Obesity in adolescence : an epidemic in the face of modern medicine

Scholarly project (M.S.)

Pornography and Purpose in Life: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

Extensive research has examined the relationship between pornography use, religiosity, and perceived addiction to pornography. Other research has explored the connections between religiosity and meaning or purpose in life. No research has examined the potential relationship combining all four constructs in one research study. To rectify this gap, the present study examined the mediating effect of perceived addiction to pornography, as well as the moderating effect of religiosity on the direct relationship between frequency of pornography use and meaning in life. Two hundred and eighty-nine participants, aged 18–30, who admitted using pornography in the past six months completed assessments addressing pornography use, religious instability, perceived addiction to pornography and purpose in life. Quantitative analysis used both zero order correlations and regression analysis. Initial correlational results indicated a negative direction in the relationship between pornography use and purpose in life but no statistical significance. However, upon further exploration, when controlling for age, statistical significance was reported. Perceived addiction mediated the relationship between pornography use and purpose in life only when controlling for age. Religiosity, measured as religious instability, did not moderate the direct relationship. However, when controlling for age, the moderated relationship was statistically significant. Finally, religious instability did moderate the mediated relationship between pornography use, perceived addiction, and purpose in life

THE BIOGEOGRAPHY OF Ageratina adenophora: A MEXICAN TRANS-GLOBAL INVADER

Evans, Heather, Master of Science, May 2010 The Biogeography of Ageratina adenophora: A Mexican Trans-Global Invader Co-Chairman: Dr. Jeffrey Gritzner Co-Chairman: Dr. Ragan Callaway Invasive plants are a global problem often resulting in negative impacts upon populations of native plants and the environments in which they grow. Invasive plants inhibit native species and take over areas where they have been introduced. These invasive species create ecological problems for wildlife foraging, as they often transform the vegetation of native habitats resulting in conditions unsuitable for grazing. In addition, invasive plant species pose problems for humans in the areas of health, economics, and land management. Ageratina adenophora, a plant native to Mexico, has become a trans-global invader, particularly in China and India. In an effort to understand how the plant becomes a successful invader, a series of greenhouse experiments at The University of Montana were conducted to test for allelopathy and volatile chemical reactions. This study was designed to determine the effects of Ageratina adenophora regarding seed germination, mortality, and plant biomass on plants from the invaded environments of China and India. These tests compared seed germination and mortality from Mexican plants, where Ageratina adenophora is native. A second experiment tested the growth rates and biomass of plants in Ageratina adenophora’s native environment of Mexico, versus those plants from invaded China and India. This was done with the hypothesis that Mexican plants would grow successfully in the presence of Ageratina adenophora while Chinese and Indian plant’s growth would be inhibited. The findings suggest that indeed, there is a growth rate correlation between Mexican plants surviving in the presence of Ageratina adenophora and the Chinese and Indian plant’s growth rates were inhibite

Can Schools be Reformed by Reforming Assessment?: The Effects of an Innovative Assessment and Accountability System on Student Achievement Outcomes

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 authorizes a pilot program that allows up to seven states to develop innovative assessment and accountability systems. Prior to the official pilot program launch, the U.S. Department of Education approved one pilot program—New Hampshire’s Performance Assessment of Competency Education (PACE). To implement the PACE pilot, the New Hampshire Department of Education received a 2-year waiver (2014-2016) from federal statutory requirements related to state annual achievement testing and was granted additional waivers for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years. The purpose of this study is to investigate the average effect of the PACE pilot on 8th grade student achievement outcomes in mathematics and English language arts during the first two years of implementation. This study also examines the extent to which those average treatment effects vary according to student characteristics and among PACE schools. PACE students are compared to non-PACE students with similar probabilities of being selected into treatment using propensity score methods. Multi-level modeling is then used to estimate the average treatment effect for students receiving either one or two years of treatment. Findings from this study provide preliminary evidence that the PACE pilot is having a positive effect on 8th grade student achievement outcomes in mathematics for some students starting in the second year of implementation and no effect in English language arts. Findings also suggest that students with disabilities that attend PACE schools tend to exhibit positive differential effects in comparison to students with disabilities in the non-PACE comparison group in both subject areas, although these findings should be considered exploratory due to the small number of PACE IEP students in the sample. Findings also suggest that male students that attend PACE schools tend to exhibit negative differential effects in comparison to female students in the non-PACE comparison group in both subject areas. Results are descriptive not causal, however, findings could be used to provide assurance to key stakeholders that PACE students are provided an equitable opportunity to learn the content standards. Also, because the focus of PACE pilot is on performance assessments used throughout the year, this study provides initial evidence that the learning gains on performance assessments may carry over to the more traditional state standardized tests. Implications for research, policy, and practice are also discussed

