Public Health And Crime Rates In Sioux Falls, Sd, Samuel D. Stukel

Honors Thesis

Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a rapidly growing city that has an emerging public health concern. While the city boasts high ranks in quality-of-life metrics, crime remains a significant concern as it does with most growing cities. This thesis aims at exploring the relationship between public health and crime for the city of Sioux Falls. It emphasizes how social determinants such as poverty, housing insecurity, mental illness, and systemic inequality contribute to crime rates. Through a public health framework, the study proposes a three-tiered approach, primary, secondary, and tertiary preventions. Each of these preventions will address both the root causes …

Grossly Misunderstood: How Two Low Socioeconomic Black Parents In The Rural South Perceive Their Involvement In Their Children's Education, Diana Carver

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of low-socioeconomic Black parents living in the rural South regarding education. The study was designed to amplify the voice a marginalized community that is misunderstood regarding their children’s education. Using a detailed narrative design, I interviewed two single-parent families living in a Section 8 apartment complex to capture their perceptions of their children’s education.

In this study, the participants were single mothers who expressed their desires and goals for their children. In addition, these mothers shared their backgrounds and experiences growing up and attending school, which shaped and molded …

Evaluation Of Escherichia Coli Lithium Binding Properties, David Andrew Gonzalez

Theses (2016-Present)

Lithium is a commonly used element in everyday items such as batteries, electronics and industrial applications. With the common use of lithium comes the problem of what to do with lithium waste. This problem calls for the need of an efficient environmentally friendly recovery process. This study investigates the potential of Escherichia coli for lithium biosorption in aqueous solutions. Although the roles of copper and Bacillus coagulans were initially explored for comparative biosorption potential, they were not used in experimental trials. This study explores the potential of E. coli and its potential for lithium biosorption in water solutions. Lithium chloride …

Changes In Adequacy Of Splanchnic Oxygen Delivery And Splanchnic Artery Doppler After Bolus Feedings In Infants: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis., Rohit S. Loomba, Saloni P. Sheth, Joshua Wong, Megan Davis, Juan S. Farias, Enrique G. Villarreal, Saul Flores

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Current practice regarding timing of feed initiation and feed tolerance largely relies on anecdotal practice and protocols. This study aims to provide an objective measure to guide clinical practice by analyzing changes in splanchnic regional oxygen saturation and Doppler patterns with feeds.

METHODS: A systematic review was performed. Inclusion criteria were: 1) patients under 1 year of age; 2) splanchnic regional oxygen saturation with near infrared spectroscopy before and after feeds or mesenteric Doppler findings before and after feeds; and 3) clinical parameters must have been presented as either mean and standard deviation or median and range. Endpoints of …

The Effects Of Odevixibat In People With Alagille Syndrome: A Plain Language Summary, Nadia Ovchinsky, Madeleine Aumar, Alastair Baker, Philip Bufler, Mara Cananzi, Piotr Czubkowski, Ryan T. Fischer, Giuseppe Indolfi, Wikrom Karnsakul, Florence Lacaille, Way S. Lee, Philip Rosenthal, Etienne Sokal, Henkjan J. Verkade, Andrew Wehrman, Cher Bork, Roberta Smith, Jessica Ruvido, Alexander Artyomenko, Christof Maucksch, Ekkehard Sturm

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

This is a summary describing a phase 3 clinical trial, called ‘ASSERT’, which studied the medicine odevixibat in people with Alagille syndrome.

