Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Risk Of Cancer In 1990–1991 Us Gulf War Veterans With The Use Of State Cancer Registry Data, Heather A. Young, Jessica D. Maillard, Paul H. Levine, Samuel J. Simmens, Clare M. Mahan, Han K. Kang

United States Public Health Resources

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether proportional cancer incidence is greater among Gulf War veterans compared with non-Gulf War veterans.

METHODS: Files obtained from the Defense Manpower Data Center included data for 621,902 veterans who were deployed to the Persian Gulf during the 1990 to 1991 Gulf War (August 2, 1990, to March 1, 1991) and 746,248 non-Gulf War veteran controls. Identification of veterans who received a cancer diagnosis between 1991 and 2006 was accomplished through record linkage of the Defense Manpower Data Center dataset with files from 28 state cancer registries and the Department of …

Citizenship In The Humanities And Social Sciences: A Selective Bibliography, 2000-2009, Wayne State University School Of Library And Information Science, Winter 2010 Lis 7160, James E. Van Loon, H.G.B. Anghelescu

School of Information Sciences Faculty Research Publications

Citizenship in the Humanities and Social Sciences is a selective bibliography consisting of citations to works published during the years 2000-2009 on citizenship-related topics in the humanities and social sciences. Primarily consisting of books/chapters and scholarly journal articles, the bibliography also includes other materials (case studies, reports, dissertations, and working papers) for which scholarship, authority and relevance have been established. Most cited works are published in the English language, although articles published in other languages using a Latin alphabet are also included. Citations were retrieved during January-March 2010 from a variety of aggregated databases accessed through the Wayne State University …

Bioethics And Biosecurity Education In China: Rise Of A Scientific Superpower., Barr S. Michael, Joy Yueyue Zhang

Book Chapters

This chapter explores ethics, education and the life sciences in China. It is based on work conducted by the authors in two separate but complimentary projects. Barr’s observations derive from interviews and discussions in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with life scientists and policymakers in infectious-disease hospitals, university-research labs, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Ministry of Health. Zhang’s study focused on China’s governance of stem-cell research and involved interviews with scientists, ethicists and policymakers at more than 25 sites across China. Below, we set the context by describing the role of science in China’s quest to become a leading …

Ethiopia Gender Survey: A Study In Seven Regions, Annabel Erulkar, Abebaw Ferede, Worku Ambelu, Woldemariam Girma, Helen Amdemikael, Behailu Gebremedhin, Berhanu Legesse, Ayehualem Tameru, Messay Teferi

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

“Ethiopia Gender Survey: A Study in Seven Regions” is a 2009 population-based survey. Over 8,000 Ethiopian women aged 15 to 49 were interviewed to examine a better understanding of HIV behavior, gender issues and reproductive health in Ethiopia. The information serves as the baseline survey for four initiatives in Ethiopia related to adolescent health and development, gender-based violence, women’s empowerment, and female genital cutting/ mutilation.

The Role Of The Arts Toward Healing Trauma And Building Resilience In The Palestinian Community, Yousef Al-Ajarma

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study has investigated the sources of resilience in a sample of Palestinians who experienced the first Intifada and are now studying in the United States. The study found that family and community support, the pursuit of an education, and participation in artistic activities all contribute to individual resilience among Palestinians. In addition, political awareness and activity are another source of resilience, because they help individuals living under the Occupation to find meaning in their life and make sense of their struggles. Currently, young people in Palestine are at risk of developing psychological trauma from exposure to the violence of …

Development Of A Mucosal Vaccine Protective Against Francisella Tularensis Infection, Amit R. Ashtekar

All ETDs from UAB

Francisella tularensis, a facultative intracellular, gram-negative coccobacillus, is the causative agent of tularemia and has been classified as a category A biological agent. Since there currently is no licensed vaccine available, in this study, we assessed the potential of a bivalent subunit vaccine comprising of DnaK and Tul4 to protect against respiratory tularemia. Intranasal immunization of C57BL/6 mice with DnaK, Tul4, and the adjuvant GPI-0100 resulted in mucosal and systemic antibody responses to DnaK and Tul4. In addition to antibody responses, this immunization regimen also induced both Th1 and Th2 cell-mediated immune responses specific for DnaK and Tul4. Finally, more …

