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Word Games: Raising And Resolving The Shortcomings In Accident-Insurance Doctrine That Autoerotic-Asphyxiation Cases Reveal, Sam Erman

Michigan Law Review

This Note argues that autoerotic asphyxiation deaths are accidents and not the results of intentionally self-inflicted injuries. Part I formally analyzes accident-insurance case law to show that current, viable approaches to accident insurance indicate that autoerotic asphyxiation deaths are accidental. Part II claims autoerotic asphyxiation deaths should not trigger intentionally self-inflicted injury exclusion clauses because the practice does not intentionally injure. This Note concludes beneficiaries should recover when accident-insurance policyholders die during autoerotic asphyxiation.

The Free Exercise Of Religion And Public Schools: The Implications Of Hybrid Rights On The Religious Upbringing Of Children, Michael E. Lechliter

Michigan Law Review

This Note argues that parents have a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution to direct the religious upbringing of their children and that courts interpreting Smith have systematically misunderstood and misapplied the Supreme Court's confusing hybrid rights language. Part I explains how Yoder and Smith create and preserve parents' right to direct the religious upbringing of their children. The essential point is that the free exercise right and the parental right are not examined independently and simply added together, but instead are incorporated together to provide a specific bite to the free exercise claim. Part I also examines the lower …

Acoustics Of The Human Middle-Ear Air Space, Cara E. Stepp, Susan E. Voss

Engineering: Faculty Publications

The impedance of the middle-ear air space was measured on three human cadaver ears with complete mastoid air-cell systems. Below 500 Hz, the impedance is approximately compliance-like, and at higher frequencies (500-6000 Hz) the impedance magnitude has several (five to nine) extrema. Mechanisms for these extrema are identified and described through circuit models of the middle-ear air space. The measurements demonstrate that the middle-ear air space impedance can affect the middle-ear impedance at the tympanic membrane by as much as 10 dB at frequencies greater than 1000 Hz. Thus, variations in the middle-ear air space impedance that result from variations …

The Professionalization Of Naturopathic Medicine, Mindy Michelle Tyson

Theses and Dissertations

Use and interest in naturopathic medicine, a comprehensive alternative healing modality, has been on the increase in the United States for more than a decade. Proponents of the health discipline are working to move it from its current position as a partially professionalized heterodox medical system into mainstream medicine in the United States. Advocates for this form of primary care medicine claim that through its use of natural therapeutics and preventive medicine, naturopathic medicine has the ability to curb the ever- escalating costs of American health care and to slow the epidemic of preventable diseases occurring in the United States. …

A Comparison Of Cycle Ergometer Vo2max Test And On-Ice Aerobic Test On Und Women's Ice Hockey Team, Chia-Ying Lien

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the great increase in popularity of women’s ice hockey, it is important for coaches to have good testing and training methods in order to know their players’ on-ice fitness level. This study examined the correlation between the on-ice Reed Repeat Skating test (RSS) and the off-ice cycle ergometer VCtemax test on female collegiate ice hockey players. Twenty-one participants were tested on both tests but only fourteen participants’ data could be analyzed.

The results indicated that the off-ice V02max test was not significantly correlated to RSS drop-off index (r = -0.253) and total time (r = -0.480). Player’s age, …

Factors Contributing To Student Retention And Attrition At Sitting Bull College Between 2001-2004, Laurel A. Vermillion

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which selected factors (i.e., student funding, lack of adequate academic preparation, personal commitment, family support, child care issues, transportation problems, and job conflict, and other factors that students identify) contribute to the student retention and attrition at a single mid-western Tribal College.

A total of 782 survey questionnaires were mailed to former (including stop-outs, dropouts, and graduates) and current Sitting Bull College (SBC) students. These surveyed students were chosen from the SBC student enrollment data beginning spring semester 2001 through spring semester 2004.

