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Testing Claims Of Efficacy And Mechanism Of Action For Emotion Focused Couples Therapy: A Dyadic Case Study Using Time-Series Design, Albert Jun-Wei Wong

Doctoral Dissertations

The overall purpose of this study was to test claims regarding both the efficacy and mechanism of change for Emotion Focused Couple Therapy (EFT). Although a number of treatment outcome studies have been conducted on EFT, the vast majority of these studies emanate from the research laboratories associated with the two founders of EFT. Additionally, most EFT research has examined treatment outcome rather than mechanisms of change. This study used a time-series single-case experimental design approach to examine both the efficacy and the mechanisms of change in EFT for couple distress. I systematically tracked the symptoms of couple distress across …

Absorption And Utilization Of Choline And Vitamin B12 In Lactating Dairy Cows Using Different Delivery Methods, Virginia Maria Artegoitia Etcheverry

Doctoral Dissertations

Choline and vitamin B12 are essential nutrients for growth and performances of production animals. However, both nutrients are extensively degraded during digestion in the rumen. This thesis comprised three experiments. First, four cows equipped with a rumen cannula and catheters in the portal vein and a mesenteric artery received a post-ruminal bolus of: 1) cyanocobalamin (CN-CBL) alone (0.1 g) [gram], 2) CN-CBL (0.1 g) + casein (10 g) or 3) CN-CBL (0.1 g) + whey proteins (10 g). After the bolus, blood samples were taken until 24 h [hour] post-bolus. The intestinal absorption of CN-CBL was greater when the vitamin …

The Green Staff Of Asclepius: Envisioning Sustainable Medicine, Jason Lee Fishel

Doctoral Dissertations

To make society sustainable our institutions must also become sustainable. As an institution, health care contributes to environmental degradation. While unsurprising, contributions to environmental degradation increase risk factors for disease and illness, effectively frustrating the goals of medicine. To find ways to make health care sustainable I begin by reviewing the literature on sustainability from within environmental ethics and two previous attempts at envisioning sustainable health care in order to learn what to include in a vision of sustainable health care. Then I examine problems specific to making medicine sustainable by investigating how sustainability might affect the principles of medicine. …

Effect Of Small Interfering Rnas On In Vitro Replication And Gene Expression Of Feline Coronavirus, Eman Ahmed Mohamed Anis

Doctoral Dissertations

Feline corononavirus (FCoV) infection is ubiquitous in domestic cat populations worldwide and is usually associated with subclinical or mild enteritis. However, in some cats infection may result in the development of a fatal progressive disease called feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). FIP is considered to be the major cause of infectious-related death in pet cats. Currently, there is no protective vaccine or curative treatment to this highly fatal disease. In this study, we evaluated the ability of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to inhibit the in vitro viral replication and gene expression of FCoV as a potential treatment for FIP.

Five synthetic …

Living With Hypertension: Experiences Of Black Men Related To Their Perceptions Of The Clinical Encounter At Diagnosis, Glenda Mccartney Feild

Doctoral Dissertations

Introduction: In the U.S., hypertension (HTN) is the most common primary diagnosis and HTN related illnesses are the number one cause of death. Being a member of the Black population increases the risk for developing HTN. Black males are reported to develop HTN earlier in life and have a high incidence of undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled HTN. Sociocultural and gender barriers influence this population’s perceptions of medical experiences, which affects their participation in health-promoting behaviors such as eating a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, and decreasing stress.

Purpose: The purpose of this study …

"I Saved The Iguana": A Mixed Methods Study Examining Responder Mental Health After Major Disasters And Humanitarian Relief Events, Suzanne Marie Boswell

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was twofold. The first was to use Hobfoll’s (1989) Conservation of Resources theory to predict psychological stress based on responders’ perceptions of resource adequacy. The second was to use qualitative interviewing to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the disaster/humanitarian responder experience.

