Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 30 of 60

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

A Rhetoric Of Resolution: The Limits Of Competition, Michael Schandorf Jan 2008

A Rhetoric Of Resolution: The Limits Of Competition, Michael Schandorf

All ETDs from UAB

The idea of competition underlies most all Western cultural practices making conflict inevitable, but understanding the world in terms of constant, perpetual competition limits the development of lasting, adaptive, and constructive solutions to human problems and conflicts. While competition serves the vital functions of quality control and the identification of best practices, the function of “Competition” as a god term betrays a misunderstanding of both the value and process of competition as an instrument, and demonstrates how human conceptualization, mediated by language, can direct the development and acquisition of knowledge into narrow channels and exclude ways of understanding that are …


Food Handling Practices Of High-Risk Populations, Bobby Babak Rasulnia Jan 2008

Food Handling Practices Of High-Risk Populations, Bobby Babak Rasulnia

All ETDs from UAB

Populations such as the immuno-compromised (HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, and transplant patients) and those with chronic conditions (gastric illness, cirrhosis, on anti-microbial therapy, antacid medication and steroid medications) are more susceptible to food borne illness. Examining differences in food handling practices and personal characteristics of high-risk groups verses the general population is the focus of this research. This study is based on secondary data from an established quantitative survey instrument developed and administered by the 2001 FDA Food Safety Survey. Descriptive, chi square, and logistic regression methods were used in the analysis. A statistically significant relationship was not found between health status …


Depressive Symptoms, Depressive Symptom Types, And Coping Strategies Among Cardiac Rehabilitation Participants, Jennifer Jones Cameron Jan 2008

Depressive Symptoms, Depressive Symptom Types, And Coping Strategies Among Cardiac Rehabilitation Participants, Jennifer Jones Cameron

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Air Pollution And Preterm Births In Atlanta, Georgia, Corey Masuca Jan 2008

Air Pollution And Preterm Births In Atlanta, Georgia, Corey Masuca

All ETDs from UAB

Exposure to ambient outdoor air pollution exposure is one of the many extraneous factors associated with preterm births. Many epidemiological studies involving preterm births and ambient air pollution have repeatedly indicated positive associations. However, for many such studies, results may be statistically significant but weakly associated or inconclusive. Such results may be primarily attributable to the fact that most studies include only single or multiple criteria air pollutants but not the total air pollution mixture of criteria air pollutants and air toxic pollutants (e.g., PAHs) to which people are actually exposed. This study assessed associations between pollutant classes, including criteria …


Relationships Among Anger, Patterns Of Anger Expression And Blood Pressure, Glucose, And Cortisol In Overweight School-Aged Children, Kimberly Nichols Jan 2008

Relationships Among Anger, Patterns Of Anger Expression And Blood Pressure, Glucose, And Cortisol In Overweight School-Aged Children, Kimberly Nichols

All ETDs from UAB

Overweight and obesity in school-aged children have become a major health issue. With overweight and obesity, children have increased risk of developing elevated blood pressure readings, glucose levels, and cortisol. Trait anger and patterns of anger expression have been shown to contribute to the elevations of blood pressure, glucose and cortisol in normoweight children and overweight adolescents. However, little research has been done with overweight school-aged children. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among trait anger and each of the patterns of anger expression (anger-suppression, anger-out, and anger-reflection/control) and blood pressure, glucose, and cortisol in overweight …


Growth Hormone Signaling And Action In Osteoblasts, Douglas J. Digirolamo Jan 2008

Growth Hormone Signaling And Action In Osteoblasts, Douglas J. Digirolamo

All ETDs from UAB

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) exert profound growth promoting actions during pre- and post-natal skeletal development. GH and IGF- 1 appear to cause these anabolic actions by influencing a variety of effects on osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and survival. However, because GH stimulates the production of IGF-1 from the liver and other GH-responsive peripheral tissues, including bone, the individual contributions of these two molecules to anabolic responses in bone remains poorly defined. In this dissertation research, I sought to distinguish the direct and indirect (IGF-1 dependent) GH actions on osteoblasts. In the first section of this thesis, I …


Examining Pre-Service Instructors' Use Of Powerpoint Based On Pre-Service Students' Perceptions: A Mixed Methods Study, Jennifer Fritschi Jan 2008

