Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Risk Management Program Implementation On Worker Safety Knowledge, John C. Donnelly

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the effect of the implementation of a risk management program tool on worker safety knowledge in a composite building material fabrication facility whose workers suffered from an increasingly high injury (incidence) rate in recent years. Risk assessment codes (RACs) and job safety analyses (JSAs) were the primary tools used to introduce workers to the concept of risk. Because employee involvement is a crucial element in JSA development. employee input was frequently solicited throughout JSA development.

The study instrument consisted of a pre-test and post-test survey, to which an experimental and control group were subjected. The instrument was …

Data On Gait Characteristics Of Four, Five, And Six Year Old Children Using Three Dimensional Video Motion Analysis, Donna Soave Nichols

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study resulted from a need to gather and analyze data on gait characteristics of normal children using the Peak Performance Technologies, Incorporated system, initiate a data base for the Motion Analysis Center at Old Dominion University and compare a computerized motion analysis system to studies using different methods. Fifteen children, aged four to six, were evaluated during gait using a video-based computerized motion analysis system manufactured by Peak Performance Technologies, Incorporated. The gait characteristics studied were stride length, cadence, angular displacements and angular velocities of the pelvis, hips, knees and ankles. The results showed that methods …

Mmpi And Rorschach Findings Of Individuals Approved For Gender Reassignment Surgery, Gregory Ralph Caron

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Both clinical experience and empirical data from psychological tests present a picture of extreme clinical variation among those individuals who request gender reassignment surgery. Results of past empirical studies utilizing the MMPI and the Rorschach Test have tended to be equivocal regarding the level and nature of psychopathology associated with samples of gender dysphorics. These past studies are considered limited particularly in terms of methodological problems related to statistical power. This present study examined the nature and degree of psychopathology in a sample of candidates approved for gender reassignment surgery as reflected on their MMPI-2 clinical scale values and scores …

Views Of Feminist Family Therapy: A Q-Methodological Inquiry, Bronwen Cheek

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The feminist critique of family therapy has had a growing impact on theory and practice for almost two decades (Hare-Mustin, 1978; Bograd, 1990). Writings on feminist family therapy (FFT) reveal both common and diverse opinions about what FFT is. The present study examined how views of FFT are segmented using Q-methodology (Stephenson, 1953; Brown, 1980; McKeown & Thomas, 1988), a small-sample empirical technique for identifying emergent viewpoints and studying their similarities and differences. A Q-sort instrument of 60 statements was constructed to sample diverse discourse on FFT. Magraw's (1992) interviews with leading experts in FFT served as a primary source …

Biochemical And Molecular Characterization Of The Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (Psma), John Karl Troyer

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death in males in the United States. Additionally, the number of deaths attributed to prostate cancer is increasing at a rate of approximately 8% a year. Development of new diagnostic and therapy strategies are needed in order to improve the life expectancy of patients with this disease. One tool which may allow for improvements in prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy is the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 7E11-C5.3 which was first described in 1987. Since then, the antigen recognized by MAb 7E11-C5.3 has been named the prostate specific …

The Relationship Between Levels Of Dentist Supervision And The Ability Of Dental Hygienists In Nontraditional Settings To Provide Care, Julie Ann Dunphy

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to determine if a relationship exists between levels of dentist supervision and the ability of dental hygienists in nontraditional settings to provide care, and to ascertain differences in the ability of dental hygienists practicing in legal jurisdictions with direct, indirect, general, and no dentist supervision. The Dental Hygiene supervision in Nontraditional settings Questionnaire (DHSNSQ) was sent to a purposive sample consisting of dental hygienists employed in nontraditional settings within one of the four levels of dentist supervision. The levels of dentist supervision were based on criteria, education, and competence, stipulated by each of the …

Affective Reactions, Social Support And Willingness To Self-Disclose To Hiv Seropositive Individuals: Impact Of Sexual Orientation And Responsibility For The Infection, Susan Paige Sherburne

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

An attributional model of controllability suggests that perceptions of someone's controllability of an event lead to anger and rejection, whereas perceptions of uncontrollability lead to pity and helping. This study examined the impact of an HIV victim's sexual orientation and "responsibility" for infection on subjects' affective responses, self-disclosure to the person, social support, and liking and trust for the person. Subjects received messages from their "partner" (a confederate) stating that he had just learned he was HIV positive. The message either stated that he was heterosexual or homosexual, and that he had either only one partner or many partners. Subjects …

