Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of Myplate Recommendations And Dietary Habits Of Eiu Rotc Cadets: A Mixed Methods Approach, Lilibeth Nevarez

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if MyPlate recommendation knowledge, dietary habits, and eating for performance influence the daily consumption among Eastern Illinois University ROTC Cadets. The sample population included EIU ROTC cadets (n=19), between the ages of 18 to 28 years old. A mixed-method approach, using a questionnaire along with focus groups interviews of six to ten cadets from all class levels, was used to obtain data. Results indicated that the highest mean score was 18.9 for MyPlate recommendation knowledge. In addition, five themes were analyzed: Inconsistency of dietary intake, High cost of eating healthy, Post workout …

The Effect Of Dietary Specialism And Generalism On Evolutionary Longevity In An Early Paleogene Mammalian Community, Samantha Glonek

Masters Theses

This study examines the relationship between relief index (RFI) on first and second mandibular molars and longevity of the genus. The molars were extracted from small-bodied, arboreal mammals during the late-Paleocene, early-Eocene in the Bighorn Basin in Wyoming. This study site is a well-known location to research and study fossil mammals of this time period. The study was conducted and analyzed at the genus level due to the relatively small number of specimens available and identifiable at the species level. Dietary breadth, or how broad or narrow a dietary preference is for a mammal, is an area of concentration within …

Role Of Race/Ethniciy, Pre-Pregnancy Bmi, And Socioeconomic Status On Risk For Large-For-Gestational (Lga) Infants Born To Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (Gdm), Anna M. Kiefer

Masters Theses

Background Fetal macrosomia occurs in approximately 10% of all pregnancies taking place in the United States. Babies born LGA are placed at a greater risk for shoulder dystocia, perinatal trauma, cesarean section, jaundice, hypoglycemia, and neonatal intensive care admission. Even more, the long-term impacts are severe and include increased risk of becoming overweight or obese and developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have higher rates of delivering macrosomic offspring due to insulin resistance taking place beyond what is normal during a pregnancy. Additionally, maternal obesity, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity have been associated with …

The New Parallel: Urban And Agrarian Political, Environmental, And Architectural Landscapes Of The Demilitarized Zone, Robert Vincent Truka

Masters Theses

North and South Korea share the most heavily armed military border in the world. Technically both sides are still at war dating back to 1950. The 38th parallel, also known as The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a 156-mile long by 2.5- mile wide border condition with over two million plus known landmines buried with-in its boundaries. The Juxtapositions of the financial, political, economical, and military modalities could not be more drastically different between North and South Korea. North Korea is a communist autocratic military dictatorship and has one of the worlds lowest Gross Domestic Products (GDP). South Korea is a …

Effects Of Malformed Or Absent Valves To Lymphatic Fluid Transport And Lymphedema In Vivo In Mice, Akshay S. Pujari

Masters Theses

Lymph is primarily composed of fluid and proteins from the blood circulatory system that drain into the space surrounding cells, interstitial space. From the interstitial space, the fluid enters and circulates in the lymphatic system until it is delivered into the venous system. In contrast to the blood circulatory system, the lymphatic system lacks a central pumping organ dictating the predominant driving pressure and velocity of lymph. Transport of lymph via capillaries, pre-collecting and collecting lymphatic vessels relies on the synergy between pressure gradients, local tissue motion, valves and lymphatic vessel contractility. The direction of lymph transport is regulated by …

Extractable And Non-Extractable Polyphenols From Apples: Potential Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Makenzi Gennette

Masters Theses

With diet being such a huge factor in the development of diseases, emerging research has supported that apple consumption is a promising candidate for disease prevention due to the high phenolic content it possesses. These polyphenols can be found in two forms: extractable polyphenols (EP) and non-extractable polyphenols (NEP). Polyphenols have been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, but up until this point, most researchers focus on EP fractions, while NEP are neglected. After the EP extraction using acetone and acetic acid (99:1) from the Apple Boost powder, three additional extraction methods were conducted on the remaining powder …

