Digital Commons Network^™

Biomechanical Joint Demands And Functional Outcomes During Manual Wheelchair Use In Pediatric Patients With Spinal Cord Injury, Christine M. Aurit

Theses and Dissertations

The biomechanical demands of the upper extremities (UEs) during pediatric manual wheelchair (MWC) use have not been fully explored. Children who use MWCs for mobility engage in a range of functional activities that may place large biomechanical demands on the UEs leading to a high risk on overuse injuries. This study aims to analyze the kinematics and kinetics of pediatric manual wheelchair use during propulsion, starting, stopping and weight relief tasks. Fourteen pediatric patients with spinal cord injury were recruited and data were collected using a 14-camera Vicon MX motion analysis system (Oxford Metric Group, Oxford, UK) and a SmartWheel …

Improving Mri Surface Coil Decoupling To Reduce B1 Distortion, Christian K. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

As clinical MRI systems continue to advance, larger focus is being given to image

uniformity. Good image uniformity begins with generating uniform magnetic fields, which

are easily distorted by induced currents on receive-only surface coils. It has become an

industry standard to combat these induced currents by placing RF blocking networks on

surface coils. This paper explores the effect of blocking network impedance of phased array surface coils on B1 distortion. It has been found and verified, that traditional approaches for blocking network design in complex phased arrays can leave undesirable B1 distortions at 3 Tesla. The traditional approach of …

Use Of Secure Messaging By United States Veterans And Significant Others, Claudia S. Derman

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

USE OF SECURE MESSAGING BY UNITED STATES VETERANS AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

By

Claudia S. Derman

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2014

Under the Supervision of Professor Karen H. Morin, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

The purpose of this study was to describe the topics discussed using secure messaging (SM), the pattern of use of SM, and whether the themes discussed and/or the pattern of use varied based on gender and age of the SM user. Secure messaging is an example of a technology that focuses on patient-centered communication. Secure messaging allows patients to communicate with their clinicians using the Internet and …

Exploring The Phenomenon Of Presence In An Online Educational Environment Through The Lived Experiences Of Graduate Nursing Faculty, John G. Rosselli

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, the phenomenon of presence in an online educational environment is explored through the lived experiences of graduate nursing faculty who teach online.

Greater understanding of the phenomenon of presence in online educational environments may lead to better learner-instructor relationships, higher levels of inquiry and critical thinking on the part of faculty and students, and ultimately better student outcomes. Utilizing principles of Hermeneutic Phenomenology and deductive inquiry, and based on the learner-centric Being There for the Online Learner Model, the author conducted in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 13 graduate nursing faculty members who teach online at …

Impact Of Gestational Exposure To 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-P-Dioxin On T Lymphocyte Development, Lori S. Ahrenhoerster

Theses and Dissertations

2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and the best characterized agonist of the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a transcription factor crucial to the detoxification of numerous xenobiotics. Studies in animals show that TCDD is immunosuppressive in adult exposures, and epidemiological studies have found an association between TCDD exposure and hematologic cancers. Additionally, developmental exposure to TCDD has been shown to increase the likelihood of autoimmunity and to impair immune response to later-life infections. The cells of the immune system are all descended from multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that originate in the fetus. This multipotency, defined as the ability to …

Exploring Experiences, Expectations And Perceptions Of Parents Of Children With Asd In Receiving Parent Education From Speech-Language Pathologists, Vinaya Hindane Kulkarni

Theses and Dissertations

EXPLORING EXPERIENCES, EXPECTATIONS AND PERCEPTIONS OF

PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH ASD IN RECEIVING PARENT EDUCATION

FROM SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS

by

Vinaya Kulkarni

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2014

Under the Supervision of Professor Paula Rhyner, Ph.D.

