This study aimed to increase vegetable consumption and preference in elementary school-aged children using two interventions: 1) flavor-flavor conditioning; and 2) sensory-based, vegetable-themed education. In both interventions, increase in consumption was measured by visual observation of how many vegetables children took and consumed from a vegetable buffet. Preferences were measured with a self-administered survey. In the flavor-flavor intervention, children ages 5 to 11 (n=59) were exposed to sweetened and nonsweetened vegetable purees. Preferences were assessed prior to intervention using a rating and ranking system. Nine paired tastings were presented. Children received a posttest immediately after the final conditioning (n=27) and again 2 to 3 weeks after the final conditioning (n=24). A repeated measures ANOVA was used to examine the effect of conditioning (sweetened vegetable purees) on flavor preference. The change in attitudes and behaviors related to vegetables was evaluated using independent samples t-tests. Pre- and post-flavor conditioning change in whole vegetable consumption was assessed using paired t-tests. Flavor-flavor conditioning is not an effective strategy to increase whole vegetable consumption or preference for vegetables in elementary school-aged children. The vegetable-themed curriculum focused on four vegetables (carrots, peas, cauliflower, broccoli) and included three 30-minute lessons on each vegetable. Lessons included information on how the vegetable tastes, where it grows, and what it looks, feels, sounds, and smells like. Lessons were taught once per week for 3 weeks each month over four months. Children ages 5-11 enrolled in an after-school program at one elementary school were invited to participate (n=27). The amount of vegetables consumed by participants during a vegetable buffet was observed pre- and post-intervention (n = 20, 12 respectively). Differences in these amounts were assessed using independent samples t-tests. The education intervention was associated with increased consumption of carrots (p-value =0.001) and peas (p-value=0.003) but not cauliflower or broccoli. There was no change in vegetable-related attitudes/behaviors post-intervention. The results support the use of sensory-based, vegetable-themed education to increase vegetable consumption among children. Future studies should involve a larger sample size and should consider in-school rather than after-school education.

Remediation of trichloroethylene (TCE) is a major priority for many contaminated sites all over the industrialized world including Hill Air Force Base, UT (HAFB). Phytoremediation as part of a cleanup strategy is an appealing option, and trees at HAFB have been studied to this end. Trees have also been used to delineate groundwater plumes because the passive uptake of organic contaminants by trees generally results in a direct relationship between tree and groundwater TCE concentrations if the trees are using the contaminated groundwater. However, the concentrations of plant-produced TCE metabolites can vary greatly. It was hypothesized that the endophytic microbial community present may be affecting the fate of TCE within these trees. This study was designed to determine if the microbial community present within hybrid poplar trees would change in response to TCE exposure. Trees were grown in a greenhouse to reduce environmental variability. Concentrations of TCE, its degradation products, and its metabolites were then measured in these trees. DNA was extracted from the tree tissues and amplified to determine the quantity of microbial DNA. Diversity of this DNA was determined by fragment analysis. Data were analyzed to determine if there was an effect of TCE treatment on the microbial community composition in the trees. Results showed that all tissues of dosed trees contained TCE. Metabolism of TCE to trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) and trichloroethanol (TCEtOH) in tree tissues was observed by the accumulation of these metabolites. Microbial DNA results revealed that TCE treatment reduced both the quantity and diversity of endophytic bacteria and fungi in several cases. Multivariate statistical analyses also showed that the endophytic microbial community shifted in response to TCE treatment. The endophytic microbial communities present in the hybrid poplar trees of this study were high in concentration and diversity, both of which were affected by TCE treatment. Endophytic bacterial concentrations were observed at over 109 copies/g with diversities of 70+ genetically distinct organisms. Decreases in these values with the addition of TCE showed that the community dramatically changed in some cases, but was able to more quickly adapt to TCE addition in other cases. The effects of these endophytic microorganisms associated with plants should therefore be included when phytoremediation is considered.

