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Creation Of Multilinage Adult Stem-Like Cells From Terminally Differentiatied Fibroblasts, John Moore Jul 2011

Creation Of Multilinage Adult Stem-Like Cells From Terminally Differentiatied Fibroblasts, John Moore

Theses and Dissertations

Induced Pluripotent Stem cells (iPScs) are artificially generated cells that demonstrate multilineage differentiation potential. These cells demonstrate similar morphology and high differentiation potential to Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs). Generation of these cells from a terminally differentiated cell line requires activation of the core pluripotency genes Nanog, Oct4, and Sox2 as well as an oncogenic stimulus such as c-Myc. Here we examine the effect of the Human Pappiloma Virus derived proteins E6 and E7 on the ability of a terminally differentiated fibroblast cell line to a more primitive state and examine its multilineage differentiation capacity. In this paper, we attempt to …

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Accommodations For English Language Learners With Disabilities On Federally Mandated English Language Proficiency Assessments, Laura Kuti Jul 2011

Accommodations For English Language Learners With Disabilities On Federally Mandated English Language Proficiency Assessments, Laura Kuti

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to conduct exploratory research to examine federally-mandated annual English language proficiency (ELP) assessment of English language learners (ELLs) and their use of accommodations on the assessment. First the researcher provides a review of the literature regarding accommodations provided for ELLs, students with disabilities on English assessments, and ELLs with disabilities on ELP assessments. The researcher examined the literature for differences and similarities between the three types of testing scenarios as well as identifying gaps in the literature for students who are both ELLs and who also have a disability and how their ELP …

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Performance Comparison Of Layered Composite Bimodal Fiber Mats With Unimodal Fiber Mats, Sukhada Sanjay Kulkarni Jul 2011

Performance Comparison Of Layered Composite Bimodal Fiber Mats With Unimodal Fiber Mats, Sukhada Sanjay Kulkarni

Theses and Dissertations

The study was conducted to evaluate and compare performance of unimodal and bimodal mats with approximately same mass. 10% and 18% Nylon 4, 6 polymer solution were used for electrospinning the fibers. A negative ion source was used to neutralize the surface charge. The fiber diameters were measured with SEM and were <500 nm thus incorporating the slip effect. Bimodal mats were prepared from different deposition modes. Optimal mode was selected on analyzing the performance factors. The bimodal mats were then compared with unimodal mats. For their performance the fiber mass for these mats was approximately the same. It was observed that the unimodal mats had higher efficiencies and higher pressure drop giving a lower FOM. Bimodal mats showed lower efficiencies and pressure drop compared to unimodal mats. However, the FOM for bimodal mats was approximately 200% higher than unimodal mats

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Functional Characterization Of The Streptococcus Sanguinis Com Regulon, Jill Callahan Jul 2011

Functional Characterization Of The Streptococcus Sanguinis Com Regulon, Jill Callahan

Theses and Dissertations

Streptococcus sanguinis is an important component of the dental plaque biofilm and is believed to play a beneficial role in the oral cavity. S. sanguinis is also a leading cause of infective endocarditis (IE), a potentially lethal infection of the cardiac valves. S. sanguinis possesses genetic competence, the ability to acquire exogenous DNA into its genome. In the well characterized system of S. pneumoniae, genetic competence requires a quorum sensing system encoded by the early comCDE genes, as well as late genes controlled by the alternate sigma factor, ComX. Previous studies in other streptococcal species have suggested functions for the …

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Silk Fibroin-Based Scaffolds For Tissue Engineering Applications, Jennifer Mccool Jul 2011

Silk Fibroin-Based Scaffolds For Tissue Engineering Applications, Jennifer Mccool

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the comparison of the electrospun silk scaffolds to the electrospun silk fibroin gel scaffolds. Moreover, this study examined the differences in cross-linking effects of genipin and methanol as well as solvents on the mechanical properties and cell compatibility of the scaffolds. Silk scaffolds were electrospun from an aqueous solution or 1,1,1,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) without genipin, immediately after 8 % (wt) genipin was added to the solution, and 18 hours after genipin blended with the solution. Uniaxial tensile testing determined that the silk scaffolds electrospun from water exhibit a higher modulus and peak stress than that of the …

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A Review Of Common And Rare Genetic Variants In Schizophrenia, Jonathan Luedders Jul 2011

