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The Association Between Periodontal Disease And C-Reactive Protein In Patients With A History Of Heart Attack, Robert Lee Fletcher Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The patient population consisted of a maximum of 18,570 subjects who completed the NHANES III questionnaire and examination from 1988 - 1994. The physical examination included such things as body mass index and serum samples, social and medical history. The periodontal examination recorded probing depth, attachment loss and gingival bleeding. Serum samples were analyzed for CRP levels, cholesterol levels etc. Demographic, cardiovascular and oral health variables were compared in subjects with a history of heart attack. Result showed that history of heart attack is associated with increased odds ratio for elevated CRP, diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, male gender, non-white race and …

Determinants Of Prenatal Care And Supplement Use: The Case Of Honduras, Catherine E. Henze

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Literature suggests that prenatal care and prenatal supplement use improves pregnancy outcomes. However, we do not know the factors associated with prenatal care and supplement use in Honduras.Objective: To identify characteristics of Honduran women who are the least and most likely to use prenatal care and supplements.Methods: Data from a 2001 Honduras cross-sectional survey of women was used to assess their use of prenatal care and supplements. All data was weighted, resulting in a sample size of n = 5647 women who had a live birth since January 1996. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine factors associated …

Electrospinning As A Processing Method For Electroactive Polymers And Composites, Kristin Joy Pawlowski

Theses and Dissertations

Electrospinning was examined for its potential to create functional materials. Three distinct electroactive materials were electrospun into fibers and fiber mats and then characterized with the intent of determining their utility in aerospace and biomedical applications such as micro-air vehicles and the cardiovascular system. Electrospun Graft Elastomers demonstrated potential as actuators, as electromechanical strain testing showed comparable response to the film form of this material. Further improvement of electroactive response was realized with high dielectric inclusions and fiber orientation. Electrospin processing imparted piezoelectric properties to the fibers of poly(vinylidene fluoride). Differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy indicated a degree of …

Rabies In Virginia, 1989-2003: With Particular Attention To Animals, Geographic Distribution, And Virus Variant, William Andrew Holzgrefe

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: The description of the raccoon rabies epizootic in Virginia over fifteen years (1989-2003). Methods: Using simple statistical methods and a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach, and fifteen years worth of animal surveillance data, the progress of this epizootic has been charted in terms of the geographic spread of the disease, the major animal species affected by the disease and its spread, and the exposure and risk to humans and livestock animals presented by the expansion of the geographic range. Results: The resulting descriptive study illustrates the eastward expansion of the epizootic, the mushrooming of the disease in the northern …

Ojibway Women In Transition : The Influence Of The Church On The Traditional Roles Of Objibway Women And Its Effects On Ojibway Society, Anastasia Bowe

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Biological Implications Of Surrounding Land-Use On Wetland Health : A Conservation Agriculture Analysis, Gregory W. Meyer

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Place To Call Home : A Look At College Students And Online Community, Megan N. Tollefson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Age Structure Of A Northern Prairie Population Of Wood Frogs, Rana Sylvatica, Kyla K. Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Queering George Farquhar's The Recruiting Officers, John Tollef Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

North Dakota Homeland Security Strategy, Susan Reinertson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Stabilization Of Gap Junctions During Plasma Membrane Remodeling Of Astrocytes, Crystal Dawn Hayes

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Technical Feasibility Assessment Of Lunar Base Mission Scenarios, Trygve Magelssen Ii

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of A One-Tesla Magnet On Human Fibroblast Cell Growth, Ashley Chaplin

Theses and Dissertations

The controversy regarding the ill effects of electromagnetic fields began in 1979 when Nancy Wertheimer and Ed Leeper claimed to have found a connection between childhood leukemia and power lines. In 1997, a group of researchers led by Martha Linet, M. D., attempted to provide evidence that there was no link between cancer and electromagnetic fields. The study showed that the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia did not escalate with increasing electromagnetic field levels in the children's homes. When compared to the Earth's static magnetic field of 0.5 Gauss, these fields were extremely small. Within the past decade, magnets have …

Modeling The Hydrogeochemistry Of Denitrification In The Elk Valley Aquifer, Paul A. Skubinna

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrate (NO₃¯) in groundwater has become an important tissue in the last few decades. It is known to cause methemoglobinemia, commonly known as “blue baby syndrome,” and is suspected of being a carcinogen. The most common sources for dissolved NO₃¯ in shallow groundwater include excessive application of nitrogenous fertilizers, misuse of septic systems, improper disposal of domestic wastewater or sludge, and livestock waste.

