Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Neck Muscle Fatigue On The Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex, Amer Al Saif

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

In order to maintain balance, the brain receives and processes input from multiple sensory systems including the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. The information from these systems is sent to the brain where the information is then combined, organized and interpreted. This results in the output of reflexes (vestibulo-ocular reflex [VOR] and vestibulospinal reflex [VSR]). The VOR and the VSR work together with other motor systems to control gaze stability and control whole body equilibrium. Impairment in any of these sensory systems can result in dizziness, loss of balance, and visual instability. While the contributions of the visual, vestibular, and …

Trauma Of The Sudden Death Of A Child: The Impact On Couple Relationship, Blessing Okoro Rellias

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A traumatic life event such as the death of a child can be very devastating and confusing for many couples and people tend to respond in different ways to such trauma due to different factors such as gender differences. Research studies have traditionally focused on the personal effects of trauma on individual family members, whereas less attention centered on the systemic outcomes and consequences that trauma has on family functioning especially from the couples' perspective. Previous research has indicated that parents who lost their children to sudden death are likely to have serious mental distress and some disruption in functioning. …

The Influence Of Outdoor Air Quality On Vertical And Transverse Dental Dimensions, Vanessa Jenee Kaplan

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: Ambient air pollution exposure is significantly associated with increased posterior crossbite tendency. Purpose: The objectives of this study were to assess whether there was an association between exposure to ambient air pollution and skeletal and dental measurements of vertical and transverse dimension among adolescents in a clinical cohort in Southern California, and to determine what methods may be best suited for use in future research. Materials and Methods: 179 subjects’ addresses were geocoded and ambient air pollution exposure was calculated based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) air quality and emissions databases. Vertical and transverse measurements made from subjects’ …

Sleeping Tongue Posture And Its Relationship To Craniofacial Morphology, Brent J. Tingey

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: There exists good consensus in the literature supporting the notion that resting tongue posture is an important factor in dental arch development and maintenance as well as airway control. What has yet to be quantitatively measured is the duration of time that a subconscious, resting tongue posture is maintained and whether such posture differs among various craniofacial morphologies. Quantifiable measurements might allow for prediction of tongue-posture-related problems specific to certain facial types. Purpose: The objective of this study was to record sleeping tongue posture over time in 27 subjects and to compare findings with craniofacial morphology determined by cephalometric …

Horticulture Group Therapy With Mentally Ill Older Adults, Kristen J. Hill

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With a greatly increasing number of older adults due to advances in medical care, aU baby boomers in the United States will be 65 or older by 2029. As the number of older adults grows, so does the number of those with severe mental illness. Treatments are needed to address older adults with severe mental illness that include the negative side effects of medications. Due to the nature of severe mental illness, lower levels of required cognitive processing allows for those admitted to inpatient psychiatric settings to participate, including those with dementia. Horticulture therapy has proven useful to address severe …

Civic Attitude And Activity Of Loma Linda University Dental Graduates, Gregory W. Olson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: Dentistry is regarded as a profession and granted certain privileges, such as self-regulation. Associated with this status are stated and implied responsibilities which are widely debated. In recent years, dental professionalism seems to be on the decline. Evidence cited includes access-to-care issues and decreased public trust in dentists. In response, academia and professional organizations have developed curricula and statements intended to bolster professionalism. Meanwhile little is known about practicing dentists’ attitudes or participation in health-related civic matters. Objectives: This study seeks to examine the importance Loma Linda University (LLU) dental graduates place on public roles, their reported participation in …

An Occupational-Based Experimental Study Of Collective Vs. Personal Efficacy To Encourage Sun Protective Behaviors In Head Start Preschool Teachers, Elizabeth A. Holzhauser

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in the United States. An analysis of literature shows that skin cancer can be partially mitigated through personal behavior changes (Glanz, Buller, & Saraiya; 2007, Canadian Centre of Occupational Health and Safety [CCOHS], 2010). Currently national sun-safety educational campaigns promote sun-protective behaviors to individuals who receive exposure due to their work environment (Task Force on Community Preventive Services, 2004). Preschool teachers employed with San Bernardino County Head Start are inadvertently exposed to sunlight during mandatory recess periods posing risks to their health.