Blood/Lust: Freud And The Trauma Of Killing In War, Nolen Gertz

Publications and Research

During World War I, Sigmund Freud and his followers held a special symposium in Budapest entitled "Psycho-Analysis and the War Neuroses." Their contributions centered on the importance of trying to understand what can cause a soldier to become traumatized in war by investigating the individual factors of each case as opposed to merely the situational factors. Thus by redefining such ambiguous illnesses as shell shock and war strain into the Freudian framework of the traumatic neuroses, they were able to do what the neurologists could not — explain the meaning behind the soldiers' symptoms and treat them with successful results. …

In Vitro And In Vivo Evaluation Of A Brucella Putative Hemagglutinin, Lauren E. Duhon

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella spp., presents both health and economic difficulties for livestock, wildlife, and humans. While brucellosis is nearly eradicated in the United States, the disease remains detrimental in many countries worldwide. Attempts to produce a safe and effective small ruminant vaccine have been met with limited success. The current vaccine for bovine brucellosis in the United States is B. abortus RB51. This strain transiently colonizes the host and induces a cell-mediated immune response. Levels of protection have not been demonstrated in goats and thus it is considered a relatively poor caprine vaccine that probably does …

Surgical Tourniquets In Orthopedics, Shahryar Noordin, James A. Mcewen, John F. Kragh, Andrew Eisen, Bassam A. Masri

Section of Orthopaedic Surgery

No abstract provided.

Rna-Guided Rna Cleavage By A Crispr Rna-Cas Protein Complex, Brenton R. Graveley, Sara Olson, Michael O. Duff

UCHC Articles - Research

Compelling evidence indicates that the CRISPR-Cas system protects prokaryotes from viruses and other potential genome invaders. This adaptive prokaryotic immune system arises from the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) found in prokaryotic genomes, which harbor short invader-derived sequences, and the CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein-coding genes. Here we have identified a CRISPR-Cas effector complex that is comprised of small invader-targeting RNAs from the CRISPR loci (termed prokaryotic silencing (psi)RNAs) and the RAMP module (or Cmr) Cas proteins. The psiRNA-Cmr protein complexes cleave complementary target RNAs at a fixed distance from the 3' end of the integral psiRNAs. In Pyrococcus furiosus …

The Calling Of Nursing, Christoffer H. Grundmann

Theology Faculty Presentations

(excerpt) "Baffled by the broad variety and diversity of nursing and unable to discover one single common thread of thought and discussion in the literature, I got desperate and finally turned to Dean Brown for help, hoping to get some viable direction. And, indeed, I did, yet of course not the way I expected. When I asked her if she would be so kind as to name me the standard instruction textbook used for nursing education and practice, she unhesitatingly replied: 'There isn’t one. Because there are so many content areas in nursing, there is no one text that is …

Dentalgram - Vol. 22, No. 09, Loma Linda University School Of Dentistry

Dentalgram

In this issue:

• LLU well represented at IADR meeting
• Department news
• Dental hygiene class of 2009 collects supplies for kids in Afghanistan
• Dean's list, spring 2008
• Increased gold foil summer selective enrollment
• Post-baccalaureate students complete dental program
• Southern California endodontic program meets in Loma Linda
• LLUSD students receive ADA Foundation scholarships
• First two LLUSD Professorships established
• Dr. Steven Kurti, new director of biomaterials research laboratory
• Mission trip registration now online
• Students explore 'Careers in Dentistry'
• Chance supermarket meeting leads to a life-changing experience
• Dr. Black's farewell
• Vincent Drouin chosen to receive Humanitarian Award