As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rises, an increasing number of

parents are faced with questions related to diagnosis and intervention for their child with

ASD. The purpose of the present study was to examine parental experiences,

expectations, and level of satisfaction regarding parent education received on ASD from

practicing speech-language pathologists (SLPs). A 36-question online survey: Parent

Education in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Experiences, …

Three Research Essays On Propensity To Disclose Medical Information Through Formal And Social Information Technologies, Wachiraporn Arunothong

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This dissertation, which is comprised of three essays, examined disclosure propensity of healthcare providers from the US and Thailand and disclosure of personal health problems of healthcare consumers in social media context.

Essay 1: A Deterrence Approach in Medical Data Misuse among Healthcare Providers

Information and communication technology (ICT) have long been available for use in health care. With the potential to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care, the diffusion of these technologies has steadily increased in the health care industry. With the adoption of electronic health records, personal electronics devices, internet connections and social network …

College Student Lay Health Information Mediary Behavior: An Examination Of Ehealth Literacy And Unrequested Health Advice, Andrew William Cole

Theses and Dissertations

Lay health information mediary behavior (LHIMB) describes individuals seeking health information to relay to others. The current study examines LHIMB as a relationship between eHealth literacy and unrequested health advice (UHA). 254 undergraduate students completed a survey addressing eHealth literacy levels, general UHA behaviors and specific UHA episodes. Results on general UHA behaviors indicate no significant relationship exists between eHealth literacy and utilizing UHA in health decision-making or frequency of offering UHA. However, self-perceived health status and degree of health worry significantly predict using UHA in health decision-making. Further, as health worry increases, participants appear significantly more likely to receive …

Effects Of Dietary Preference On The Experience Of Anxiety, Depression And Acute Stress Response, Shaun Stearns

Theses and Dissertations

Research has demonstrated that high saturated fat and low carbohydrate consumption may provide physiological benefit in the treatment of major neurological disorders, though not much research has explored if these benefits extend to the experience of anxiety, depression, stress and physical symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between fat consumption and negative emotional/physiological states (anxiety, depression, stress and physical symptoms). This study also explored how fat consumption can alter one's response to an acute stress. Participants completed an online survey indicating their food preferences and their responses to a number of self-report scales such as …

The Role Of Interactive And Critical Health Literacy In Appointment Cancellations: A Quality Assurance Survey, Amanda Nielsen

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: An agency located in the Midwest identified a 30 percent cancellation rate in their federally funded Part C early intervention (EI) program. Parents and caregivers of children with developmental delays tend to access and utilize the health care system and programs aimed at improving developmental outcomes more frequently. These children will likely benefit from caregivers who have ample health literacy to navigate the complicated systems of care. Although the role of functional health literacy (i.e., reading and numeracy skills) on health and developmental outcomes is well documented in the literature, limited research exists on the importance of interactive and …

Text Mining Of Patient Demographics And Diagnoses From Psychiatric Assessments, Eric James Klosterman

Theses and Dissertations

Automatic extraction of patient demographics and psychiatric diagnoses from clinical notes allows for the collection of patient data on a large scale. This data could be used for a variety of research purposes including outcomes studies or developing clinical trials. However, current research has not yet discussed the automatic extraction of demographics and psychiatric diagnoses in detail. The aim of this study is to apply text mining to extract patient demographics - age, gender, marital status, education level, and admission diagnoses from the psychiatric assessments at a mental health hospital and also assign codes to each category. Gender is coded …

Effect Of Accessibility Information On Restaurant Selection Of Consumers With Disabilities, Rachael Nicole Baumann

Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: The study addressed the research question, "How does accessibility information about restaurants affect the diversity of restaurant choices for people with disabilities compared to others who only have general review information about restaurants?" The literature describes that people with disabilities experience limited participation in community activities. One community activity is dining out at restaurants. It is hypothesized that the availability of accessibility information will diversify restaurant choices, as it would minimize the risk of encountering unforeseen barriers that enable them to prepare for ones that they anticipate.