The eighteen-item retention survey was developed …

Outcomes Of A Bariatric Surgery Program, Ann Lansing

Theses and Dissertations

The incidence of obesity in the U.S. is alarming. There are serious comorbid conditions associated with morbid obesity. These include hypertension, diabetes type-2, and sleep apnea. Although much money and effort is spent on weight loss programs, only 5% of the people meet with success.

This study is a retrospective examination of outcomes of a bariatric surgery program. Charts were reviewed between the years of 2000 and 2003. The population included over 100 patients who had Roux-en Y gastric bypass in a town in the Western United States.

The variables examined were the resolution of hypertension, diabetes type-2, and sleep …

Frequency Of Instrumental Delivery Associated With Epidural Analgesia, Nicole D. Abrahamson

Theses and Dissertations

Presently, approximately two-thirds of all women in the United States receive obstetric analgesia for pain relief during labor. Much research has been done on the effects of epidural analgesia on the mother and infant including prolonged labor, lower rate of spontaneous delivery and increased risk of instrumental delivery. There is agreement in the research that epidural analgesia prolongs stage 2 labor, however, debate continues regarding the association of instrumental delivery and epidural analgesia. There is also lack of substantial research regarding discontinuing epidural analgesia late in labor and whether this affects rate of instrumental delivery.

The purpose of this study …

Knowledge And Perception Of North Dakota Nurses Regarding Palliative Care, Nancy Joyner

Theses and Dissertations

Palliative care, also known as comfort care, involves the holistic care of patients when curative treatment is not effective. The principal factors of palliative care include the aggressive treatment of pain and other symptoms, including physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual problems. Nurses spend more time with patients and their families than any other health care professional, placing them in a position to provide palliative care in a variety of different settings. This requires nurses to have a sound knowledge base in this specialty. Not all nurses, however, are adequately prepared for or comfortable with palliative care.

The purpose of …

Hyperventilation And Its Effects On The Neurosurgical Patient, Melissa L. Laspi

Theses and Dissertations

Neurosurgical procedures continue to be a challenging and intricate part of an anesthesia provider’s career. The anesthesia provider can control the physiological effects of improper auto-regulation of the brain that can occur with abnormal neurological pathology. The control of hyperventilation is one way that the anesthesia provider can manipulate cerebral physiology. This paper addresses the physiology of impaired brain autoregulation and the role in which carbon dioxide affects that physiology. Simply stated, carbon dioxide (C02) is the number one physiological factor that controls cerebral blood flow; increasing C02 dilates cerebral vessels thus increasing flow while decreasing C02 constricts cerebral vessels …

Optimizing Bispectral Index (Bis) Use In The Intensive Care Unit: Development Of A Procedure And Skill Competency Validation For Critical Care Nurses, Twyla G. Kouba

Theses and Dissertations

The Bispectral Index (BIS) technology developed by Aspect Medical Systems is Food and Drug Administration approved and commercially available to monitor the effects of anesthetics and sedatives on the level of consciousness in the Operating Room, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and in special procedure environments where sedation is administered. Sedation management is a challenge in the ICU with serious consequences resulting from oversedation or undersedation. A literature review provides evidence that the BIS is a reliable, valid tool for objective sedation assessment in the ICU. However, critical care nurses must be able to first identify which patient populations can benefit …

Anesthesia Guide To Help Increase Parental Knowledge And Reduce Anxiety For Parents Bringing Children To The Operating Room, Kristine A. Eckert

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined parents’ anxiety levels of bringing their children to the operating room (OR) and also explored the choices they have available to them given the facility they are using for services. The extensive literature review explored these issues, resulting in the creation of a teaching brochure designed to give information and options to parents as they bring their child to the operating room. The brochure design and development is thoroughly discussed in the study. The literature review also explored suggested methods to decrease anxiety, including increasing parental knowledge related to the anesthesia process. The anesthesia providers’ responsibilities and …

Comparison Of Epidural Analgesia Vs. Intravenous Opioids In Providing Post-Operative Pain Control And Decreased Length Of Stay In Patients Undergoing Abdominal Hysterectomy, Dane C. Hanson