Competitive Enzyme Immunoassay Of Catechin In Human Blood Serum, Jay Fedorowicz

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

( +)-Catechin is a type of polyphenolic compound, and it is enriched in fruits, plants, and various beverages. Polyphenolic compounds also play an important role in the human diet. Many scientists, especially wine researchers, have proposed that(+)catechin and its polymers could have many positive health effects. Thus, it is essential to learn more about (+)-catechin and other polyphenolics. Presently, high performance liquid chromatography is the only method to detect ( + )-catechin levels in human blood serum, but this method has the high cost of instrumentation and does not provide good sensitivity. The objective of this project is to develop …

The Association Between Perceived Family Support And Psychological Well-Being In Infertile Couples, Linda Marquardt Mintle

Health Services Research Dissertations

A correlational research design utilizing a cross-sectional survey methodology was used to investigate the association between perceived family support and psychological well-being in infertile couples. Family stress theory and the construct of boundary ambiguity were conceptual frameworks applied to the developmental family life cycle. Respondents were 35 married infertile couples with primary infertility recruited from a private For-profit infertility clinic located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Responses on the Moos and Moos (1984) Family Environment Scale and from the SCL-90-R developed by Derogatis (1977) measured perceived family support and psychological distress respectively. Major findings indicated that infertile couples rated their families …

The Influence Of National Culture On Work-Related Values And Job Satisfaction Between American And Filipino Registered Nurses, Karin Polifko-Harris

Health Services Research Dissertations

This ex post facto study explored the effects of national culture on work-related values and job satisfaction between American and Filipino registered nurses. Three questionnaires were used: Hofstede's Values Survey Module 94, the Survey of Work Values and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. The all-female sample comprised 88 American and 56 Filipino registered nurses employed at an urban acute care facility in South Hampton Roads, Virginia.

A major finding of the study is the direction and intensity of the country scores in the Values Survey Module 94, especially in the Filipinos' scores. The masculinity value was reported as strongly feminine for …

The Effects Of Partial Hospitalization On Acute Psychiatric Hospital Readmission Days, William E. Turner Iii

Health Services Research Dissertations

Using the theoretical construct of recidivism and pathway and gatekeeper variables associated with it, this study compared the effects of a combination of partial and acute psychiatric hospitalization and only acute psychiatric hospitalization on the total number of acute hospital readmission days over a 12 month period using a causal-comparative design. Two hundred and forty cases were randomly selected from an existing database which contained information on a population of urban insurance beneficiaries who had accessed psychiatric care during a two year period. The group accessing a combination of acute care and partial care had significantly higher readmission days. Age, …

In Vitro Expression Of Human Zona Pellucida Protein 3, Chih-Wei Chen

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Human zona pellucida protein 3 (hZP3) is the putative receptor on the zona pellucida of the mature oocyte that recognizes and binds sperm, and therefore plays a critical role in fertilization.

A full length cDNA of hZP3 (1278 bp) was amplified from the human ovary mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The hZP3 cDNA was subcloned into PSK and pREP4 expression vectors. The cDNA of hZP3 was further characterized by restriction mapping, PCR, auto-sequencing and Southern blot analysis by using an internal oligonucleotide probe, and found to be identical to the one reported by J. Dean. Using autosequencing, 289 …

Identification And Characterization Of Mitochondrial Dna Variants In Alzheimer's Disease, Natasha Singh Hamblet

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that affects a significant portion of the human population regardless of ethnicity or gender. A mitochondrial hypothesis of AD has been proposed based on a number of studies which establish altered oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and ATP synthesis in AD tissue. ATP demand is most prevalent in the brain; damage to OXPHOS could severely impair brain metabolism, thereby leading to a decline in cognitive function. Four out of five complexes in the OXPHOS pathway are partly encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA); thus, this may be a crucial site of lesions that alter brain …

Patient Satisfaction Among Users Of The After Hours Program, Helen L. Larocco

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The problem of increasing health care costs and decreasing access to health care services is a major crisis in the U.S. today. One factor contributing to the rising cost of health care is the inappropriate use of emergency rooms, (ERs). In response to escalating costs a local health care corporation implemented a telephone triage program called the After Hours Program, (AHP). The goal of the program was to reduce inappropriate utilization of emergency rooms, and to educate patients to recognize and treat specific health problems independently, i.e., home treatment.

