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Exploring Body Image And The Association Between Body Image Dissatisfaction And Waist Circumference Among Overweight And Obese Rural African American Women Participating In A Weight Loss Program, Erica Rayshelle Johnson Jan 2015

Exploring Body Image And The Association Between Body Image Dissatisfaction And Waist Circumference Among Overweight And Obese Rural African American Women Participating In A Weight Loss Program, Erica Rayshelle Johnson

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African American (AA) women are disproportionately burdened by obesity, an epidemic with implications that reach beyond physiological consequences. Given that perceptions of body image may impact health-promoting behaviors and weight management efforts, we sought to evaluate the presence and magnitude of body image dissatisfaction (BID) and explore its relationship with waist circumference (WC), independent of weight among overweight and obese treatment-seeking rural AA women. Participants referred to images from the Pulvers Figure Rating Scale that included nine body silhouettes to answer: “How I think I look now” (i.e., current body image) and “How I would like to look” (i.e., desired …


Statistical Methodology To Improve The Understanding Of Dna Methylation Data, Lindsay Leigh Waite Jones Jan 2015

Statistical Methodology To Improve The Understanding Of Dna Methylation Data, Lindsay Leigh Waite Jones

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The study of epigenetics involves the investigation of genomic elements that do not directly affect DNA sequence but are stable and preserved during cell division. One of the most commonly studied epigenetic elements is DNA methylation, which occurs when a methyl group is added to a cytosine residue in the DNA sequence. The advancement of technology to quantify DNA methylation, including bisulfite sequencing and bisulfite microarrays, has led to a large amount of available data. However, many questions still remain as to how to statistically analyze this data. This dissertation addresses some statistical concerns related to the analysis of DNA …


Examining The Interplay Of Diet Composition, Cardiometabolic Diseases, And Economics, Kenneth Patton Kell Jan 2015

Examining The Interplay Of Diet Composition, Cardiometabolic Diseases, And Economics, Kenneth Patton Kell

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Despite the invaluable contributions that both randomized controlled trials and longitudinal studies have made to our understanding of the relationships between diet and cardiovascular disease (CVD), a comprehensive understanding of these relationships does not yet exist from birth to death. Furthermore, the longest running of these longitudinal studies have not included a representative portion of racial minority participants. Lastly, given the financial impacts of CVD, as well as how socioeconomic status (SES) can influence diet, the interplay between these three merits consideration. Therefore, the objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the associations between diet and cardiovascular disease (CVD): 1) …


The Comparison Of 3-Dimensional Soft-Tissue Of Adult Korean, Chinese, And Houstonian Caucasian Patients With Class I Malocclusion, Jamie Youngshin Kim Jan 2015

The Comparison Of 3-Dimensional Soft-Tissue Of Adult Korean, Chinese, And Houstonian Caucasian Patients With Class I Malocclusion, Jamie Youngshin Kim

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The purpose of this study is to compare the computer generated facial averages of Korean adults with Chinese and Houstonian Caucasian faces using a three-dimensional surface imaging system. Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional images of Korean adults (Seoul, Korea) with Class I malocclusion were captured using the 3dMDTMface, which combines structured light and stereo-photogrammetry techniques. The images of 138 Koreans were processed to generate average male and female facial shells using Rapidform 2006 Plus Pack 2 software. The average Korean facial shells were superimposed and compared to the average shells of Chinese adults (Xi’an, China) and Caucasian adults (Houston, Texas) from …


The Impact Of Cultural Competency On Patient Experience Of Care, Emily Lane Koudelka Jan 2015

The Impact Of Cultural Competency On Patient Experience Of Care, Emily Lane Koudelka

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The impact of hospitals’ cultural competency on inpatient experience of care will be examined. Enhanced patient experience of care may alter an individual’s willingness to use health services, thereby increasing access and decreasing health disparities. As a result, to the extent that cultural competency influences patient experience of care, the integration of cultural competency into healthcare organizations has emerged as a critical issue for researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers. Findings from this study will inform policies, practices, and processes across the broad spectrum of healthcare industry stakeholders.


Defining The Role Of Trps1 In Phosphate Mediated Mineralization, Maria Kuzynski Jan 2015

Defining The Role Of Trps1 In Phosphate Mediated Mineralization, Maria Kuzynski

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Mineralization is a tightly controlled bi-phasic process that occurs when crystals of calcium and phosphate (Pi) are laid down within the extracellular matrix. However, the molecular networks regulating the initiation and progression of this process have not been well characterized. Pi, as one of the components of mineral crystals and a signaling molecule that regulates expression of mineralization-related genes, is essential to the mineralization process. In our studies, we discovered a novel function for Pi in this process: Pi is sufficient to induce secretion of matrix vesicles, which support the initiation of mineralization. Furthermore, we determined that this induction is …


An Nphp-4 Enhancer Mutagenesis Screen For Modifiers Of Cilia Phenotypes Reveals Novel Mks Alleles, Uncovers, A Specific Genetic Interaction Between Osm-3 And Nphp-4, And A Novel Ciliary Calcium Channel., Dawn Landis Jan 2015

An Nphp-4 Enhancer Mutagenesis Screen For Modifiers Of Cilia Phenotypes Reveals Novel Mks Alleles, Uncovers, A Specific Genetic Interaction Between Osm-3 And Nphp-4, And A Novel Ciliary Calcium Channel., Dawn Landis

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Nephronophthisis (NPHP) is a ciliopathy with diverse clinical features likely caused by genetic modifiers. To identify NPHP modifiers, a screen was conducted on nphp-4(tm925) mutant C. elegans to reveal mutations that exacerbate the NPHP ciliary defects. Ten loci were generated, five of which have now been identified. Three are mutations in ciliopathy genes mks-1, mks-2, and mks-5. The fourth allele (yhw66) is a missense mutation (S316F) in OSM-3, a kinesin required for cilia distal segment assembly. As in osm-3 null mutants, nphp-4(tm925);osm-3(yhw66) mutants lack distal segments, are dye-filing defective (Dyf), and have osmotic avoidance defects (OSM). The osm-3(yhw66) mutant alone …


Changes In The Frontal Soft Tissue Of The Lower Face By Age And Sex, Maggie Law Jan 2015

Changes In The Frontal Soft Tissue Of The Lower Face By Age And Sex, Maggie Law

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The purpose of this study is to determine age-related changes of the lower face by age and by gender. The secondary purpose of this study is to stress the importance of the clin-ical exam for orthodontic patients in the frontal view, the way most patients perceive themselves. Also, individualized treatment planning with age-appropriate incisor display is crucial for esthetic outcomes. Materials and Methods: Specific dimensions of the lower face were measured at patients initial clinical exam before starting orthodontic treatment. All patients were from Dr. David Sarver's private practice in Vestavia Hills, AL collected from 1/1/2002-11/4/2014. The following parameters were …


The Regulation Of Vitamin A Metabolism, Mark Adams Jan 2015

The Regulation Of Vitamin A Metabolism, Mark Adams

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Bioactive vitamin A takes form as several molecules, among them all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) is the major form and influences a wide range of biological processes. RA must be synthesized through a two-step mechanism, where all-trans-retinol is first oxidized to all-trans-retinaldehyde by retinol dehydrogenases (RDHs) and retinaldehyde is further oxidized to RA by retinaldehyde dehydrogenases (RALDHs). The first step, retinol to retinaldehyde conversion is the rate limiting step and therefore a likely target of mechanisms that modulate RA synthesis. Despite this, many of the enzymes that are involved in retinol and retinaldehyde interconversion have yet to be identified and thus many …


Competition From New Neurons Drives Circuit Refinement In The Adult Dentate Gyrus, Elena W. Adlaf Jan 2015

Competition From New Neurons Drives Circuit Refinement In The Adult Dentate Gyrus, Elena W. Adlaf

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The hippocampus encodes sensory information into memories. The dentate gyrus (DG) region is viewed as the entry point into the hippocampus, receiving sensory and spatial signals from perforant path axons of the entorhinal cortex (EC). Ever since researchers discovered a neurogenic niche in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the DG in adult animals and humans, many studies have been aimed at discovering how these continually proliferating granule cells (GCs) contribute to the network. Immature GCs have dendrites that project densely into the molecular layer alongside mature GCs and there is morphological evidence that immature excitatory spines preferentially synapse onto existing …


Evaluation Of The Productive Efficiency Of Nurse Practitioners In A Nurse Managed Center In A Highly Restrictive Scope-Of-Practice State, Faraz Ahmed Jan 2015

Evaluation Of The Productive Efficiency Of Nurse Practitioners In A Nurse Managed Center In A Highly Restrictive Scope-Of-Practice State, Faraz Ahmed

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The purpose of this study is to determine the productive efficiency of Nurse Practitioners (NP) in a Nurse Managed Center (NMC) in a highly restrictive Scope-of-Practice (SOP) state. NPs are skilled, cost effective and quality health care providers and are considered a highly competitive option for increasing access while reducing health care costs. However, it is not clearly known if NPs are the most productively efficient at delivering this reduced cost of health care. The theories of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) and Resource Based View (RBV) were used as a framework to develop the hypotheses that examined the productive efficiency …


Pathophysiology And Metabolic Dysfunction Following Polytrauma, Robert Mackay Akscyn Jan 2015

Pathophysiology And Metabolic Dysfunction Following Polytrauma, Robert Mackay Akscyn

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Polytrauma, a combination of injuries to more than one body part or organ system, is common in modern warfare and in automobile and industrial accidents. The combination of injuries can include burn, fracture, hemorrhage, trauma to the extremities, and trauma to specific organ systems. These injuries are highly survivable when occurring singly. However, when they occur in combination the prognosis is worsened. To investigate the effects of combined injuries, we have developed a new and highly reproducible model of polytrauma. This model combines burn injury with soft tissue and gastrointestinal (GI) tract trauma. Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to …


Regulation Of The Regulatory T Cell-Immunoglobulin A Pathway, Katie Lynn Alexander Jan 2015

Regulation Of The Regulatory T Cell-Immunoglobulin A Pathway, Katie Lynn Alexander

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A dysregulated immune response to the microbiota is a defined characteristic of Crohn's Disease (CD), a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Understanding how homeo-stasis is maintained in the intestine despite the immense concentration of bacteria present is an active area of research. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in mucosal tolerance by controlling inflammation and modulating immune responses initiated by T effector cells (Teffs). Tregs also provide vital survival factors to IgA+ B cells in the intes-tine in order to support Immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses as part of a protective Treg-IgA pathway, which functions to maintain mutualism …


Association Between Physical Activity And Learning, Pain Coping Strategies, Perceived Stress, And Depression Among Adults With Diabetes And Chronic Pain, Susan J. Andreae Jan 2015

Association Between Physical Activity And Learning, Pain Coping Strategies, Perceived Stress, And Depression Among Adults With Diabetes And Chronic Pain, Susan J. Andreae

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In addition to the role of physical activity (PA) in the prevention of chronic disease and premature death, PA may have psychosocial benefits. We examined the association between four different domains of PA and three outcomes that may contribute to the emotional and mental well being of individuals. This is a secondary analysis of community dwelling adults with diabetes and chronic pain in which we examined the association between four domains of PA and learning (measured using diabetes knowledge, self efficacy in diabetes and pain management), pain coping strategies, perceived stress, and depression. Regression models were used to model changes …


Upper Incisors Position Changes After Orthodontic Treatment In Class I, Ii And Iii Malocclusions, Konstantinos Bakos Jan 2015

Upper Incisors Position Changes After Orthodontic Treatment In Class I, Ii And Iii Malocclusions, Konstantinos Bakos

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the maxillary central incisor position changes after orthodontic treatment in Class I, II and III malocclusions. Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated nighty non extraction orthodontic Class I, II and III cases which were collected randomly from the Orthodontic clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Institutional Review Board of the University of Alabama at Birmingham approved the study. All the chosen cases were treated with fixed appliances and according to the standards of American Board of Orthodontics. All the lateral cephalo-metric radiographs were taken using …


The I507-Atc→Att Silent Codon Change Contributes To The Misfolding Of ∆F508 Cftr, Vedrana Bali Jan 2015

The I507-Atc→Att Silent Codon Change Contributes To The Misfolding Of ∆F508 Cftr, Vedrana Bali

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Synonymous codon changes (SCCs) do not alter the amino acid sequence of proteins, but may significantly change the phenotype. The frequency of synonymous codons is species- and gene-specific, described as codon usage bias (CUB). Over the past 50 years, research has shown that SCCs affect protein biogenesis, development of human disorders and the function of recombinant proteins developed for therapeutic applications. However, the molecular mechanisms by which SCCs alter the function of gene products are not completely understood. In Chapter 2 we summarize present knowledge in this field. The most common cause of cystic fibrosis (CF) is the deletion of …


Bond Of Dual Cure Resin Cements To Enamel And Dentin In Self Cure Mode, Rashmi Radhakrishnan Jan 2015

Bond Of Dual Cure Resin Cements To Enamel And Dentin In Self Cure Mode, Rashmi Radhakrishnan

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Dual cured resin cements are frequently used to cement all ceramic restorations. The increased thickness and /or opacity of restorations block light transmission. In these situations, where little or no light can be transmitted through the restorations, the polymerization of the cement is in the self-cure mode. Purpose: This study measures the bond strength and mode of failure of dual cure resin cements to enamel and dentin in a self-cure mode using e.max rods. Methods: 160 extracted human molars were ground to mid-coronal dentin (N=80) or superficial enamel (N=80) and finished to 320 grit disks. Four adhesive/cement combinations - Multilink …


A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial To Assess The Performance Of Microtextured Dental Implants With Or Without A Machined Collar- 1 Year Results, Elizabeth Felts Randall Jan 2015

A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial To Assess The Performance Of Microtextured Dental Implants With Or Without A Machined Collar- 1 Year Results, Elizabeth Felts Randall

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Aim: To assess the performance of microtextured dental implants with or without a machined collar at one year after placement. Material and Methods: Fifty-eight patients received dental implant therapy to restore missing teeth in one area of the maxilla or man-dible at the UAB Department of Graduate Periodontology. Residents in the program placed microtextured implants with a microtextured collar with microgrooves (test group) and microtextured implants with a machined collar (control group). Sites were randomized to the test group or control group. Study visit protocol was followed and implants were restored by off-site dentists. Sixty-nine (69) implants were assessed at …


Geographic Access To Interventional Cardiology Services In Maine, James P. Rhudy Jr Jan 2015

Geographic Access To Interventional Cardiology Services In Maine, James P. Rhudy Jr

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Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome is the most common cause of death in the U.S. and the world; ST segment elevated myocardial infarction is the most acute form. The preferred reperfusion therapy is immediate primary percutaneous coronary intervention at an interventional cardiology center. It is intuitive, but not known, whether delay in receipt of reperfusion therapy because of geographic distance is associated with increased coronary mortality. Even so, clinical practice guidelines recommend organizing coronary care in each community in regional systems. Hub-and-spoke has been proposed as a regionalized coronary care model. Article synthesis: The first article in this dissertation, titled Effectiveness …


Transient-State Kinetic Analysis Of The Rna Polymerase I Nucleotide Incorporation Mechanism, Francis Dean Appling Jan 2015

Transient-State Kinetic Analysis Of The Rna Polymerase I Nucleotide Incorporation Mechanism, Francis Dean Appling

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The diversity of enzymes and the reactions which they catalyze is enormous. Careful study of enzymatic reaction mechanisms has taught us a great deal about chemical reactivity and has given us insight into the chemical and physical basis of life. One particularly ubiquitous class of enzymes, the RNA polymerases, are expressed in all forms of life. RNA polymerases are central components of nucleic acid metabolism and display a variety of distinctive enzymatic features; two points which solicit their thorough study. The central theme of this dissertation is the use of kinetic techniques to describe enzymatic reaction mechanisms. Although the main …