METHOD: Participants (N-14), half with disabilities and half without disabilities, selected dining …

Use Of Photobiomodulation In Osteoclast Formation: Possible Intervention For The Treatment Of Osteoporosis, Lisa Lauren Anderson-Antle

Theses and Dissertations

After critically examining the literature to gain a robust understanding for the pathogenesis of bone loss, specifically osteoporosis, the development of a possible new intervention to prevent or treat osteoporosis was explored. The purpose of this dissertation was to pilot test a new protocol designed to answer the broad research question: Does Near-Infrared Light Emitting Diode (NIR-LED) treatment affect Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Ligand (RANKL) induced osteoclastogenesis in a cell culture model?

Osteoporosis is defined as a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to …

Thrombospondin-1 Signaling Mechanisms Regulating Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Expression And Lipolytic Activity In Prostate Cancer, Nizar Khamjan

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer that occurs in men in the United States. To grow, tumors need to induce new blood vessels growth, a process called angiogenesis. Thus, tumors down regulate molecules that inhibit this process. Two such molecules that are down-regulated in PCa are thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). Interestingly, both of these proteins also function in regulating lipid metabolism. Our lab has data to suggest that TSP-1 induces PEDF expression and lipid catabolism (lipolysis), the hydrolysis of triglycerides into fatty acids and a glycerol, in PCa cells; however, the molecular pathway of …

Role Of Periprostatic Adipose Tissue In Prostate Cancer Cells, Massa Mafi

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading men's health concern. It is the most common cancer diagnosed in American men. Obesity, especially excess visceral adipose tissue, increases the risk of PCa progression; however, the mechanism is yet unknown. In addition, studies have demonstrated that the locale of the visceral adipose depots affects its function and change the levels of secreted products. In PCa patients, increased thickness of the periprostatic adipose tissue (PPA), a type of visceral adipose tissue which covers the prostate organ, is positively correlated with progression, suggesting that this depot may specifically stimulate PCa progression in obese patients. …

Factors Associated With Parent Depressive Symptoms And Family Quality Of Life In Families With And Without Adolescents And Young Adults With Spina Bifida, Monique M. Ridosh

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore which context and process factors contribute to parent depressive symptoms (PDS) and family quality of life (FQOL) in families with adolescents/young adults (AYA) with and without spina bifida (SB). Secondary analysis was conducted on data (N = 209) from a multi-site cross-sectional study of adaptation in AYA with SB. Measures included: Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (Behavioral Regulation Index and Metacognition Index), FACES III (Cohesion subscale), Family APGAR, Family Inventory of Resources for Management (Family Mastery and Health subscale), a single-item measure of stress, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and The FQOL …

Th17 Cell-Associated Response To Borrelia Burgdorferi Outer Surface Protein A, Megan Elizabeth Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Arthritis is a common symptom of Lyme disease, a debilitating condition resulting from infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. A protein found on the surface of B. burgdorferi, outer surface protein A (OspA), is known to elicit an inflammatory immune response involving T helper cells. T helper 17 (Th17) cells are associated with the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-23 (IL-23) and have been implicated in the development of Lyme arthritis. The objective of this thesis is to provide further characterization of the immune response to B. burgdorferi OspA. The central hypothesis of this thesis is: Vaccination with OspA will predispose mice …

Assessing The Impact Of An Incentivized Employee Wellness Program On Participation And Weight, Jennifer T. Fink

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF AN INCENTIVIZED EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM ON PARTICIPATION AND WEIGHT

by

Jennifer Fink

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2014

Under the Supervision of Dr. Doug Ihrke

Introduction: Employers are increasingly adopting workplace wellness programs designed to improve employee health and decrease employer costs associated with health insurance and job absenteeism. This dissertation examines the outcomes of 6,375 obese health care workers who were offered financial incentives for participating in an employee wellness program (EWP) as they relate to participation and potential change in body mass index (BMI). This study aims to contribute to three distinct literatures, including …

Two Single-Subject Experiments Of An Ipad Protocol When Training Special Education Professionals In Video Modeling, Alyssa Schmitz

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: This research was conducted to determine if an iPad training protocol using a teach-back strategy can feasibly be used in an educational setting and to determine if measures of use and technology perception are appropriate outcome measures. The studies were carried out in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin school district and involved two elementary level special education teachers. Utilizing single-subject methodology, two studies were carried out, including one study in which a subject received iPad training protocols and completed them independently and one study in which another subject received the same iPad training protocols combined with a teach-back strategy. The teach-back strategy …

Memory Retrieval Is Maintained By Intrinsic And Synaptic Plasticity In Prelimbic Cortex, James Otis

Theses and Dissertations

Abnormally strong memories underlie common disorders including addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Memory disruption would therefore be beneficial for treatment of these disorders. Evidence reveals that cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) memories are susceptible to long-lasting disruption during memory retrieval. For example, inhibition of β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) activity within the prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex (PL-mPFC) prevents cocaine CPP memory retrieval, and this retrieval impairment is both long-lasting and prevents subsequent reinstatement of the CPP. Despite this, whether PL-mPFC β-AR activity is a fundamental mechanism required to maintain retrieval of other memories is unclear. Furthermore, how PL-mPFC β-AR activity maintains …

Does Stigma Against Smokers Really Motivate Cessation? A Moderated Mediation Model On The Effect Of Anti-Smoking Campaigns Promoting Smoker-Related Stigma On Cessation Intentions, Jinyoung Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade, an increasing number of strong tobacco control legislations (e.g., high cigarette taxes and strict ban on smoking in public places) have passed through Congress to reduce the size of smoking population in the United States. As a part of such national efforts, anti-smoking campaigns have been introduced to curb health problems associated with smoking. Recent anti-smoking campaigns often employ de-normalization strategies that portray smoker(s) as deviant and stigmatized minorit(ies) and smoking as an abnormal and non-mainstream activity in order to better stimulate cessation. As a result of implementing such stigmatization tactics, prevalence of smoking at a …

The Affective Domain In Nursing Education: Educators' Perspectives, Linda Darlene Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

Affective learning in nursing education continues to be important in the development of professional values. Affective learning is defined as a type of learning that reaches the emotional and belief system of those who facilitate and participate in it and establishes attitudes and professional values. There is limited exploration of affective learning in nursing education. How educators are facilitating learning in this domain is important to future nursing education practice as it transforms to meet new societal and health care demands. The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning, experience and the act of teaching in the affective …

Treatment Decision Making In African American Women Diagnosed With Advanced Breast Cancer, Dauphne Annette Sims

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

TREATMENT DECISION MAKING IN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH ADVANCED BREAST CANCER

by

Dauphne Annette Sims

When diagnosed with breast cancer African American women have more advanced stage breast disease and encounter disparities throughout the cancer care continuum. The process of making treatment decisions can widen or narrow disparities in health outcomes. The decision making process in African American women may be influenced by several dynamics that influence how treatment decisions are made and have been previously unexplained. Guided by the conceptual framework of Cultural Capital, this grounded theory study explored the treatment decision making process of 12 African …

What Inez Knows: A Qualitative, Longitudinal Case Study Of One Woman's Journey Through The Maze Of Living With Hiv And A Serious Mental Illness, Linda Austin

Theses and Dissertations

WHAT INEZ KNOWS: A QUALITATIVE, LONGITUDINAL CASE STUDY OF ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY THROUGH THE MAZE OF LIVING WITH HIV AND A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS

by

Linda Austin

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2014

Under the Supervision of Professor Patricia E. Stevens

Although more than thirty years have passed since AIDS was first diagnosed in the U. S., the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues and the prevalence and incidence statistics remain alarming. Twenty-five percent of the people living with HIV in the United States are women, but only half of these women are in care and even fewer women (42%) have viral suppression. Women …

The Subjective Well-Being Of Youth Heads Of Households In Rural Southern Malawi, Pamela Fruechting

Theses and Dissertations

Youth-headed households in HIV-endemic sub-Saharan Africa face harsh realities of poverty and loss of parental care. Scientific knowledge of these youth is generally limited to socio-economic and psychological indicators of vulnerability while much less is known about youth-centric meanings of well-being. This is the first known study on the subjective well-being of youth heads of households.

The purpose of this exploratory, youth-centric, qualitative study was to identify experiences of subjective well-being, factors for regulating well-being, and meanings of well-being among youth heads of household in the Thyolo and Chiradzulu districts of rural southern Malawi. The theoretical foundation for this study …

The Influence Of Maternal Contexts On Infant Outcomes, Secondary Analysis Of Wpcr Data 2000-2010, Mary Roseanne Butler

Theses and Dissertations

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most prevalent birth defect in the world and occur in approximately 6-8 of every 1,000 live births (Hoffman & Kaplan, 2002). CHD continues to be one of the leading causes of infant morbidity and mortality today. Five to ten percent of all cases of CHD can be attributed to a chromosomal abnormality, 3%-5% are linked to single gene defects, and approximately 2% are a result of known environmental factors (Clark, 2001). With only 10%-15% of the causes of CHD are understood, the remaining 85%-90% of all CHD cases, the etiologies remain unknown. The purpose …

Strategic Flexibility In Not-For-Profit Acute Care Hospitals, Donna Fe Jamieson

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

STRATEGIC FLEXIBILITY IN NOT-FOR-PROFIT ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS

by

Donna F. M. Jamieson

Despite multiple industry cycles of rapid and complex changes in the last three decades, the body of research in health care services strategy has not addressed the idea of strategic flexibility, that is, when and how should strategy evolve under conditions of environmental turbulence. Strategic flexibility has been defined in the literature as the ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions by leveraging internal resources and competencies to effectively compete. With increasing scope of responsibility in both nursing and non-nursing functional areas, nurse executives have not only …

Effects Of Traffic And Air Pollution On Risk Of Preterm Birth And Low Birth Weight Outcomes In Milwaukee County, 2005-2010, Deborah Lynn Pasha James

Theses and Dissertations

Between 2005 and 2010, infants born to non-Hispanic black mothers experienced a 3-fold elevated risk of infant mortality compared to those born to white and Hispanic mothers. Preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) are strong predictors of infant mortality. To our knowledge, this is the first study of Wisconsin births to evaluate the effect of social and environmental factors on risk of PTB and LBW. We hypothesize that the observed racial inequalities in PTB and LBW are related to traffic density and air pollution. The Milwaukee INFANTS Study used 2005-2010 electronic birth record data (N = 85,045) geocoded …

Testing Components Of A Self-Management Theory In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Gwen Marie Verchota

Theses and Dissertations

Advances in treatment technology and the importance of obtaining normoglycemia in order to prevent or delay complications associated with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) has shifted much of the emphasis of diabetes self-management (SM) onto the adolescent and his or her family. The primary responsibility for managing T1DM in childhood is with the parent whereas during adolescence, increasing levels of responsibility for SM are transferred to the adolescent. This study examined the relationships of key context and process variables on proximal (self-management behaviors [SMB]) and distal outcomes (metabolic control and diabetes-specific health-related quality of life [DQOL]) from the Individual and …

Citefinder: A System To Find And Rank Medical Citations, Seyed Soheil Moosavinasab

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents CiteFinder, a system to find relevant citations for clinicians' written content. Inclusion of citations for clinical information content makes the content more reliable through the provision of scientific articles as references, and enables clinicians to easily update their written content using new information. The proposed approach splits the content into sentences, identifies the sentences that need to be supported with citations by applying classification algorithms, and uses information retrieval and ranking techniques to extract and rank relevant citations from MEDLINE for any given sentence. Additionally, this system extracts snippets from the retrieved articles. We assessed our approach …