Digital Commons Network^™

Meeting The Psychosocial Needs Of Online Learners In Social Work Programs And Four-Year Universities: What Is Being Addressed And The Many Areas For Improvement, Kathryn Gould

DSW Capstone Projects

Almost half of social work students enter their program with a history of mental health diagnosis and exposure to multiple childhood traumas. Over half of students at four-year institutions are enrolled in one or more courses online, yet retention in online coursework is much lower than in in-person courses. As online programs continue to grow in the field of social work it becomes a vital requirement to address the psychosocial needs of online learners. The call of this capstone is to examine how universities and colleges of social work can meet the increasing need to improve course work and service …

Disparities In Uptake Of The Primary Sars-Cov-2 Vaccine Series In A Southern Indiana Vaccine Clinic, Cassidy Padgett

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Objective: COVID-19 is a potentially severe respiratory disease caused by infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 was first discovered in 2019 and vaccines against the virus began development in early 2020. COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clark Memorial Health is a 236-bed community health system located in southern Indiana. As one of the first four hospitals in the state of Indiana to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine in December of 2020, this health system led the area in vaccine administration. Prior to the emergency use authorization (EUA) of the COVID-19 vaccines, …

Implementation Of Farmers Markets In Bell County, Kentucky, Rachael Schmetzer

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

This proposal addresses the link between food insecurity and obesity through the implementation of farmers markets in Bell County, Kentucky as a way to increase access and consumption of fruits and vegetables in this rural, low-income community.

Increasing Physical Activity Rates Among High School Girls In Jefferson County, Kentucky, Haley Copeland

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Obesity rates across the U.S. are increasing, especially among adolescent females. Physical activity rates have been associated with obesity and many related health outcomes. Regular physical activity can help adolescents improve their cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones, control their weight, and reduce depression ¹. It can also help reduce the risk of developing health conditions like heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, type II diabetes, and obesity ¹. Thus, physical activity among youth provides a risk factor to target, with the intention of eventually decreasing obesity rates.

Recommended physical education class CDC guidelines are not being met …

Frequency And Type Of Diabetes Screening Tests In A Sample Of Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Descriptive Study, Jacklyn Vollmer

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects 6-12% of United States women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and fall into high-risk groups for screening guidelines put out by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Guidelines further suggest that an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) be used for diabetes screening in women with PCOS as opposed to an A1C or fasting plasma glucose test. The purpose of this study is to examine rates and type of diabetes screening used among a sample of women …

An Analysis Of The Association Between Cognitive Decline And Geographic Residence Among Women Over 65 In The Southeastern United States, Christine Invergo

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Abstract

Introduction: The United States is an increasingly aging nation, and aging increases the risk of cognitive decline. Information on the relationship between cognitive decline and geographic residence in the U.S. is limited. Available evidence suggests that rural residents tend to suffer persistent disadvantages in cognitive functioning when compared to sociodemographically similar urban peers. This analysis focused on women over 65 years of age living in the southeastern U.S. The primary objective of this analysis was to determine if there was a significant association between geographic residence and cognitive decline. A secondary objective was to explore variables of interest that …

An Analysis Of The Association Between Cognitive Decline And Geographic Residence Among Women Over 65 In The Southeastern United States, Christine Invergo

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Abstract

Introduction: The United States is an increasingly aging nation, and aging increases the risk of cognitive decline. Information on the relationship between cognitive decline and geographic residence in the U.S. is limited. Available evidence suggests that rural residents tend to suffer persistent disadvantages in cognitive functioning when compared to sociodemographically similar urban peers. This analysis focused on women over 65 years of age living in the southeastern U.S. The primary objective of this analysis was to determine if there was a significant association between geographic residence and cognitive decline. A secondary objective was to explore variables of interest that …

Policy Approaches To Address Childhood Obesity, Omoadoni Roseline Obielodan

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background: Childhood obesity continues to be a serious international public health concern. Unfortunately, there are limited treatment options for obesity. One notable intervention option is the University of Kentucky (UK) Pediatric high BMI clinic intervention for childhood obesity. The Clinic provides intervention for childhood obesity through healthy lifestyle habits. This intervention has been reported to be effective.

