Digital Commons Network^™

Opening The Black Box: Carbon-Footprint Calculators, Meat Consumption, And The “Wicked Problem” Of Metric Governance, E. Melanie Dupuis, Dustin Mulvaney

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Carbon-footprint calculators are widely used as communication and education tools, designed to make people aware of the ways their personal actions contribute to greenhouse-gas emissions. However, they have come under criticism for emphasizing individual behavior versus structural change. We extend this critique to argue that carbon-footprint calculators are a form of “metric governance” that not only disciplines users but also constrains their abilities to engage with the complexities of climate change and social action. We focus on a particularly wicked problem of carbon-metric governance: livestock greenhouse-gas emissions. We show that carbon-footprint calculators black box and fix the complex politics and …

Poor Nutrition Status Associated With Low Patient Satisfaction Six Months Into Treatment For Head And Neck/Esophageal Cancer Treatment: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study, Adrianne M. Widaman, Andrew G. Day, Maggie A. Kuhn, Rupinder Dhaliwal, Vickie Baracos, Merran Findlay, Judith D. Bauer, Marian De Van Der Schueren, Alessandro Laviano, Lisa Martin, Leah Gramlich

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures have been associated with survival in oncology patients. Altered intake and malnutrition are common symptoms for patients treated for head and neck cancer and esophageal cancer (HNC/EC). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between patient-reported satisfaction with medical care and nutrition status. Methods: This prospective cohort study collected data from 11 international cancer care sites. Results: One hundred and sixtythree adult patients (n = 115 HNC; n = 48 EC) completed a patient satisfaction questionnaire (the Canadian Health Care Evaluation Project Lite) and were included. HNC/EC patient global satisfaction with medical care …

An Online Module To Promote Self-Care And Resiliency In Nursing Students, Karen Higgins, Janice Hawkins, Beth Tremblay, Lynn Wiles

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Because the demands of nursing education can impact the physical and mental health of nursing students, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s revised Essentials require inclusion of self-care and resilience education in nursing curricula. This article describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a self-care module in a new online undergraduate course. Using the REST mnemonic (relationships, exercise, soul, and transformative thinking), students developed personalized self-care plans for the semester. End-of-course evaluations revealed an increase in self-care activities. The most used activities were exercise, humor, intentional rest, and healthy eating.

Potential Use Of Poultry Farms By Wild Waterfowl In California's Central Valley Varies Across Space, Times Of Day, And Species: Implications For Influenza Transmission Risk, Claire S. Teitelbaum, Michael L. Casazza, Cory T. Overton, Jeffery D. Sullivan, Elliott L. Matchett, Fiona Mcduie, Austen A. Lorenz, Joshua T. Ackerman, Susan E.W. De La Cruz, Diann J. Prosser

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Interactions between wildlife and livestock can lead to cross-species disease transmission, which incurs economic costs and threatens wildlife conservation. Wild waterfowl are natural hosts of avian influenza viruses (AIVs), are often abundant near poultry farms, and have been linked to outbreaks of AIVs in poultry. Interspecific and seasonal variation in waterfowl movement and habitat use means that the risk of disease transmission between wild birds and poultry inevitably varies across species, space, and time. Here, we used GPS telemetry data from 10 waterfowl species in and near California's Central Valley, a region where both wild waterfowl and domestic poultry are …

Association Of Dietary Adherence And Dietary Quality With Weight Loss Success Among Those Following Low-Carbohydrate And Low-Fat Diets: A Secondary Analysis Of The Dietfits Randomized Clinical Trial, Michelle E. Hauser, Jennifer C. Hartle, Matthew J. Landry, Priya Fielding-Singh, Cynthia W. Shih, Fei Fei Qin, Joseph Rigdon, Christopher D. Gardner

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Eating a high-quality diet or adhering to a given dietary strategy may influence weight loss. However, these 2 factors have not been examined concurrently for those following macronutrient-limiting diets. Objective: To determine whether improvement in dietary quality, change in dietary macronutrient composition, or the combination of these factors is associated with differential weight loss when following a healthy low-carbohydrate (HLC) or healthy low-fat (HLF) diet. Design: Generally healthy adults were randomly assigned to HLC or HLF diets for 12 mo (n = 609) as part of a randomized controlled weight loss study. Participants with complete 24-h dietary recall data …

Consumer Acceptance And Sensory Evaluation Of 3d Printed Dairy Snacks, Laura Davis