Examining Pre-Service Instructors' Use Of Powerpoint Based On Pre-Service Students' Perceptions: A Mixed Methods Study, Jennifer Fritschi

All ETDs from UAB

This study explored pre-service instructors’ use of PowerPoint based on pre-service students’ perceptions, and it identified pre-service students’ perceptions of the efficacy of specific elements of PowerPoint design and delivery. The effectiveness of various elements of PowerPoint design and delivery was based on an extensive literature review and was framed on the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia (Mayer, 2000). The findings of the study identified pre-service instructors’ practices and pre-service students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of specific elements of design and delivery and were then compared with what research and expert literature purported were effective. This one year study was conducted …


Oral Mucositis In Children Receiving Bone Marrow Transplantation, Francisco Jose Rodriguez Jan 2008

Oral Mucositis In Children Receiving Bone Marrow Transplantation, Francisco Jose Rodriguez

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify the factors that influence the incidence, severity, onset, and resolution of oral mucositis in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Methods: One hundred and fifty medical records were reviewed of patients that received BMT. Daily values of white blood cell (WBC) counts were obtained to associate it’s correlation with the incidence, severity, onset, and resolution of oral mucositis. Age group and gender of the patients, type of bone marrow transplant, the use of methotrexate, the use of total body irradiation, and the previous treatment with chemotherapy were obtained to analyze …


The Journey Of The Queen Of Sheba And The Meeting Of Solomon And Sheba : Two Cassone Panels From The Workshop Of Apollonio Di Giovanni, Emma C. Fox Jan 2008

The Journey Of The Queen Of Sheba And The Meeting Of Solomon And Sheba : Two Cassone Panels From The Workshop Of Apollonio Di Giovanni, Emma C. Fox

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


The Physical And Mental Health Of Spouse Caregivers In Dementia: Finding Meaning As A Mediator Of Burden, Susan M. Mclennon Jan 2008

The Physical And Mental Health Of Spouse Caregivers In Dementia: Finding Meaning As A Mediator Of Burden, Susan M. Mclennon

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of caregiver burden on the physical and mental health of caregivers of spouses with dementia and to determine if finding meaning through caregiving mediated the relationship between burden and health. This was a cross-sectional, correlational study in a convenience sample of 84 community-residing spouse caregivers of adults with dementia recruited from North- Central Florida. Measures included the Zarit Burden Interview, the Finding Meaning through Caregiving Scale, and the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36, version 2. Data analyses consisted of descriptive, correlational, and standard multiple regression statistical methods. The sample consisted of …


Effects Of Music Therapy On Preterm Infants In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ashley Hodges Wood Jan 2008

Effects Of Music Therapy On Preterm Infants In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ashley Hodges Wood

All ETDs from UAB

The study purpose was to examine the effects of a 15-min live-music therapy intervention on heart rate, oxygen saturation, level of motor activity, behavioral distress, and behavioral state levels in premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. The convenience sample included 20 infants born at 26 to 29 weeks’ gestational age who were hospitalized in a large teaching hospital in the southern United States. In a 1-group repeated-measures crossover design, infants were randomly assigned order of music versus no-music conditions. Data were collected on 4 occasions over a 2- to 4-week period beginning when the infants were 1 to …


Staff Nurses' Level Of Diabetes And Diabetes Management Knowledge After A Diabetes Lecture-Based And Computer-Based Educational Intervention, Mary Annette Hess Wright Jan 2008

Staff Nurses' Level Of Diabetes And Diabetes Management Knowledge After A Diabetes Lecture-Based And Computer-Based Educational Intervention, Mary Annette Hess Wright

All ETDs from UAB

Nurses’ knowledge of diabetes and diabetes management and the identification of differences in knowledge gains after completion of a lecture-based or a computer-based diabetes educational intervention in 175 participants from a variety of health care settings, shifts, and specialties in a large acute-care facility in the Southeastern United States was studied. This was a randomized experimental design with a pretest (Time 1), an immediate post test (Time 2), and a 3-week-post test (Time 3) utilizing the conceptual framework of M. S. Knowles’ adult-learning theory. Nurses’ knowledge was assessed by a 45-item Diabetes Basic Knowledge Test (DBKT) with a 21-item demographic/diabetes …