A comparison of concerns perceived by international and minority students enrolled at Iowa State University

The purpose of this study was to compare the perceived concerns of Asian, African-American, Hispanic, Native American, and international students enrolled during the Fall 1989 semester at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa;The subjects for this study consisted of 253 students selected from a stratified random sample of 500 students. The data were collected by means of a questionnaire based on concepts developed by Westbrook, Miyares, and Roberts (1977), and other published and unpublished information available to the researcher. Descriptive statistics and a one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze the data;The design of the study focused on seven null hypotheses. Significant differences existed between international and minority students\u27 alienation concerns according to years enrolled at the university and length of stay in the United States. Other significant differences between international and minority students\u27 mean scores existed on cultural, discrimination, educational, social, and community concerns when ethnicity, years enrolled at the university, and length of stay in the United States were considered;No differences were found between the students\u27 mean scores on residence-related issues. Differences, however, did exist between the students\u27 mean scores on issues concerning negotiating the system according to ethnicity and classification;The investigator concluded that, contrary to what the hypotheses predicted, alienation and discrimination concerns among the international and minority students appeared to be their most serious problems. Cultural, educational, and residential concerns and negotiating the system were perceived as less serious problems for the students;References. Westbrook, F. D., Miyares, J., and Roberts, J. H. (1977). Perceived problem areas by black and white students and hints about comparative counseling needs. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 25, 119-123

Identification of Genetic Variants Underlying Simple and Complex Canine Myopathies

The unique population structure of dog breeds, arising from their domestication from gray wolves and subsequent breed formation, and the similarity of their inherited diseases to human disorders make them an ideal comparative genetics model. Herein the genetic basis of three canine muscle diseases, each a model for human disease, is investigated using genome-wide approaches. Nemaline rod myopathy (NM) is one of the most common congenital myopathies in people and is characterized by rod bodies in the muscle fibers, muscle weakness, and reduced muscle tone. We characterized the first large animal model of autosomal recessive NM in a family of American bulldogs and, through a combination of genome-wide SNP profiling and whole exome sequencing, identified a nonsense mutation in NEB. Limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) affects the hip and shoulder muscles and may cause respiratory and cardiac muscle degeneration. We determined that a muscular dystrophy in a family of Boston terriers is a sarcoglycanopathy, a type of LGMD caused by mutations in one of six sarcoglycan genes, and identified a 2 bp deletion in SGCD through direct whole exome sequencing. Further, an unrelated Boston terrier having LGMD harbors a 19.4 kb deletion, omitting exons 7 and 8 of SGCD. The NEB and SGCD mutations are present only in the affected families. Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is an autoimmune disease with a complex mode of inheritance and an environmental trigger, affecting children ages 2 to 17. In dogs, dermatomyositis (DMS) affects collies and Shetland sheepdogs and causes skin lesions and muscle weakness. We conducted genome-wide association studies in both breeds and identified linkage disequilibrium with SNPs on chromosomes 10 and 31. Through whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, we found mutations in two novel genes, PAN2 (chr10) and MAP3K7CL (chr31). Additionally, we identified an association with a haplotype of the major histocompatibility complex class II genes on chromosome 12, alleles of which are also associated with JDM. When variants at all three loci are considered together, genotypes confer low, moderate, or high risk for DMS, with moderate- and high-risk genotypes explaining 93% of cases

Decorating the Body: An Introduction

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Staffing Model to Improve Patient Outcomes in an Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility

The goal of the acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) is to rehabilitate patients and discharge them back into the community at their optimal level of functioning. The IRF patient is more acutely ill today than in the past, and due to a change in condition may be discharged back into the acute care hospital before achieving maximal level of function. An IRF was identified as discharging 14% of patients back into acute care, which indicated the IRF was not meeting its treatment goals. A chart review revealed a possible link between the nurse\u27s role in patient care and the patient\u27s discharge disposition. The purpose of this project was to design a nurse staffing care model that would support the registered nurse in providing care and treatment for the IRF patient. The missed nursing care model and Lewin\u27s change theory were used to support the design of the new staffing model. Sources of evidence included a literature review of nurse staffing models and the nurse\u27s role in patient outcomes. A project team of expert stakeholders participated in the development of the new model. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation was used in formative and summative evaluations of the new model to systematically assess the quality of the new staffing model. Formative feedback was given by 3 project team members. Nine expert end users provided summative evaluations of the new model after revisions by the project team. All end users recommended implementation without modification. Positive social change with implementation of this model may lead to reduced acute care transfers, improved quality measures, and enhanced patient outcomes in the IRF

Will Pitch Velocity Remain Consistent Throughout a Competitive Baseball Season Following Blood Flow Restriction: an Observational Study

Context: Blood flow restriction (BFR) has previously been used in a rehabilitation setting to decrease the external load applied to post-surgical patients and those with chronic debilitating conditions. BFR in a performance context has been explored minimally, particularly as it applies to baseball pitching over time. Objective: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the trend in throwing velocity of fastballs with BFR implementation over one competitive season. Design: This study was a retrospective longitudinal design on pitching velocity of fastballs throughout a competitive season. Setting: The data collection and analysis was completed at a mid-Atlantic university. Patients or other participants: Four Division I starting baseball pitchers. Inclusion criteria were a starting baseball pitcher during the 2018-2019 season, on the official baseball roster for that season and had a sport physical on file. Exclusion criteria were any individual not meeting the inclusion criteria. Intervention: Data analysis was performed using data recorded by Trackman during home games throughout the 2018-2019 competitive baseball season. The fastball pitch velocity data was deidentified and participants were assigned a subject number. BFR was applied by the full-time baseball athletic trainer to all 4 pitchers following pitching bouts during all 60 games during the 2018-2019 baseball competitive season. The BFR occlusion protocol varied based on the limb size/arm girth of the individual, with a goal of reaching approximately 50 percent of the limb occlusive pressure. The cuff was then be inflated for five minutes with no concomitant exercise and then deflated for one minute. This process of inflation followed by deflation was repeated three times, for a total treatment duration of 18 minutes, in which, the cuff was inflated for 15 minutes. Main Outcome Measures: Pitching velocity of fastballs, number of fastballs thrown and number of innings pitched were all recorded and analyzed for each subject. Results: The highest fastball pitch velocity average was 96.0 ± 0.9 mph, which occurred during game 11 in inning 1 and inning 3 (96.0 ± 0.7 mph), pitched by subject 1. The lowest fastball pitch velocity average was 86.4 ± 1.2 mph, which occurred during game 4, inning 2 pitched by subject 2. In all games except for games 2, 6, 7, 10 and 14, the fastball pitching velocity over the game remained consistent with a slight decrease. In all games except for games 2, 6 and 15, the fastball pitching velocity averages by inning over the game remained relatively consistent with a decrease. Games 7 and 10 depicted the most consistent fastball pitches thrown over the course of a game, with no detectable increase or decrease from the line of best fit. Subject 1 pitched in four games and had the highest overall pitch velocity average throughout the 4 games with 92.45 ± 0.95 mph and was also the most consistent fastball pitcher on average. Subject 3 exhibited the second highest overall pitch velocity over a span of 5 games, with an average pitch velocity of 92.06 ± 1.2 mph. Next was subject 4, with an average pitch velocity of 88.86 ± 1.0 mph. Causality could not be determined whether the consistency in fastball velocity was related to the use of a BFR recovery treatment due to deviations from the BFR protocol outlined in the intervention. Conclusions: The number of fastballs thrown decreased throughout a single game progression, but the average number of fastballs thrown throughout the season remained consistent from game to game. The average pitching velocity of fastballs thrown remained consistent throughout individual games. Furthermore, average fastball pitching velocity remained consistent with a slight increase in throwing velocity among individual subjects