Even though there is evidence that public health policies that promote healthy behaviors would substantially reduce and prevent the alarming prevalence of childhood obesity, the state of Kentucky does not have well-established practical policies that promote healthy behaviors in children. Studies have shown …

The Frequency Of Periodontitis In End‑Stage Renal Disease On Hemodialysis In A Sample Of Egyptian Population: Multi‑Center Clinical Cross‑Sectional Study, Enji Ahmed Mahmoud, Asmaa Abobakr, Eman Khalil, Radwa Raghib

Dentistry

Background: There is a general assumption that periodontal disease is highly prevalent among patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. The aim of the study to estimate the frequency of periodontitis in patients on hemodialysis among a sample of the Egyptian population, as well as the correlation between different clinical parameters of periodontal status with serum creatinine and blood urea. This may rule out the bidirectional relationship between periodontitis and renal failure in patients on hemodialysis. Methods: The study was conducted on 263 hemodialysis patients (165 males and 98 females) at three dialysis centers in Benha Governorate, Egypt (Benha Hospital, …

Cognitive Distortions, Partisan Strength, And Authoritarianism: Exploring Potential Factors Contributing To The Current Partisan Divide, Brooke C. Singer

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Over the past two decades, the number of Americans on the extremes of the political spectrum has more than doubled, and politically motivated aggression has increased. In addition, an unprecedented division has emerged between the left and right on fundamental political values and animosity continues to rise. The purpose of this study was to explore factors that potentially contribute to political polarization and animosity in the United States, including authoritarianism, strength of partisan commitment, and distorted thinking. The participants for this study comprised 513 individuals from the general population of the United States recruited from online platforms. Participants completed an …

The Next Pandemic Might Be A Petdemic, Hillary Greene

Faculty Articles and Papers

A new scientific study shows that COVID-19 can be transmittedf rom cats to humans. Luckily, this channel of transmission seems extremely rare, at least thus far. But next time and there will be a next time we may not be so fortunate. This Article addresses this underappreciated risk of what I term a "petdemic" a pandemic or epidemic that involves significant disease transmission between pets and humans. With nearly 70% of U.S. households owning pets, a petdemic could be catastrophic. One of our go-to responses for even perceived petdemics, honed over the last century, is to slaughter our pets. This …

Vitamin D Level In Relation To Depression Symptoms During Adolescence, Reem Al-Sabah, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Lemia Shaban, Ahmed N. Albatineh, Reem Sharaf Alddin, Praveen K. Durgampudi

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and depression symptoms among adolescents in Kuwait, a country with a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.

METHODS: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 704 adolescents in middle schools. Data on depression symptoms were collected using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Data on covariates were collected from the parents by self-administered questionnaire and from adolescents by face-to-face interview. Blood samples were analyzed in an accredited laboratory; and 25(OH)D was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS: Of 704 adolescents, 94 (13.35%; 95%CI:10.35-17.06%) had depression …

Administrators' Roles In The Use And Training Of Evidence-Based Practices For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Selena J. Layden, Ann S. Maydosz, Teresa G. Crowson, Annemarie L. Horn, Amanda Faye Working

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Federal mandates require special education teachers to use instructional practices grounded in scientific research. Accordingly, the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC) identified 27 evidence-based practices specific to teaching students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; Wong et al., 2014). Though these practices have undergone a rigorous identification process, less is known about the level of training and confidence in implementation of these instructional practices by education professionals who work with students with ASD. Our study assessed education professionals' (including administrators, teachers, and related services personnel) ratings of their level of training, confidence in implementation, and frequency of …

Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Diabetes-Related Healthcare Service Use In The United States, 2016–2020, Gaole Song

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Diabetes is a serious public health issue in the United States. As one of the leading causes of death, the prevalence of diabetes has increased steadily and leads to an enormous medical and societal burden each year. Compared to non-Hispanic White adults, racial/ethnic minority adults have a higher risk to develop diabetes and its complications. Proper healthcare service use is important for reducing the prevalence of diabetes and the risk of complications. However, minority populations receive a lower quality healthcare service and have greater barriers to diabetes self-management. To get a better understanding of racial disparities in diabetes-related healthcare service …

Post(Al) Apocalypse: A Letter About Virginia Woolf's Fictional Letters, Ethan Widlansky

Pomona Senior Theses

I set out to write about eating distress in Virginia Woolf. I wanted to write about mothers, too, in her fiction and essays, because, as Chris Kraus puts it, “Mother is Food.” I began by investigating one of Woolf’s fictional letters, written in Jacob’s Room. There, the letter arrives at breakfast. This coincidence followed me into my other readings on mothering and food, so I decided to discuss Woolf’s fictional epistolary form for an entire chapter. And then, after winter break, an entire chapter became an entire thesis.