A program evaluation was completed in which different dimensions of patient …

An Assessment Of The Descriptors And Determinants Of Academic Success Of Selected Allied Health Students In Virginia, Theodora Christine Gordon

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study assessed the relationship of cognitive and noncognitive variables in relationship to academic success of students from selected allied health majors: respiratory therapist (RTT), radiologic technology (RT), surgical technology (ST) and medical records technician (MRT) from hospital based and community college programs in Virginia. Student academic success was defined as academic (classroom) grade point average, clinical grade point average, cumulative grade point average and passing status. The cognitive variables were preclinical (high school) grade point average, academic, clinical and cumulative grade point averages. The noncognitive variables were character type, temperament type/preference for learning style, and the Sedlacek Noncognitive Questionnaire …

A Comparison Of The Utilization Of Health Services In The Presence Or Absence Of Prescriptive Drug Insurance In A Managed Care Environment, Martha Groblewski

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study tested if the availability of third party payment for prescriptive drugs as part of employer sponsored health insurance was associated with a change in the utilization of four types of health services in an independent practice association (IPA). The study employed the individual determinants component of the Andersen-Newman theoretical framework for health services utilization. Groups of employees in companies that offered health insurance identical in all ways except for the presence or absence of the prescriptive rider were included in the study which resulted in a population of 122 companies (89 with prescriptive rider insurance and 33 without …

Effect Of Nutrition Intervention On The Outcomes Of Pregnancy: A Rural Urban Comparison, Ranjita Misra

Health Services Research Dissertations

The present study examines the effect of nutritional intervention on two outcomes of pregnancy: birth weight of the baby and gestational age. The study further examines the difference in nutritional intervention in rural and urban areas. The research method used is ex-post facto design. Data for the study is extracted from the health records and tracking sheets of women participating in the Nutrition Intervention Project in Virginia Department of Health. Path analysis and effects analysis are used to analyze the causal and direct effect of the independent variables and each of the outcome variables. A model has been developed grounded …

Mathematical Models Of Chemotherapy, John Carl Panetta

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Several mathematical models are developed to describe the effects of chemotherapy on both cancerous and normal tissue. Each model is defined by either a single homogeneous equation or a system of heterogeneous equations which describe the states of the normal and/or cancer cells. Periodic terms are added to model the effects of the chemotherapy. What we obtain are regions, in parameter space (dose and period), of acceptable drug regimens.

The models take into account various aspects of chemotherapy. These include, interactions between the cancer and normal tissue, cell specific chemotherapeutic drug, the use of non-constant parameters to aid in modeling …

Development Of A K-Correction Factor For The Mmpi-A, Jody Jacobson Alperin

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

In 1992, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - Adolescent (MMPI-A) was developed to meet the unique experiences and needs of adolescents. Despite evidence that adolescents often demonstrate response biases in taking the MMPI-A, currently there is no method to systematically "correct" for the effect of test-taking attitude on profile configuration with this age group. The K-correction factor has been widely used to correct for defensiveness or underreporting of symptomatology on the MMPI among adult respondents, although results of cross-validation research on the effectiveness of the K-correction factor have been inconclusive. The present study derived age-appropriate K-weights to determine the degree …

The Kinetic Characterization Of Mutant L289p Of Recombinant Hiv-1 Reverse Transcriptase, Tryn Thomas Stimart

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, type 1 (HIV-1) is the causative agent of the Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Currently, AIDS is the leading cause of death amongst young people in the United States. The large increase of HIV-1 infections over the past decade has spawned considerable research in fighting the spread of this disease. One area of intense HIV-1 research has focused on the enzyme Reverse Transcriptase (RT) which is an essential enzyme involved in the replication and life cycle of HIV-1. HIV-1 RT is composed of p66 and p51 subunits and is only active as a heterodimer in vivo. …

A Kinetic Investigation Of The Mechanism Of Muscle Contraction With A Series Of Nucleotides, Wei Jiang

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Muscle contraction is thought to be accomplished by sliding of myosin filaments along actin filaments. Although actomyosin naturally uses ATP as an energy source, it can also use other nucleoside triphosphates (NTP) as substrates. In this work, the dependence of rate and equilibrium constants of the various steps in the muscle contraction mechanism upon nucleotide structure was investigated to unravel the dependence of the mechanical properties of the muscle upon changes in different biochemical steps of the mechanism.

