Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Climate Change On Six Bird Species Across An Elevational Gradient, Emily Casseday

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Intersection Of Nursing Home Culture, Improvement, And Documentation-Related Attitudes, Hannah Joy Baker

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background: Documentation of patient care and characteristics is an important part of nursing home operations, because it affects financial aspects, quality improvement efforts, inter-provider communication, and potential for dangerous medical errors. However, little is known about the relationships between workplace culture, quality improvement, and documentation-related attitudes. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore perspectives of a total of 10 nursinghome staff and administrators on these variables within 8 Wisconsin facilities, based on a composite framework of Schein’s organizational culture typology and Shortell’s Quality Improvement Implementation Survey concepts. Methods: This qualitative interview study examined participant perspectives and emotions related …

Cenchrus Americanus - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Pearl millet (Cenchrus americanus). Pearl millet (Cenchrus americanus) is a robust annual grass used for both animal feed and for human consumption. It most likely originates from Sahelian Africa where it has been domesticated for more than 4,000 years. Pearl millet is an important staple food in hot, semi-arid regions of Africa and India due …

Leucaena Leucocephala - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Leucaena leucocephala. Leucaena is a tropical legume, originating from Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. It is a long-lived shrub or small tree (usually 5-10m, rarely to 20m) which is used for multiple purposes around the world including: firewood, timber, paper pulp, human food, green manure, shade, erosion control and forage.

Centrosema Pascuorum - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Centro (Centrosema pascuorum). Centro is a warm season, annual herbaceous legume native to drier regions of South and Central America (Clements and Williams 1980). It has a twining growth habit with relatively fine stems up to 2m long. The leaves are trifoliate and the leaflets are long (50–100mm) and narrow (5–10mm wide), which can give …

Digitaria Milanjiana - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Finger grass (Digitaria milanjiana). Finger grass is a subtropical to tropical perennial grass native to a wide range in Africa from South Africa to Ethiopia (Cook et al. 2020). It is now cultivated in Africa, Asia (Malaysia; Thailand; Vietnam), Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland), the Caribbean and in the Pacific (Fiji). Finger grass is a highly …

Urochloa Mosambicensis - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Sabi grass (Urochloa mosambicensis). Sabi grass is a creeping, tropical, perennial grass of variable size and growth habit usually with short stolons or tufted and sometimes rooting and branching from the lower nodes. Sabi grass is native to central and southern Africa (i.e. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland). …

Creatine Supplementation Improves Muscular Performance Without Additional Impact On The Cardiovascular System In Trained Women, Katia S. Azevedo, Steven B. Machek, Abby E. Lewis, Warleyson J. S. Azevedo, Jeffrey M. Willardson, Rafael Pereira, Marco Machado

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Creatine monohydrate supplementation in females is largely under-represented in the literature, and their potentially differential hemodynamic responses are unknown. Methods: Twenty-eight resistance-trained women (25.5 ± 6.1 years, 59.7 ± 6.3 kg, 163 ± 5 cm) were randomly assigned to the supplement creatine monohydrate (CRE; 5 g creatine monohydrate + 5 g dextrose) or placebo (PLA; 10 g dextrose) four times per day for 7 days in a double-blind fashion. Each subject subsequently completed resistance training sessions (3 × week) for four weeks with four sets to muscular failure of both half-squat and leg press exercises. The change in body mass …

The Time Management Matrix Re-Tooled: An Instrument For Academics Navigating The Tenure Process, Mark Debeliso, Howard Gauthier, Trish Sevene, Kent J. Adams, Marcus M. Lawrence, Mike Climstein, Joseph Berning, Chad Harris, James W. Navalta

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The crown of a successful academic career is often considered an achievement of tenure. The path to tenure may vary based on the type of Carnegie University at which one is employed. Carnegie Doctoral granting R1 Universities place a high priority on conducting research, grant writing and publishing while other Carnegie classified Universities place more emphasis on teaching. Regardless of a University’s Carnegie classification the path to tenure requires sound time management skills if an academic is to achieve tenure. To that end, the authors have decided to revisit Covey’s Time Management Matrix (CTMM). The authors provide an ethnographic perspective …

