This study extended the knowledge of and examined the moderation and mediation effects of contextual interpersonal exogenous and endogenous variables on intervention response. The first analyses consisted of Repeated Measures Multivariate Analysis of Variance (RMANOVAs) and the second analyses consisted of estimating linear growth curves using within-subject regression analysis. The results of the outcome and moderation analyses identified ethnicity as a plausible moderator of intervention response. Specifically, African Americans demonstrated significant higher psychosocial development in intimacy compared to Hispanics. The mediation analyses, which estimated linear growth curves using within- subject regression analysis, identified a potentially influential mediator, that is, group impact, as a causal factor contributing to the positive psychosocial development of identity. In summary, the current study furthered examined the psychosocial development of identity and intimacy. Secondly, it demonstrated the influential moderation and mediation effects on intervention response. And thirdly, it expanded the methodological procedures in a university-community based intervention.

acase@tulane.edu / Community Based Nutrition (CBN) began implementation in Ethiopia in 2009 in four regions with the objective of improving maternal and child nutrition. Among other interven-tions, CBN scaled up behavior change communication (BCC) to promote household practices and behaviors known to be associated with improved child nutrition. Nutrition BCC was pri-marily delivered through a cadre of Voluntary Community Health Workers (VCHWs). Program exposure was measured using household reports of contact with VCHWs for nutrition BCC. This quasi-experimental study used data collected from two rounds of household surveys be-fore and after program implementation. The design of this study used the natural variation in CBN implementation to allow post hoc categorization of communities into high/low program intensity groups. This enabled an evaluation of the differences in nutrition outcomes associated with the different categories of program intensity that were observed in the sample. Community-level program intensity was measured using the percentage of households reporting VCHW exposure in each community, dichotomized into high or low at the sample mean. We found evidence of a scale up in CBN over the two survey rounds: Mean households reporting exposure to a VCHW in the previous six months increased significantly, as did the mean households in communities with high VCHW intensity. The association between selected nutrition behavior outcomes and the program was evaluated using three approaches: (i) an examination of the association between cluster change in the outcomes and community intensity of Volunteer Community Health Workers (VCHWs); (ii) examination of the association be-tween individual-level outcomes and community intensity of VCHWs; and (iii) examination of the association between the outcomes behaviors and household exposure to VCHWs. We found plausible evidence that CBN scale up was associated with greater dietary di-versity and more women eating the same or more in pregnancy. We also found that living in a higher VCHW intensity community or having exposure to VCHWs was associated with more women receiving IFA in pregnancy, but that this association was not modified by the survey round. We did not find consistent evidence that that the increases in VCHW intensity or expo-sure were associated with improvements in colostrum, hand washing, or minimum meal frequency. These results imply that community-based programs of this intensity can bring about change in nutrition behaviors linked to improved nutrition. / 1 / Lisa Saldanha

The attachment of a child and his or her caregiver is a bond that helps tie them together emotionally. The most important principle of attachment theory is the need of a child to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for healthy emotional and social development to occur. The majority of attachment research has focused primarily on mother-child attachment, minimizing fathers' contributions to attachment. The current study examined attachment of both mothers and fathers in two-parent families. Research questions focused on the relationship between mother-child attachment and father-child attachment, the relationship between child temperament and father-child attachment security, and whether the amount of time each parent is away from his/her child predicts attachment security. The participants in this study consisted of 50 sets of parents (100 participants) who had at least one child between the ages of 3-5. The relationship between father-child and mother-child attachment was not significant. Likewise, the relationship between child temperament and parent-child attachment was not significant. Also, parents' time away from their child was not a significant predictor of attachment. Further research is needed with more ethnicities and cultures represented; a more balanced sample of economic classes; mothers who work more hours outside of the home; and the use of more impartial, third party observation measures to assess attachment and child temperament.

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Postnatal growth of the small intestine can be divided into two separate but complementary mechanisms; mucosal growth and organ (cylindrical) growth. Mucosal growth, observed by increasing villus area and crypt length, is upregulated during weaning, compared to pre or post-weaned time frames. The dynamics of organ growth, mediated by the process of crypt fission, is unknown during this period of postnatal development. Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF) and Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) are mesenchymally derived ligands which have been demonstrated to have trophic effects on the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract in vitro and in vivo during embryonic development, repair/restitution and tumour progression. This study explores the hypothesis that small intestine organ growth occurs independently to that of mucosal growth and the mechanisms of growth are mediated by differential expression of either HGF or KGF within the pericryptal mesenchyme derived cells (fibroblasts). Alternatively, the corresponding receptors for these ligands, c-met and bek, may exhibit differential expression within the proliferative compartment of the crypts. The indices of mucosal and organ growth were compared at various ages during early postnatal life (suckling), then early, middle and late weaning through to adult animals. Microdissection techniques utilising whole tissue samples enabled microscopic evaluation of growth. The assessment of KGF, bek, HGF and c-met was also undertaken using immunohistochemistry on formalin fixed, paraffin processed sections of rat jejunum. The highest rate of organ growth occurred during weaning and was immediately preceded at day 14 (of age) by a peak in the incidence of branching crypts. KGF immunolabelling was observed within the mesenchymal cells at the tips of the villus from mid-weaning onwards but at no stage within pericryptal fibroblasts. Both KGF and bek were demonstrated within the crypt epithelium, with highest levels observed during weaning. Immunolabelling for HGF demonstrated an ubiquitous distribution within both epithelial and mesenchymal tissues at all ages, whilst the expression of c-met was in the crypt cell compartment was limited to the time of weaning. The use of an in vivo blockade technique utilising an anti-HGF (D9) antibody from age 7 to 14 days did not demonstrate any reduction of the indices of organ or mucosal growth. These results suggest that rate of organ and mucosal growth increase concurrently during weaning. The demonstration of both bek and c-met in the crypt cell population during this period suggests that KGF and HGF are potential mediators of organ or mucosal growth, despite only HGF being demonstrated in the pericryptal mesenchymal derived cells. Further, the expression of KGF and HGF at sites beyond the crypts suggest these ligands play a greater role in the development of the rat small intestine during postnatal growth. / thesis (MApSc(BiomedicalScience))--University of South Australia, 2005.

Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 126-133)

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title from title page (viewed Apr. 23, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.