The Development And Testing Of A Direct Observation Protocol As A Criterion Measure For Children’S Simulated Free-Play Activity, Melanna Cox

Masters Theses

INTRODUCTION: Direct observation (DO) systems have been used for decades to assess free-living PA in children. These traditional DO systems identify the highest intensity observed during alternating observe-and-record periods. Using video-taped DO would allow researchers to code activities and contextual information each time the participant changes their behavior. PURPOSE: To develop and test a novel video-based DO system for children’s free-play activity. METHODS: Following iterative DO system development (The Observer XT, Noldus), 28 children (age=8.4 ± 1.5 years) participated in a 30-minute simulated free-play session that was recorded with a GoPro camera. Participants wore a portable indirect calorimetry (IC) device …

Influence Of Socioeconomic Status On Event-Free Survival In Children Diagnosed With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Jordan L. Chester

Masters Theses

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in children. However, little is known about how socioeconomic status (SES) influences the outcomes of children diagnosed with ALL. The goal of the research study was to understand how SES impacted the outcomes of children diagnosed with ALL, with a particular interest in children living in West Michigan. Children ages 0-14 years who received treatment for ALL at Spectrum Health’s Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Hematology and Oncology program between the years 2002-2011 were considered for this study. Eligible participant’s zip codes and dates of relapse/death were obtained …

The Role Of Affective Forecasting And The Impact Bias In Nutritional Health Behaviors, Matthew D. Fallon

Masters Theses

Previous literature on affective forecasting has studied its role in health decisions, but there is little research investigating affective forecasting in diet choices and eating behaviors. The present study collected affective forecasts from 43 college participants before eating an indulgent snack and then observed emotions immediately after eating the snack. We predicted that emotion predictions would be significantly stronger than observed emotions, in support of previous literature on the impact bias. We also predicted that optimism would predict a stronger impact bias and that extraversion and neuroticism would have a role in forecasts and observed emotions. Contrary to our hypothesis, …

Assessing The Potential Benefits Of Recreational Therapy On Functioning Outcomes, Samantha R. Lamkin

Masters Theses

Background: The aim of recreational therapy, like all rehabilitation therapies, is to promote the functionality and well-being of a person with disability. However, unlike other forms of therapy, recreational therapy utilizes a unique approach to rehabilitation by incorporating meaningful daily life activities into the patient’s individualized rehabilitation plan. Gains in functionality can be quantified using a Likert scale measurement Functional Independence Measures (FIM®). Previously conducted research shows a positive association between recreational therapy services and functionality gains in specific populations of persons with disability with stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury being most heavily represented. Problem: Research gaps …

Effects Of Aging And Dietary Phytoestrogens On Sperm Production In Sprague Dawley Rats, Brian Cutler

Masters Theses

Estrogens, in addition to testosterone, are physiologically relevant to normal sperm production in the testis and sperm maturation in the epididymis. Previous studies from our lab demonstrated that daily sperm production declines from 15 to 18 months of age in Sprague Dawley rats, and treatment with estrogen during this period attenuated the age-associated decline. Phytoestrogens are present in standard rodent diets at high levels (350-650 mg/kg) and may be potential endocrine disruptors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of removing dietary phytoestrogens during aging on sperm production. Retired breeder Sprague Dawley rats were obtained at 9 …

Evaluation Of The Performance Of Tn Integrated Food Safety Center Of Excellence Online Training Courses, Amal S. Humidat

Masters Theses

Foodborne disease outbreaks are still a challenge in the United States even with the improvements that are continuously made to the food integrity system. The Center for Agriculture and Food Security and Preparedness (CAFSP), in conjunction with the Tennessee Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, has developed two web-based courses to support investigation of foodborne illnesses. These courses are entitled as “Foodborne Outbreak Investigation and Response Team Roles and Responsibilities, Part A and B” respectively. The overall goal of this study was to evaluate each course by assessing the participants' satisfaction, learning, and perception of knowledge gained and impact on …

Ampk Activation By Zyflamend: A Novel Pathway Regulating Metabolism And Growth In Prostate Cancer, Amber Frances Macdonald

Masters Theses

Zyflamend, a select blend of 10 herbal extracts, effectively inhibits tumor growth using preclinical models of castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CR-PCa), mediated in part by activating AMPK, a master energy sensor of the cell. Currently, two predominant upstream kinases are known to phosphorylate/activate AMPK at Thr172: LKB1, a known tumor suppressor, and CaMKK2, a tumor promotor over-expressed in a number of cancers. Thus, the overall objective was to interrogate how Zyflamend activates AMPK and determine the roles of LKB1 and CaMKK2 in this activation, by targeting upstream mediators of both kinases ± Zyflamend using pharmacologic and molecular techniques in CWR22Rv1 (CR-PCa …

Effect Of Ultrasonication On The Physicochemical Properties Of Sorghum Kafirin And Evaluation Of Its Anti-Inflammatory Properties In Vitro, Andrew Cullen Sullivan

Masters Theses

Sorghum is one of the hardiest, most drought resistent cereal grains known to exist, providing the bulk of nutritional content for many semi-arid regions and developing countries throughout Africa and southwestern Asia. It contains dense nutritional value, but due to inhibition factors within the grain, much of these nutrients are indigestible. Access to these nutrients, which have shown to contain high contents of bioactive molecules linked to the decrease of prevalence of chronic disease, must then be facilitated before consumption. In sorghum, these molecules could include complex carbohydrates, proteins and polyphenols. The overall objective of this study was to determine …

A Prospective Study Of Physical Activity And Fecundability, Lindsey M. Russo

Masters Theses

Background:

Physical activity (PA) may influence fecundability through alterations in endocrine function. The limited studies that have evaluated PA and fecundability in non-clinical populations have utilized internet-based recruitment, contain potential issues in measurement, and have yielded inconclusive results.

Methods:

We evaluated the association between PA and time-to-pregnancy in the Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction trial, which included 1228 women attempting pregnancy ages 18–40 with prior pregnancy loss. PA was measured at baseline using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to determine hours/week of activity (vigorous, moderate, and walking) and hours/day of sedentary (sitting) behavior. Pregnancy …

Predictors Of Anemia Among Hiv Patients In Uganda, Catherine Nagawa

Masters Theses

HIV-related anemia is associated with increased risk of death. Prior studies suggest an inverse relationship between CD4 cell count and anemia, and a positive relationship between HIV-clinical stage and anemia. However, none have assessed the role of antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment combinations in these relationships. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the relationship between CD4 cell count, HIV clinical stage and anemia among 4803 Ugandan HIV-patients, and assessed the role of ART treatment combinations. We included HIV patients (> 15 years) receiving ART therapy combinations between 2010- 2015. We evaluated CD4 cell count and anemia using blood tests, …

Microtransplantation Of Rat Brain Neurolemma Into Xenopus Laevis Oocytes To Study The Effect Of Environmental Toxicants On Endogenous Voltage-Sensitive Ion Channels, Edwin Murenzi

Masters Theses

Microtransplantation of mammalian neurolemma into Xenopus laevis oocytes has been used to study ion channels in terms of their structure and function in the central nervous system. Use of microtransplanted neurolemma is advantageous in that tissue can be obtained from various sources, ion channels and receptors are present in their native configuration and they can be used to evaluate numerous channelpathies caused by environmental toxicants. Here we show that Xenopus oocytes injected with fragments of rat brain neurolemma successfully express functional native ion channels that are assembled in their own plasma membrane. Using a high throughput two electrode voltage clamp …

Variability Of Anthropogenic Gases: Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide, Ozone And Ammonia In Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Filimon Kiros

Masters Theses

Background: Kathmandu Valley is one of the largest and most polluted metropolitan regions in the Himalayan foothills. Rapidly expanding urban sprawl and growing fleet of vehicles, and industrial facilities such as brick factories across the valley have led to conditions where ambient concentrations of key gaseous air pollutants are expected to exceed Nepal’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards and World Health Organization guidelines.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to quantify the distribution of gaseous pollutants across the valley characterized by different emission sources, and also assess influence of meteorology in the region on the temporal variability and spatial …

The Association Between Sleep Duration, Insomnia And Weight Change In The Women’S Health Initiative Observational Study, Nana Boame

Masters Theses

Sleep deprivation and insomnia may be risk factors for obesity due to decreased energy expenditure and increased caloric intake. The relationship between sleep duration, insomnia and weight and fat mass was assessed in postmenopausal women (N=92,706) in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study from 1993-2005. Baseline sleep duration and insomnia status, and annual weight information were collected by questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated annually from height and weight measurements. Fat mass percent was assessed at baseline and every 3 years by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. After multivariable adjustment, baseline cross-sectional analyses demonstrated a significant relationship between sleeping 6 hours …

Effects Of Low Dose Mixtures Of 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone And Cocaine On Locomotor Activity And Brain Monoamine Content In Sprague-Dawley Rats, Robert J. Kohler

Masters Theses

Synthetic cathinones, known as “bath salts” on the illicit drug market, pose a significant and growing public health concern. 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), one of several popular constituents of the illicit bath salts, produces similar pharmacological actions to cocaine, albeit with greater potency. The present study sought to characterize behavioral and neurochemical effects of repeated exposure to MDPV alone and in combination with cocaine. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: 1 mg/kg MDPV, 5 mg/kg cocaine, 1 mg/kg MDPV + 5 mg/kg cocaine, or saline. Locomotor activity was assessed for one hour immediately before and one hour …

Midwives For Haiti: Process Evaluation, Denielle M. Riley

Masters Theses

The reduction of maternal mortality is a long-time international objective. One often underemphasized component of addressing complex and context-driven health problems, such as maternal mortality, is the importance of program evaluation. Program evaluation has been identified as particularly scarce among safe motherhood initiatives, which seek to reduce maternal deaths and improve the health outcomes of mothers (Freedman et al., 2007). Useful program evaluation starts with process evaluation. This study is a case study process evaluation of postpartum data collection, which utilizes interviews, observations, and document review. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, describe, and compare the intended and …

Effects Of A Raised Surface On Lower Extremity Kinematics, Kinetics, And Muscle Activation During A Sidecut In Recreational Female Softball Players, Lauren Elizabeth Schroeder

Masters Theses

Noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common sports-related injury. “High-risk” dynamic movements, such as a sidecut, have been associated with increasing the risk of noncontact ACL injury. Certain biomechanical abnormalities, specifically at the hip and knee, and neuromuscular abnormalities, such as unbalanced quadriceps-to-hamstrings activation ratios and certain activation patterns prior to initial contact and after initial contact, have also been associated with an increased likelihood of noncontact ACL injuries occurring. Approximately 78% of all NCAA Division I softball game-day injuries are classified as noncontact where there is no direct contact to a player. Internal derangement of the knee …

Kinematic Analysis Of Trunk Coordination Throughout The Rowing Stroke Sequence, Mcdaragh Rose Minnock

Masters Theses

Rowing at the elite level requires proper sequencing of the rowing stroke so that the rower is able to produce an efficient stroke while protecting oneself from potential injuries. The cyclic motion of the rowing stroke sequence at low loads often results in overuse injuries, specifically in the lower back. Kinematic data of rower’s pelvis-lumbar-thoracic spine were collected using inertial measurement sensors. An incremental step-test was conducted to observe the influence of increasing intensities on the lumbar-pelvis and lumbar-thoracic segments coordination and coordination variability. This study provides a new way of quantifying rowing kinematics using vector coding. The vector coding …

The Role Of Metastasis Suppressor Cd82 In The Deactivation Of The C-Met Signaling Pathway In Prostate Cancer, Katie L. Uhl

Masters Theses

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. Metastasis plays a major role in patient prognosis and treatment options. One of the factors that influences metastasis is the activation of the c-Met signaling pathway. Activation of the growth factor c-Met results in cytoskeletal rearrangement, migration, and invasion. Previous studies have shown CD82 to act as an active metastatic suppressor in normal, healthy cells and is downregulated in various forms of cancer. When CD82 is re-expressed in cancer cells, the cells no longer express metastatic characteristics. The purpose of this …

Vascular Effects Of Dietary Supplement Bmpea On Mesenteric Porcine Vasculature, Clifford Cooper

Masters Theses

β-methylphenylethylamine (BMPEA) was first synthesized in the 1930’s as a potential stimulant and amphetamine replacement. It was expected to act as an indirect sympathomimetic agent that binds to peripheral α- and β- adrenergic receptors to control vascular responses in peripheral sites. The effects of BMPEA were never studied in humans, but due to its structural similarity to amphetamines as well as the effects noticed in animal studies in the 1920’s and 1930’s, BMPEA was assumed to work as a vasoconstrictor. In the current study, porcine mesenteric arteries were used as a model following confirmation of arterial viability with the known …

Effect Of Michigan State-Funded Child And Adolescent Health Center (Cahc) In Directing The Health And Wellness Of West Michigan's Oakridge School District, Amber M. Bytwerk

Masters Theses

School-based health centers are an integrated and proactive resource to promote health and wellness of students, as well as the surrounding community. Literature shows that the number of school-based health centers are steadily increasing across America, with few looking at their integration into the population. Within West Michigan, only two such clinics are operational. Applying data from the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) and primary data collected from school staff and administrators, an evaluation was conducted on the interconnectedness and behavioral effects of a community branching from the school-based health center. This project is based on review of: the …

A Comparative Content Analysis Of Sports Concussions In News And Entertainment Print Media Publications In 2005 Versus 2015, Shayla N. Henrikson

Masters Theses

This study examined four distinct areas of sports concussion as they are presented in the media; definitions/descriptions of concussion, informants for direct quotes about concussions, signs and symptoms, and duration of time missed from sport including removal from play. The study examined print media articles published in 2005 (n=64) and 2015 (n=136). Additionally, journal articles aligning with the research components were analyzed to provide a review of the scope of knowledge during each of the collection periods. Overall, the discussion of sports concussion in the media broadened between 2005 and 2015. There was more variety in the descriptions used, types …

The Effects Of Religious And Body-Related Affirmations On Disordered Eating Attitudes And Body Dissatisfaction, Cassandra A. Vogt

Masters Theses

The relationship between disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and religion is complex. Previous research demonstrated that religious body affirmations are beneficial in reducing body dissatisfaction among undergraduate females. Because previous research used affirmations which were simultaneously religious in nature and related to the body, it is difficult to determine if the religiousness of the affirmation is the beneficial characteristic. The current study investigated which type of affirmation had the strongest effect on disordered eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction. More specifically, the five experimental conditions included: religious body affirmations, religious non-body affirmations, non-religious body affirmations, non-religious non-body affirmations, and neutral control statements. …

Nutritious Meals For The Homeless Population: Challenges And Opportunities, Kayla A. Albrecht

Masters Theses

Objective: Consuming a nutritionally adequate diet is extremely challenging for the homeless population. Though meals are available to the homeless population through soup kitchens and homeless shelters, these settings often do not serve meals that provide essential nutrients. The consumption of energy-dense, low-nutrient foods has led in part to high prevalence of obesity, heart disease, and chronic illnesses among the homeless. The purpose of this study was to (a) examine the challenges that homeless shelters face in providing nutritious meals to guests and (b) investigate the need and interest of nutrition education at homeless shelters.

Methods: Nine homeless shelter directors …

The Influence Of Different Pre-Exercise Routines On Sprint Performance, Rok Mravljak

Masters Theses

Sprint performance can be enhanced by interventions for short-term (acute) purposes and/or long-term purposes. Acute neuromuscular responses are usually achieved by using different pre-exercise routines at the end of the warm-up period. Recently, there have been several studies examining the effects of various pre-exercise routines on sprint performance, yet there has not been a research study designed that compared the three most commonly used pre-exercise routines in professional and recreational sports (static stretching, dynamic stretching and foam-rolling). Therefore, this study investigated and compared the results of static stretching, dynamic stretching, self-myofascial release and the control group, in order to provide …