The Impacts Of Combined Blood Flow Restriction Training And Betaine Supplementation On One-Leg Press Muscular Endurance, Exercise-Associated Lactate Concentrations, Serum Metabolic Biomarkers, And Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1Α Gene Expression, Steven B. Machek, Dillon R. Harris, Emilia E. Zawieja, Jeffery L. Heileson, Dylan T. Wilburn, Anna Radziejewska, Agata Chmurzynska, Jason M. Cholewa, Darryn S. Willoughby

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the impacts of a potential blood flow restriction (BFR)-betaine synergy on one-leg press performance, lactate concentrations, and exercise-associated biomarkers. Eighteen recreationally trained males (25 ± 5 y) were randomized to supplement 6 g/day of either betaine anhydrous (BET) or cellulose placebo (PLA) for 14 days. Subsequently, subjects performed four standardized sets of one-leg press and two additional sets to muscular failure on both legs (BFR [LL-BFR; 20% 1RM at 80% arterial occlusion pressure] and high-load [HL; 70% 1RM]). Toe-tip lactate concentrations were sampled before (PRE), as well as immediately (POST0), 30 min …

Resistance Exercise-Induced Increases In Muscle Myostatin Mrna And Protein Expression Are Subsequently Decreased In Circulation In The Presence Of Increased Levels Of The Extracellular Matrix Stabilizing Protein Decorin, Darryn S. Willoughby, Thomas D. Cardaci, Steven B. Machek, Dylan T. Wilburn, Jeffery L. Heileson

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Resistance exercise (RE) activates cell signaling pathways associated with myostatin. Decorin is located in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and can block the inhibitory effect of myostatin. This study sought to determine the impact of low-load (LL) and high-load (HL) RE on myostatin mRNA and protein expression along with changes in muscle decorin and circulating follistatin. Ten resistance-trained men performed a LL (50% 1RM) and HL (80% 1RM) RE session using the angled leg press and leg extension with load and volume equated. Venous blood samples and muscle biopsies were obtained prior to and at 3h and 24h following each RE …

Building A Bridge Between Wash In Hcfs And The Right To Water Through The Lens Of Maternal And Child Health, London Edgar

Emory International Law Review Recent Developments

Despite being recognized as a human right over a decade ago, the right to water has yet to achieve universal recognition. And although the proportion of births taking place in HCFs as opposed to home delivery has increased globally from 52 percent in 2000 to 76 percent in 2018, an estimated three million infants still die each year in the first month of life. This Essay will begin by discussing the right to water and the barriers to its implementation when framed solely as a human rights obligation. The first section will specifically highlight sources that emphasize the right to …

Composted Sewage Sludge Sustains High Maize Productivity On An Infertile Oxisol In The Brazilian Cerrado, Adrielle Rodrigues Prates, Karen Cossi Kawakami, Aline Renée Coscione, Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho, Orivaldo Arf, Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Fernando Carvalho Oliveira, Adônis Moreira, Fernando Shintate Galindo, Zhenli He, Arun Dilipkumar Jani, Gian Franco Capra, Antonio Ganga, Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira

Biology, Agriculture and Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mato Grosso do Sul State in Brazil is characterized by the ‘Cerrado’ ecoregion, which is the most biologically rich Savannah globally. In agricultural terms, the region produces several commodities that are exported around the world. This level of productivity has been achieved through the large-scale use of synthetic fertilizers, which has created several economic and environmental concerns. New approaches in soil fertility management are required to avoid environmental degradation, pollution, and socio-environmental damages. A field experiment, lasting two years, was conducted to investigate the composted sewage sludge (CSS) effects on an infertile acidic soil (Oxisol) planted to maize (Zea mays …

A Crash Course In Good And Bad Controls, Andrew Forney, Carlos Cinelli, Judea Pearl

Computer Science Faculty Works

Many students of statistics and econometrics express frustration with the way a problem known as “bad control” is treated in the traditional literature. The issue arises when the addition of a variable to a regression equation produces an unintended discrepancy between the regression coefficient and the effect that the coefficient is intended to represent. Avoiding such discrepancies presents a challenge to all analysts in the data intensive sciences. This note describes graphical tools for understanding, visualizing, and resolving the problem through a series of illustrative examples. By making this “crash course” accessible to instructors and practitioners, we hope to avail …

Moral Reflections On Twenty-First Century Tax Policy Trends, Susan Pace Hamill

Articles

No abstract provided.