Theses

3D printing technology has been established since the early 1980s by the inventor Charles Hull, with its initial applications in the moulding of plastic veneers for furniture. More recently, 3D printing has been gaining popularity as a food technology due to its potential benefits, such as personalised nutrition and reduced environmental impact. This study explored the consumer acceptability of 3D printed dairy snacks across participants in the UK and Ireland, through an online survey and sensory trials. The online survey was designed and distributed across 402 UK participants and 400 Irish participants. The sensory trial was conducted with a group …

Improving The Most Gg Model To Predict Environmental Impact And Improve On Farm Grass Growth Prediction, Laeticia Bonnard

Theses

The increasing need for highly productive and eco-friendly agriculture is driving demand for decision-support tools to assist agricultural operators in managing systems more precisely and sustainably. Although grasslands provide a cost-effective option for ruminant production and can offer many environmental benefits (biodiversity, carbon storage etc.), grasslands management is challenging due to the inherent climate and soil sensitivities and their potential negative impact on water quality. In Ireland, the Moorepark Saint Gilles Grass Growth (MoSt GG) model was developed for the dual purposes of research-based simulations and on-farm grass growth prediction for farmers. The objective of this thesis was to improve …

Field And Laboratory Evaluation Of The Interactions Between Pesticides And The Gut Microbiome In Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera), Macee R. Mitchell

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators yet are threatened by a combination of factors such as poor nutrition, pathogens, parasites, and pesticide use. Bees encounter numerous pesticides while foraging (e.g. imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide) or in the hive colony (e.g. Tau-fluvalinate, a miticide commonly used to treat Varroa mite parasites). Similar to most organisms, the gut microbiome is important for bee health, metabolism, and behavior, however it is not well known how environmental factors like pesticides impact their gut bacterial symbionts. I hypothesized that 1) pesticide concentrations in bees are correlated with gut bacterial community structure, and 2) …

Optima: Optimal Protein For Optimal Ageing, Eunice Ti-Oluwani Olaniyan

Theses

The older adult population is increasing globally, and this is associated with an increased prevalence of chronic diseases. This, together with increased consumer concern regarding the overconsumption of animal proteins, has led to a need to consider alternative dietary strategies for older adults. This study developed novel plant protein blends using combinations of pumpkin, pea ad rice protein isolates, and investigated their amino acid profiles, protein content and bioactive properties to identify optimal blends for functional food formulation. A major objective of this study was to formulate protein-rich products. It was hypothesised that blending multiple sources of plant proteins in …

Strategic Use Of Once-A-Day Milking For Pasture-Based Dairy Cows In Ireland, John Paul Murphy

Theses

The current perception of dairy farming in Ireland is one of long hours, physically demanding work and poor remuneration, especially when compared to that of a modern, high-tech industry with career opportunities and advancement possibilities at many levels (Teagasc, 2018). One of the biggest factors in attracting and retaining people to work on Irish dairy farms is that they must be desirable places to work (Teagasc, 2018). Milking is the most labour demanding task on Irish dairy farms (Deming et al., 2018) and one, which necessitates farmers being present on the farm twice daily if milking twice-a-day (TAD). Altering milking …

The Impact Of Data Quality On Beef Genetics, Shauna Walsh

Theses

Efficiency and profitability in the beef industry are driven by cattle live-weight, therefore, to optimise live-weight data it is essential to maintain consistency across data collection methods. Data for this thesis was collected from 97,780 Irish suckler herds across the years 2019 to 2022, inclusive, with a total of 1,311,870 calf and dam live-weight records available. Live-weight data originated from five different sources including: professionally-recorded, producer recorded using either owned, borrowed or hired weighing scales, or from an unknown recording source. The objectives of this thesis were to: i) identify anomalies within cattle live-weight data for both calf and dam, …

Predictive Analytics In Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Past, Present, And Future, Bryan G Mcomber, Alvaro G Moreira, Kelsey Kirkman, Sebastian Acosta, Craig Rusin, Binoy Shivanna

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a significant complication of prematurity, impacting approximately 18,000 infants annually in the United States. Advances in neonatal care have not reduced BPD, and its management is challenged by the rising survival of extremely premature infants and the variability in clinical practices. Leveraging statistical and machine learning techniques, predictive analytics can enhance BPD management by utilizing large clinical datasets to predict individual patient outcomes. This review explores the foundations and applications of predictive analytics in the context of BPD, examining commonly used data sources, modeling techniques, and metrics for model evaluation. We also highlight bioinformatics' potential role …