A Review Of Common And Rare Genetic Variants In Schizophrenia, Jonathan Luedders

Theses and Dissertations

Genetic epidemiology has shown a large role for genetic influences on schizophrenia. However, the nature of the variants involved is debated. The common disease-common variant (CDCV) hypothesis suggests that schizophrenia is caused by common alleles with small effect sizes. According to the common disease-rare variant (CDRV) hypothesis, schizophrenia is caused by rare variants with large effect sizes. In recent years, evidence has been found for both common and rare variants in schizophrenia. Several SNPs have been associated with schizophrenia through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), supporting the CDCV hypothesis. In support of the CDRV hypothesis, individuals with schizophrenia have been found …

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A Comparative Study Of A Pathogenic Versus A Nonpathogenic Naegleria Species, Melissa Jamerson Jul 2011

A Comparative Study Of A Pathogenic Versus A Nonpathogenic Naegleria Species, Melissa Jamerson

Theses and Dissertations

Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri) and Naegleria lovaniensis (N. lovaniensis) are closely related amebae found in the environment. N. fowleri causes Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a fatal disease of the central nervous system, while N. lovaniensis is nonpathogenic. N. fowleri infection occurs when amebae enter the nasal passages, and migrate to the brain. The molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of PAM are not well-defined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to define phenotypic characteristics that may be functionally linked to the pathogenicity associated with N. fowleri. Studies revealed that N. fowleri has a faster growth rate and is more …

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Opioid Addiction Treatments During Pregnancy And Their Effects On Axonal Growth And Myelination In The Developing Central Nervous System, Manisha Magar Jul 2011

Opioid Addiction Treatments During Pregnancy And Their Effects On Axonal Growth And Myelination In The Developing Central Nervous System, Manisha Magar

Theses and Dissertations

Treatment with buprenorphine represents a promising alternative for pregnant opioid addicts but there is a need to understand potential effects on nervous system development. We previously showed effects of perinatal exposure to buprenorphine on axonal caliber and myelination in 26-day-old rat corpus callosum. These changes, detected at the end of rapid brain myelination and accompanied by earlier oligodendrocyte maturation, suggested interference with mechanisms coordinating axonal growth and myelination. To better understand buprenorphine actions and to establish whether these effects extend to the spinal cord, we analyzed the corpus callosum and corticospinal tract at 16 days of age, just before the …

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Expression Profiling And Functional Validation Of Micrornas Involved In Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder, Albert H. Kim Jul 2011

Expression Profiling And Functional Validation Of Micrornas Involved In Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder, Albert H. Kim

Theses and Dissertations

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. MiRNAs have been shown to affect neuronal differentiation, synaptosomal complex localization and synapse plasticity, all functions thought to be disrupted in schizophrenia. We investigated the expression of 667 miRNAs (miRBase v.13) in the prefrontal cortex of individuals with schizophrenia (SZ, N = 35) and bipolar disorder (BP, N =35) using a real-time PCR-based Taqman Low Density Array (TLDA). After extensive QC steps, 441 miRNAs were included in the final analyses. At a FDR of 10%, 22 miRNAs were identified as …

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Detection Of Secreted Proteases And A Membrane Protease In Pathogenic Acanthamoeba Culbertsoni, Shivdeep Deo Jul 2011

Detection Of Secreted Proteases And A Membrane Protease In Pathogenic Acanthamoeba Culbertsoni, Shivdeep Deo

Theses and Dissertations

Acanthamoeba culbertsoni (A. culbertsoni) is an amphizoic amoeba that is the causative agent of Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE), an often fatal central nervous system infection that is seen most frequently in severely immunocompromised patients and is characterized by hemorrhagic and necrotic lesions of the brain as well as varying degrees of granuloma formation. A.culbertsoni isolates have also been identified in a few cases of Amoebic Keratitis, a painful, sight-threatening corneal infection that disproportionately affects contact lens users irrespective of immune status. Common features of both infections include amoebic interaction with host extracellular matrix (ECM) components as requisites for both attachment …

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Analysis Of The Role Of Outer Surface Protein C (Ospc) In Borrelia Burgdorferi Pathogenesis, Delacy Rhodes Jul 2011

Analysis Of The Role Of Outer Surface Protein C (Ospc) In Borrelia Burgdorferi Pathogenesis, Delacy Rhodes

Theses and Dissertations

Lyme disease is an emerging infection that is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. These bacteria exist in nature through an enzootic life cycle involving Ixodes ticks and various reservoir hosts. One way that this bacterium adapts to the different hosts in the enzootic cycle is through the expression of outer surface protein C (OspC). OspC is a surface exposed lipoprotein encoded on circular plasmid 26 that forms homodimers on the bacterial surface and has distinct conserved and variable portions of sequence. When ospC is deleted, the spirochetes are unable to cause mammalian infection although the mechanism of …

