joints. However, the current production methods for GlcN-based products are not eco-friendly and pose risks to individuals with shrimp allergies. Microbial cell-based systems have been explored to address these issues as an eco-friendly alternative for GlcN and GlcNAc production. This study focused on developing an Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain for GlcNAc fermentation. E. coli has an endogenous pathway for peptidoglycan biosynthesis involving GlcNAc-1-P. However, altering this pathway could affect cell growth and integrity. Therefore, two …

2022 Annual Survey: Recent Developments In Sports Law, Paul D. Kekich

Marquette Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

Middle School Teacher Perceptions Of The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sherria La Vonne Grubbs

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This paper examines the perceptions of middle school teachers on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on student achievement, attendance and enrollment, mental health, and social and economic factors. Allowing the voices of the middle school teachers to be heard was important to this study because it helped to identify some key themes of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education. For this qualitative research study, a survey was created with Google Forms and a focus group discussion was implemented using the zoom platform to gather and collect data for this study. 67 middle school teachers were invited to …

Navigating Through Systems That Create Inequities: Elementary Teacher Perceptions, Sarah Rector

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This qualitative case study was designed to explore elementary teacher perceptions of what it means to provide an equitable education for their students. These perceptions allow educational leaders insight into how teachers navigate systems that create inequities and what professional development may be needed to further support equitable learning in the classroom. K-5 certified teachers were interviewed twice to gather data on their understanding of educational equity and the correlation between classroom and state testing. Four findings emerged from this study: (a) educators believed that providing an equitable education would create successful adults, (b) educators gained cultural experiences by having …

The Impact Of Student Learning Pathway Choices During The Covid-19 Pandemic On Academic Achievement, Lauren A. Canfield

Doctor of Education Dissertations

In the fall of 2020, students chose the learning pathway that best suited their situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning pathways were face-to-face, virtual synchronous, and virtual asynchronous. Because of this, in the fall of 2021, all students demonstrated learning loss. The learning loss, however, was not congruent among students. This quantitative study sought to determine if a student’s learning pathway choice during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their academic achievement as measured by grade point average, end-of-course exam scores for Algebra I, and qualification for Tier 2 academic interventions in a multi-tiered system of support. This study was conducted …

A Program Evaluation On The Impact Of South Carolina's Child Early Reading Development And Education Program On Kindergarten Reading Readiness In A Small Rural School District, Brittnay White

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods study evaluated the effectiveness of the Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP) on kindergarten reading readiness using Stufflebeam’s (2003) context, input, process, and product (CIPP) model. The program was implemented in a rural school district in 2014 and the program’s goal is to provide high-quality instruction to at-risk 4-year-olds in a full-day format. The study’s objective was to determine the extent to which the goals of the program have been met. Qualitative data were collected from focus group sessions with prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers to assess CERDEP’s alignment with the assessed needs and implementation fidelity. …

Changing Adult Behaviors: Examining The Factors Of Change That Facilitate The Mtss Implementation Framework In A Small Rural School District, Briana Whitaker

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods study sought to identify the incorporation of support for implementing evidence-based instructional practices within an MTSS framework among teachers and the impact on student growth outcomes in three K-2 schools. The study also determined teacher perceptions regarding how support in adult behavior change, which is the theoretical framework of the study, impacted a shift in their instructional practices utilizing a qualitative survey, one-on-one interviews, and two independent samples t tests. Participants in the study expressed that school climate, principal instructional leadership, purposeful PLCs, and their attitudes about new behaviors best supported them in adopting innovative instructional reading …

Pharmacological Management Of Oral Lesions, Tanishka Taori, Bhinika Wadher, Shefali Maheshwari, Swapnil Mohod, Suwarna Dangore

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Oral ulcerations caused by aphtous lesions, leukoplakia, scarlet fever, syphilis, NOMA, mucormycosis herpetic lesions, candidiasis, discoid lupus erythematous, ulcerative lichen planus, mucous membrane pemphigoid, spongy nevus, oral submoucs fibrosis and pemphigus vulgaris are treated in a step-up fashion that may include topical, intralesional, and systemic pharmaceutical treatment. This page discusses the most often used therapy agents, methods, and dosages. Although the emphasis is on local pharmacologic therapy, systemic illnesses that frequently occur with such oral lesions are briefly discussed, as is the appropriate care.

C-Reactive Protein Level And Lipid Profile Among Sars-Cov-2 Recovered Patients In Baghdad / Iraq, Madha Mohammed Sheet Saleh, Abdulrazzak Jabbar Al-Shawi

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Serum markers in post-discharged SARS-CoV-2 patients and their relationship with disease severity among recovered patients are poorly described and, in many occasions, might be related to residual effects of the disease. To evaluate the C-reactive protein positivity and the lipid profile after 2-7 months of recovery in SARS-CoV-2 patients. The study also pointed out the frequency of clinical manifestations during the illness course. A total of 27 COVID-19 recovered patients (13 males and 14 females) with an age range of 21-40 year (mean 27.2) were participated in this study. Variable frequency of symptoms as high as fatigue (96.3%), neurological symptoms …

Assessment Of The Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Of Postoperative Pain Management Among Nurses In Medical And Surgical Wards At Aga Khan University Hospital, Veronicah Wangui

MSc in Advanced Practice Nursing

Postoperative pain remains a significant global problem despite overall pain management advances. Postoperative pain may alter neural pathophysiology, including peripheral and central sensation, and lead to chronic pain syndrome. Postoperative pain management implies professional care to improve patients’ comfort and early ambulation, decrease analgesia side effects, and reduce chronic pain. Nurses taking care of postoperative patients must be equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to be effective. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and nurses' practice on postoperative pain management among nurses in medico-surgical wards at Aga Khan University Hospital. It is a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study. Data …

Exploring The Effects Of Different Types Of Diets On Preventing And Managing Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Ma. Patricia Diorel Peig

Nursing | Senior Theses

Diabetes is a major health problem that is becoming an epidemic in major countries of the world. Diabetes can affect people of all ages and of all races. However, there is a higher risk of developing diabetes for certain groups of people. As of today, there is still no cure for diabetes. The treatment plan for patients diagnosed with diabetes is to control the level of blood glucose through different interventions. The progression of diabetes is influenced by food behaviors, and diet control is an important aspect of management of this disease. There are different types of diet recommended that …

Prevalence Of Hypoglycemia Induced By Overtreatment In Elderly Type Two Diabetics Using Continuous Blood Glucose Monitors, Alyssa Mae Tubera

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: The most common way of reading blood glucose (BG) levels in type II diabetics is by manually pricking one’s finger with a needle and measuring the glucose through a monitoring device. There has been an increased use in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) that permits clients to wear a sensor on their arm that simultaneously records glucose levels throughout the day and reports the results to a smartphone or monitoring device. Depending on the result and whether the patient is using insulin, it will determine how much medication will be administered. There is little research on the impacts of using …