Tau-Sh3 Interactions: Implications For Alzheimer's Disease, Jesse Nicholas Cochran Jan 2015

Tau-Sh3 Interactions: Implications For Alzheimer's Disease, Jesse Nicholas Cochran

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and with Americans’ increasing longevity it is becoming an epidemic. There are currently no effective treatments for this disorder. Abnormalities of tau track more closely with cognitive decline than the most studied therapeutic target in AD, amyloid-beta, but the optimal strategy for targeting tau has not yet been identified. Based on considerable preclinical data from AD models, we hypothesize that interactions between tau and SH3 domain–containing proteins are pathogenic in AD. Genetically reducing either tau or tau interactants has beneficial effects relevant to AD. Here, we describe a drug screen for …


Consequences Of Trps1 Deficiency On Dentinogenesis, Morgan Goss Jan 2015

Consequences Of Trps1 Deficiency On Dentinogenesis, Morgan Goss

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Dentinogenesis is a complex process of dentin formation. It involves differentiation of odontoblasts, the cells that make dentin, and the formation of a unique extracellular matrix, known as dentin. Dentin is ultimately produced through the interaction of collagen fibers, non-collagenous proteins and hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals. Odontoblasts are cranial neural crest (CNC) ectomesenchymal derived cells. Trps1 is a novel transcription factor believed to play an important role in both tooth formation and the mineralization process. TRPS1 gene mutations are known to result in dental and skeletal abnormalities manifested in humans as tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome (TRPS) and Ambras syndrome. Trps1 expression varies throughout …


Three Studies On Cardiovascular Health: Modifiable Risk Factors And Health Expenditures In Medicare, Kristal Jo Aaron Jan 2015

Three Studies On Cardiovascular Health: Modifiable Risk Factors And Health Expenditures In Medicare, Kristal Jo Aaron

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This dissertation comprises a series of studies conducted on modifiable risk factors as they contribute to cardiovascular health and disease and their associated health service expenditures and utilization. Specific topics in this compilation include (1) exploring the role of dietary sodium and potassium intake in cardiovascular health and disease; (2) examination of direct health expenditures in the Medicare-linked REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort as associated with Life’s Simple 7 (LS7), a composite measure of cardiovascular health defined by the American Heart Association (AHA) that is based on seven modifiable risk factors (blood pressure, blood cholesterol, …


Deleterious Effects Of Hyperglycemia On Cognitive Functioning In The Cardia Study Cohort, Michele Holland Talley Jan 2015

Deleterious Effects Of Hyperglycemia On Cognitive Functioning In The Cardia Study Cohort, Michele Holland Talley

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DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF HYPERGLYCEMIA ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN THE CARDIA STUDY COHORT MICHELE LYN HOLLAND TALLEY SCHOOL OF NURSING ABSTRACT With an aging society, maintaining cognitive functioning into older age is becoming more important. Because of the impact cognitive functioning has on daily activities, any disruption may inhibit the ability to perform such daily activities successfully. To prevent disruptions, determinants of cognitive functioning must be considered. Such determinants may or may not be modifiable. Some predictors may be demographic, metabolic, or inflammatory in nature. In addition, predictors or determinants may differ based on genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease. As part …


Individual, Family, And Social Factors Associated With Adolescent Obesity: A Policy Relevant Focus, Janice Marguerite Utley Jan 2015

Individual, Family, And Social Factors Associated With Adolescent Obesity: A Policy Relevant Focus, Janice Marguerite Utley

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INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND SOCIAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADOLESCENT OBESITY: A POLICY RELEVANT FOCUS JANICE M. UTLEY PUBLIC HEALTH ABSTRACT This dissertation is comprised of three papers that examined individual, family, and social factors associated with adolescent overweight and obesity with the aim of generating data that could inform the design of policy interventions to prevent or reverse rising prevalence. The first investigation was a type of literature review called a scoping study that examined the extent, range, and type of research activity on adolescent obesity that used a multilevel or hierarchical design to look at two or more contextual areas …