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Quantifying Polypharmacy In Diabetes Patients In The U.S., Jing Tao Jul 2011

Quantifying Polypharmacy In Diabetes Patients In The U.S., Jing Tao

Theses and Dissertations

ix Objectives: To quantify polypharmacy and assess the socio-economic predictors of medication use and expenditure in diabetics. Methods: This study analyzed adult diabetes patients using a nationally representative sample in Medical Expenditure Panel Survey in 2006. Top ten most highly utilized drug classes were identified. Descriptive statistics were used to portray the patients’ medication utilization and spending. Generalized linear models were conducted to assess the socio-economic variants in drug use and spending. Results: On average, a diabetes patient had 45 prescriptions in 2006, for total annual spending of $3,161. A diabetes patient used drugs from 3.43 classes within top ten …

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Natural Disasters And Older Adults: The Social Construction Of Disaster Planning, Elizabeth Fugate-Whitlock Jul 2011

Natural Disasters And Older Adults: The Social Construction Of Disaster Planning, Elizabeth Fugate-Whitlock

Theses and Dissertations

Examining older adults’ experiences with and response toward hurricanes within the context of the community of residence is key to both understanding their experiences and planning for future hurricanes. Specific to this research, the objective was to understand the current social network of older adults, or who provides care for whom under what circumstances, using the social constructionist perspective. Grounded theory combined with action research was the theoretical orientation guiding the study. Sources of data included the collection of household disaster plans, semi-structured interviews with older adult residents of housing authority neighborhoods, semi-structured interviews with community planners, and observation of …

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Joy In Nature, Rebecca Morgan Jul 2011

Joy In Nature, Rebecca Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Artist Statement I am fascinated with colors in nature and how it affects our moods. The colors of a sunset and moonlit sky; the feeling of a brewing storm; the laziness of a cold, gray day; the roar of an ocean; and the feel of sand on your feet are elements that I want to capture in my drawings and paintings. In addition to the natural environment, animals are an integral part of nature that I incorporate in my work. Pets are the unspoken blessings that bring joy and laughter to my life. Pets, especially dogs, are proven to relieve …

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Helper Phage Capsid Size Redirection By Staphylococcal Pathogenicity Island Sapi1 Involves Internal Scaffolding Proteins., Priyadarshan Damle Jul 2011

Helper Phage Capsid Size Redirection By Staphylococcal Pathogenicity Island Sapi1 Involves Internal Scaffolding Proteins., Priyadarshan Damle

Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the leading causes of nosocomial and community acquired infections. Many of the virulence factors are encoded on staphylococcal mobile genetic elements. Members of the SaPI family of S. aureus mobile elements encode superantigens and are mobilized at high frequency by specific helper bacteriophages. One remarkable feature of helper phage exploitation by SaPIs is remodeling of the normal T=7 bacteriophage capsid to produce smaller T=4 phage-like particles. These particles, composed entirely of helper phage proteins, can accommodate the smaller SaPI genome while excluding that of a complete helper phage. This study was designed to understand the …

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Developing A Hybrid Model To Predict Student First Year Retention And Academic Success In Stem Disciplines Using Neural Networks, Ruba Alkhasawneh Jul 2011

Developing A Hybrid Model To Predict Student First Year Retention And Academic Success In Stem Disciplines Using Neural Networks, Ruba Alkhasawneh

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the reasoning behind the low enrollment and retention rates of Underrepresented Minority (URM) students (African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans) in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has concerned many researchers for decades. Numerous studies have used traditional statistical methods to identify factors that affect and predict student retention. Recently, researchers have relied on using data mining techniques for modeling student retention in higher education [1]. This research has used neural networks for performance modeling in order to obtain an adequate understanding of factors related to first year academic success and retention of URM at …

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Development And Evaluation Of A Multiplex Suspension Array Protocol For The Detection Of Enteric Pathogens From Clinical Specimens, Carol Walters Jul 2011

Development And Evaluation Of A Multiplex Suspension Array Protocol For The Detection Of Enteric Pathogens From Clinical Specimens, Carol Walters

Theses and Dissertations

Foodborne illnesses are a significant public health challenge in the United States, with an estimated 9.4 million illnesses annually attributed to the consumption of contaminated food, of which 59% are estimated to be caused by viruses, 39% by bacteria and 2% by parasites. Timely detection and identification of the pathogens causing foodborne outbreaks is vital for the implementation of outbreak control strategies, allowing public health officials to prevent additional illnesses and maintain confidence in the food supply. Public health laboratories employ a variety of traditional and molecular testing techniques to identify foodborne outbreak etiologic agents. One technology is the Luminex …