Western Diet In Adulthood, Timing Of Menarche, And Economic Status Among Northeast Ohioans, Kailey Maroni, Anne Wiley Phd, Nicole M. Burt Phd, Randall J. Mitchell Phd

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

I studied the age at first menstruation as a predictor of Western diet consumption among adults at The University of Akron and in Cleveland. I used stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of human hair, as well as surveyed consumption of foods important to a Western diet (red meat, sugar, and dairy), to understand whether participants aligned with a Western dietary pattern. Age at survey and adult economic status were investigated as potential confounding variables. My data analysis and conclusions for this project has been completed and approved by my advisor and committee. To maintain collaborators' ability to publish a …

The Effectiveness Of Incorporating Physical Activity Into The Classroom: A Literature Review, Lauren Reynolds

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Keeping students engaged and achieving in their academic content in school is becoming a very difficult task for teachers all across the nation. A relatively new concept that many teachers and schools are attempting to try in order to accomplish this task is incorporating physical activity in the classroom. However, we still wonder just how effective this integration is and what are the effects across the various grade levels and subject areas? To answer this question, relevant articles were researched, and information was gathered on studies that have been previously done. Results show that overall physical activity incorporated in the …

A Case Study On Special Education And The Covid-19 Pandemic, Megan Cercone

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this qualitative project is to explore the implications of online public schooling for a student with special needs, how this type of teaching impacted his individualized education plan (IEP), and investigate solutions to the consequences of the pandemic for special education. I am specifically interested in how the student's online education may have affected his progress in the physical, occupational, and speech therapy services he typically receives in school as required by his IEP. This project entails interviews of the parents and school-based occupational therapists of a child with special needs to examine the impact online schooling …

The Effects Of Caffeine On Health And Perceived Bitterness, Chyann Farlin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Caffeine is commonly consumed throughout the world in items such as coffee, chocolate, tea, energy drinks, and carbonated soft drinks. Consumers and food manufacturers benefit from discussion surrounding caffeine because consumers use information to drive their purchases. The purpose of this paper is to describe how caffeine effects health and perceived bitterness, and the ways that the food industry modifies bitter tastes in caffeine-containing products. Moderate caffeine intake is defined as 240-400 mg/day. Moderate intake of caffeine is not correlated to increased risk of premature death caused by disease or cancer. Excessive intake (>400mg/day) is neither protective nor harmful …

Chronic Pain Self-Management Project Echo Series: Evaluation Highlights, Kelsi M. West, Marcy Doyle, Ciera Hunter, Katherine Cox, Janet Thomas, Melissa Lee, Kendra Lewis, Jeanne Ryer

All Materials

No abstract provided.

A Mixed Methods Study On The Efficacy Of An Ergonomics Training Program With Direct Care Workers In Home Health, Allison Hemmer

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"Direct care workers (DCWs) have little training on lifting, transferring, and repositioning their clients safely, which leads to injuries (Zontek, et al., 2009). A DCW may include a certified nursing assistant (CNA), home health aide (HHA) and personal care assistant (PCA). The focus of this research is to determine the efficacy of an ergonomics training program entitled Ergonomics Training at Work (E.T. at Work) via a pre and post survey. The efficacy of the program was determined by the knowledge of best practice techniques and overall confidence level when lifting, transferring, or repositioning a client prior to and after the …

Providing Occupational Therapy Services To Individuals With Osa To Support Implementation Of The Bear Paw Center At Western New England University, Haley E. Lyda

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder defined as the partial or complete blockage of the upper airway resulting in decreased oxygen movement to the lungs, reducing in decreased oxygen saturation levels and can cause multiple arousals throughout sleep duration [1,2,5]. Approximately 25 million Americans are affected by OSA and the “gold standard” treatment is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) with adherence rates ranging from 30-60% [3,4,6]. To enhance awareness of the condition of OSA and adherence to recommended therapy, a student researcher implemented a five-week educational occupational therapy (OT) program to bridge a gap in care that exists …

