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Relationship Between Facial Attractiveness And Occlusal Treatment Outcomes: A Retrospective Study, Chad Eric Fowler

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between pretreatment facial attractiveness and posttreatment occlusal outcome in orthodontic patients. A randomized sample of forty-seven patients (26 males, 21 females) was selected for inclusion in this study. Orthodontic evaluators rated pretreatment patient photographs (frontal smile, frontal, profile) using a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS). Occlusal outomes were evaluated using percentage reduction in weighted Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index scores and the American Board of Orthodontics objective grading system (ABO-OGS). Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relationship between pretreatment VAS attractiveness ratings and posttreatment occlusal …

Disparities In The Use Of Emergency Contraceptives, Rebecca Dallman

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Unintended pregnancies are often a burden to pregnant women and to the health care system. The rates of unintended pregnancies have decreased since the wide use of contraceptives has increased; however, young women, women with low income, and racial/ethnic minorities are more likely to use contraceptives inconsistently, which increases the risk of an unintended pregnancy. This risk could be reduced with the proper use of emergency contraceptives (ECs).Methods and Analysis: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the data from the female respondents of the 2002 Cycle 6 NSFG. Logistic regression was used to determine rates of use of ECs …

Novel Sulfated 4-Hydroxycinnamic Acid Oligomers As Potent Anticoagulants, Brian Lawrence Henry

Theses and Dissertations

The occurrence of thrombosis in several pathophysiological conditions creates a huge need for anticoagulation therapy. Thrombin and factor Xa have been prime targets for regulation of clotting through the direct and indirect mechanism of inhibition. This work investigates chemo-enzymatically prepared oligomers of 4-hydroxycinnamic acids (DHPs) as potential anticoagulants. Oligomers were prepared through peroxidase-catalyzed oxidative coupling of 4-hydroxycinnamic acids. The products resulting from this reaction are called CDs, FDs and SDs. Structurally, these sulfated DHPs are unique and do not resemble any of the anticoagulants known in the literature.DHP oligomers were found to increase clotting times at concentrations comparable to heparin. …

Resilience And Risk-Taking Behavior Among Thai Adolescents Living In Bangkok, Thailand, Patcharin Nintachan

Theses and Dissertations

The major purposes of this study were to determine the relationships among resilience, risk-taking behavior and personal characteristics of Thai adolescents living in Bangkok and to examine the differences in risk-taking behavior by school grades or gender. To accomplish these, a cross-sectional correlational research design was conducted. Resilience was measured by using the State-Trait Resilience Inventory developed by Hiew, Mori, Shirnizu and Torninaga.Risk-taking behavior was measured by the Risk-taking Behavior Questionnaire for Thai Adolescents which is a modified version of the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) originally developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In order …

The Effect Of Pre-Cure Bracket Movement On The Shear Bond Strength Of Metal Brackets, Thomas Luther Roberts Iv

Theses and Dissertations

The effect on shear bond strength of bracket movement after seating the brackets and before light curing has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of linear and rotational pre-cure bracket movement on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets. 100 extracted human maxillary premolars were divided into 5 groups of 20 teeth each. The control group was bonded with no pre-cure bracket movement, and test groups were bonded with pre-cure bracket movement of 2 mm, 4 mm, 45¢ª or 180¢ª. Debonding force was measured with an Instron universal testing machine. Results were analyzed …

An Invitro Leakage And Viscosity Analysis Of Root End Filling Materials, Paul D. Clark

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the viscosity of MTA Angelus Fluid is lower than that of Pro Root MTA and MTA Angelus; and to compare the viscosity, leakage and particle size of these materials to determine whether a relationship exists between these properties. The viscosity of each material was measured and compared with the Student's t test. MTA Angelus Fluid's viscosity was significantly lower than the other two materials tested. Microleakage of root end fillings was assessed in a passive diffusion model. Leakage groups were compared with a one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found. Particle size and shape were evaluated with the SEM. MTA Angelus Fluid has a lower viscosity than the other materials tested. There was no significant difference in the sealing ability of the three materials tested and there was no apparent variation in each material's particle size or shape.