Transylvania’S Skull With A Hole In It, Charles T. Ambrose

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Age-Related Differences In In-Vitro Sensitivity To Inhibition Of Human Red Blood Cell Acetylcholinesterase And Plasma Butyrylcholinesterase By The Cholinesterase Inhibitors Physostigmine (Phys), Pyridostigmine (Pyr), Donepezil (Don) And Galantamine (Gal), David Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized clinically by a progressive loss of memory, cognitive function, ability to care for oneself and psychiatric symptoms. First-line agents for the treatment of AD are ChE inhibitors (DON, GAL), whose modest clinical efficacy and the high incidence of dose-limiting toxicities limit their clinical utility. In addition to AD, ChE inhibitors (PYR) are used for other medical conditions, such as myasthenia gravis (MG). Furthermore, ChE inhibitors (PYR) are used by military personnel prophylactically if impending exposure to chemical warfare agents, e.g., soman, is suspected. The purpose of this research project was …

War And Hiv In Latin America, Shawn Smallman

International & Global Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Conflict has shaped the HIV pandemic from its inception, from the spread of HIV-1 in Central Africa, to the diffusion of HIV-2 from Portuguese Africa to the globe. At the same time, the relationship between HIV and conflict has been non-linear and poorly understood. Nancy Mock and her colleagues have been almost the only scholars to propose a model to understand this relationship. Their work suggests that several key variables (such as the time scale of the conflict, the characteristics of the parties involved, and the geographic scale of the fighting) explain wide variations in how warfare appears to have …

Shelter-In-Place: Indoor Exposure Assessment During An Airborne Chemical, Biological, Radiological, And Nuclear (Cbrn) Event, Robert D. Schmidtgoessling

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of Shelter-In-Place (SIP) is to reduce human exposure to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents in the event of an accidental or intentional airborne release into the outdoor environment. The Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering (BE) career field is responsible for providing hazard identification, evaluation, and control capabilities as well as executing health risk assessments to recommend appropriate courses of action to commanders pre-, trans-, and post-incident. Specifically, BE is responsible for providing sampling, identification, and quantification input to hazard prediction models and supporting evacuation plan development to provide risk-based control recommendations. This also includes providing exposure and …

Team Workload: A Construct Worth Pursuing?, Gregory J. Funke, Benjamin A. Knott, Scott M. Galster, Rebecca D. Brown

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2009

To date, little research has been conducted on the workload experienced by teams. Attempts to evaluate team workload have typically relied upon validated measures of individual workload, but this approach may not adequately capture the drivers of team workload. Data from three previous research experiments were reexamined using hierarchical multiple regression in the present analysis. Each of the experiments assessed individual and team workload, though the measures employed differed in each. The goal was to investigate whether addition of team workload measures improved prediction of team performance after variance associated with experimental manipulations and individual workload had been removed. Results …

Bubonic Plague: History And Epidemiology, Morgan Siegrist

International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities

The general population has heard about Black Death outbreaks and more specifically the pandemic that started in Europe and spread worldwide between the 14th-16th centuries, but what many do not know is that this disease is still a prominent concern in modern times. Each year, 1000-3000 people die due to this disease. Cases have been reported in Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Myanmar, Peru, Viet Nam, and even the USA (Keeling & Gilligan, 2000; Zietz & Dunkelberg, 2004). The bubonic plague is caused by Yersinia pestis, and the disease is considered a zoonosis 132 International Journal of Global …

Contribution Of A Portable Air Plasma Torch To Rapid Blood Coagulation As A Method Of Preventing Bleeding, Kuo S. P., O. Tarasenko, J. Chang, S. Popović, C. Y. Chen, H. W. Fan, A. Scott, M. Lahiani, P. Alusta, J. D. Drake, Milka Nikolic

Physics and Astronomy

The effectiveness and mechanism of a low temperature air plasma torch in clotting blood are explored. Both blood droplets and smeared blood samples were used in the tests. The treated droplet samples reveal how blood clotting depends on the distance at which the torch operated, and for how long the droplets have been exposed to the torch. Microscopy and cell count of smeared blood samples shed light on dependencies of erythrocyte and platelet counts on torch distance and exposure time. With an increase of torch distance, the platelet count of treated blood samples increases but is less than that of …

Sand Fly Fever: What Have We Learned In One Hundred Years?, David Brett-Major, David M. Claborn

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Sand fly fever has severely impacted military missions in southern Europe and the Middle East for hundreds of years. After a brief respite following the malaria eradication programs of World War II, it has returned as a significant disease among residents in and travelers to the Mediterranean rim. It is a more severe disease now, with potential vectors in the United States. Sand fly fever is discussed in terms of its viruses, vectors, disease, control, and potential domestic impact.

