Perceived barriers to preventing obesity in low income communities : a qualitative study [abstract]

Numerous barriers to public health exist in low-income communities, including but not limited to the access and affordability of healthy foods; access and affordability of local exercise facilities; and safe, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods facilitating outdoor activity. Outcomes of such barriers include poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyles, and increased incidence of diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Our purpose was to elucidate perceived barriers to public health in the First Ward, a low-income community in Columbia, MO. In May, 2009, mixed age and gender First Ward community residents were interviewed by a community-based organization (n=73). Interviewers (children who live in the ward) elicited qualitative information; survey accounts, photographs, and audio transcription of interviewers' accounts were imported into NVivo software and coded for analysis of themes using a grounded theory approach. Data indicated barriers including cost of healthy foods and lack of transportation to grocery stores; unregulated traffic through neighborhoods and violence discouraging outdoor activity; and high entry fees and transportation difficulties regarding exercise facilities. Community residents' desires included increased police presence on the streets, increased parental supervision for children, community gardening, affordable and local exercise opportunities, lower food prices, and greater healthy food availability

Adolescent Males Involvement in Pregnancy Prevention: Deliberate Action to Protect Future Goals

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the process of adolescent male involvement in teen pregnancy prevention. Grounded theory method was used to discover the meaning of pregnancy prevention from the adolescent male perspective. Individual interviews were conducted with eighteen 18-year old boys who were seniors in high school. The data collected from the interviews were analyzed using constant comparison and theoretical sampling techniques. The concepts and constructs which emerged from the data analysis depict the social processes of adolescent male relationships in regards to pregnancy prevention. The findings revealed that these adolescent boys were very involved in the process of teen pregnancy prevention and that they assigned meaning to their experiences with pregnancy risk and prevention within the context of social norms, academic environment, culture and religion, and societal myths and preconceived notions. Through the psychosocial processes of becoming aware, having goals for the future, being prepared, avoiding risk and using protection, these boys carried out strategies to avoid teen fatherhood. The substantive theory of \u27deliberate action to protect future goals\u27 was derived from the relationships of the concepts that emerged from the data. The study revealed that the boys associated pregnancy prevention with a means to protect and preserve their future goals. This theory explains how these boys managed pregnancy risk. The findings from this study have important implications for adolescent male health services, nursing practice, and public health program planning and policy development

Faculty Authors and Sponsored Programs Grant Recipients Reception, April 11, 2018

Bibliography compiled by the University Library of the publications featured at the annual Faculty Authors Reception at Governors State University

Mission Design, Guidance, and Navigation of a Callisto-Io-Ganymede Triple Flyby Jovian Capture

Use of a triple-satellite-aided capture maneuver to enter Jovian orbit reduces insertion DeltaV and provides close flyby science opportunities at three of Jupiter\u27s four large Galilean moons. This capture can be performed while maintaining appropriate Jupiter standoff distance and setting up a suitable apojove for plotting an extended tour.;This paper has three main chapters, the first of which discusses the design and optimization of a triple-flyby capture trajectory. A novel triple-satellite-aided capture uses sequential flybys of Callisto, Io, and Ganymede to reduce the DeltaV required to capture into orbit about Jupiter. An optimal broken-plane maneuver is added between Earth and Jupiter to form a complete chemical/impulsive interplanetary trajectory from Earth to Jupiter. Such a trajectory can yield significant fuel savings over single and double-flyby capture schemes while maintaining a brief and simple interplanetary transfer phase.;The second chapter focuses on the guidance and navigation of such trajectories in the presence of spacecraft navigation errors, ephemeris errors, and maneuver execution errors. A powered-flyby trajectory correction maneuver (TCM) is added to the nominal trajectory at Callisto and the nominal Jupiter orbit insertion (JOI) maneuver is modified to both complete the capture and target the Ganymede flyby. A third TCM is employed after all the flybys to act as a JOI cleanup maneuver. A Monte Carlo simulation shows that the statistical DeltaV required to correct the trajectory is quite manageable and the flyby characteristics are very consistent. The developed methods maintain flexibility for adaptation to similar launch, cruise, and capture conditions.;The third chapter details the methodology and results behind a completely separate project to design and optimize an Earth-orbiting three satellite constellation to perform very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) as part of the 8th annual Global Trajectory Optimisation Competition (GTOC8). A script is designed to simulate the prescribed constellation and record its observations; the observations made are scored according to a provided performance index

Aggression and spirituality among veterans with chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder

Spirituality negatively correlates with aggression among the general population, but few studies have examined this relationship in the high-risk population of veterans with combat-related PTSD. Those that have found that incorporating spirituality into treatment may inversely relate to aggression; yet, most studies utilize single-item measures of spirituality. This project expands current research by using a multidimensional measure of spirituality to evaluate which dimensions best predict aggression. Scales were Daily Spiritual Experiences, Forgiveness, and Religious Support from the BMMRS. Participants were 472 male combat veterans in residential PTSD treatment. Aggression was best predicted by Forgiveness, with higher levels less likely to be aggressive; marital status, with marrieds more likely to be aggressive; and depression, with higher levels more likely to be aggressive

Electrically Driven Single Phase Thermal Management: STP-H5 EHD Experiment

The Electrically Driven Single Phase Thermal Management: STP-H5 iEHDS Experiment is a technology demonstration of prototype proof of concept hardware to establish the feasilibilty and long term operation of this hardware. This is a structural thermal plate that will operate continuous as part of the STP-H5 ISEM experiment for up to 18 months. This presentation discusses the design, fabrication and environmental operational paramertes of the experiment hardware

Empowering Instruction and Improving Student Outcomes with Open Educational Resources

You may have heard that using Open Educational Resources (OER) instead of traditional textbooks can save your students money, but the real and potential impact of using OER is much greater than simple dollar figures. Numerous studies show the benefits of adopting, adapting, and/or creating OER for courses may include: improved student grades, increased enrollment and retention rates, and reduced student stress. OER also empower faculty to cater teaching materials to their classes and students, creating opportunities to improve DEI and representation of minoritized groups. Learn how the library can support your OER and open pedagogy efforts

Micro- and Nano-Scale Electrically Driven Two-Phase Thermal Management

This presentation discusses ground based proof of concept hardware under development at NASA GSFC to address high heat flux thermal management in silicon substrates. The goal is to develop proof of concept hardware for space flight validation. The space flight hardware will provide gravity insensitive thermal management for electronics applications such as transmit receive modules that are severely limited by thermal concerns

Development of Advanced Spacecraft Thermal Subsystems

This presentation discusses ground based proof of concept hardware under development at NASA GSFC to address high heat flux thermal management in silicon substrates and embedded thermal management systems. The goal is to develop proof of concept hardware for space flight validation. The space flight hardware will provide gravity insensitive thermal management for electronics applications such as transmit/receive modules that are severely limited by thermal concerns