Victims' Perspectives On The Process Of Seeking A Protective Order: Predictors Of Perceived Empowerment, Sara-Beth Plummer

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined victims' perceived sense of empowerment during the process of seeking a Preliminary Protective Order. A cross sectional survey design with stratified sampling was used to gather information from women seeking Preliminary Protective Orders in Richmond City, Virginia. During a six month period 89 women agreed to participate, for a response rate of 83 percent. In general, the sample consisted of women who identified themselves as African-American, single, with either a high school/GED degree, and/or some college education.Overall, the women found the steps during the process of seeking an Order, either easy or very easy. In general, the …

Effect Of The Consumption Of Farm Animals On The Diet And Hemoglobin Levels Of School Age Children In The Rural Communities Of Topo, Imbabura, Gualabi, Calpaqui, And Compania Of The Imbabura Province, Alexandra Echeverría

Theses and Dissertations

This research addressed malnutrition in the villages of Topo, Imbabura, Gualabí, Calpaquí and Compañía in the city Otavalo, which is in the Province of Imbaura, Ecuador. The research determined the effects of consumption of small-animals on the diet and hemoglobin levels in school aged boys and girls. This study involved 311 indigenous children between 6 and 12 years of age. Following parental authorization, blood tests and fecal samples were taken from each child to analyze hemoglobin and parasites. Additional information gathered from this study group included a socio-economic survey, frequency of food consumption, 24 hour inventory, animal production, and basic …

Supporting Data-Intensive Wireless Sensor Applications Using Smart Data Fragmentation And Buffer Management, Mbonisi Masilela

Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in low power device technology have led to the development of smaller powerful sensors geared for use in Wireless Sensor Networks. Some of these sensors are capable of producing large data packets in a single reading. This becomes a challenging problem given the constraints imposed by current MAC and Transport Layer implementations since a single data packet can exceed the MTU of the protocol stack. Little has been done in the way of addressing this issue in Wireless Sensor Networks. This paper proposes a novel solution to this issue. Proposed is a Lightweight Data Transportation Protocol that uses …

Addressing Issues In The Detection Of Gene-Environment Interaction Through The Study Of Conduct Disorder, Elizabeth Prom-Wormley

Theses and Dissertations

This work addresses issues in the study of gene-environment interaction (GxE) through research of conduct disorder (CD) among adolescents and extends the recent report of significant GxE and subsequent replication studies. A sub-sample of 1,299 individual participants/649 twin pairs and their parents from the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent and Behavioral Development was used for whom Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA) genotype, diagnosis of CD, maternal antisocial personality symptoms, and household neglect were obtained. This dissertation (1) tested for GxE by gender using MAOA and childhood adversity using multiple approaches to CD measurement and model assessment, (2) determined whether other mechanisms …

An Examination Of The Relationships Among Health Literacy, Social Support, And Patient Activation In Community Residing Older Adults, Brenda L. Harding Hage

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationships among the variables health literacy, social support, and patient activation. The subjects were 90 elderly, community residing adults meeting the inclusion criteria and who volunteered to participate in the study and completed three survey instruments: the Short Form of Functional Health Literacy (Parker, Baker, Williams & Nurss, 1995); the Medical Outcomes Survey (MOS) Social Support Survey Instrument (Sherboume & Stewart, 1991); the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) Short-Form (Hibbard, Mahoney, Stockard, & Tusler, 2005); and a demographic form.