Modeling Pilot Cognitive Behavior For Predicting Performance And Workload Effects Of Cockpit Automation, Guk-Ho Gil, David Kaber, Sang-Hwan Kim, Karl Kaufmann, Theo Veil

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2009

The objective of this research was to develop a model of pilot cognitive behavior to predict performance and workload while using varying degrees of cockpit automation to serve as a basis for future systems design. A cognitive task analysis (CTA) was conducted on expert pilot performance a flight control panel (FCP), control-display unit (CDU) and flight management system, and an enhanced CDU (CDU+) providing pre-programmed arrivals from air traffic control in a simulated landing and approach task. Cognitive models were developed from the CTA using an enhanced form of the GOMS language, including a set of additional task operators, to …

Vigilant Warrior™: A Selection Tool For Vigilance Performance, David E. Weldon Ph.D., Clark Shingledecker Ph.D.

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2009

In this paper, we describe an individual differences model of vigilance performance—the ability to maintain one’s focus of attention and remain alert for prolonged periods of time—and summarize our model evaluation research. Our goal was an automated test battery (Vigilant Warrior™) that could be employed to select personnel with superior abilities for assignment to critical vigilance duties. Thus, we conducted extensive laboratory research to identify an optimal set of vigilance predictors and validate them against a simulated, real-world, electronic-display, battlefieldmonitoring task with high vigilance requirements. The results confirmed that an objective, Short Vigilance Task (SVT), coupled with analytic skill and …

Nurses [Sic] Knowledge Of Mass Casuality Emergency Situations, Disasters And Related Laws Regulating Nursing Practice In Michigan And Ohio, Ashley Elizabeth Sandmann

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

A survey was conducted among 51 emergency department nurses in both Michigan and Ohio from 2008 to 2009. A comparative design was used to analyze the surveyed data. The purpose of the study was to describe and compare the knowledge level of emergency department nurses with regards to disaster nursing, emergency preparedness, and correlating related nursing laws in their respective states of licensure. Results showed that there is no significant correlation between knowledge level of emergency and disaster preparedness and related laws to the state in which a nurse is licensed, but nurses in Michigan reported having more instruction in …

Vigilant Spirit Control Station: A Research Testbed For Multi-Uas Supervisory Control Interfaces, Allen J. Rowe, Kristen K. Liggett Ph.D., Jason E. Davis

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2009

Since its inception, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has adapted to military life and has subsequently become an integral part of modern day warfare. Although unmanned, this technology remains dependent on human interaction for optimal function. Bridging the gap between rapidly advancing technology and the human, the Vigilant Spirit Control Station (VSCS) serves as a multi-faceted facilitator in areas ranging from research to combat missions. The result, consequentially, is an increase in the efficiency of the program by enabling a single operator to supervise multiple vehicles. Streamlining technology is tantamount to the program’s success. Developed with this in mind, VSCS …

Children's Exposure To Lead And Nickel In Esperance - A Case Study, Matthew Tristan Winters

Theses : Honours

This is a cross-sectional study of lead and nickel exposure of children aged 2-12 years living at varying distances from a point source of pollution in Esperance. Esperance was an ideal case study location because of previous environmental contamination with lead and nickel above background levels. Non-invasive biological samples of hair, toenails and urine were collected from participating children, and environmental samples, including house dust, soil and drinking water were also sampled from each participant household. Exposure was assessed by measuring the concentration of metals found in the biological samples, and determining their relationships with the environmental samples from each …

Lao Health And Adjustment In Southern New England Three Decades After The Secret War, Patrick F. Clarkin