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Intracellular Signaling Contributions To Behaviors Relevant To Nicotine Addiction, Lauren Thompson Jul 2011

Intracellular Signaling Contributions To Behaviors Relevant To Nicotine Addiction, Lauren Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Nicotine is the primary addictive substance in tobacco, and most smokers who quit will relapse within a year. Evidence shows that cigarette craving increases over time, termed “incubation.” The purpose of these studies was to see if protracted abstinence from chronic nicotine increases rat self-administration, an animal model with good face validity for human tobacco use, and if nicotine self-administration during daily exposure/after 8+ days of abstinence is regulated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell or anterior cingulate cortex (PFC). ERK kinase inhibitor U0126 was infused in the NAc shell or PFC of Long …

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Analysis And Fingerprinting Of Glycosaminoglycans, Joseph King Jul 2011

Analysis And Fingerprinting Of Glycosaminoglycans, Joseph King

Theses and Dissertations

Heparin is a complex mixture of sulfated polysaccharides derived from animals and one of the oldest drugs in use. While an efficacious anticoagulant, heparin is beset by side effects and pharmacokinetic difficulties. Low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) are made by depolymerizing unfractionated heparin (UFH) and present improvements in these areas. However, they still retain a phenomenally high level of complexity due to their polydispersity and the introduction of non-native structural features. This makes the structural characterization LMWHs a daunting task. This work details the development of a novel capillary electrophoretic (CE) method for fingerprinting LMWHs. Since their complexity normally results …

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Racial Differences In The Genetics Of Preeclampsia, Lori Hill Jul 2011

Racial Differences In The Genetics Of Preeclampsia, Lori Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Preeclampsia (PE), characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation, affects 5-8% of pregnancies worldwide. Although preeclampsia is a significant cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity, its etiology remains to be elucidated. Racial differences have been observed for preeclampsia, with U.S. Blacks having higher rates and more severe disease, compared to U.S. Whites and Hispanics. One potential source of racial differences in preeclampsia is genetic variation between populations. Genetic susceptibility to preeclampsia is well established, but the specific contributions of maternal vs. fetal genes, and how these vary among racial groups is poorly understood. This dissertation …

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Role Of Tyk2 In The Development Of Beige Cells, Samantha Umali Jul 2011

Role Of Tyk2 In The Development Of Beige Cells, Samantha Umali

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity results from an excess of adipose tissue and is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Adipose tissue exists in two main forms: white adipose tissue (WAT), which stores energy as triglycerides, and brown adipose tissue (BAT), which dissipates stored energy as heat. White adipose tissue is composed of several subcutaneous and visceral depots, each possessing distinct molecular and functional characteristics. Brown-like adipocytes can emerge in WAT depots in response to cold or beta-adrenergic stimulation. These cells have been called “beige” or “brite” (brown-in-white) cells. The reduction of obesity in mice treated with beta-adrenergic …

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Sythesis And Biological Screening Of A Series Of Novel Chemokine Receptor Ccr5 Antagonists, Soundarya Vaithianathan Jul 2011

Sythesis And Biological Screening Of A Series Of Novel Chemokine Receptor Ccr5 Antagonists, Soundarya Vaithianathan

Theses and Dissertations

The chemokine receptor CCR5 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancers and AIDS. A series of novel piperidine derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as CCR5 antagonists. The ability of the new ligands to inhibit the increment of intracellular calcium level stimulated by endogenous ligand CCL5 was measured in the calcium mobilization assay as an indication of its CCR5 receptor antagonism. The anti-proliferation assay was performed to measure the ability of these new compounds to inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3 and M12. A new lead compound has been identified which showed micromolar level of inhibition …

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Quantitative Analysis Of Contactin-Associated Protein And Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Isoform 1.6 Following Experimental Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury, Daniel Gardiner Jul 2011

Quantitative Analysis Of Contactin-Associated Protein And Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Isoform 1.6 Following Experimental Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury, Daniel Gardiner

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic axonal injury (TAI) contributes to the mortality and morbidity following diffuse traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous work has shown that following TBI, alterations in the molecular domains of axons result in TAI. It is currently posited that injury induced ionic flux is responsible for activating deleterious proteolytic cascades, resulting in altered distributions of axonal components. However, the underlying mechanism of this progressive pathology remains elusive. This study further explores the hypothesis that altered molecular domains contributes to the progressive intra-axonal changes that characterize TAI. Using a rodent model of impact acceleration TBI we examined the expression of nodal and …

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Synthesis Of A Library Of Sulfated Small Molecules, Shrenik Mehta Jul 2011