Alagille syndrome is a rare disease that can affect different parts of the body, but mainly affects how well the liver works. Symptoms usually start at a young age, but the age of first symptoms and seriousness of the disease can vary, and the disease can affect both children and adults. People who have Alagille syndrome may have a build-up of bile acids in the liver and this can lead to organ damage. People with Alagille syndrome …

Understand The Power Of Resilient Adult Survivors Of Childhood Neglect, Sheena Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of adults from New York (NY) and New Jersey (NJ) who have overcome adverse childhood experiences and describe their experiences in becoming resilient. Adverse childhood experiences have been linked to various health disparities, including depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and physical health concerns. However, limited research focuses specifically on resilience among survivors of childhood neglect and adversity. The study investigated the subjective experiences of adults residing in New York and New Jersey who have experienced high levels of ACEs, including neglect and abandonment. The study answered the following …

Mediterranean Or Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension Diet In Lowering Hypertension In Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Us National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (Nhanes), 2007-2016, Erica Carroll-Marlow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to address the difference in adherence to the Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) in lowering hypertension among women with GDM. This study is a quantitative, secondary analysis study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007-2016, targeting pregnant women with GDM (n =240). The demographics, dietary, questionnaire, and examination files in NHANES captured the dependent variable, hypertension, and the independent variables, Mediterranean and DASH diets. The covariates included age, race/ethnicity, family income, education, and marital status. Adjusted odds ratios using binary and multiple logistic regression were calculated utilizing SPSS …

Whole Grains And Ancient Wheats: Knowledge, Attitudes, Consumption Behavior And Sensory Liking Of Breads Among Participants In The United States, Caroline Morey, Jamie Kubota, Sulekha Anand, Xi Feng

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Consumer interest in ancient grains has been growing in the United States over the last 10 years. Whole grain ancient wheats incorporation into breads may be a way to increase whole grain consumption among Americans, but there is no research evaluating sensory liking of whole ancient wheat breads among American consumers. The objective of this study was to explore the sensory liking of whole ancient wheat bread types and to explore factors that may be associated with sensory preferences. The study recruited 104 untrained participants of diverse ethnicities affiliated with San José State University (San José, CA 95192, USA). Participants …

The Victorian Institute Of Sport Assessment – Achilles Is Fundamentally Flawed And Unfit For Clinical Practice Or Research: A Rasch Measurement Theory Analysis Using Cosmin Recommendations, Nigel Travers, Myles C. Murphy, Benedict M. Wand, Paul Kirwan, Mervyn Travers, James Debenham, William Gibson, Dana Hince

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: Evaluate structural validity, hypothesis testing and measurement invariance of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Achilles (VISA-A) using Rasch analysis to determine if it can be recommended to measure Achilles tendinopathy severity. Methods: We performed an evaluation of the VISA-A measurement properties using Rasch Measurement Theory by pooling individual participant data from previously conducted studies (n = 217). Structural validity was assessed via threshold/category mean order; adequate item fit; unidimensionality; local dependence; internal consistency. Hypothesis testing was assessed via divergent validity. Measurement invariance assessed via differential item functioning. Results: The VISA-A has inadequate construct validity. This is evident from issues …

Changes In The Contributions Of Risk Factors To Under-Five Mortality In Low- And Lower-Middle-Income Countries (1997-2022): An Analysis Of Demographic And Health Survey Data, Bereket Kefale, Jonine Jancey, Amanuel T. Gebremedhin, Gavin Pereira, Gizachew A. Tessema

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Under-five mortality (U5M) is a critical public health challenge in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs), where over 90% of global deaths occur. Despite progress, the changing contributions of risk factors to U5M in LLMICs remain unexplored.

Mrthods: We analysed Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 24 LLMICs across two periods: 1997-2005 and 2016-2022. We included 139,890 live births in 1997-2005 and 319,034 in 2016-2022. A mixed-effects robust Poisson regression model with a log link function was employed to identify risk factors of U5M in each period. Population-attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated and compared to investigate changes in the …

Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Foster Youth Independent Living Programs In The State Of California, Ingrid Flores

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Foster youth transitioning into adulthood often confront a myriad of challenges stemming from limited social capital and unstable support systems. The transition out of foster care, particularly for Transitional Age Youth (TAY), is fraught with barriers including disconnection from familial ties, inadequate knowledge regarding higher education, financial instability, unemployment, and housing insecurity. In 2021, approximately 4,920 foster children aged out of the system, facing the option to participate in extended care programs designed to facilitate their transition into independent living. Despite these programs, many youths struggle to achieve self-sufficiency. Key legislation, including the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and …