Variability Of Two Sampling Methods In Plaque Samples, Kuei C. Hsu Jan 2008

Variability Of Two Sampling Methods In Plaque Samples, Kuei C. Hsu

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Dental caries remain the most common infectious disease in children, and is in fact, on the rise in the U.S. among 2 to 5 year olds. Among hundreds of oral bacteria, mutans streptococci (MS) are considered the major species associated with dental caries. Studies have shown that increased MS in saliva or plaque is an important indicator for caries. The use of standard plate count (SPC) from plaque samples particularly yield variable quantitative results because of complexities of sample collection and processing. Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine collection reproducibility in plaque samples from permanent first molars using …


Endodontic Sealers-Their Properties And Effects On Fiber Post Retention, Farrah Huthail Najib Jan 2008

Endodontic Sealers-Their Properties And Effects On Fiber Post Retention, Farrah Huthail Najib

All ETDs from UAB

Zinc oxide eugenol sealers have been used clinically for several years. Glass ionomer sealers were introduced due to their adhesion to the dental hard tissues and excellent sealing ability. During the process of endodontic treatment a post, core and final restoration is required for tooth restoration. Recently fiber reinforced composite posts have become more popular because of their mechanical properties and esthetics. However, fiber posts have to be adhesively cemented into root canal which can be affected by the endodontics sealers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of eugenol and non-eugenol containing sealers on the retention …


The Relationship Of Adolescent Cognitive Ability To Adult Physical Health: Socioeconomic Status And Health Behavior As Mediating Variables, Timothy M. Hale Jan 2008

The Relationship Of Adolescent Cognitive Ability To Adult Physical Health: Socioeconomic Status And Health Behavior As Mediating Variables, Timothy M. Hale

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Science, Technology, And Portraiture: Justine Cooper's Rapt And Transformers, Amber Henson Jan 2008

Science, Technology, And Portraiture: Justine Cooper's Rapt And Transformers, Amber Henson

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Diet -Induced Changes In Intra -Abdominal Adipose Tissue And Cardiovascular Disease Risk In African American And European American Women, Konstantina Katsoulis Jan 2008

Diet -Induced Changes In Intra -Abdominal Adipose Tissue And Cardiovascular Disease Risk In African American And European American Women, Konstantina Katsoulis

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Falling And General Mobiliyy Viewpoints Of Survivors Of Stroke And Spousal Caregivers: A Mixed Model Design, Carolyn Joyce Pavelka Kelley Jan 2008

Falling And General Mobiliyy Viewpoints Of Survivors Of Stroke And Spousal Caregivers: A Mixed Model Design, Carolyn Joyce Pavelka Kelley

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Gender Difference In Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes: Survival, Functional Independence, And Employment Status, Andrea T. Underhill Jan 2008

Gender Difference In Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes: Survival, Functional Independence, And Employment Status, Andrea T. Underhill

All ETDs from UAB

Medical and rehabilitative care of women living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is based on information drawn from research conducted primarily on men. Care for men may be adequate for women, but all of the body’s organs have the capability to respond differently based on gender, and research should examine the genders separately. This dissertation examines the survival to 24 months post-TBI and the functional independence and employment status at 12 and 24 months post-TBI of men and women. Participants were drawn from a longitudinal study of injured persons and include those diagnosed only with a TBI. Variables used in …


Geographic Differences In Accessibility To Renal Treatment Among Black And White Populations Within Network 6 Of The End Stage Renal Disease Networks, Shenee J. Reid Jan 2008

Geographic Differences In Accessibility To Renal Treatment Among Black And White Populations Within Network 6 Of The End Stage Renal Disease Networks, Shenee J. Reid

All ETDs from UAB

Objective: This study examined relationships between racial composition of zip codes and the geographic accessibility to dialysis centers of Network 6 of the End Stage Renal Disease Networks. Study Design: Geographic accessibility to renal care (hemodialysis) was defined as the average distance between the centers of zip codes where dialysis patients reside and the dialysis centers that fall within a 30 mile buffer radius. Data Sources: This research studies the distribution of 33,536 patients, 1,798 zip codes, and 546 dialysis centers in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina as of December 31, 2007. Information and data concerning the dialysis centers …