Denitrification is the most effective sink for NO₃¯. The Elk Valley aquifer (EVA) of eastern North Dakota is known to support denitrification. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the geochemical processes …

Antioxidants As Risk Factors For Gingival Bleeding, Hee-Jeong Bahng

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Studies of gingival bleeding and the effects of antioxidants on extracellular matrix and immunologic and inflammatory responses provide a rationale for hypothesizing that antioxidants reduce the risk for gingival bleeding.Methods: This study evaluated the role of antioxidants as contributing risk factors for gingival bleeding utilizing the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NAHNES III). A sample of 18,825 adults (20 to ≥ 90 years of age), with dental measurement and assessment of serum levels of antioxidants were included in the study. Gingival bleeding was defined as those who had more than 30 percent of gingival bleeding in 28 …

Developmental Perspective Of Adolescents Who Were Placed In Residential Care, Kim Hanson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Multi-Channel Fetal Magnetocardiographic Signal Seperation For Analysis Of Heart Rate Variability, Joshua Quaid Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The objectives were to implement signal-processing techniques to separate the fetal magnetocardiogram (FMCG), as collected by SQUID (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device) gradiometers, from mixtures of maternal and fetal biomagnetic signals recorded during the antepartum period and to develop a database of normal FMCG values of the fetal cardiac time intervals and heart rate variability measures. Materials and Methods: The research was performed in three phases: 1) Independent component analysis (ICA), nonlinear filtering techniques, and orthogonal projection methods were optimized enabling the FMCG to be processed using traditional signal analysis techniques; 2) The cardiac time intervals and heart rate variability …

A Structural Equation Model Examining The Effects Of Gulf War Stress Exposure On Subsequent Mental And Physical Health Problems Among Gulf War Veterans, Frank J. Kenny

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this dissertation is to better understand the complex relationship between the stresses encountered by US. service personnel during the Gulf War and eventual physical and psychological health outcomes among its veterans. By developing and validating a stress model using structural equation modeling techniques, it is hoped that knowledge regarding wartime stress and its potential impact on the health of veterans will be gained. This knowledge can be used to guide future policy decisions on how to minimize the deleterious health consequences associated with deployment and combat, as well as furnishing a basis for future studies that examine …

Regulation Of Fc Receptor Expression And Signaling On Murine Mast Cells, Hey Jin Chong

Theses and Dissertations

Mast cells have long been appreciated as the primary effector cells in allergy and asthma, and recently have been implicated in other inflammatory diseases. Using high density oligonucleotide probe arrays, we assessed genome-wide transcriptional profiles after FcεRI aggregation for 90 minutes, 5 hours and 24 hours. We describe novel gene regulation in response to FcεRI signaling, including altered expression of CD44, Pari, osteopontin, Nur77, E4BP4, and NDRG 1. In addition, the gene encoding FcεRI β was downregulated 5 hours after mast cell activation according to both microarray analysis and RPA, and western blotting confirmed the downregulation of the beta subunit …

Effects Of Emphysema And Chronic Hypoxemia On Skeletal Muscle Oxygen Supply And Demand, John D. Lowman Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Skeletal muscle dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition in which peripheral skeletal muscle undergoes myopathic changes which impair muscle function, limit physical performance, and can lead to significant disability. While the etiology of the dysfunction is unknown, this study was conducted to test the hypothesis that chronic hypoxemia leads to alterations in oxygen transport and muscle function. A primary objective was to validate elastase-induced emphysema in rats as an animal model of skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD.Arterial blood gases were used to determine the severity of hypoxemia and sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used …

Is Number Of Pregnancies A Risk Factor For Heart Attack In Women?, Pavan Kumar Irukulla

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Studies regarding number of pregnancies and coronary heart disease have shown inconsistent results. In the present study, we assessed the association between number of pregnancies and heart attack (HA) in women.Methods: Using data from NHANES III a cross sectional data analysis of 10634 women aged 17 and above was conducted. We considered socio-demographic factors and other potential risk factors including physical activity, smoking, alcohol, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, BMI, age, and family history of heart attack. We conducted Bivariate analysis to determine prevalence and crude odds ratios. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding variables using SPSS. …

Evaluating A Day Treatment Program For Children With Serious Emotional Disorders, Nicole Lynn Lee

Theses and Dissertations

The current study used a longitudinal design to evaluate a day treatment program for children with serious emotional disorder located in Richmond, Virginia (N = 101). Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (Hodges, 1984, 1999) results were analyzed from children who had attended the program for at least six months. Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance tests indicated that children attending YDT for nine months improved their overall functioning F(2, 217) = 26.23, p = .01 as well as their functioning at school F(3,279)= 10.822, p =.01, home F(3, 244) = 6.120, p = .01, and in the community F(3, 238) …