Theses and Dissertations

Post-operative pain control continues to be a concern among anesthesia providers and patients alike. The ability to control the pain by utilizing different treatment modalities has been a point of interest by anesthesia providers in order to provide the best care possible to their patients. The use of epidural anesthesia/analgesia (EA) has increased in the last two decades; however, it still seems to be underutilized for several major abdominal surgeries such as total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of epidural anesthesia or analgesia in the postoperative period provides better pain control …

Factors That Effect Prolonged Intubation Of Postoperative Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients, Sheri L. Triepke

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify contributing factors that cause coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients to remain intubated longer than eight hours. Current practice in CABG anesthesia advocates tracheal extubation within one to eight hours after surgery. With the advances made in anesthetic techniques and post-operative analgesia, the CABG population should consistently be extubated within the eight hour time frame.

A retrospective medical chart review of 30 CABG patients remaining intubated longer than eight hours was conducted. A study group of 30 patients extubated within eight hours was used for comparison.

The subjects reviewed for both groups …

Interdisciplinary Teams And Collaboration In A Long Term Care Facility, Michelle Conley

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this qualitative study were to discover what influences collaboration had on an interdisciplinary team practicing in a rural Midwestern long-term -care facility, to discover what factors influence collaboration, and to discover what barriers can hinder collaboration for the interdisciplinary team practicing in this facility. In this descriptive, qualitative study, eleven semi-structured in-depth interviews were completed, and a constant comparative method of data analysis was used.

The categories that emerged from the data analysis were (a) chronic health conditions, (b) collaboration, (c) communication, (d) expectations, (e) influences that enhance collaboration, and (f) influences that are barriers to collaboration. …

Development Of Improved T Cell Receptor Beta Variable Gene Identification Technology And Its Application Post Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Jamie Leigh Brewer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Much has yet to be understood about the role of specific families of T lymphocytes in the post human hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplant environment. Prior work in the field has identified T cells based upon the expression of their T cell receptor beta variable regions (TCRBV). In this investigation we developed a comprehensive panel of oligonucleotides that can be used to determine the expression of all 91 alleles of the human TCRBV regions using real time PCR technology. Application of this technology to peripheral blood samples collected weekly from allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant patients yielded the following …

The Effect Of Low And High Fertility Treatments On Soil Quality, Yields, Pest Incidence And Labor Requirements Of A Post-Transitional Organic Market Garden System, Todd Bradley Childers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In a two-year study, eight vegetable crops were grown as part of a certified organic four-year crop rotation. High input plots received off-farm composted cow manure and cover crops, and low input plots were managed with the use of cover crops only. High input plots produced higher yields than low input plots in all crops, except peas, which yielded higher in low input plots. Soil organic matter levels were significantly higher in the high input than the low input plots and increased from 2003 to 2004 in both treatments. Available soil phosphorus levels in the high input plots were excessive, …

The Effectiveness Of Valdecoxib On Post-Endodontic Pain, Lora Beth Ford

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pain is often associated with teeth that need endodontic therapy. This pain results from inflammation. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are useful in managing acute post-operative dental pain. NSAIDS specific for only blocking the COX-2 enzyme cause less stomach irritation and bleeding. The purpose of this clinical study was to determine if pre-operative administration of valdecoxib would significantly reduce post-endodontic pain, when compared to ibuprofen. Sixteen patients were evaluated. The patients consented to a random, one-time, pre-operative oral administration of either 600 mg ibuprofen or 20 mg valdecoxib. Each patient rated their pain on a visual analog scale at initial, immediately after, …

The Effects Of Contextual Factors On Dyadic Everyday Problem Solving In Adulthood, Tara L. Neely