A Comparative Study Of Extraction Treatment Efficiency Using Conventional Edgewise Brackets And Self-Ligating Brackets, Stan C. Cox Jr Jan 2008

A Comparative Study Of Extraction Treatment Efficiency Using Conventional Edgewise Brackets And Self-Ligating Brackets, Stan C. Cox Jr

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of the present study was to assess treatment efficiency of one selfligating bracket system (In-Ovation, GAC International, Bohemia, NY) compared to a conventional ligating bracket system (Ovation, GAC International, Bohemia, NY) in extraction cases used in the same practice. Treatment duration, number of appointments, and number of arch wires used per patient were compared within one private orthodontic practice. The total sample size was 155 patients, 83 consecutively finished with conventionally-ligated Ovation brackets and 72 consecutively finished with In-Ovation self-ligating brackets. After applying the exclusion criteria, there were 68 patients in the self-ligated (SL) group and 79 patients …


Developmentally Appropriate Practice And No Child Left Behind: A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers' Experiences, Linda Marie Hogue Jan 2008

Developmentally Appropriate Practice And No Child Left Behind: A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers' Experiences, Linda Marie Hogue

All ETDs from UAB

The authorization of The Elementary and Secondary Act—No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 provided new federal guidelines for accountability in the United States. As a result, schools are required to provide statistical data through standardized test scores to measure adequate yearly progress benchmarks set by each state. The agenda of the federal government was to force school equity for all children. Since the inception of NCLB, teachers have begun the struggle of meeting the demands of federal, state, and local guidelines that impose harsh penalties if benchmarks are not attained by their students. The National Association for the …


The Impact Of Feedback On Self-Rated Driving Ability Among Older Adults, Michelle Lynn Ackerman Jan 2008

The Impact Of Feedback On Self-Rated Driving Ability Among Older Adults, Michelle Lynn Ackerman

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Who Is In A Hurry For Hiv Test Results? An Exploration Of Presentation For Oraquick Rapid Result Hiv Antibody Testing In Urban Clinical And Outreach Settings In Alabama, Anne Zinski Jan 2008

Who Is In A Hurry For Hiv Test Results? An Exploration Of Presentation For Oraquick Rapid Result Hiv Antibody Testing In Urban Clinical And Outreach Settings In Alabama, Anne Zinski

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Assessing And Correcting The Effects Of Measurement Error Among Correlated Covariates In A Proportional Hazards Setting, Tina Juliet Thandeka Dube Jan 2008

Assessing And Correcting The Effects Of Measurement Error Among Correlated Covariates In A Proportional Hazards Setting, Tina Juliet Thandeka Dube

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Adaptive Procedures To Detect Treatment Effects Under Unexpected Treatment-Covariate Interactions, Nitin K. Nair Jan 2008

Adaptive Procedures To Detect Treatment Effects Under Unexpected Treatment-Covariate Interactions, Nitin K. Nair

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Awareness Of Functional Difficulties In Mild Cognitive Impairment: Relation To Cognitive Variables And Mood, Ozioma C. Okonkwo Jan 2008

Awareness Of Functional Difficulties In Mild Cognitive Impairment: Relation To Cognitive Variables And Mood, Ozioma C. Okonkwo

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Modulation Of Lipoprotein Metbolism And Atherosclerosis By The G Protein-Coupled Receptor, G2a, Brian W. Parks Jan 2008

Modulation Of Lipoprotein Metbolism And Atherosclerosis By The G Protein-Coupled Receptor, G2a, Brian W. Parks

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Human Leukocyte Antigen Supertypes In Relation To Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Among Populations Of African Ancestry, Aleksandr Lazaryan Jan 2008

Human Leukocyte Antigen Supertypes In Relation To Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Among Populations Of African Ancestry, Aleksandr Lazaryan

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.


Factors Influencing The Use Of Outcome Measures In Physical Therapy Practice, Frances M. Wedge Jan 2008

Factors Influencing The Use Of Outcome Measures In Physical Therapy Practice, Frances M. Wedge

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.