Linear Programming Analysis And Diet Breadth Modeling At Bridge River, British Columbia, Sean Patrick Boyd

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Studies in diet breadth modeling and patch choice have been and continue to be a hot topic of interest among practitioners of human behavioral ecology and the set of data available at Bridge River can certainly add to these debates and discussions that have been dominating anthropology in the past few decades. The faunal assemblage of Housepit 54’s 17 anthropogenic floors have provided researchers with a plethora of data that clearly indicates periods of resource depletion and partial to full site abandonment. Using Linear Programming and Diet Breadth Modelling I analyze the most represented species in the record and establish …

Evidence-Based Approaches To Screening For Polypharmacy In Older Adults, Carmelo Maddy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPolypharmacy is the concomitant use of five or more medicines and is associated with a higher risk of being prescribed potentially inappropriate or interactive medications. Polypharmacy in adults over 60 years of age may correlate with adverse outcomes of multimorbidity such as functional impairment, low quality of life, high healthcare use, and increased costs. Health practitioners need to be aware of tools and methods to manage polypharmacy-related issues to optimize patient safety. The gap in practice is that a primary care practice did not have a comprehensive clinical guideline for a systematic and ongoing assessment of appropriateness of medication use …

A Hybrid If-Fucom-Gra Approach And Its Application To Determine Optimal Bacterial Concentrations On Mortar At Optimal Curing Day, Srila Dey, Florentin Smarandache, Rama Debbarma, Priyanka Majumder

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In this study, Intuitionistic Fuzzy Consistency Method (IF-FUCOM) and Grey Relation Analysis (GRA) were combined to assess the effects of Bacillus subtilis bacteria on concrete properties, as well as to determine the optimal bacteria concentration and curing day. Three different concentrations of bacteria were added to the mortar mixes, like 103, 105, and 107 cells/ml of water. Mortar samples were left to cure for 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days to evaluate compressive strength, water absorption, crack healing. According to the proposed algorithm, 105 bacteria are the optimal concentration, while 28 days is the ideal curing time.

The Acute Physiological Response Of Polar Bears To Helicopter Capture, John P. Whiteman, Henry J. Harlow, George M. Durner, Eric V. Regehr, Steven C. Amstrup, Anthony M. Pagano, Merav Ben-David

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Many wildlife species are live captured, sampled, and released; for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) capture often requires chemical immobilization via helicopter darting. Polar bears reduce their activity for approximately 4 days after capture, likely reflecting stress recovery. To better understand this stress, we quantified polar bear activity (via collar‐mounted accelerometers) and body temperature (via loggers in the body core [T_abd] and periphery [T_per]) during 2–6 months of natural behavior, and during helicopter recapture and immobilization. Recapture induced bouts of peak activity higher than those that occurred during natural behavior for 2 of 5 bears, …

The Online Ordering Behaviors Among Participants In The Oklahoma Women, Infants, And Children Program: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Qi Zhang, Kayoung Park, Junzhou Zhang, Chuanyi Tang

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a nutrition assistance program in the United States (U.S.). Participants in the program redeem their prescribed food benefits in WIC-authorized grocery stores. Online ordering is an innovative method being pilot-tested in some stores to facilitate WIC participants' food benefit redemption, which has become especially important in the COVID-19 pandemic. The present research aimed to examine the online ordering (OO) behaviors among 726 WIC households who adopted WIC OO in a grocery chain, XYZ (anonymous) store, in Oklahoma (OK). These households represented approximately 5% of WIC households who redeemed …

Settler Colonial Origins Of Intimate Partner Violence In Indigenous Communities, Maia C. Behrendt

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Indigenous women in the United States experience disproportionately higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. Through a framework of settler colonialism, this article examines how settler colonial gender practices disrupted and eroded generational patterns of gender roles and power relationships within Indigenous communities, contributing over time to today's higher levels of IPV perpetrated against Indigenous women. I argue that future research on IPV must attend to the historical, contemporary, and legal impacts of settler colonial policies and laws that contribute to increased rates of violence within marginalized and racialized communities. In this article, I first …

Biochar: Properties And Potential Benefits For Agricultural Soil In Rwanda, Andromede Uwase

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Physical and chemical soil degradation is becoming a major challenge for agricultural productivity in Rwanda, which is the most important part of the country’s economy. The wide spreading soil degradation in Rwanda is mainly a result of naturally poor soils coupled with unsustainable soil management leading to, for example, accelerated soil erosion, acidification, nutrient loss, compaction, and to decreasing yields. Biochar, as an end product of pyrolysis of biomass in the absence of oxygen, has been proposed as a soil amendment in remediation strategies because of its positive effects on soil productivity relevant parameters such as soil pH, structure, nutrient …

Lingnan Gardeners Newsletter (No. 59) = 彩園通訊 (第59期), Lingnan Gardeners, Centre For Cultural Research And Development, Lingnan University

Lingnan Gardeners Newsletter 嶺南彩園通訊

No abstract provided.