A Novel Role For Usp14 In Regulating Non-Proteolytic Ubiquitin Signaling, Jada Hallengren Vaden Jan 2015

A Novel Role For Usp14 In Regulating Non-Proteolytic Ubiquitin Signaling, Jada Hallengren Vaden

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Loss of the deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) USP14 in the ataxia (axJ) mice leads to altered neuromuscular junction (NMJ) structure, reduced synaptic transmission at the NMJ, and decreased mobility. However, the types of processes that USP14 regulates in the nervous system remain unclear. Because association with the proteasome stimulates USP14's ubiquitin hydrolase activity, it is thought to act primarily on proteasomal substrates. Therefore, one way for USP14 to support nervous system function is by modulating protein turnover. While a number of studies done in yeast and immortalized cell lines demonstrate that loss or inhibition of USP14 alters proteasome function, there is …


The Effects Of The Initially Transcribed Sequence On Reiterative Transcription In Escherichia Coli, Jeffery Michael Vahrenkamp Jan 2015

The Effects Of The Initially Transcribed Sequence On Reiterative Transcription In Escherichia Coli, Jeffery Michael Vahrenkamp

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Transcription, the synthesis of a ribonucleic acid transcript using a nucleic acid template, is the first step in gene expression for all life. In most organisms, high fidelity transcription is achieved through the formation of an RNA:DNA hybrid which allows the RNA polymerase to maintain the correct register. Slippage, which would lead to improper base pairing, is prevented by the heterogeneous sequence of the DNA template. However, when homogenous tracts of bases are present in the template, slippage can occur, allowing a single base in the template to encode multiple bases in the transcript in a process called reiterative transcription. …


A Grounded Theory Model For Faculty Evaluation Of Nursing Student Performance During A Simulation, Penni Isla Watts Jan 2015

A Grounded Theory Model For Faculty Evaluation Of Nursing Student Performance During A Simulation, Penni Isla Watts

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This qualitative grounded theory study explored the process of faculty evaluation of student performance during simulation in the southern United States. In the last decade, simulation experiences have been found to be useful in nursing education as a teaching methodology and as a potential method for evaluation of student performance. While clinical experiences are limited, unpredictable, and difficult to truly evaluate, simulation experiences provide an opportunity for students to manage care through pre-planned patient scenarios without potential harm to real patients. This allows faculty to observe students making decisions and caring for simulated patients in a context designed to elicit …


Effectiveness Of Functional Electrical Stimulation Assisted Rowing To Improve Shoulder Pain And Aerobic Fitness In Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury, Susan Wilbanks Jan 2015

Effectiveness Of Functional Electrical Stimulation Assisted Rowing To Improve Shoulder Pain And Aerobic Fitness In Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury, Susan Wilbanks

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Exercise is beneficial to adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) because of its ability to improve function and increase life expectancy. The goal of this dissertation was to determine an effective intervention for increasing aerobic fitness and decreasing shoulder pain in manual wheelchair users with SCI by identifying underlying mechanisms for shoulder pain, optimizing training and utilizing appropriate outcome measures. Three studies were conducted. The first study indicated that exercise interventions for adults with SCI are of low to moderate methodological quality, frequently using outcome measures associated with changes in body structures and functions, and not frequently examining effects on …


Stress, Bullying, Cortisol, And Depresive Symptoms In 9th Grade Adolescents, Susan Gordon Williams Jan 2015

Stress, Bullying, Cortisol, And Depresive Symptoms In 9th Grade Adolescents, Susan Gordon Williams

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ABSTRACT Stress and bullying are known contributors to depressive symptoms in adolescents. Prevalence of depressive symptoms in adolescents is estimated to range from13% to 34% in recent studies. Ninth graders are in a transitional period developmentally,biologically, physically, and psychosocially. Few studies have examined the relationship between stress, bullying, and depressive symptoms from a biobehavioral perspective in 9th graders. The purpose of this study was to examine stress, bullying, and depressive symptoms including a biomarker of stress, salivary cortisol diurnal rhythm, to determine if there is mediation between the individual variables of stressful life events, perceivedstress, bullying, and depressive symptoms. The …