Purpose. This study evaluated two instructional …

Lateralization Of Emotion, Reaction Time, And Skin Conductance Responsiveness, Kimberley Erin Rose

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Bilateral presentations of brief (250 ms), unmasked emotional and neutral stimuli were examined in two experiments with primarily female samples. Reaction time and accuracy data were used to measure perception of emotion and skin conductance response (SCR) was used to measure experience of emotion. Both words and pictures were used to account for hemispheric differences in language and visuospatial dominance. Response time was faster to emotional pictures than words. Reaction time and speeded accuracy data did not support right hemisphere hypothesis (RHH) or valence hypothesis (VH) in the expected manner. Data suggested emotion caused greater interference under speeded conditions in …

The Grief Experience Of Caregivers When The Child Has A Life Threatening Illness, Avigail Ward

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Using a mixed method approach, this study explored the impact of attachment styles on the grief experience of parents and guardians of a child who has a hematological or oncological illness. The grief experience was evaluated through the lenses of Chronic Sorrow, Ambiguous Loss and Anticipatory Grief. This study was conducted at the Loma Linda University Medical Center Hematology Oncology Pediatric Clinic and was completed by 106 participants who responded to a quantitative survey with open-ended questions. An open-ended questionnaire regarding the impact of the child’s illness on the couple relationship was completed by six couples. The results indicated that …

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography And Orthodontics: Awareness Assessment, Warren D. Libby

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a specific orthodontic community's knowledge and understanding of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) technology as well as awareness of the implications of CBCT use, including risk assessment, radiation dose estimation, diagnostic utility, and issues of informed consent. It is incumbent on the profession to understand how practitioners view this technology as it gains popularity and ease of use. Materials and Methods: A 21-question survey with 13 additional demographic questions was distributed to several different populations affiliated with Loma Linda University School of Dentistry: 1) undergraduate dental students, 2) students in specialty programs …

Perceived Parent-Child Relationship And High-Risk Behaviors Among Christian College Students, Karla G. Lavin Williams

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Adolescents and young adults today are participating in high-risk behaviors such as dangerous sexual behaviors and drug and alcohol abuse at high rates. An increased incidence of negative effects associated with the aforementioned behaviors has led researchers to examine factors that influence and protect adolescents from certain devastating effects (Davis, Hendershot, George, Norris, & Heiman, 2007; Goldstein, Bamett, Pedlow, & Murphy, 2007; Hamilton, et al., 2007; Hingson, Heeren, & Winter, 2006; Hingson, Heeren, Winter, & Wechsler, 2003; Hingson, Heeren, Zakocs, Winter, & Wechsler, 2003; McCarty, et al., 2004; Mokdad, Marks, Stroup, & Gerberding, 2004; Mosher, Chandra, & Jones, 2005; …

Impact Of An Online Support System On Health Related Quality Of Life Among Men Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer, Daniel K. Osei

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Prostate cancer is a major public health issue worldwide and a significant cause of male cancer death in the USA. Though early screening and treatment has greatly enhanced the outcome, men diagnosed with prostate cancer face problems that compromise quality of life after treatment. Online support for prostate cancer clients is a convenient way to help because it is anonymous, inexpensive, and can be used at clients’ convenience. Yet few studies have explored how these supports impact these clients. This study used a longitudinal randomized experimental design to examine the impact of online services on quality of life of prostate …

The Association Of Religious Coping On Reports Of Low Back Pain And Inflammatory Markers, Jacqueline D. Bougie

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Chronic pain is the most common cause of disability in the United States with depression, anxiety, and stress often occurring co-morbidly. The purpose of the study was to explore how religion may modulate the frequency of back pain, influence inflammatory markers, influence the use of medications, and impact functional ability.

Participants were from the Biological Manifestations of Religion Study (BioMRS; N= 508) and the Psychological Manifestations of Religion Study (PsyMRS; N = 10,988). All participants completed a 20-page questionnaire and BioMRS participants provided blood, salivary, and urine samples, performance tests, and learning tests all collected within 1 week of …

A High Fiber Diet Versus A Low-Carbohydrate Diet For Weight Loss In Obese Individuals With Or Without Type 2 Diabetes, Neal G. Malik

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

In the United States, obesity rates have climbed steadily over the years. Many different diets for weight loss have been proposed and studied, yet no one diet seems to clearly be more beneficial. Among diets that have been promoted are those high in fiber and low in carbohydrates, yet thus far, results of these studies have been mixed.

Using a 2x2 complete factorial design, 173 obese men and women with or without type 2 diabetes were randomized to one of two conditions: (a) a high fiber diet (> 40 grams of fiber per day for women, >50 grams of fiber …

The Relation Of Fitness Assessment Feedback To Intrinsic Motivation And Physical Activity Among College Students, Laura Chandler

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Physical inactivity is a major public health concern in the United States and is no less of a concern among college students. According to the 2000 National College Health Assessment, as cited by Kilpatrick, Herbert, and Bartholomew (2005), only 38% of college students participate in regular vigorous activity, and only 20% participate in regular moderate activity. This study focused on how fitness assessment results affect intrinsic motivation for physical activity in college students. The specific mechanism examined was that between the constructs of intrinsic motivation, competence and autonomy from the self determination theory (SDT) and cognitive evaluation theory (CET). Approximately …

Perceived Barriers And Benefits Of Hiv Voluntary Counseling And Testing Among University Students In Nigeria, Clara Egbealele Omogbai

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa is one of the sub- Saharan nations most affected by HIV and AIDS. However, due to stigma most people at risk of infection refuse testing, thereby likely increasing the transmission of HIV. Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) has been shown to influence behavior change and it is important to explore how to increase rates of VCT in young people who may experiment with sexual activity in this environment that holds increased risks due to nationally elevated rates of HIV.

Purpose. To examine intention to use HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services …

Child And Family Responses To Weight Management Programs : A Qualitative Investigation, Andra Lynn Fjone

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to explore what happens within families in which a child participates in a pediatric weight management program for the treatment of overweight or obesity and identify strategies and processes for successful weight management.

Method: A qualitative approach was used to collect data from seven families. Individual interviews were conducted with parents, target children, and siblings. Data was analyzed within families and compared between families.

Results: Grounded theory analysis revealed three major essential themes: Shared Burden, Family Congruence, and Collaboration. Descriptive analysis was used to identify recommendations for improving family based weight management programs. …

African Americans With Diabetes: Couples’ Support Program Development Project, Zanetta Fern Carlene Van Putten

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States with a record 25.8 million diagnosed in 2010 compared to 20.8 million in 2005. African Americans have the highest prevalence of diabetes in the United States. Social support related to medical conditions has been found effective in increasing treatment adherence. The purpose of this study is to gain a clearer understanding of diabetes support within African American couples’ relationships. This study explores the definition of support from the perspective of African American couples when at least one member has been diagnosed with diabetes. Couples were recruited from Riverside and San Bernardino …

Yearnings: Stories Of Insecure Attachment And The Journey To Connect To God, John Bracy

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Utilizing grounded theory and the semi-structured interviews of25 participants, this study sought to understand how an insecure attachment affects one's relationship with God. Participants' stories suggested that: I) one's struggle to connect with God was a part of their struggle to connect with others; 2) that experiencing others as safe and responsive contributed to building a more secure attachment with God; and 3) that attachment is less a fixed style and more of an ongoing process: defined as gradual changes made by the participants towards the set-goal of feeling safe and secure. Four major processes were identified: I) finding what …

Marital Experience And Spirituality Among Physician Couples, Elisabeth Vonegen Esmiol

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study will examine how marital experience and spirituality interact in the lives of physician couples. Physicians’ increasing openness to spiritual issues inherent in treating the ill and suffering (King, 2000; Thorsen, Harris & Oman, 2001), the growing number of women entering the medical profession and becoming physician and dual physician couples (Levinson & Lurie, 2004; Brotherton & Etzel, 2008), and physicians’ work-related stress (Transue, 2004; Wicks, 2006) and the resulting pressures and time constraints on medical marriages (Sotile & Sotile, 2000) make studying this population particularly relevant. Interviews with twenty two married, professional couples, in which at least one …

Influence Of Gender And Aerobic Training Background On Exercise-Induced Increase In Adiponectin, Pooja Pratap Mujumdar

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Adipose tissue secretes the adipokine, adiponectin (ADPN), which is insulinsensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherogenic. Exercise training improves insulin sensitivity and lowers the risk of cardiovascular complications. As some of the metabolic effects of exercise training and ADPN overlap, exercise training has been proposed to increase ADPN. However, most single bout exercise, or short-term (ï‚£3 months) and constant-effort (fixed session duration, fixed number of sessions/week, and fixed intensity) exercise protocols do not produce increases in ADPN in untrained and trained cohorts. Furthermore, most exercise studies were conducted on male-female mixed gender cohorts or male/female single gender cohorts. As a result, no direct …

Novel Molecules That Regulate Bone Formation And Bone Resorption, Gabriel Robert Linares

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by decreased bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone. Bone loss occurs when the increased bone resorption that occurs with age is not compensated by a corresponding increase in bone formation. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms which regulate bone formation and bone resorption is important for developing diagnostic and treatment strategies for osteoporosis. In my dissertation, we investigated the role of Glutaredoxin 5 (Grx5), Diabetes and Obesity Related protein (DOR), and Claudin 18 (Cldn-18), novel molecules involved in regulating bone formation and bone resorption. We demonstrated that Grx5 protects osteoblasts from oxidative stress induced apoptosis via …

Foundation For Evaluating Injured Firefighters Returning To Work, Deanna Stover

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to establish a foundation for developing an evidence-based assessment guideline to be used by nursing and medical personnel when evaluating a firefighter's ability to return to work after a lower extremity injury. Two on-line survey instruments were used to record the opinions and beliefs of healthcare providers and firefighters. The final samples included 63 California healthcare providers (with and without professional work experience with firefighters) and 312 California firefighters. Most of the healthcare providers with professional work experience with firefighters use the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582 Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program …

Relationship Of Vitamin D Levels To Blood Pressure In A Biethnic Cohort, Rosario O. Sakamoto

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Serum hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] has been well-accepted as not an ordinary vitamin but a pro-hormone that has many benefits beyond its well-known effects on bone. Cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension remain a huge health burden and Blacks have been recognized to have higher prevalence of hypertension compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Despite increasing evidence of the benefits of vitamin D on blood pressure control, there is much more to be learned about the relationship of serum 25(OH)D to blood pressure among different ethnicities.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine whether vitamin D serum 25(OH)D levels were …

How Transnational Couples Deal With Teen Substance Use: A Socio-Contextual View, Alicia Marquez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Using the lenses of social constructionism and critical feminist theory, this dissertation examines how transnational Mexican couples in the agricultural town of Mecca, Southern California, respond to the crisis created by their adolescent children using illegal substances.

As part of the Contemporary Couples’ Study of Loma Linda University, sixteen

families were interviewed about how this problem affected their lives. The rich stories

collected were analyzed using the Strauss and Corbin (1998) guidelines for qualitative

research, in order to identify grounded theory that would inform services to this population.

Results suggest that these couples’ relationships are organized around the world of …

Self-Reported Exercise And Risk Of Osteoporosis In Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy, Lori J. Mennen-Winchell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Prostate cancer is stimulated to grow in response to testosterone. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) leads to chemical castration and suppression of prostate cancer cell production. Testosterone levels less then 300ng/ml decreases bone mineral density and could result in osteoporosis. Studies have shown that during the first year of ADT, fracture risk, mainly in hips and spine increases about 50%. In men, 40% of hip fractures result in death. Exercise may reduce the risk of osteoporosis and thus contribute to the prevention of hip and other fractures. There is limited data regarding whether exercise is associated with a reduced risk of …

Factors That Inhibit Or Enhance Maternal Coping With Stillbirth In Chhattisgarh, India, Lisa R. Roberts

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Over half of the known stillbirths occur in four highly populated countries—India among them. While acknowledged as a significant public health issue in western societies, little is known about maternal coping with stillbirth in developing countries. The purpose of this mixed methods study is to explore how issues of gender and power, social support, coping efforts, and religious beliefs influence perinatal grief outcomes among poor women in rural Chhattisgarh, India.

Methods: In Phase 1 of this mixed methods study, grounded theory methods were used to explore perceptions regarding stillbirth. A de-identified medical records review of 536 deliveries at Christian …

The Association Between Body Mass Index And Dental Caries In Hispanic Elementary School Children, Mary Creske

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Dental caries is the most common chronic disease of children ages 6 to 11. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 41% of the children in this age group experience decay in their primary teeth. Since 1980 the number of overweight children ages 6 to 11 has doubled. Childhood obesity is currently the most prevalent nutritional condition of children in the U.S.

Purpose: The purpose of this observational study was to determine if there is an association between childhood dental caries and childhood obesity. The study also explored the effects of diet and other covariates.

Method: …

Role Of Breastfeeding And Current Lifestyle On Maternal Long-Term Weight Change, Denise R. Hinds

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Evidence suggests that prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding is associated with health benefits to children and nursing mothers beyond the period of breastfeeding. Studies that support the role of breastfeeding in postpartum weight change primarily focused on short-term weight change (within 12 to 24 months postpartum) (Binns et al. 2003; Lederman 2004; Johnson et al. 2006), while few focused on the association between breastfeeding and long-term weight change (5 years or more postpartum) (Rooney, Schauberger et al. 2005).

Purpose: This study investigated the role of breastfeeding in long-term weight change, specifically 1) whether breastfeeding protects against weight gain, and 2) …