Identification And Characterization Of A Long Fruit Mutant In Cucumis Sativus L., Yajing Hu, Xiaojing Dong, Yana Zhang, Rui Tang, Jiali Li, Chenxing Cao, Chunhua Chen, Zhonghai Ren, Lina Wang

Turkish Journal of Botany

A long fruit (lf) mutant was obtained from the cucumber inbred line 'SN5' by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mediated mutagenesis. We found that plant height and internode length of lf were significantly decreased, while leaf area was significantly increased in comparison to wild type (WT) plants. Higher carbohydrate level, together with lower chlorophyll content and photosynthetic parameters, was revealed in lf leaves than those of WT. Longer fruits, as well as enhanced fruit quality, were observed for mutant plants in comparison to WT, and the difference in fruit length was continuously increased with the development of fruits. ELISA and real-time PCR analyses …

The Multi-Level Marketing Pandemic, Christopher G. Bradley, Hannah E. Oates

Law Faculty Scholarly Articles

Among the societal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a sharp rise in the activities of multi-level marketing companies (MLMs). MLMs are business enterprises in which participants seek not only to sell products to friends, family, and social media contacts, but also to recruit them as MLM participants, with the promise of "building their own business from home."

False promises often pervade MLM sales pitches. Evidence shows that few participants see even a dollar of profit from their MLM work; the vast majority of recruits quickly abandon their MLM dreams and lose their investments. Yet the pitch has become …

Evolution And Effectiveness Of The Governmental Risk And Crisis Communication On Twitter In The Covid-19 Pandemic: The Case Of Switzerland, Albena Björck, Audra Diers-Lawson, Felix Dücrey

International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference

The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged the risk and crisis communication capabilities of governmental authorities: A new global phenomenon had to be managed and explained on a national and local level to protect public health. In the form of a single case study, the current research investigates this complex event as a cumulative crisis, the evolution of the communication strategies, and the effectiveness of messaging using Twitter in the context of Switzerland. The study identifies improvement potential in existing theoretical frameworks and provides a method for governmental authorities to track and assess their communication efforts.

Cancer Survivors' Physical Activity Advice: A Guide For Assessment And Implementation For Nurses And Healthcare Workers, Kayla Burd

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Physical activity (PA) improves cancer-related symptoms (e.g., fatigue, sleep) in cancer survivors, although there is low adherence due to barriers. Cancer survivors are interested in participating in PA but healthcare providers feel they have inadequate knowledge in PA and lack guidance to provide PA support.

Purpose: Examine PA advice for cancer survivors and healthcare providers from cancer survivor interviews to understand cancer survivors’ PA and create an algorithm to help healthcare providers assess and provide PA advice to cancer survivors.

Method: Qualitative content analysis of twenty interviews with cancer survivors regarding PA.

Results: Cancer survivors advised health care providers …

The Use Of Exogenous Acrp30 As A Promising Amelioratory Compound Regarding Insulin Resistance And Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus, Stephen L. Romero

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As numerous bodies of research have characterized the adipocytokine adiponectin (ACRP30) as an anti-diabetic compound, this work serves as an analysis to partly elucidate the potential usage of supplementary adiponectin as a therapeutic compound in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. In this work, a meta-analysis was conducted to centralize large amounts of data on adiponectin’s insulin sensitizing characteristics in conjunction with like-minded studies utilizing metformin treatment as the diabetic standard of care. Upon comparison of fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and glucose tolerance test area under the curve reduction percentages, it is quite clear that ACRP30 has significant insulin …

The Relationship Between Sarcopenia And Diabetes Among Different Ethnic Groups, Rachel K. Williams

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Sarcopenia and diabetes are two conditions that reflect ongoing changes in global health trends: aging and obesity. Sarcopenia affects approximately 10-40% of the global population and type II diabetes affects around 415 million individuals (6.28% globally), with obesity contributing to a majority of the cases. Currently, approximately 9.3% of the population (727 million individuals) is aged 65 years or older; this number is predicted to reach 16% of the global population (around 1.5 billion individuals) in 2050. Many developed countries are undergoing demographic population pyramid rearrangements whereby an increasingly aging population must be supported by a shrinking youth cohort. Sarcopenia …

The Cost, Politics And Controversy Of Human Space Flight In Nigeria Or How To Put The First African Astronaut Into Space, Desiree Winns

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The most pressing barriers between reality and the dream of the first African astronaut in space are a lack of resources, cooperation, and support. However, Nigeria presently suffers from the threat of famine, intercommunal violence, and population displacement as a result of terrorism and food insecurity. The reliance upon humanitarian aid from countries such as the United States and international NGOs creates a question of whether Nigeria should even be considering exploration of space. It can be said that any investment into space should instead be granted to displaced people, water and food security, and cracking down on terrorism. Why …