Unintended Consequences: How Direct Cash Payments To Families Experiencing Poverty Lowered Child Poverty Rates In The United States, Wayne Dunn

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Child poverty has adverse effects for the children who experience it and it has long term social and economic consequences into adulthood. This policy analysis looks at the policy choices America has made in addressing child poverty and what effects, if any, those policies have had. After reviewing traditional in-kind policy options for addressing child poverty, this article focuses on the decreases in the child poverty rate that occurred with the passage of pandemic era legislation that provided direct cash assistance to all Americans. Because the assistance programs only happened in two consecutive years and were terminated at the end …

Poverty In Ethnic Minority Children: Social Workers/Social Work Students’ Perceptions Of Effective Interventions, Danielle Nicole Davis

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Racial and ethnic minorities experience poverty at rates significantly higher than the rest of the United States population, especially when considering children. This disparity leads to decreased positive outcomes for children growing up in impoverished ethnic minority households. By examining the interventions utilized to address childhood poverty and how social workers and social work students create targeted interventions for this population, the current study provides insight into effective methods for addressing childhood poverty in ethnic minority populations. The current research expands on information gathered regarding effective interventions for minority children in poverty. This is an exploratory study that used a …

Social Media Use In Health Education: National Children's Dental Health Month Social Media Toolkit, Jazmin Pelayo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) was created by the American Dental Association and is celebrated annually by local oral health programs all around the country. The celebration began as a one-day event on February 8, 1949, expanded to a week-long observance in 1955, and was later extended to a month-long celebration in 1981. Today local oral health programs celebrate NCDHM in a variety of ways but the one I will be focusing on is a social media tool kit. A social media tool kit consists of videos or posts that are posted on different platforms such as the www.smilesbc.org …

Burnout Among Mental Health Professionals In Northern California: A Mixed-Methods Study, Sade Butler

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Burnout, characterized by prolonged emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion, is a widespread issue affecting millions of professionals in the United States and globally. Previous research has not adequately addressed the phenomenon of burnout, particularly in California. This study took a mixed-methods approach to determine the scope of, contributing factors to, and coping strategies for burnout among mental health professionals in Northern California. A sample of 93 mental health professionals completed a survey that contained both closed-ended and open-ended questions on burnout. Descriptive statistics indicated that 89.2% of participants experienced a moderate to severe level of burnout at work. Meanwhile, thematic …

Effects Of Snacking Habits On Overall Health And Cognition Of University Students, Kelly Shaw

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Title: Effects of Snacking Habits on Overall Health and Cognition of University Students

Authors: Shaw, K., Tolar-Peterson, T., & Malik, N.

Affiliation: College of Natural Sciences, Department of Health Science and Human Ecology, California State University, San Bernardino 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407

Background and Aims: Snack consumption is increasing, and university students may be particularly susceptible to unhealthy snacking habits. Snacking patterns may affect students’ academic performance, mood, or body weight. This study assessed students’ snacking habits and its relationship with grade point average (GPA), mood, body mass index (BMI), and food insecurity.

Methods: Using an …

The Relationship Between Participation In School Based Mental Health Programs And Absenteeism, Candida Kistemann, Diane Palomares, Jodi Eddington

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research study focuses on the impact of School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) programs on student absenteeism in a school setting, highlighting the potential of these programs to promote students’ well-being and improve attendance rates. By implementing SBMH programs, schools may address mental health challenges that contribute to chronic absenteeism. Researchers used a quantitative research design, analyzing archival data to assess whether participation in an SBMH program influences school attendance. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to examine absentee rates before, during, and after SBMH participation. Findings revealed no significant overall effect; however, specific groups – elementary school students and Hispanic students …

Foster Care Alumni And Their Experiences Coping With Life After Care From The Perspective Of Pertinent Professionals, Nancy Morales