Con esta investigación se pretende conocer si existe una relación entre el visual merchandising y la decisión de compra en tiendas de cosméticos para mujeres de 18 a 25 años pertenecientes a los niveles socioeconómicos A y B de Lima Metropolitana. Para lo cual, los principales objetivos analizar la relación entre el visual merchandising y la decisión de compra en la categoría mencionada, conocer el actual contexto de la categoría, identificar la influencia de acompañantes y asesores durante la compra, y por ultimo determinar si se da una mayor compra en tiendas o módulos. Para cumplir con lo previamente descrito, se realizó una investigación correlacional empleando el diseño no experimental. Además, la investigación fue en parte cualitativa (mediante entrevistas y focus groups) y cuantitativa (mediante encuestas aplicadas a 390 personas), cuyos resultados son expuestos en los capítulos 3 y 4, así como son también relacionados con el marco teórico del capítulo 1. Finalmente, sí se aprobaron ambas hipótesis planteadas, lo cual se pudo analizar mediante la prueba de chi cuadrado. Asimismo, se propusieron algunas estrategias y tácticas para que empresas de la categoría puedan aplicar con éxito, así como también sugerencias a futuros investigadores. / This research aims to know if there is a relationship between visual merchandising and the purchase decision in cosmetics stores for women aged 18 to 25 belonging to socioeconomic levels A and B of Metropolitan Lima. For this purpose, the main objectives are to analyze the relationship between visual merchandising and the purchasing decision in the aforementioned category, to know the current context of the category, to identify the influence of companions and advisors during the purchase, and finally to determine if there is a greater purchase in stores or modules. In order to comply with what was previously described, a correlational investigation was carried out using the non-experimental design. In addition, the research was partly qualitative (through interviews and focus groups) and quantitative (through surveys applied to 390 people), whose results are presented in chapters 3 and 4, as well as they are also related to the theoretical framework of chapter 1. Finally, both hypotheses were approved, which could be analyzed using the chi-square test. Likewise, some strategies and tactics were proposed so that companies of the category can apply successfully, as well as suggestions to future researchers. / Trabajo de investigación

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is associated with health behaviors such as low rates of physical activity, overeating, alcohol use, and poor sleep; however, interventions targeting AS via exercise-based interoceptive exposure have not assessed these as outcomes. In addition, previous studies are limited by brief follow-up periods. This study aimed to replicate previous aerobic exercise interoceptive exposures with an extended (6-week) follow-up and measurement of health behaviors. Participants were 44 sedentary young adults with elevated AS randomized to intervention (6 20-minute sessions of moderate-intensity treadmill walking) or assessment-only control. Assessments took place at baseline, week 2 (post-treatment), week 4, and week 8 with measurements of AS (ASI-3), physical activity (7-Day PAR), sleep (ISI), binge eating, alcohol use, depression (PHQ-8), anxiety (GAD-7), and stress (PSS-4). The intervention condition demonstrated a marginally significant reduction in AS compared to control at week 4 which eroded by week 8. There were no significant between-group differences for health behavior change. The intervention condition demonstrated decreases in depression, general anxiety, and perceived stress compared to control, but these effects eroded by week 4. There was no difference in findings for participants with BMI<25 vs. those with BMI>=25. Findings indicate that a brief intervention might not be sufficient to produce lasting changes in AS without additional treatment. Intervention effects were not as strong in this study compared to previous reports, which may be due to the size and greater racial/ethnic diversity of the current sample. Future research should objectively measure physical activity and explore individual variability in treatment response.

Lacking a healthy attachment to a caregiver and having in-utero methamphetamine exposure have been linked to a variety of cognitive delays, developmental delays, and mental health issues throughout a person's lifespan. It is unknown if there is a relationship between in-utero methamphetamine exposure and the ability to build a healthy attachment to a caregiver. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to improve understanding of the perceptions of caregivers about attachment efforts for foster children under the age of 3, who have had in-utero methamphetamine exposure. This study was guided by attachment theory. Purposeful sampling was used to select 7 participants who had provided care to foster children with in-utero methamphetamine exposure within the last year. Data were collected through the use of semistructured interviews, which were conducted in-person, audiotaped, and then transcribed. Data was analyzed through text searches of themes, axial coding, and repetitive words. Trustworthiness was obtained through member checking and generating a rich description of the participants' experiences. The findings revealed that many of the participants feel that these children do not respond to their efforts to build a healthy attachment to them. They also felt that the foster children did not process stimuli, such as touch, in the same way as other children; that the foster children found such interactions to be aversive. The findings of this study have the potential to impact social change by assisting therapists, caseworkers, and foster parents better understand the needs of foster children and to create a foundation for interventions to better serve foster children with in-utero methamphetamine exposure.