Age-Associated Temporal Decline In Butyrate-Producing Bacteria Plays A Key Pathogenic Role In The Onset And Progression Of Neuropathology And Memory Deficits In 3×Tg-Ad Mice, Paula M Chilton, Smita S Ghare, Benjamin T Charpentier, Scott A Myers, Aakarsha V Rao, Joseph F Petrosino, Kristi L Hoffman, John C Greenwell, Neetu Tyagi, Jyotirmaya Behera, Yali Wang, Lucy J Sloan, Jingwen Zhang, Christopher B Shields, Gregory E Cooper, Leila Gobejishvili, Scott R Whittemore, Craig J Mcclain, Shirish S Barve

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Alterations in the gut-microbiome-brain axis are increasingly being recognized to be involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. However, the functional consequences of enteric dysbiosis linking gut microbiota and brain pathology in AD progression remain largely undetermined. The present work investigated the causal role of age-associated temporal decline in butyrate-producing bacteria and butyrate in the etiopathogenesis of AD. Longitudinal metagenomics, neuropathological, and memory analyses were performed in the 3×Tg-AD mouse model. Metataxonomic analyses showed a significant temporal decline in the alpha diversity marked by a decrease in butyrate-producing bacterial communities and a concurrent reduction in cecal butyrate production. Inferred metagenomics analysis …

Descriptive Study Of Adult Male Acheta Domesticus Phonotaxis, Dana Husana

Master's Theses

The phonotactic behavior of male Acheta domesticus has not been described at length. The present study evaluates the phonotactic responses of male A. domesticus in relation to age. Male crickets of different ages (young and old) were exposed to calls with attractive and non-attractive syllable periods for this species. Both age groups exhibited phonotaxis but did not show a preference towards the attractive call over the non-attractive ones. No significant relationship was found between age and phonotactic response. Additionally, no significant differences were observed between age and preferred syllable period. Acoustic responses were also observed in some of the older …

Adipose Tissue Lymphocytes And Obesity, Feng Gao, Benjamin Litchfield, Huaizhu Wu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Obesity is associated with chronic inflammation in adipose tissue (AT), mainly evidenced by infiltration and phenotypic changes of various types of immune cells. Macrophages are the major innate immune cells and represent the predominant immune cell population within AT. Lymphocytes, including T cells and B cells, are adaptive immune cells and constitute another important immune cell population in AT. In obesity, CD8+ effector memory T cells, CD4+ Th1 cells, and B2 cells are increased in AT and promote AT inflammation, while regulatory T cells and Th2 cells, which usually function as immune regulatory or type 2 inflammatory cells, are reduced …

A Qualitative Description Of Graduate Students’ Perceived Decline In Physical Activity From Undergraduate School, Kristin Jett, Bryce T. Daniels, Max Brigance, Jessica L. Passarelli, Erin Howie Hickey

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many university students, especially graduate students, are experiencing poor physical and psychological health. Thus, universities are initiating programs like Exercise is Medicine-On Campus (EIM-OC) to promote positive physical activity behavior to improve physical and mental health for primarily undergraduate university students. However, the influences on physical activity when transitioning from an undergraduate to a graduate student are unknown. To explore perceptions of if and how the physical activity levels of graduate students changed from their time as undergraduate students while considering environmental and lifestyle factors. METHODS: Using a qualitative, phenomenological research design, a convenience sample of current graduate students enrolled …

Role Of Apolipoprotein B In The Clinical Management Of Cardiovascular Risk In Adults: An Expert Clinical Consensus From The National Lipid Association, Daniel E Soffer, Nicholas A Marston, Kevin C Maki, Terry A Jacobson, Vera A Bittner, Jessica M Peña, George Thanassoulis, Seth S Martin, Carol F Kirkpatrick, Salim S Virani, Dave L Dixon, Christie M Ballantyne, Alan T Remaley

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This National Lipid Association (NLA) Expert Clinical Consensus provides an overview of the physiologic and clinical considerations regarding the role of apolipoprotein B (apoB) measurement to guide clinical care based on the available scientific evidence and expert opinion. ApoB represents the total concentration of atherogenic lipoprotein particles in the circulation and more accurately reflects the atherogenic burden of lipoproteins when compared to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). ApoB is a validated clinical measurement that augments the information found in a standard lipoprotein lipid panel; therefore, there is clinical value in using apoB in conjunction with a standard lipoprotein lipid profile when …

Wholistic Healing: Challenges And Opportunities For The Church, Anna Galeniece

All Books

Edited by Anna M. Galeniece

Smart Agriculture Based On Iot Using Drones: A Survey, Shymaa G. Eladl, Hanaa Y. Zaineldin, Amira Y. Haikal, Mahmoud M. Saafan

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Researchers have studied the potential of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for real-time visual data acquisition and processing using potent deep learning (DL) algorithms over the past few decades. In this regard, drone use in smart cities has become one of the most common uses for them in recent years. UAVs and the Internet of Things (IoTs) are two popular technologies being used in smart agriculture that are ushering in a new era of agriculture by replacing traditional farming methods. The combination of drones and IoT has the potential to drastically change our lives through real-time data collection and analysis that …

Establishing A Quantitative Assessment Tool For Biophilia In Healthcare Facilities, Sara Moustafa Fouda, Mohanad Ali Fouda

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study aims at developing a novel assessment tool that can quantitatively evaluate the level of biophilia integration in healthcare facilities. The developed assessment tool helps to address the difficulty of biophilia quantification in the built environment due to the broad nature of the biophilia concept. The methodological approach for the tool depends on employing biophilic design patterns as a basis for biophilia, where these patterns are correlated to a group of biophilia-related features of the WELL Building Standard. This correlation is attained through a list of Integrated Design Guidelines (IDGs) that is proposed to act as an intermediate ground …

Intelligent Thermoregulation In Personal Protective Equipment, Alireza Saidi, Chantal Gauvin

Études primaires

With the prospect of deploying intelligent thermal management in protective equipment, strategies for integrating heating and cooling actuators with modular temperature controls and automatic temperature regulation systems based on feedback from the individual’s personal and environmental parameters are discussed. © 2024 by the authors.

Trpv4 Affects Visual Signals In Photoreceptors And Rod Bipolar Cells, Ye Long, Maxim Kozhemyakin, Samuel M Wu, Ji-Jie Pang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Mechanical sensitive channels expressed in mammalian retinas are effectors of elevated pressure stresses, but it is unclear how their activation affects visual function in pressure-related retinal disorders.

METHODS: This study investigated the role of the transient potential channel vanilloid TRPV4 in photoreceptors and rod bipolar cells (RBCs) with immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, electroretinography (ERG), and patch-clamp techniques.

RESULTS: TRPV4 immunoreactivity (IR) was found in the outer segments of photoreceptors, dendrites and somas of PKCα-positive RBCs and other BCs, plexiform layers, and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in wild-type mice. TRPV4-IR was largely diminished in the retinas of homozygous TRPV4 transgenic mice. …

Dietary Knowledge And Eating Habits Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes In Lebanon, Myriam Abboud, Cyrille Nacouzi, Zeina Chahine, Angelica Atallah, Mira Hleyhel

All Works

Little is known about the dietary knowledge (DK) and eating habits (EHs) of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Lebanon. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the DK and EH of the population with T2D and determine their associated factors. A cross-sectional survey enrolling 351 patients with T2D was carried out, using the snowball sampling technique. The survey used the UK Diabetes and Diet Questionnaire and the Dietary Knowledge questionnaire to assess participants' EH including the frequency of consumption of certain foods and their knowledge of food groups and food choices. While a higher DK index …

Optimizing Tomato Seedling Growth With Indigenous Mangrove Bacterial Inoculants And Reduced Npk Fertilization, Soumaya Tounsi-Hammami, Munawwar Ali Khan, Aroosa Zeb, Aneesa Rasheed Anwar, Naman Arora, Muhammad Naseem, Sunil Mundra

All Works

The search for ecofriendly products to reduce crop dependence on synthetic chemical fertilizers presents a new challenge. The present study aims to isolate and select efficient native PGPB that can reduce reliance on synthetic NPK fertilizers. A total of 41 bacteria were isolated from the sediment and roots of mangrove trees (Avicennia marina) and assessed for their PGP traits under in vitro conditions. Of them, only two compatible strains of Bacillus species were selected to be used individually and in a mix to promote tomato seedling growth. The efficiency of three inoculants applied to the soil was assessed in a …