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Background: Children in foster care face significant challenges, and their transition to independent living presents even greater difficulties, such as securing housing, accessing healthcare, and achieving financial independence. Although recent policy reforms, such as increased emphasis on family reunification and support services, have aimed to improve the outcomes of foster care, alumni of the system continue to face disproportionately high rates of mental health disorders, substance abuse, and social instability. Existing literature highlights the significant barriers foster youth encounter during and after their time in care, yet there remains a critical gap in understanding the experiences of these individuals …

Engineering An In Vitro Hipsc-Derived Cardiac Tissue Construct For Regenerative Medicine Applications, Larry Mendoza

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality across the world with invasive surgeries and pharmaceutical intervention commonly associated with urgent care. Moreover, congenital, progressive, and hereditary heart diseases rely on many forms of medical prevention and intervention (pharmaceuticals, x-rays, bloodwork, etc.). Developing a three-dimensional (3D) cardiac tissue engineered in vitro model to study human cardiac physiology can revolutionize biomedical research. The purpose of this research is to optimize natural & synthetic biomaterials to fuse cardiac stem cells and synthesize a 3D-printed in vitro model for disease modeling, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. Natural biopolymers needed for such innovations are …

Exploring The Factors That Influence Telehealth Usage Among Immigrants In The United States: A Mixed Methods Study, Jose M. Garcia-Castañeda

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Immigrants in the United States continue to face barriers in accessing healthcare services which are rooted in systemic inequities, cultural disconnects, and language-related challenges. The growing presence of telehealth services has offered new opportunities to expand access, but it has also highlighted new barriers which are language proficiency and digital literacy which could increase the gap in services for already marginalized populations. These barriers are factors that influence outcomes such as delayed care, reduced preventative care, and overall poorer health outcomes. The Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Service Use (Andersen, 1995) provides a useful framework in understanding how predisposing, …

Exploring Factors That Contribute To Poverty Among Singleparent Households Headed By Latinas: A Qualitative Study, Jeffrey M. Balencia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Despite the new strategies and programs being developed and implemented, poverty still finds itself at a continuous increase yearly (Banovcinova et al., 2014). Families have been found to be the most susceptible group compared to everyone else due to the many factors they face that can affect them. By using the information provided by other articles, gaps identified is there are lack of studies on the factors that contribute to poverty among singleparent households headed by Latinas. Objective: This exploratory study aims to identify contributing factors to poverty among single-parent households headed by Latinas. Method: Qualitative data will be …

Functional Mocktails, Amber Barrer

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background and Aims: Mocktails are alcohol-free beverages that emulate alcohol-containing cocktails. Americans are increasingly seeking these non-alcoholic beverage alternatives. As mocktails have increased in popularity, so have anecdotal health claims. Research has shown that the consumption of teas, herbs, roots, and juices provide health benefits. However, these have not been studied as a mocktail beverage. Functional mocktails may provide various health benefits due to their antioxidant properties, serving as an enjoyable alternative to alcoholic beverages.

Methods: A recipe book of 20 functional mocktails were created. The recipe book includes referenced research on the health benefits, antioxidative properties, recommended dosing, and …

Case Management Is Essential In A School-Based Setting, Estrella G. Moreno

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Case management in a school-based setting is an integral part in helping students overcome barriers by providing support services. These support services include meeting their physiological needs like food, shelter, and clothing. When students lack necessities, it prevents them from focusing on their academics. Therefore, developing feasible plans to address students’ needs is vital to a student’s continued academic success. The research question is as follows: What percentage of students who are referred to case management services end up having their needs successfully met? This study examined the number of students among the K-12 student population in Colton Joint …

Micronutrient Deficiencies In Celiac Disease: Systematic Review, Natalie A. Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disease triggered by the ingestion of gluten in genetically susceptible individuals, leading to villous atrophy, nutrient malabsorption, and a range of systemic complications. Although adherence to a strict gluten-free diet (GFD) remains the only effective treatment, growing evidence suggests that the GFD alone may be insufficient in meeting the long-term nutritional and psychosocial needs of adults with CD. This systematic review evaluates the prevalence and persistence of micronutrient deficiencies—including iron, calcium, vitamin D, folate, vitamin B12, magnesium, and zinc—in adult CD populations following a GFD. It also examines the psychological burden associated with …