The experiments measuring the dissociation of actomyosin by NTP (or mant-NTP) shows that both the rate constant of actomyosin-S1 dissociation and second …

Effectiveness Of Dna Probe Technology In Distinguishing Among Gingival Health, Mild-Moderate Periodontitis, And Severe Periodontitis In Human Oral Sites, Juliana J. Kim

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if there is a difference in the type of microorganisms found in oral sites classified as gingival health, mild-moderate periodontitis, or severe periodontitis as measured by the DMDx* Test. A purposive sample of one hundred oral sites was selected from adult patients. Subjects were excluded from the study based on: the presence of any systemic disorders, communicable diseases, diabetic conditions, blood dyscrasias, congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, pregnancy, history of periodontal surgery, prosthetic joint replacement, hypertensive heart disease, or any medications that might alter the gingival tissues (e.g. antibiotics, hormonal therapy, …

Structural Characterization Of A Novel Inhibitor Of Hiv Reverse Transcriptase (Hiv Rt), Greggory Jon Woitte

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections have become a leading cause of death among young people in the United States today. As the number of HIV infections increases, so too does the cost of treatment. Together, these numbers have prompted an increase in the development of pharmaceutical interventions. HIV reverse transcriptase (HIV RT) has become a suitable target for drug therapy because it is the sole enzyme responsible for HIV replication.

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide isolated from the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus, has been shown to block a variety of cell adhesion related events including metastasis. In addition, fucoidan has also …

The Importance Of Religion For Parents Coping With A Chronically Ill Child, Carolyn M. Rutledge, Jeffrey S. Levin, David B. Larson, John S. Lyons

Nursing Faculty Publications

This study examines differences in the stability and consequences of religious coping among parents (N = 102) of chronically ill children. Analyses revealed that changes in religious patterns due to a child's illness were reflected in changes in other, non-religious coping resources. Specifically, parents whose pre-illness religious patterns were satisfactory did not alter their use of other coping resources, whereas parents who reported changes in their religious patterns also made changes in their use of familial financial and social support systems.

Patellofemoral Pain In Female Ballet Dancers: Correlation With Iliotibial Band Tightness And Tibial External Rotation, John Winslow, Evangeline Yoder

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Review of the literature reveals that ballet dancers have a high incidence of idiopathic patellofemoral pain. Twenty-four female ballet dancers were subjects in a study of the relationship between: 1) iliotibial band (ITB) tightness and patellofemoral pain, and 2) ITB tightness and degrees of tibial external rotation used in the dance demi-plie. Dancers were initially assessed by questionnaire to determine if any had knee pain. Twelve subjects mel the study criteria for patellofemoral pain, and 12 dancers without knee pain served as controls for the study. Iliotibial band tightness was measured (Ober test), and degrees of tibial external rotation used …

A Logistic Model Of Periodic Chemotherapy, J. C. Panetta

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

A logistic differential equation with a time-varying periodic parameter is used to model the growth of cells, in particular cancer cells, in the presences of chemotherapeutic drugs. The chemotherapeutic effects are modeled by a periodic parameter that modifies the growth rate of the cell tissue. A negative growth rate represents the detrimental effects of the drugs. A simple criterion is obtained for the behavior of the chemotherapy.

Attachment Theory And Self-Disclosure Of Hiv Status, Amy H. Grimshaw

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the influence of attachment style on self-disclosure of HIV seropositive status. Subjects were classified according to Bartholomew's model of adult attachment (i.e., secure, preoccupied, fearful, or dismissing). Steps were then taken to assess differences in the subjects' willingness to disclose their HIV seropositive status, the communication style chosen for disclosure, the subjects' perceptions of the importance of disclosing their HIV seropositive status, and the feared negative consequences of disclosure. To increase generalizability subjects were asked to assess their self-disclosure to three types of target persons: lover, same-sex friend, and opposite-sex friend. Attachment style significantly affected perceived importance …

Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Myogenic Reactivity In Isolated Arterioles, Hui Zou

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The myogenic reactivity provides one of the principal mechanisms for blood flow autoregulation. The aims of the performed studies described in this dissertation were to test the role of [Ca²⁺]_i and MLC phosphorylation in arteriolar myogenic reactivity and further examine the source(s) of activator Ca²⁺ required to initiate and maintain myogenic vasoconstriction. In addition, the possible underlying mechanism of contractile protein expression was also addressed.

These studies used male Sprague Dawley rats of 200 ~ 350 grams body weight. Experiments were carried out using rat cremaster first order arterioles and mesenteric vessels. Gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting …