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Climate Change, Adaptation, And Development, Daniel H. Cole

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Since the signing the Kyoto Protocol, the international community has focused a great deal of attention on measures designed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Much less attention has been paid to climate change adaption. This is unfortunate because, even if the Kyoto Protocol is fully implemented, climate change will generate substantial costs requiring substantial adaptation efforts, especially in the less developed countries (LDCs) of the world's tropical regions.

This paper considers what those countries should be doing in preparation for the effects of climate change, and what the countries of the developed world, including the United States, can and …

Foreign Policy, Trade And Health: At The Cutting Edge Of Global Health Diplomacy, David P. Fidler, Nick Drager

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Reflections On The Tenth Anniversary Of The Refuge Improvement Act, Robert L. Fischman

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Sharing H5n1 Viruses To Stop A Global Influenza Pandemic, David P. Fidler, Laurie Garrett

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Xdr Tuberculosis, The New International Health Regulations, And Human Rights, David P. Fidler, Philippe Calain

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of The Herbicide Atrazine On Mammalian Immune Function., Alexander M. Rowe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Atrazine is the most heavily used herbicide in the United States by weight and human exposure to the compound is wide spread. This study sought to define the immunotoxic effects of atrazine for two types of atrazine exposure models; maternal exposure to atrazine over a period of weeks and acute exposure of adult immune cells to atrazine. We hypothesized that maternal atrazine exposure from day ten of pregnancy to day ten of lactation would result in significant changes to the adult immune system. At three months of age we observed a gender specific increase in the offsprings’ immune function. Male …

Synthesis Of Polyol Natural Products: Applications To Rk-397 And Virginiamycin., Matthew S. Mortensen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A 3-step method for the preparation of 2-methyl-l,3-syn diols was developed and demonstrated on several examples. A previous incarnation of this method was used in the formal synthesis of two polyoxygenated natural products. RK-397 is a 32-membered oxopolyene macrolide antibiotic which also exhibits anti-cancer activity. Virginiamycin M2 (also known as flavofungin I) is a member of the streptogramin antibiotic family which are active against vancomycin-resistant s. aureus. The methodology employed for setting many of the stereocenters in these two products is asymmetric catalysis. This allows for either enantiomer to be created and also is efficient by means of chirality multiplication.

The Effect Of Aerobic Exercise On Endothelial Dysfunction In Overweight Children., Emily C-S Murphy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Childhood obesity is an edpidemic in the United States, and is directly associated with risk factors for both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. Endothelial dysfunction (EDF) is thought to be an initiating factor in both these diseases, and recent studies have established the presence of EDF in obese children. While the prevalence of EDF amongst obese children is unknown, EDF in the first two decades of life is predicted to increase both morbidity and mortality from CVD and type 2 diabetes. Purposes. (1) To determine the prevalence of EDF in obese children; (2) To determine whether aerobic exercise …

An Analysis Of Transnational Corruption., Gregory P. Noone

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Transnational corruption is the type of corruption that crosses borders, involves corporate and state actors, and employs sophisticated and grand schemes to siphon the wealth of a country from its rightful owners: the people of the country. Quite simply, it is the grand theft of public funds for private gain. This is a significant problem because the amount of money stolen each year is staggering. Over one-quarter of Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) is lost to corruption annually, and in Latin America about ten percent of their GDP vanishes due to corruption. Transparency International estimates that at least four hundred …

Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2007, Tennessee. Department Of Correction

Annual Reports

This document is the annual report for the Tennessee Department of Correction during the fiscal year.

Using The Social Cognitive Theory To Investigate Physical Activity In Middle-Aged And Older Married Couples: A Dyadic Perspective., Brian J. Ayotte

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research suggests that physical activity is positively associated with mental and physical health outcomes for adults of all ages. However, despite concerted effort to increase the activity levels of adults, the rates of adults who engage in regular physical activity remain low. The present study had two primary objectives: (a) to examine dyadically the role of self-efficacy and spousal self-efficacy in the amount of physical activity in which middle-aged and older adults engage, and (b) to test the full social cognitive theory in terms of how well it explains the variance in physical activity in a sample of middle-aged and …

An Investigation Of Student Characteristics' Influence On Retention At A Two-Year Proprietary Career College., Lisa Boice

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many students who enroll in higher education fail to complete their credential. This is especially true for students enrolled in two-year proprietary colleges where almost half leave without meeting their educational goals. Students at these institutions are largely underprepared and mostly nontraditional; their attrition has dire consequences for not only their own success, but that of society as well. Because most two-year students who drop out of college do so in their first year, early identification and intervention strategies are critical for student accomplishment and graduation. The purpose of the study was to uncover key retention issues that students face …

Will Legislation To Encourage Premarital Education Strengthen Marriage And Reduce Divorce?, Alan J. Hawkins

Faculty Publications

Many legislators are wondering whether there is a constructive role that government can play to strengthen marriages and reduce divorces. A handful of states have passed legislation providing incentives for couples to participate in formal premarital education. The purpose of this article is to examine the research that can help answer the question whether legislation to promote premarital education can strengthen marriages and reduce the divorce rate. Of course, there are numerous legal and policy issues related to marriage and divorce being discussed these days. The focus of this article however, is only on one. In the end, I conclude …

There Is A Land In The Far Off West, Michael Maben

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Tempted: Development And Psychometric Properties Of A Tool To Evaluate Materials Used In Patient Education., Laura H. Clayton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of a newly developed instrument, “Tool to Evaluate Materials Used in Patient Education” (TEMPtEd). The instrument was developed using the classical work of Waltz, Strickland, and Lenz (2005). The instrument contains 5 subscales (content, motivating principles, literacy, layout and typography, and graphics) with 21 criteria for evaluation using a 4-point rating scale. Ninety-one nurse educators from throughout the United States used the TEMPtEd Beta Version # 4 to evaluate an educational brochure on how to follow a low sodium diet. Data analysis demonstrated that the TEMPtEd …