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study examined individual and dyadic everyday problem solving in 45 younger, middle-aged, and older adult married couples. The goal of the study was to investigate the effects of age, gender, collaboration, marital characteristics, and basic cognition on everyday problem-solving. Two research questions were addressed. First, were there group differences across three phases of problem solving? Second, what was the frequency of individual change, and which factors predicted improvement, stability, or decline? When addressing the first question, there was a significant four-way interaction, F (4, 78) = 2.83, p < .05, eta = .12, between participant age, gender, problem-solving condition, and problem-solving phase, emphasizing the multidimensionality of everyday cognition. When addressing the second question, a larger percentage of individuals who collaborated reliably improved compared to individuals who worked alone. Furthermore, basic cognitive abilities, education, and marital factors significantly accounted for individual reliable change in everyday problem solving.

Response Of Clonal Genotypes Of Juncus Effusus L. To Different Environmental Regimes, Daniel Benjamin Stover

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A genetic tradeoff is hypothesized between resource use efficiency (RUE) and resource acquisition rate (RAR) in that it is impossible for selection to maximize both traits. In low-resource environments, RUE is expected to be favored while in high-resource environments RAR will be maximized. Growth rates and allocations of reciprocally transplanted clonal genotypes of J. effusus from differing nitrogen and elevation sites were examined. High-nitrogen populations outperformed their low-nitrogen counterparts, which were more nitrogen efficient. Plants originating from high-elevation sites grew larger irrespective of transplant environment. Elevation appears to be the dominant factor on biomass, nutrient allocation and growth at high …

The Biological Control Potential Of Cryphonectria Parasitica Strains Containing An Infectious Cdna Copy Of Hypovirus Chv1-Euro7, William R. Rittenour

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Transmissible hypovirulence has not become established in most areas of North America as it has in Europe where it has been associated with increased biological control of chestnut blight. Transgenic strains of Cryphonectria parasitica provide several mechanisms that may improve biological control. This study was designed to evaluate whether transgenic C. parasitica strains containing a cDNA transgene encoding the viral genome of CHV1-Euro7 show greater potential to biologically control blight than their cytoplasmically infected counterparts. Three treatments were employed that compared: transgenic hypovirulent strains (TG), cytoplasmic hypovirulent strains (CH), and virulent strains (V). Two types of cankers were initiated in …

The Use Of Native Plants For Revegetation Along West Virginia Highways, Christina Venable

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The West Virginia Division of Highways is required to develop seeding mixtures comprised of native plants for revegetating highway corridors and thereby reducing the potential for introduction of non-native species along roads. The objectives of this project were to compare establishment and growth of plants in five different seed mixtures and two fertilizer treatments, to develop surface treatments to enhance the establishment of native plants along highways, and correlate native species establishment to soil physical and chemical properties. Fertilizer was not found to increase the cover of the seeded natives, but did increase total cover. The seeded natives were not …

Bringing Down The Mountains: The Impact Of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining On Southern West Virginia Communities, 1970--2004, Shirley L. Stewart Burns

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While surface mining began in West Virginia during WWI, the practice did not expand until WWII. Used to fuel the war effort, surface mining would become the industry-preferred means of mining coal and gained a permanent place in West Virginia's coal mining industry. Mountaintop removal surface coal mining began on Fayette County, West Virginia's, Bullpush Mountain in 1970. An extreme version of strip mining, during mountaintop removal the tops of mountains are removed via blasting in order to reveal the coal seams below. The last thirty-four years has seen an escalation in this mining method from forty-four permits covering 9,800 …

Risk And Resilience In Youth: An Examination Of Moderating Factors, Beverly L. Fortson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Child maltreatment (i.e., emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect) poses a significant risk for psychological difficulties to millions of children annually. Some children develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other anxiety disorders (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder), depressive disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder), and substance abuse/dependence as a result of maltreatment. Fortunately, many other children, who have been termed "resilient," escape such incidents relatively unscathed. This study explored the unique associations between child maltreatment and several outcome variables (e.g., substance use, sexualized behavior, depression, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety) as well as …