A correlational design was used to test the hypotheses that social support and health literacy are positively related …

Transition From Health Maintenance Organizations To Consumer Driven Health Plans: Measurement Of Initial Impacts For Members With Chronic Conditions, Carl F. Goff

Theses and Dissertations

New consumer driven health insurance products are designed to contain health care costs by making consumers more accountable for the care they receive through being responsible for more cost sharing, making decisions regarding health care providers they will use, and increasing exposure to and use of health information for services and providers. Potential benefits of consumer driven products include increased information regarding personal health and a more knowledgeable patient base. Potential drawbacks of consumer driven products include negative impacts on consumers with chronic and complex health conditions.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain differences in health services utilization …

Gender Role Beliefs, Condom Attitudes And Negotiation Efficacy As Predictors Of Condom Use And Number Of Sexual Partners Among African American College Women, Angela Y. Fitzgerald

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined gender role beliefs (i.e. assertiveness and compassion), condom attitudes and negotiation efficacy as predictors of condom use and number of sexual partners among African American college women. The participants were 190 African American women attending a college and universities in the southeast region of the United States. Significant regression analyses revealed that: 1) increased levels of assertiveness and relationship length contributed to decreased likelihood of condom use, 2) positive condom attitudes predicted increased likelihood of condom use, 3) increased condom negotiation efficacy contributed to increased likelihood of condom use, and 4) condom negotiation efficacy strengthened the effect …

Determinants Of Obesity: Racial Differences, Nikkia L. Goforth

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major public health problem. Studies have shown that there are racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of obesity. However, there is limited research that examines the effects of sedentary and poor lifestyle behaviors and obesity among different racial and ethnic groups. Furthermore, most studies focus on the problem of obesity among children. This study was conducted to examine racial differences in determinants of obesity in adults in the United States. METHODS: Data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used for this analysis. Demographics, lifestyle behaviors, and existence of chronic diseases were assessed. …

Oral Health Services In A Medical Setting, Robert William Mansman Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the baseline oral health status of infants and the level of their caregiver's oral health knowledge for families who received preventive oral health services in a medical setting. Methods: Using a prospective cohort study, children 0-3 years of age received an oral health screening, risk assessment, caregiver education, and a fluoride varnish treatment in an ambulatory pediatric medical clinic. A 16-item oral health knowledge and socio-demographic questionnaire was delivered to the caregiver of child. This questionnaire included knowledge, behavior and opinion items on risk factors for dental diseases, care of child's …

Design Synthesis And Evaluation Of Diterpenones As Potent Chemopreventive Agents For Aflatoxin B1 Induced Carcinogenesis In Human Liver Cells, Miguel Angel Zuniga

Theses and Dissertations

DESIGN, SYNTHESIS, AND EVALUATION OF DITERPENONES AS POTENT CHEMOPREVENTIVE AGENTS FOR AFB1 INDUCED CARCINOGENISIS IN HUMAN LIVER CELLS By Miguel A. Zuniga, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Major Director: Qibing Zhou, Ph.D Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry Terpene quinone methides (TPQMs) have been isolated from a variety of plants and show broad activities against bacteria, fungi, and cancerous cell lines. The biological activity has been attributed to the reactive electrophilic QM moiety, this structural feature has long been recognized as an intermediate in organic …

The Influence Of Parental Monitoring And Peer Deviance On Substance Use Among Middle School Students, Sally Ann Mays

Theses and Dissertations

Substance use is a significant problem among middle school students in the United States. Research indicates that the early use of substances increases the likelihood of negative outcomes including long-term use and abuse. Both parenting and peer variables exert strong influences on children's decisions to use or abstain from substances. As children age, peers begin to exert a stronger influence, but parenting practices can significantly reduce peers' harmful influences. In this study, three waves of data (collected at the end of 6th grade, and the beginning and end of 7th grade) from a large multi-site study were used to examine …

Sodium Hypochlorite's Effect On Nickel-Titanium Rotary Instruments And Its Effect On Resistance To Fracture, Michael Shane Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of partial and total immersion in sodium hypochlorite on nickel-titanium rotary files and to determine whether resistance to fracture was influenced by the immersion time. One hundred K3™ and 100 ProFile® rotary files were either partially or totally immersed in 5.25% sodium hypochlorite for zero, one, five, thirty, or sixty minutes. After immersion, files were subjected to cyclic fatigue testing. Time to fracture was recorded and analyzed by a two-way ANOVA. Tukey's honest significant difference was used to identify any differences in immersion times. Within all ProFile groups and partial …