Prevalence Of Premenstrual Syndrome And Its Associations With Dietary And Other Lifestyle Factors Among University Female Students In Dubai: A Cross-Sectional Study, Haleama Al Sabbah, Noof Al Mutawa, Enas A. Assaf

All Works

Background: Premenstrual syndrome is a relatively prevalent condition that affects a significant number of menstruating women worldwide. It can range from mild to severe and may interfere with daily activities. Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its associated factors among female university students in Dubai. Design: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study. Methods: The analysis for this study involved 217 female university students (aged ⩾18 years old) who completed a self-reported online questionnaire. Participants were recruited through simple random sampling, and the study received ethical approval from the Zayed University Ethical Committee. …

Acalypha Indica Aqueous Leaf Extract As Potential Nematicide Against The Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne Incognita: In Vitro And Molecular Docking Studies, Altaf Khan, Manar Fawzi Bani Mfarrej, Fohad Mabood Husain, Qamar Zia, Mohd Adil, Mohammed Arshad, Khalid Umar, Niraj Kumar Jha, Pieter Malan, Soumya Pandit, Faheem Ahmad

All Works

Root-knot nematode (RKN) (Meloidogyne incognita) is a major plant parasitic nematode that severely damages crops, leading to significant yield losses and substantial economic impact globally. This study aims to investigate an environmentally sustainable biological strategy for mitigating parasitic populations of the root-knot nematode, M. incognita. Specifically, the research focuses on assessing the nematicidal efficacy of Acalypha indica against M. incognita mortality and second-stage juveniles’ (J2) hatching under controlled in vitro conditions. A. indica leaf aqueous extract was applied at varying concentrations (250, 500, 750, and 1000 ppm) to J2s and egg masses of M. incognita. Notably, at 1000 ppm, a …

Farm-Raised Salmon Business: An International Outline Through Regulations, Environmental Issues, And Consumer Perception., Luiz Felipe Da Silva

Business ETD Collections

This research investigates the key challenges faced by the global farm-raised salmon industry, focusing on economic impacts of regulatory differences, environmental sustainability issues, and consumer perceptions of farm-raised versus wild-caught salmon. Using a mixed research approach, including an interview with a professional and a review of existing literature, the study finds a disconnect between salmon companies and their customers, indicating a need for improved marketing strategies. The research also highlights the importance of high environmental standards in production for enhancing competitiveness. Additionally, the adoption of certifications and high production standards can improve consumer acceptance of farmed salmon over wild-caught alternatives.

Changing Nutrition Trends And Mcdonald’S Product Strategies: The Rise Of Plant-Based Products And Their Impact On Consumer Behaviour., Meryem Yildirim

Business ETD Collections

This research explores the influence of McDonald’s plant-based product development strategies on consumer behaviour and brand perception. It highlights the challenges McDonald’s faces when launching plant-based products, particularly in the US, where the desired impact on consumers has not been achieved. The study contrasts this with the success of these products in Europe, where they have enhanced the brand’s sustainability image and contributed to profitability. Additionally, McDonald’s has made strides toward promoting healthy eating by offering plant-based and diet products, while also accommodating cultural and religious sensitivities in its menu localization. The findings emphasise the importance of continuing these strategic …

Bord Bia: Global Marketing Challenges., Guzel Khabibullina

Business ETD Collections

This research examines global marketing challenges faced by Bord Bia, an Irish agency in the food, drink, and horticulture sector, as it seeks to increase market share in the European Union (EU). The study combines primary and secondary research, utilising a case study approach to analyse Bord Bia’s branding, marketing strategies, and digital transformation efforts. Key areas of focus include leveraging sustainable production as a unique selling point, enhancing the Country of Origin (COO) effect, and addressing cultural diversity in marketing activities. Findings highlight the value of a blended marketing strategy, integrating traditional and digital methods, and recommend adopting AI-driven …

Implementation Of A Targeted “Micro-Learning” Inpatient Diabetes Education Program In A Rural Hospital Setting, Melissa Lynn Fannon-Wisner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction/Background: Diabetes affects a large portion of Americans and West Virginians annually. Inpatient hospitalization provides an opportunity to provide evidence-based diabetes education to patients. A lack of access to diabetes education at rural hospitals across the United States exists, creating a need for patients who require education while hospitalized. An intervention needs to be explored to bridge the gap for patients that need education when the diabetes educator is not available.

Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is to create and implement a video micro-learning diabetic education series that can be utilized for diabetes self-management …