The study is significant given the expanding role of nurses within disaster/humanitarian response organizations. Furthermore, psychological stress results in increased turnover of human resources in these organizations. This turnover is detrimental to humanitarian systems that already lack adequate coverage and sufficiency because funding and human/material resources grow at a slower pace …

Dissociation And Sexual Trauma: The Moderating Role Of Somatization, Amineh Abbas

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined various types of trauma, with an emphasis on sexual trauma across the lifespan, in a clinical sample of male and female adult outpatients assessed for trauma, somatization, and dissociation. Two hundred forty-five adult outpatients at the University of Tennessee Psychological Clinic were administered the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), the Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC), and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), as part of the routine intake procedure. Of those individuals, 200 patients completed the questionnaires correctly and were included in the final study sample. The experience of sexual trauma indeed accounted for additional variance in somatization scores over and above …

Associations Between Local Health Department Maternal And Child Health Programs And Low Birth Weight In Rural Communities, Krista Marie Cowan

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Attention, Hyperactivity, And Cognitive Performance In Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Brianna Elizabeth Pollock

Masters Theses

The extent to which Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms (i.e., inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity) are associated with ADHD-related cognitive impairments has yet to be understood. This study sought to examine between-group differences in activity level, performance on a sustained attention task and objectively measured attention, while controlling for anxiety and depression severity in a sample of adults with and without ADHD (N = 26). High precision actigraphs and behavioral codes of visual attention to task were used to examine the extent to which activity level and visual attention to task are related to performance on a sustained attention task (i.e., Continuous Performance …

Social Support In An Internet-Based Weight Loss Intervention Among College Students, Yijia Zhang

Masters Theses

Objective: To assess college students’ perceptions regarding online social support in an 8-week Internet-based weight loss intervention.

Participants: Participants were those randomized to the intervention group of an online weight loss intervention targeting overweight and obese college students.

Methods: Members of the intervention group had access to a private discussion forum and weekly live chat sessions, allowing for anonymous interactions. Following the 8-week intervention, intervention group members were invited to complete an online focus group, discussing these tools. The transcripts were directly copied from the live chat conversation history. Using thematic analysis, perceptions regarding online social support were identified, coded …

The Phenomenon Of Outbound Medical Tourism In The United States, Tanner Douglas Cabbage

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Sensory Integration On Short Term Memory In College Students, Chelsea B. Tolliver

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Effect Of A Core Conditioning Program On Lumbar Paraspinal Area, Asymmetry And Pain Score In Military Working Dogs With Lumbosacral Pain, Andrea Leigh Henderson

Masters Theses

Introduction: Lumbosacral pain and stenosis are common causes of retirement from duty for Military Working Dogs (MWDs). Working dogs that receive surgical management for this condition often have a poor prognosis for return to duty after recovery. Humans with chronic low back pain demonstrate paraspinal muscle asymmetry, pain and dysfunction that often improve in response to an exercise program. This study investigated whether dogs with mild lumbosacral pain have decreased lumbar paraspinal muscle area, symmetry, and density, as well as increased pain and dysfunction compared to control dogs. Additionally, response of pain and dysfunction to an exercise program was assessed. …

Differentiation Of Equine Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Into Cells Of Neural Lineage And Their Application Into A Novel Model For Acute Peripheral Nerve Injury In The Horse, Claudia Cruz

Masters Theses

Studies have shown that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are able to differentiate into extra-mesodermal lineages, including neurons. Positive outcomes were obtained after transplantation of neurally-induced MSCs in rats, rabbits and guinea pigs after nerve injury, but the effect of these cells is unknown in horses. Our objective was to test the ability of equine mesenchymal stromal cells to differentiate into cells of neuronal lineage, and to assess differences, if any, in morphology and protein expression. Additionally, we wanted to investigate if horse age and cell passage number contributed to the ability to achieve neural differentiation.