Impact Of Combat Stress On Mental Health Outcomes: Brfss Survey Data 2006, Emily Pedneau

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: This study sought to determine the relationship between combat experience and mental health outcomes. The study sought to determine whether age was a significant factor in poor mental health outcomes. Methods: Multiple logistic regression (n = 195,048) and multiple linear regression (n = 264,154) were performed on the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Veteran status and a host of demographic and health status questions were analyzed in relation to diagnosis of anxiety or depressive disorder (multiple logistic regression) and to number of days poor mental health (multiple linear regression). Results: Diagnosis of anxiety or depression was …

Trend Analysis Of Automobile Collision Amongst 15-19 Year Olds In Virginia, 2000-2004, Imo F. Ndem

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose. This research study on automobile collision in Virginia amongst fifteen to nineteen (15-19) year olds looked into the trend analysis over a five (5) year period of 2000 to 2004. Trend analysis is usually done for aggregates of all injuries—either intentional or unintentional injuries, or both. The primary objective of this research study was to examine the trend in hospitalization rates and mortality rates for males and females independently. It further looked into the trend, if any, in hospitalization rates, mortality rates, and case-fatality rates, for both males and females combined. The different Tables illustrate the extent and the …

Immunohistochemical Study Of Phenotypes Of Dendritic Cells In Dental Pulps From Non-Carious And Carious Teeth, Melissa A. Harmon

Theses and Dissertations

Mature dendritic cells (DCs) in inflamed tissues may promote inflammation but the status of DCs in pulpitis is not known. We hypothesized that DC maturation would correlate with carious lesion depth and that CD4+ cells would be found in association with mature DCs. Pulps were collected from teeth exhibiting: (I) no caries (n=9), (II) shallow dentinal caries (n=5), and (III) deep caries (n=9). Pulpal tissues were cryo-sectioned and positive cells were examined with immunohistochemistry, Mature DCs (CD83+) were almost exclusively restricted to pulps from deep caries. Furthermore, CD209+ DCs in deep caries were elevated over other groups and CD209+ cells …

Stress And Anxiety In Adhd: Links To Sensory Over-Responsivity, Stacey E. Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

Sensory Modulation Dysfunction (SMD) is characterized by an inability to consistently and accurately grade responses to sensory information. SMD, and specifically sensory over-responsivity (SOR), has been correlated with stress and anxiety in some developmentally delayed populations and has been associated with structures and functions of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Recent attention has been given to HPA functioning in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with a majority of studies identifying blunted or diminished cortisol patterns. In contrast, elevated cortisol has been associated with anxiety and anxious behaviors in both animal and human studies. The purpose of this study …

Giant Pandas Balance Energy Budgets With Metabolic Depression: Insights From Radar Detection Of Heart Rates, Tommy Gene Finley

Theses and Dissertations

Giant pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) are flagship species for conservation because of their endangered status and charismatic nature. Giant pandas are placed in the bear family (Urisidae) within the order Carnivora. They specialize on a diet of bamboo, yet retain a typical carnivore gastrointestinal tract. Low energy digestive efficiency (9.5–34%) was calculated from bamboo-only digestibility trials conducted on captive giant pandas. Huge amounts of bamboo are consumed to overcome inefficient extraction and thus obtain sufficient energy and nutrients. I designed this study to gain insights into giant panda energy balance by measuring heart rates during sleep, their primary means …

Identification Of Potential Organic Contributors In Carbonaceous Aerosols: Enhanced Uv Absorption Spectra, Anand Mangu

Theses and Dissertations

Direct aerosol climate effects include light scattering and absorption that present the largest uncertainties in the assessment of radiative forcing. To estimate the overall effect of aerosols on climate the relative amounts of scattering and absorption must be known. Determination of aerosol UV-absorption spectra is the primary focus of this thesis research. Aerosol samples were collected in Mexico City in 2003 and 2006 as a part of Mexico City Metropolitan Area field study and also at Little Rock. UV-visible absorption spectra of these aerosol samples have been obtained by using an integrating sphere coupled to a UV-visible spectrometer and compared …