Thesis (MPA.) -University of Limpopo, 2010 / The focus of the study was on the contribution of media exposure towards the functionality of dysfunctional schools in Limpopo Province: Capricorn District. The study was qualitative in nature and concentrated on the schools in Capricorn District that were affected by the media industry. Seven schools were selected as follows: one from Mankweng Circuit, two from Nokotlou Circuit, One from Sepitsi Circuit, One from Seshego Circuit, One from Pietersburg Circuit and one from Mogodumo Circuit. According to the research findings, the majority of the schools which were exposed by the media improved their functions. A positive impact of media exposure has also been identified through research findings in terms of the Department of Education’s involvement in the schools which were affected by the media.

Workers in the agricultural industry exhibit higher rates of respiratory diseases than workers who are not employed in agriculture. Farm workers may be chronically exposed to organic dust, which is composed of molds, fungi, pesticides, herbicides, animal-derived particles, feed and bedding particles, and endotoxin. Exposure to organic dust has been linked to the development of various respiratory diseases. Research evidence has shown that variability in exposure to inhalable dust is present, and no studies have assessed variability in exposures to inhalable dust specifically among dairy parlor workers. A field-based study was conducted to assess exposures to inhalable dust exposure among individuals working as milkers or pushers on dairy farms in the Midwestern United States. A total of 62 dairy parlor workers participated, and 18 of these workers agreed to participate in repeat measurements and were sampled for two work shifts. Two, bilateral personal breathing zone samples were collected continuously from each worker during one work shift using inhalable samplers, amounting to 160 inhalable dust concentration measurements. The filters were weighed, and the TWA of inhalable airborne dust exposure was calculated for each subject and reported in mg/m3. Statistical analyses were used to examine exposure variability. The results of the statistical analyses did not indicate any statistically significant differences in the means of exposure to inhalable dust between paired sampler groups, with p-values of 0.793, 0.617, and 0.619. An ANOVA analysis of within-worker variance found no statistically significant differences, with p-values of 0.702 and 0.744 for sampler location and sampling day, respectively. Results of the simple linear regression analyses suggested that temperature and humidity levels contribute to less than ten percent of the variability in inhalable dust concentrations. Analyses of the study indicate that exposure to inhalable agricultural dust does not vary significantly (p-value of 0.05 or less) between the means of right-side and left-side collected exposures, as well as from day-to-day, among dairy parlor workers. The geometric mean of 0.54 mg/m3 (GSD 2.5 mg/m3) of the inhalable dust concentrations from this study align with geometric means found in previous studies of inhalable dust concentrations among dairy farm workers. These results support the hypothesis that using a sample of the dairy parlor worker population can provide an accurate estimate of exposure to inhalable agricultural dust among the general dairy farm worker population.