Pcr Detection Of Streptococcus Mutans And Streptococcus Sobrinus In Dental Plaque Samples From Low, Moderate, And High Caries Risk Children, Ajit A. Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to correlate the presence of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus with the incidence of dental caries in children as detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Methods: Subjects between the ages 2 to 16 years of age were used in this study. After the subjects received a dental examination, dental plaque samples were collected by rubbing a toothpick on the buccal surface of the most posterior tooth in each quadrant of the mouth. Children were grouped into low, moderate, and high caries risk categories by two different Caries Risk Assessment Tools (CAT 1 and …

Torsional Testing Of Race, K3 And Profile Nickel Titanium Endodontic Files, Sean D. Fessenden

Theses and Dissertations

Rotary endodontic instruments have different cross sectional designs that may effect their resistance to torsional stress. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the static torsional properties of two nickel titanium files that have recently been introduced for use in endodontics and compare them to the same size Profile instruments. Ten new files of each brand and size were tested. The files tested were: RaCe 25 tip 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 taper, K3 and Profile 25 and 40 tip in 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06 taper. The diameter of each file was measured at 3mm from tip. The last three millimeters …

The Psychometric Properties Of The Inner Strength Questionnaire For Women With Chronic Health Conditions, Kristi Leanne Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop and test an instrument to measure or quantify the construct of inner strength. Inner strength was synthesized into a theory based on twelve years of qualitative data from direct participant quotes, defined by Roux et al. (2002) as a central human resource that promotes well-being and healing. The inner strength questionnaire (ISQ) has undergone extensive psychometric evaluation which resulted in several versions. The third version had 37-items and was believed to have four subscales that mirrored the theoretical themes that emerged through the qualitative data. The sample was composed of 281 women …

Surface Characteristics Of Bacillus Spores, Darlene Danette Sabio

Theses and Dissertations

Rapid isolation and identification of spores from various environmental samples is necessitated because anthrax spores can be used as biological weapons. The hydrophobic nature of spores may allow for their rapid concentration and partial purification from contaminating materials. In this study, spores from four taxonomic groups of Bacillaceae were isolated, purified and characterized for hydrophobicity by hexadecane partitioning, surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy, and steady-state fluorescence by spectroscopy. The morphology of spores was similar within taxonomic groups and dissimilar between groups. Spore hydrophobicity ranged from 0.3% to 65% and all spores had fluorescence emission peaks at 335 nm and …

Experimental Studies On Nucleation, Nanoparticle's Formation And Polymerization From The Vapor Phase, Victor Maher Abdelsayed

Theses and Dissertations

This research is divided into three major parts. In part I, the critical supersaturations required for the homogeneous nucleation of 2,2,2-trifluorothanol (TFE) vapor have been measured over a temperature range (266-296 K) using an upward thermal diffusion cloud chamber (DCC). The measured supersaturations are in agreement with the predictions of both the classical and the scaled theory of nucleation. Moreover, the condensation of supersaturated TFE vapor on laser-vaporized magnesium nanoparticles has been studied under different experimental conditions, such as the supersaturation, the pressure and the electric field. In part II, the laser vaporization controlled condensation (LVCC) technique was used to …

A Qualitative Study Of The Lived Experience Of Single, Gay Adoptive Fathers, John Daryl Matthews

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study expands the existing literature on fatherhood, single parents, and gay and lesbian adoption to include the unique experiences of single, gay men who became adoptive parents after "coming out", or establishing a gay identity. To illustrate these unique and common experiences, individual ethnographic interviews were conducted with 16 fathers residing throughout the United States, as well as internationally. Specifically, this study explored the participants' experiences through their reflections of the adoption process, and through their experiences after the family was established. The participants had experiences to those found in previous studies on gay and lesbian adoption and …

Perpetual Novelty, Brian Caverly

Theses and Dissertations

Within this thesis is a mapping out of the processes, concepts, and influences, behind the sculptural practice of Brian Caverly. From Complex Adaptive Systems to the world of order of Michel Foucault to the reexamination of the Modernist movement by Yve Alain Bois and Rosalind Krauss, a rhizomatic path of connections and lines form and cross over, weaving together into a swarming mayhem of over population. Out of this chaos and order grow complex installations and constructions that are inherently bound by the system of their making, yet attempt at every turn to escape conformity.

Meanings Of Security: A Constructivist Inquiry Into The Context Of Information Security Policy Development Post 9/11, Linda F. Larkin

Theses and Dissertations

Security is a term that appears to be used in a variety of ways and to have a number of meanings. In policy discussions, there may be reference to information security, national security, network security, online security, and other kinds of security. In an environment where technological innovation appears to be occurring at an ever increasing rate, policy makers look to technological experts for advice, and information security policy is developed, it seems to be important to consider these variations in meaning. This constructivist inquiry explores the context in which information security policy is developed and inquires into the meanings, …