Load Distribution And Channel Assignment In Ieee 802.11 Wireless Local Area Networks, Mohamad Haidar

Theses and Dissertations

Recent growth in Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) deployment has generated considerable interest in load management and channel assignment among network designers. WLAN has become a major component of the modern telecommunication infrastructure. Load management and Channel assignment are among the critical aspects that face WLAN deployments. Well planned WLAN service environments require a network designed to provide not only radio coverage but also better load distribution and less interference across the service area, which in turn improves the Quality of Service (QoS). In this dissertation, a novel approach to the WLAN load distribution and channel assignment is proposed that …

The Abc's Of Early Intervention: Assessing The Arkansas Better Chance For School Success Pre -School Program, Lisa Walker Todd

Theses and Dissertations

Early intervention programs have long been associated with increased cognitive benefits for disadvantaged poverty children. The Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Pre-school Program (ABCSS) was implemented in select counties in Arkansas as an early intervention strategy for Arkansas' poverty children. The core rationale behind the implementation of the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Pre-school Program was the belief that it is much easier not to be left behind if you do not start behind. The study assessed the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Pre-school Program on the impact of sustained benefits on third grade children who previously …

Modeling Racial Differences In Colorectal Cancer Screening: Evidence From A Nationally Representative Sample, Ryan J. Ehrensberger

Theses and Dissertations

Despite strong evidence that screening for Colorectal cancer (CRC) can reduce cancer incidence and mortality, screening adherence remains low. Racial differences in CRC incidence and mortality are well documented in the literature. Racial differences in CRC screening use remain mixed with most studies using race as an independent variable and focusing on racial differences in CRC screening rates. Few studies have examined correlates of CRC screening use, stratifying by race. The purpose of this study was to determine if there are racial differences in correlates of CRC screening, using the Health Belief Model as the theoretical framework. Data analyzed in …

Familial And Self Systems As Contributors To Sexual Decision-Making Patterns Of Young African American Women, Christina M. Grange

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized a is a two-phase mixed methods design to examine partner-based expectations and perceptions of factors that affecting condom use among African American women recruited at a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic. Phase One utilized qualitative methods to analyze interviews from 25 unmarried, African American women between ages 18--26. Interviews explored the following two research questions: (1) How do young adult African American women conceptualize relationships as illustrated by their expectations of their partner and their expectations of themselves in the relationship? (2) What messages do women recall receiving from their family members about sexual opportunities, intercourse, consequences …

Electrospun Blends Of Polydioxanone And Fibrinogen For Urological Applications, Joshua Ford Grant

Theses and Dissertations

The need for tissue and organ replacements cannot be satisfied by autograft and allografts alone. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of electrospinning a blend of polydioxanone and fibrinogen to produce an engineered tissue scaffold. Fiber diameter and pore size of blends were characterized, as well as mechanical strength. Cell proliferation assays for 1 and 7 day cultures were preformed, and a histological evaluation was performed to determine how favorable the various blends were to cell infiltration and proliferation. Some ratios of blends were identified that contained both acceptable mechanical properties and properties that facilitated cell …

Divergent Roles Of Pi3k And Akt In Rapamycin-Induced Cardioprotection Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury, Shivani Kirit Desai

Theses and Dissertations

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of death every year with nearly three-fourths of all deaths caused by the disease. The challenge scientists are facing today is discovering new drugs to protect the heart against cellular damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury (I-R injury). Rapamycin is one such drug that has been shown to protect the heart against ischemia-induced cellular injury. Rapamycin(sirolimus) inhibits protein synthesis through inhibition of the mammalian target ofrapamycin (mTOR). This property of rapamycin has led to its current clinical applications in drug-eluting stents and in immunosuppresive treatment to organ transplant patients. The mechanism …