Electrostatic Dust Collectors (EDCs) are a passive sampling method that has not yet been fully validated. Our first study investigated the effect of EDC mailing and EDC deployment in front of and away from heated ventilation on endotoxin concentrations. Endotoxin sampling efficiency of heated and unheated EDC cloths was evaluated. EDCs express mailed cross-country yielded no significant changes in endotoxin concentrations when dust-only samples were compared to high quality control (QC) spiked-EDCs (p=0.21) and low QC spiked-EDCs (p=0.16). EDCs were deployed in 20 apartments with one EDC placed in front of the univent heater and another EDC placed on a built-in bookshelf. Endotoxin concentrations were significantly different (p=0.049) indicating that EDC placement impacts endotoxin sampling. Heated and unheated EDCs were deployed for 7 days in farm homes. There was a significant difference between endotoxin concentrations (p=0.027). The electrostatic charge of 12 heated and 12 unheated EDC cloths were significantly different (p=0.009). These studies suggest that heating cloths may diminish their electrostatic charge and endotoxin sampling capabilities. The EDC sampling time needed to achieve detectable and reproducible loading for bioaerosols has not been systematically evaluated. In our second study, EDCs were deployed in 15 Iowa farm homes for 7-, 14-, and 28-day sampling periods to determine if endotoxin and allergens could be quantified and if loading rates were uniform (i.e. doubling from 7 to 14 days and 14 to 28 days and quadrupling from 7 to 28 days). Loadings between left and right paired EDC cloths were not significantly different and were highly correlated for endotoxin, total protein, and cat (Fel d1), dog (Can f1) and mouse (Mus m1) allergens (p<0.001). EDC endotoxin sampling had close agreement between paired samples (Pearson p=0.96, p<0.001). EDC endotoxin loading doubled from 7 to 14-day deployments but the loading rate decreased from 14 to 28 days of sampling with only a 1.38 fold increase. Allergen exposure assessment using EDCs was less satisfactory. Paired EDCs and daily Button aerosol samplers (BS) were used in our third study to concurrently sample endotoxin in 10 farm homes during 7 day periods in summer and winter. Winter sampling included an optical particle counter (OPC) for particulate size and number concentration data. OPC particulate matter (PM) data were divided into PM2.5 and PM10-2.5. Summer sampling yielded geometric mean and geometric standard deviation values of 0.82 EU/m3 (2.7) for inhalable aerosol BS and 737 EU/m2 (1.9) for EDCs. Winter values were 0.52 EU/m3 (3.1) for BS and 538 EU/m2 (3.0) for EDCs. Seven day endotoxin values of EDCs were significantly and highly correlated with the 7-day BS sampling averages (p=0.70; p<0.001). An Analysis of Variance indicated a 2.37-fold increase in EDC endotoxin concentrations for each unit increase of the ratio of PM2.5 to PM10-2.5. A 10-fold increase in BS endotoxin concentrations was associated with a 12.2-fold increase in EDC endotoxin concentrations. Our fourth study established QC protocols use of EDCs in large field studies. QCs were developed for endotoxin, peptidoglycan, and glucan for analysis alongside the Agricultural Lung Health study EDC samples. The coefficient of variation percentage (CV) for each QC was used to determine variability. For each QC, 20 EDC cloths were analyzed to establish an acceptable range (mean ± 3 standard deviations). Two QCs were established for endotoxin analysis. The high QCs were dust-spiked EDCs with a CV of 29.7%. The low QCs were spiked with E. coli standard and had a CV of 15.6%. One QC was established for peptidoglycan analysis using dust-spiked EDC extracts. Two glucan QCs were established using dust-spiked EDCs with a high CV (51.7%) and yeast-spiked EDCs with a CV of 26.0%. Endotoxin and glucan concentrations of AGLH EDC samples were found to be significantly correlated (p=0.71; p<0.0001). In conclusion, EDCs are an effective passive sampling method for endotoxin exposure assessment in farm homes.

Diese Dissertation untersucht die Ausbildung motorischer Verarbeitungsflüssigkeit bei verbalen Stimuli, welche als Ursache für die Entstehung des Mere-Exposure Effekts angesehen wird. Ziel war es herauszufinden, ob eine Bewegung der Zunge, die external mittels Elektrostimulation verursacht wurde, Einfluss auf den Mere-Exposure Effekt ausübt. Des Weiteren wurde untersucht, ob der Effekt unter Elektrostimulation und gleichzeitiger Störung der Afferenz mittels Lokalanästhesie auftritt. Ergebnis dieser Studie war, dass der Mere-Exposure Effekt in der Gesamtstichprobe mit N = 68 Probanden nachzuweisen war. Eine bloße Motorinterferenz der Zunge ist demnach nicht der entscheidende Faktor für die Ausbildung von Fluency. Auch eine Ausschaltung der Afferenz mittels Anästhesie bei N = 37 Probanden konnte den Effekt nicht eliminieren und scheint somit keinen maßgeblichen Einfluss auf Fluency für verbale Stimuli zu haben. / This thesis investigates the occurrence of motor processing fluency in verbal stimuli, which is considered to be responsible for the development of the mere exposure effect. The target was to find out, if a movement of the tongue muscles, caused externally by electrostimulation, has an impact on the mere exposure effect. Furthermore, it was investigated whether the effect occurs during electrostimulation and concomitant interference of the afference by means of local anesthesia. The result of this study was that the mere exposure effect was to be detected in the total sample with N = 68 subjects. Thus, mere movement of the tongue muscles is not the deciding factor in the formation of fluency. Moreover, it was shown that the elimination of the afference by anesthesia in N = 37 subjects could not obliterate the effect and therefore does not seem to have a significant influence on fluency.

"November 2004" / Bibliography: leaves 149-179. / xxviii, 218 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / "This study addresses exposure during spraying of malathion and fenthion insecticides for fruit fly control and hexamethylene di-isocyanate (HDI)-based paint in the automotive and furniture industries. The research aims to characterize exposures and symptoms, and assess the adequacy of personal protective equipment under field conditions." --p. iii. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept. of Public Health, 2005