Synthesis Of A Library Of Sulfated Small Molecules, Shrenik Mehta

Theses and Dissertations

The discovery of heparin in 1916 resulted in a huge impact on the practice of medicine. Heparin has played a major role in alleviating thrombotic disorders and has also exhibited effects on almost every major system in the human body. Over the past few decades, more and more heparin-protein interactions have come to light. It is implicated to modulate several important processes such as cell growth and differentiation, inflammatory response, viral infection mechanism etc. More interesting is the observation that these interactions are considerably specific with regard to oligosaccharide sequences which have specific spatially oriented sulfate groups modulating the responses. …

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Assessing The Role Of Polyethylene Glycol (Peg) In Improving Functional Recovery Following Spinal Cord Injury, Dustin Dalton Jul 2011

Assessing The Role Of Polyethylene Glycol (Peg) In Improving Functional Recovery Following Spinal Cord Injury, Dustin Dalton

Theses and Dissertations

Injury to the spinal cord results in the disruption of signal transmission between the brain and distal targets. It often presents with the loss of motor function and sensory perception below the level of injury. There are many obstacles following injury that must be overcome in order to encourage axon regeneration and improve functional recovery. A combinatorial approach is necessary to combat physical and chemical barriers to recovery. The fluid filled cyst that forms in the majority of spinal cord injuries presents a physical barrier that we treat with our electrospun bridges. We implanted our bridges into female Long Evans …

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Proteomic Analysis Of Two Different States Of Naegleria Fowleri, Hong Park Jul 2011

Proteomic Analysis Of Two Different States Of Naegleria Fowleri, Hong Park

Theses and Dissertations

Naegleria fowleri are free-living ameboflagellates found in soil and freshwater habitats throughout the world that cause a fatal disease in humans called Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Mechanisms of host resistance or susceptibility to infection have not been fully elucidated, and possible treatment methods are still sub optimal. The disease is diagnosed using specific laboratory tests available in only a few laboratories in the United States. Because of the rarity of infection and difficulty in initial detection, more than often PAM is misdiagnosed. Therefore, it is very important to find causative marker for early detection of an infection. The purpose of …

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The Professional Identity Development Of Gerontologists: An Experiential Learning Approach, Tracey Gendron Jul 2011

The Professional Identity Development Of Gerontologists: An Experiential Learning Approach, Tracey Gendron

Theses and Dissertations

Professional identity is a complex construct that describes how an individual develops a sense of self-concept within a chosen profession. Professional identity refers to a self definition within a professional role based on attributes, beliefs, values, motives, and experiences (Ibarra, 1999). This study explored the relationships between the professional identity of gerontology graduates and age, career stage, student typology, occupation, and value of experiential learning both quantitatively and qualitatively. Survey results indicate that experiential learning opportunities provide a framework for all gerontology students to gain and apply the skills and knowledge necessary for professional identity development in the field of …

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Commonwealth Times 2011-07-01 Jul 2011

Commonwealth Times 2011-07-01

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

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Rural Hospital System Affiliations And Their Effects On Hospital Economic Performance, 2004-2008, Mark Swofford Jun 2011

Rural Hospital System Affiliations And Their Effects On Hospital Economic Performance, 2004-2008, Mark Swofford

Theses and Dissertations

The formation of multi-hospital systems represents one of the largest structural changes in the hospital industry. As of 2008, system affiliated hospitals outnumbered stand alone hospitals 2511 to 2167 and the percentage of system affiliated rural hospitals has increased dramatically from 24.8% in 1983 to 42.2% in 2008 (based on AHA data for non-federal acute care general hospitals). The effects of system membership on hospital performance have been of great interest to health care researchers, but the majority of research on multi-hospital systems has either focused exclusively on urban facilities or pooled urban and rural facilities in the same sample, …

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The Relationship Between Physicians‘ Ownership Of Physical Therapy Services And Referral Patterns To Hospital-Based Outpatient Rehabilitation Centers, Joy Bruce Jun 2011

The Relationship Between Physicians‘ Ownership Of Physical Therapy Services And Referral Patterns To Hospital-Based Outpatient Rehabilitation Centers, Joy Bruce

Theses and Dissertations

Background and Purpose A debate over the practice of physician self-referral has been ongoing in health care since the 1980s. At issue is the practice of physicians who refer patients to facilities in which they share a financial interest, a phenomenon known as referral for profit. Physician investment or ownership interest in ancillary (e.g., physical therapy) services has been shown to have an impact on utilization rates, costs, access to care, and quality of care. What has not been identified in previous research is the influence of physicians‘ selective referral on competing clinics, particularly the hospital-based outpatient centers that share …

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