Aiding Foster Youth Toward High School Graduation, Desiree A. Amaya

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Research has displayed the differences between the number of students who are non-foster youth graduating high schools and the number of students who are foster youth graduating high schools. The foster youths’ numbers are low in comparison to those who are non-foster youth. Why? The research paper has gathered articles and references to determine common factors that prevent these students from graduating with their classmates and from being successful for the outside world. Through this research, it will go over the common factors that can impact a youth’s life, the supports that can aid towards the youths’ struggles, the sources …

Impact Of Water Quality On The Nutritional And Phytochemical Properties Of Culinary Herbs, Genesis Arroyo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Water quality significantly affected food safety, especially since contaminated water impacted crop growth and the nutrient composition of foods. Nitrates occur naturally in vegetables. However, when introduced into the food supply through water contamination, excessive levels disrupted the natural physiological processes of vegetables and other agricultural plants. These excessive levels eventually led to nutrient imbalances, decreased phytochemical concentrations, and potential health risks such as the formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds in humans. This study evaluated the effects of nitrates on the nutritional outcomes of food crops, focusing on commonly used culinary herbs. While synthesizing findings from relevant peer-reviewed articles, I …

Awareness And Attitudes Toward Diabetes Among Students In The California State University System, Cesar Fajardo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background and Aims: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been increasing globally. Studies examining patient awareness and attitudes toward diabetes have been conducted and found that diabetes education does increase patient knowledge but has no effect on attitudes. Additionally, many of these studies did not assess university students’ views on type 2 diabetes. Given that type 2 diabetes incidence is increasing among young adults, more attention must be given to this population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate CSUSB students' understanding and attitudes toward type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using electronic surveys with …

Nitrate And Nitrite Food Composition Database: An Update And Extensive Deep Dive, Liezhou Zhong, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Nicola P. Bondonno, Marc Sim, Richard J. Woodman, Catherine P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Growing evidence suggests that health outcomes of dietary nitrate and nitrite intake are food source dependent. Robust evaluations in dietary studies necessitate a comprehensive and current food composition database of nitrate/nitrite content, along with variation based on country or region of origin, calendar year, growing season, and cooking method. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to update the previous animal- and plant-based food nitrate/nitrite databases and investigate effects of cooking methods, seasonal and geographic variations, and longitudinal changes on nitrate and nitrite content to guide application of the database in observational and clinical studies. Methods: Food nitrate/nitrite composition …

Sex Differences In Upper- And Lower-Limb Muscle Strength In Children And Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis, James L. Nuzzo, Matheus D. Pinto

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

On average, adult men are physically stronger than adult women. The magnitude of this difference depends on the muscle tested, with larger sex differences observed in upper- than lower-limb muscles. Whether body region-specific sex differences in strength exist in children is unclear. The purpose of the current meta-analysis was to determine whether sex differences in muscle strength in children and adolescents differ between upper- and lower-limb muscles. Data were extracted from studies of participants aged ≤ 17 years who completed tests of maximal isometric or isokinetic strength of upper-limb muscles (e.g., elbow flexors and elbow extensors) or lower-limb muscles (e.g., …

Patulin As A Negative Regulator Of Wild-Type Elp1 Splicing In Familial Dysautonomia-Derived Cells, Katherine P. Cáceres Bravo

FCRH Honors Program Theses

Although the human genome has a limited number of genes, alternative splicing allows the production of thousands of proteins. Alternative splicing is a regulated mechanism in which a messenger RNA (mRNA) synthesizes different proteins called isoforms, variants of the same protein that may have different cellular functions [1]. The unspliced sequence, also known as the primary transcript, results from the transcription of a genetic sequence by RNA Polymerase II, which produces an mRNA containing introns (non-coding regions) and exons (coding regions) [2]. The splicing process is catalyzed by the spliceosome, a ribonucleoprotein mega-particle composed of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), U1, …