State Policy Innovation And Transfer: The Role Of Bureaucratic Professional Communication Networks, Rebecca Tatman Klase

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The central question of this research is, "what is the role of state administrative agencies in the innovation and transfer of public policy?" One of the theoretical perspectives of the study of public policy examines the "borrowing" of one nation or U.S. state's policy by another followed by adaptation to the new jurisdiction. The past focus of most of this research has been on legislative policy adoptions. This study draws upon a different perspective, bureaucratic adoptions of public policy.;A two-fold approach is employed, using both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Information was gathered on both state agencies and their lead …

Knowledge And Attitudes Of Paramedical Students In Saudi Arabia Toward Hiv/Aids, Yagob Y. Al-Mazrou, Mohammad S. Abouzeid, Mohammad H. Al-Jeffri

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to build a baseline profile for knowledge and attitudes of Saudi paramedical students toward human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS). METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional one conducted on a sample selected from health institutes and colleges in Saudi Arabia during the calendar year 2002/2003. RESULTS: A high percentage of students correctly perceive the risk presented by HIV/AIDS. Extramarital sex and unprotected sex were the most frequently mentioned risky behaviors. Misconceptions and lack of knowledge regarding transmission of HIV/AIDS were reported. Lack of knowledge on the means of individual protection, means of protection of infants …

Postoperative Life Expectancy In Gastric Cancer Patients And Its Associated Factors, Hojjat Zeraati, Mahmood Mahmoudi, Anoshirvan Kazemnejad, Kazem Mohammed

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, the patterns of mortality have changed in Iran, and cancers are playing a greater role in this regard in this country. Various reports indicate that gastric cancer is highly prevalent; it is the second most common cancer in men, and fourth in the general population. The purpose of this study was to determine the 5-year survival rate of gastric cancer patients who had undergone surgical treatment at one of the most important cancer treatment centers, the Iran Cancer Institute, and to assess its associated factors. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty patients with gastric cancer who had …

Patency Following Vasectomy Reversal . Temporal And Immunological Considerations, Zouhair O. Amarin, Basil R. Obeidat

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postoperative patency rates of microsurgical vasovasostomy and vasoepididy- mostomy at various vasectomy reversal time intervals, and to assess the implications of anti-sperm antibodies on results. METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-two patients underwent unilateral or bilateral vasectomy reversal between January 1997 and April 2001 at the Health Clinic, Highgate and Manor House Hospitals, London, United Kingdom. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the time interval between vasectomy and reversal; less than 5 years, 5-10 years, 10-15 years, and more than 15 years. Data collected included patient9s age at time of vasectomy reversal, seminal fluid analysis …

Antibiotic Prescribing Pattern In A Medical Intensive Care Unit In Qatar, Yolande Hanssens, Bassam B. Ismaeil, Ahmed A. Kamha, Sittana S. Elshafie, Fathia S. Adheir, Thoraya M. Saleh, Dirk Deleu

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: The primary objectives were to evaluate the current usage of anti-microbial agents in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Doha, State of Qatar and to correlate this with: a) the infectious disease pattern, b) the isolated microorganisms and their sensitivity pattern, and, importantly, c) the patient9s clinical outcome. A secondary objective was to evaluate the influence of the use of steroid therapy on the development of fungal infections. METHODS: A prospective study covering a 2-month period from February through April 2004, including all patients admitted to the MICU for a minimum of 48 …

Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon, Khalid A. Al-Mazrou, Mark A. Richardson

Saudi Medical Journal

An association between a vascular lesion and a life threatening coagulopathy is called Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon KMP. It includes thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. We cannot overstate the need for excellent and careful screening. Treatment modalities of KMP have included medication, radiation, embolization and surgery. Corticosteroids have traditionally been the mainstay of treatment. We report a 4-month-old girl with an extensive vascular lesion involving the left parotid, submandibular, and parapharyngeal regions, and with KMP. We treated her with a mega dose of corticosteroids. Her coagulopathy resolved, and her vascular lesion improved.