The first part of this …

Belief In The Efficacy Of Psychotherapy (Bep): Psychometric Scale Development And Examination Of Theoretical Correlates, Erin Gray Volpe

Doctoral Dissertations

This study develops a psychometric scale measuring the extent to which an individual expects psychotherapy to be effective: The Belief in the Efficacy of Psychotherapy (BEP). Based in the research that describes expectations for therapy as process expectations or outcome expectations, the BEP scale is developed to measure outcome expectations for therapy exclusively (i.e., is psychotherapy helpful?). Current expectancy measures vastly underrepresent outcome expectations in particular, and BEP will be the first to focus solely on outcome expectations. Additionally, the proposed BEP scale measures the general cultural belief system (i.e., non-patients) and their beliefs about psychotherapy and therapists specifically, …

The Effects Of A Brief Mindfulness Intervention On Lab-Based Aggression, Amanda Eliza Seavey

Doctoral Dissertations

Aggression and violence are severe and prevalent problems associated with numerous negative health consequences and increased health care costs. Prevalence rates vary with the highest rates being among young adult populations. Some research indicates that aggression perpetration is an attempt at controlling negative affect. Therefore, many have posited that emotion regulation may be an amenable risk factor for violence and aggression, and interventions such as mindfulness-based therapies designed to enhance emotion regulation and distress tolerance may be helpful. Previous research has found positive effects on psychological well-being using even brief mindfulness interventions. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate how …

Exploring Perceptions Of Staff Registered Nurse Preceptors For Undergraduate, Pre-Licensure Nursing Students, Katherine C. Hall

Doctoral Dissertations

Staff nurses are increasingly called upon to accept more responsibilities and roles in addition to provider of patient care, including that of preceptor. Aside from dealing with demands of high acuity patients, working long hours with inadequate staffing, and carrying heavy workloads, nurses may view teaching and supervising students as an additional burden, time-consuming, and not part of their role. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore staff nurse experiences as preceptors to undergraduate, pre-licensure nursing students. Emphasis was placed on exploring RN’s perceptions of the role, specifically the preparation for, support in, and understanding of what the role …

Hospital Competitive Strategies And Performance Outcomes, Wei Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

Hospitals are under increasing pressure to improve performance and healthcare outcomes. The existing literature does not point to a clear conclusion on whether competition can help address the performance challenges of hospitals which lead to improvements in clinical outcomes. Prior research on the effects of hospital competitive strategies usually focuses on one strategy or one type of outcome at a time. As such, there is a dearth of systematical studies on different hospital competitive strategies and their consequent performance outcomes.

The main objective of this dissertation is to examine several hospital competitive strategies and quantitatively validate the implications of each …

Peace Under Pressure: Portraits Of Christian Leadership In College Basketball Coaches, Charles Henry Wilson Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations

NCAA Division I college basketball coaching is a high-stakes, high-reward profession. This study is based on three premises: (a) there is increasing pressure on college basketball coaches to win immediately and win consistently; (b) coaches are expected to maintain their integrity; (c) the pressure to win immediately and win consistently can influence some coaches to compromise their integrity. Given that context, the purpose of this study was to investigate and illuminate the lived experience of Christian head men’s and women’s basketball coaches at public, NCAA Division I institutions. This study was guided by two guiding research questions: (a) What is …

Communication, Control, And Time: The Lived Experience Of Uncertainty In Adolescent Pregnancy, Elizabeth Dortch Dalton

Doctoral Dissertations

This study qualitatively examined the lived experience of uncertainty among pregnant adolescents. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, long interviews were conducted with 10 pregnant adolescent women between the ages of 15-18 years. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the process of phenomenological explication. Data, emergent themes, memos, and a detailed audit trail were maintained using the qualitative data analysis package Nvivo 10 for Mac (beta version). Findings can be summarized with eight themes that underlie the essence of uncertainty in adolescent pregnancy: suspicion and denial, disclosure and reactions, controlling the flow of information, relational renegotiation, the emerging reality of pregnancy, information …

Physical Activity In Individuals With Down Syndrome, Chelsea B. Spurgeon

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Intimacy Uncertainty And Identity In Gay Male Couples Dealing With A Serodiscordant Hiv Status, Scott Allen Eldredge

Doctoral Dissertations

When individuals are diagnosed with a chronic illness, their lives instantly change. Daily routines are interrupted and attendance to the symptoms and side effects of illness and medication becomes a daily chore. However, the patient is not the only one that feels the disruptive effects of illness and the partner of the chronically ill patient must also contend with the daily effects of an illness that they themselves do not have. In the case of HIV, the infectious nature of the disease, along with the stigma associated with the disease, serve to be additional sources of stress in an already-stressful …