Institute for Asian American Studies Publications

This study explored Lao life histories, health, and social adjustment in the southern New England states of Rhode Island and Connecticut. In addition, it sought to examine whether there was a correlation between war experiences early in life and health in adulthood, a finding reported in previous research on the Hmong, another ethnic group from Laos. Overall, 99 Lao adults born in Laos or Thailand (mean age 43.5 +/- 10.8 years) completed orally administered questionnaires and were measured for blood pressure and various anthropometric markers. Lao in this sample appeared to have higher than average educational back grounds in Laos, …

Assessing Novel Adaptive Displays Impact On Pilot Performance, Sean L. Guarino, Karen Harper, Emilie Roth, Dahai Liu, Mark Bartosiewicz, Dennis Vincenzi

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2009

Combat aircraft advances have led to a dramatic increase in the operational tempo facing the Navy pilot, increasing the likelihood for Situation Awareness (SA) failures, biased decision-making and information overload. We designed a system for constructing intelligent adaptive displays to address these issues and, within it, designed and evaluated two interfaces targeted at tactical SA challenges: (1) a Weapons Employment Zone (WEZ) Display designed to support awareness of combat geometry; and (2) an Adaptive Boundary Display (ABD) designed to warn pilots of impending border infractions that would compromise Rules of Engagement (ROEs). We tested the ability of these displays to …

Knowledge And Skill-Based Evaluation Of Simulated And Live Training – From Evaluation Framework To Field Application, Martin Castor, Jonathan Borgvall, Winston Bennett Jr.

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2009

In a study, a simulated spin-up exercise and the corresponding large-scale live military flight training exercise was evaluated based on the Alliger et al. augmented taxonomy of Kirkpatrick’s training criteria. The data collection was developed and designed to assess the training from reactions to in-simulator knowledge and skill development to operative training effect. The basis for the evaluation was knowledge and skills identified with the Mission Essential Competencies (MEC) process. Using surveys, quantitative and qualitative data from 14 fighter pilots were collected regarding reactions to training, perceived training value and additional training needs. This paper will present the rationale and …

Coginitve Task Analysis Of Distributed Network-Centric Information For The Promotion Of Shared Situational Awareness Within Collaborative Uas Operations, Jeffery A. Getzlaff, Allen J. Rowe

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2009

A hybrid model of cognitive task analysis coupled with activity theory and team cognition was evaluated to determine human-computer interface (HCI) design factors that promote Shared Situational Awareness (SSA) within a collaborative unmanned aerial system (UAS). A computer testbed simulation was created for use with participants in a time-sensitive Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and weapons engagement mission testing scenario. A cognitive analysis was performed which consisted of a Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA), Applied Cognitive Task Analysis (ACTA), time-sensitive activity analysis, and coordinated team cognition. Results from testing indicated that the promotion of situational awareness (SA) was enabled by network-centric …

Continuous-Flow, Rapid Lysis Devices For Biodefense Nucleic Acid Diagnostic Systems, Robert W. Doebler, Barbara Erwin, Anna Hickerson, Bruce Irvine, Denice Woyski, Ali Nadim, James D. Sterling

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Two mechanical lysis devices have been developed as compact, robust components to provide rapid sample preparation for nucleic acid diagnostic systems. One such component, known as the Micro Bead-Beater™ (μBB™, BBTM, Claremont BioSolutions, Upland, CA), is a compact device that is capable of ultrarapid lysis (>90% lysis in 30 s) of micro volumes (< 80 μL) of Bacillus spores in a continuous-flow format or in a disposable single-tube format. The μBB is also capable of processing much larger volumes of solutions containing spores or vegetative cells using a continuous-flow mode. A second mechanical lysis device designed as a disposable component is the microfluidic bead blender, which uses a small electric motor to spin vanes within the bead-laden solution. DNA quantification results using dsDNA-binding fluorescence dyes and real-time PCR are presented, comparing the lysis of Bacillus subtilis spores using the μBB™ with other well-known lysis techniques. Nanoscale imaging results obtained using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy on B. subtilis spores lyzed using the μBB™ are also presented. © 2009, Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening. All rights reserved.