EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN BEFORE AND AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY

Obesity has reached epidemic proportion in the United States. Results of diet, exercise regimens, and/or medications are discouraging for most individuals; therefore, bariatric surgery is on the rise. Patients undergoing bariatric surgery are overwhelmingly female. There is a plethora of research regarding improvement of co-morbidities, but little focus has been placed on the impact of bariatric surgery on positive as well as negative psychosocial outcomes. The purposes of this study were to explore experiences of women who have undergone bariatric surgery and to gain an understanding of the decision to have surgery. No qualitative research was found regarding individuals\u27 life experiences after bariatric surgery. This study used a qualitative research design, guided by a phenomenological approach, to investigate and describe the meaning of experiences of women before and after bariatric surgery. Initially, a focus group of six members of a bariatric support group was conducted to confirm data from individual interviews. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were then conducted on a sample of ten women who had undergone bariatric surgery and were two to four years postoperative. Eight main themes emerged from the data: (a) relationship with food, (b) interpersonal relationships, (c) relationship with self, (d) living with excess skin, (e) food intolerance, (f) treatment from society, (g) concern with aging, and (h) support systems. After further analysis, three subthemes then emerged from relationship with food: food and family, emotional response to food, and coping with temptations. Interpersonal relationships developed into two subthemes: limited activity with family and relationship with others. As analysis continued, three subthemes of concern with aging emerged: fear of not growing old, fear of the unknown, and fear of gaining weight. Themes that emerged from the women\u27s experiences all revolved around the need to be better prepared for surgery and the need for continued support after surgery. Family was interconnected to most of the themes. In order to be successful, close family members should understand the requirements of lifelong medical monitoring and the necessary changes in diet and lifestyle. Results revealed limited psychological counseling as well as long-term nutritional counseling occurred. The majority did not attend support groups, although the need for support was expressed. Support groups conducted by health professionals benefit those who are considering surgery and those who have undergone bariatric surgery. Recommendations for health education include addition of bariatric surgery into curriculums. Knowledge of bariatric surgery would assist health educators in planning programs for this population

Soil Responses to Tillage Practices and Cover Crops

Management practices in cultivated cropland generally affect soil quality, thus eventually influences the crop yield. For sustainability, it is important to improve soils and reduce erosion by using cover crops in the off season with normal crop rotational practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in soil properties due to tillage systems and the use of cover crops in western Kentucky. Soil samples from no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) plots were collected from the depth of 10 cm and 20 cm in Calloway County in September 2018. The cover crops being assessed include wheat, cereal rye, oats and radish and a control with no cover crop. The samples were analyzed for soil organic C (SOC), soil water content, particular organic matter-C (POM-C), soil pH and macroaggregates. Soil organic C in the NT systems ranged from 2.4-2.9% while the CT systems ranged from 1.8-2.8%. The macroaggregates varied largely with the CT system with no cover crop containing the most in both depths. The ratio of macro-to-microaggregates in both tillage systems was fairly equal with exceptions to NT cereal rye and CT with no cover crop. CT with no cover crop appears to have the highest ratio of Ma/Mi. The ratio of POM C to SOC remained mostly equal and steady across all samples, averaging 35% for all. The highest POM C was found in CT systems at average of 0.96% and the lowest was observed in cereal rye NT systems at both depth intervals with 0.64%. The soil pH ranged from 5.8-7.4 for the NT systems and 6.8-7.4 for the CT systems. NT systems with cereal rye had the lowest soil pH of 5.8 at depth 10-20 cm. There is no significant impact of tillage systems and cover crops on soil water content at air dry soils. The results of this study would be beneficial to predict the combination effects of tillage and cover crops on soil quality

Soil Responses to Tillage Practices and Cover Crops

Management practices in cultivated cropland generally affect soil quality, thus eventually influences the crop yield. For sustainability, it is important to improve soils and reduce erosion by using cover crops in the off season with normal crop rotational practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in soil properties due to tillage systems and the use of cover crops in western Kentucky. Soil samples from no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) plots were collected from the depth of 10 cm and 20 cm in Calloway County in September 2018. The cover crops being assessed include wheat, cereal rye, oats and radish and a control with no cover crop. The samples were analyzed for soil organic C (SOC), soil water content, particular organic matter-C (POM-C), soil pH and macroaggregates. Soil organic C in the NT systems ranged from 2.4-2.9% while the CT systems ranged from 1.8-2.8%. The macroaggregates varied largely with the CT system with no cover crop containing the most in both depths. CT with no cover crop appears to have the highest ratio of Ma/Mi. The ratio of POM C to SOC remained mostly equal and steady across all samples, averaging 35% for all. The highest POM C was found in CT systems at average of 0.96% and the lowest was observed in cereal rye NT systems at both depth intervals with 0.64%. The soil pH ranged from 5.8-7.4 for the NT systems and 6.8-7.4 for the CT systems. NT systems with cereal rye had the lowest soil pH of 5.8 at depth 10-20 cm. The results of this study would be beneficial to predict the combination effects of tillage and cover crops on soil quality

OSC theses and dissertations : 1943-1959

A departmental and author index of 2,075 Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations accepted by the Graduate School, Oregon State College.Departmental and author index of Masters' theses and doctoral dissertations accepted by the Graduate School