Joint Reaction Force And Contributions Of Surrounding Muscles To Knee Joint Load During Stair Ascent In Total Knee Replacement Patients And Healthy Individuals, Robert Jacob Rasnick

Masters Theses

Total knee replacement (TKR) is commonly used to correct end stage knee osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint. Unfortunately, difficulty with stair climbing has been seen to exist, prolonging the challenges of TKR patents. Complete understanding of loading at the knee is of great interest in order to aid patient populations, implant manufacturers, rehabilitation, and future research. The outcome of a TKR is intended to reestablish normal motion and loading of the knee. Musculoskeletal modeling provides a means to accurately approximate joint loading and the corresponding muscle contributions during a movement.

The purpose of the present study was to examine …

The Energy Expenditure And Feasibility Of Two Prenatal Yoga Programs, Doree Lynn Gardner

Masters Theses

Purpose: To determine the energy expenditure and feasibility of two different DVD-­‐ based prenatal yoga programs (static yoga practice and vinyasa practice). Methods: Participants were 25 women in their second trimester (13-­‐28 weeks) who werescreened for pregnancy-­‐related risk factors. The two DVDs used were “Prenatal Yoga with Shiva Rea” (DVD A) which is a static yoga practice, and “Jennifer Wolfes Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga” (DVD B) which is a flow yoga practice. Both DVDs were approximately 50-­‐55 minutes, and included three phases (warm up, main, cool down). Each subject completed both prenatal DVD routines approximately two weeks apart. The …

Accuracy Of Sensewear Armband Mini-Fly For Estimating Energy Expenditure In Normal Weight, Overweight, And Obese Individuals, Bethany Maryalice Forseth

Masters Theses

Obesity has become one of the greatest public health issues in America. BodyMedia promotes their SenseWear Armband physical activity monitor as a way to help with weight management. Purpose: to assess the accuracy of the SenseWear Armband Mini-Fly (SWA-MF) in adults of different BMI categories during rest, recovery, and two walking speeds. Methods: Forty-six participants were assigned to one of three BMI classifications: normal weight (n =15; 18.5-24.9 kg^.m^-2 [kilograms per meter squared]), overweight (n=17; 25-29.9 kg^.m^-2), or obese (n= 14; ≥30 kg^.m^-2). Height and weight were measured. Participants …

Effects Of Cycling Workload And Cadence On Frontal Plane Knee Load, Ying Fang

Masters Theses

The effect of workload and cadence on sagittal plane knee biomechanics in cycling has been widely studied, however few studies have focused on the frontal plane. Frontal plane knee biomechanics, especially knee abduction moment, is closely related to the severity and progression of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different workloads and cadences on knee frontal plane kinematics and kinetics. Eighteen subjects participated in this study. A motion analysis system was used to collect five cycles of kinematics during two minutes of cycling in eight testing conditions, which included five workload conditions of …

College Environment Behavioral And Perceptions Survey (Cebps): Using In-Depth Interviews As A Validation Method For Survey Development, Mackenzie Rae Ruppert

Masters Theses

Background: Although there are some validation procedures based in qualitative approaches (e.g. asking what someone thinks about the structure of a survey question during face, content validation, or cognitive interviews), there are no approaches to validate a subject’s responses by a “gold standard assessment”. The purpose of this study was to use a mix-methodology approach to validate subjects’ perceptions, which used indepth interviews as a criterion-based validation method.

Methods: 30 participants (15 male and 15 female) completed the CEBPS survey and an indepth interview with questions mirroring those in the survey. A priori coding was used to develop …

There Will Be Blood, Kerri E Moore

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Physical Activity And Its Effect On Reducing Disease: A Literature Review Of The National Runner's Health Study, Graham William Edson

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Wirelesseeg: Data Aquisition + Handheld Device, Michael Dylan Snowden, Madeline Threatt, Brent Mcferrin, David Platillero, Karsten Solies, Lindsey Hopf

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.