The Efficacy Of Online Video-Based Continuing Education Courses, Jessica Winter

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"Currently nursing professionals including home health aides, certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses have a varied amount of continuing education (CE) requirements to maintain licensure or certification. CE requirements range from zero to fifteen contact hours every two years (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2022). Providing continuing education, professional development, and empowerment to health care professionals can promote improved patient care and services (Eslamian, Moeini, & Soleimani, 2015). Using an online learning method to provide continuing education can allow flexibility in the learning process, increase participant self-efficacy, and improve participant confidence. Additionally, asynchronous online CE courses can reach a …

Northeastern Illinois University, Academic Catalog 2022-2023, Northeastern Illinois University

Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

2023 Strategic Plan Background Research: Systems Integration And Office Of Early Childhood, Nh Preschool Development Grant

Preschool Development Grant

No abstract provided.

Social And Biological Determinants Of Pregnancy-Related Mortality And Morbidity In A Rural, Underserved Population, Anna Hansen

Theses and Dissertations--Sociology

Cases of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and pregnancy-related mortality (PRM) are increasing in the US. Research concerning SMM and PRM has neglected women in Central Appalachia; a largely rural, health-disparate population. The aims of this study are two-fold: (1) Examine patient-level and place-based predictors of SMM/PRM via hierarchical logistic regression modeling, and (2) Elucidate Appalachian healthcare patients’ and providers’ experiences with SMM/PRM, perceptions of contributing factors, and insights on points of intervention.

This study uses a mixed methods approach guided by the WHO’s conceptual framework for action on social determinants of health to identify determinants of SMM and PRM among …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of The Ebb And Flow Parenting Program, Maria Catherine Difonte

Open Access Dissertations

It is well-documented that parenting impacts childhood outcomes, and research has found specific positive parenting strategies that are associated with increased child resilience, well-being, and functioning (Williams et al., 2009). In-person and online programs aim to increase use of these strategies and have led to significant improvements in child outcomes and parental self-efficacy and adjustment (Webster-Stratton, 1981; Sanders, 1999; Morgan et al., 2018; Khanna et al., 2017). While findings are promising, work is needed to assess the preventative roles of single-session psychoeducational parent training programs in reducing the emergence of diagnosable concerns in children, yet research in this area is …

Learning Recovery And Addressing The Learning Crisis In The Asia Pacific: Policy Brief, Pina Tarricone, Kemran Mestan, Ian Teo, Yung Nietschke

Global education monitoring

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted education for approximately 1.2 billion students across the Asia-Pacific, and forced the closure of many schools, precipitating a transition towards remote learning, albeit with uneven access and quality (UNESCO, 2021; Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel, 2022), and threatening to deepen the ‘learning crisis’ that already existed, particularly for the most vulnerable learners. As education systems in the Asia-Pacific seek to recover the learning loss due to the pandemic and address the broader learning crisis, it is incumbent on governments to identify appropriate recovery strategies in the short term. Also, governments need to support education system …

Work-Life Balance Effective Strategies To Enhance Personal And Professional Success, Cheryl Lentz

Publications

Two components of academic excellence are continuity and predictability (Noddings, 1991; Pierantoni, 2017). Students need academic consistency, especially at the early elementary levels, for optimal learning (Hemmeter et al., 2006; Pierantoni, 2017). Continuity and predictability are interrupted by internal and external factors that are sometimes beyond the control of education stakeholders (Coleman & Collinge, 2006). The unpredictability of crises can negatively affect people and disrupt the education sector and peoples’ livelihoods. Education systems, families, students, and educators struggle to maintain optimal learning environments because of the 2020 pandemic (Coleman & Collinge, 2006). Learning poverty means children are unable to read …

The Impact Of Food Justice Advocates In Creating And Influencing Public Policy, Michael Joseph Chadukiewicz

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This case study explored the impact that food justice advocates had on creating and implementing public policy to provide access to adequate, healthy, and culturally appropriate food for the residents of New Haven, Connecticut. The problem the case study explored is in 2020 food insecurity affected 22% of the residents of New Haven, more than twice the national average. This qualitative case study used grounded theory to analyze the experiences of 31 food justice advocates that were members of a coalition of researchers, food service providers, non-profit agencies, grassroot organizations, and residents tasked with improving the city’s emergency food system. …