The Emerging Geographies Of Work And Identity: Exploring Alternative Employment Strategies And Work Subjectivities Of Women With Multiple Sclerosis (Ms)., Kimberly Lynne Cordingly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system producing a varied range of symptoms affecting physical, cognitive, and sensory functioning. The variability and unpredictability of impairments, their duration and intensity on a day to day basis, and ongoing health impacts present formidable challenges to securing and maintaining employment. Research suggests, despite having recent and extensive work histories, as many as 70-80 percent of individuals with MS are unemployed after diagnosis. For women with MS, the challenge of negotiating paid and non-paid work responsibilities often leads to difficult choices about how to navigate these changing lifeworlds. For …

Federalism, Multi-Level Governance And Tobacco Control: Comparative Public Policy In The United Kingdom And South Africa., Bossman E. Asare

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The dissertation investigates the effects of federalism and multi-level governance on tobacco control policy in the United Kingdom and South Africa. It uses theories of federalism and multi-level governance, as well as policy transfer (diffusion) and interest groups politics to investigate their effects on tobacco control policy adoption. Methodologically, the research uses comparative case analyses augmented by elite interviews and secondary sources. The study found that each of the various explanations have influenced the adoption of comprehensive tobacco control policies in the two countries. In the end, the study argues that the policies of the two countries are converging, except …

Product Design For Energy Reduction In Concurrent Engineering: An Inverted Pyramid Approach., Nasr M. Alkadi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Energy factors in product design in concurrent engineering (CE) are becoming an emerging dimension for several reasons; (a) the rising interest in green design and manufacturing, (b) the national energy security concerns and the dramatic increase in energy prices, (c) the global competition in the marketplace and global climate change commitments including carbon tax and emission trading systems, and (d) the widespread recognition of the need for sustainable development. This research presents a methodology for the intervention of energy factors in concurrent engineering product development process to significantly reduce the manufacturing energy requirement. The work presented here is the first …

Examining Therapists' Perceptions Of Confidentiality Across Various Therapeutic Environments, Professional Organizations, And Client Development (An Exploratory Study)., Traci Aaron Berry-Harris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Confidentiality is at the cornerstone of what can make or break the therapeutic relationship. Ethical guidelines are constantly changing, and therapists need to consider their ethical code and other variables including their state law and organizational policy when making decisions related to confidentiality. When working with clients of varying developmental levels, the decisions therapists make regarding confidentiality issues are often not clear. In addition, therapists’ views and experiences concerning confidentiality can play a large role in their decisions concerning obtaining informed consent, duty to protect, and breaching confidentiality in therapy. This exploratory study examined the differences among therapists of diverse …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Nuclear Factor-Erythroid-2 Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) Regulation: Phosphorylation By Casein Kinase 2 (Ck2) And Interaction With Proto-Oncogene N-Myc In Neuroblastoma Cells., Patrick L. Apopa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Environmental pollutants and toxicants expose cells to oxidative and electrophilic challenges. Oxidative and xenobiotic stresses caused by environmental toxicants are known to cause human diseases including cancer and diabetes. To protect against the insults, cells have developed detection and response mechanisms. One such sensor-defense cellular mechanism involves the Nrf2 pathway. The transcription factor Nuclear factor erythriod 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), a member of the cnc bZIP transcription factors, regulates the expression and induction of phase II antioxidant and detoxification genes via antioxidant response element (ARE). In the presence of an antioxidant, Nrf2 has been shown to be activated, translocate …

Determining Consumer Perceptions Of And Willingness To Pay For Appalachian Grass -Fed Beef: An Experimental Economics Approach., Jason R. Evans

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The U.S. market for commoditized beef is a dynamic one that has, over the last 30 years, seen decreases in per capita consumption and an increased reliance on large, integrated feedlot facilities that focus on efficient weight gain and producing carcasses deemed desirable according the USDA quality grading system. Because of the problems inherent in the conventional production system and the existence of farm-to-retail price spreads that do not favor primary cow-calf producers, analyses of alternative beef production and marketing strategies that facilitate enhanced profitability and simultaneously address surging consumer demand for specialty food products are necessary. To that end, …

An Exploratory Study Of Multiple Relationships, Ethical Decision Making And The Identification Of Potentially Harmful Relationships In College Counseling Centers., Leslie M. Frere

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Multiple relationships are a concern for the helping professions, yet are often unavoidable. Smaller communities, such as those on college campuses, can make avoiding these types of relationships difficult where professional roles frequently overlap. This research explores the characteristics that may influence an individual’s ability to identify situations where harmful relationships are likely to occur. Respondents included staff members and interns at APA accredited internship sites in college counseling centers across the United States. A survey was mailed to 659 potential respondents with 136 usable responses. The independent variables of age, clinical experience, and amount of received supervision were examined …

Foster Parent Pre-Service Training Programs: A Content Analysis Of Four Common Curricula, Jason B. Whiting Phd, Paul Huber, Alice Koech

Faculty Publications

This study compares four curricula commonly used in the pre-service training of US foster parents. Stufflebeam's (1983) CIPP model for program evaluation was used to guide a content analysis of each curriculum, with specific attention to the content and training methodology used. The content was examined to determine if it covered topics identified as germane to the task of fostering children. The instructional methodology of each program was compared with established andragogical adult education techniques. Results indicated that each curriculum varied in content and method of instruction, although there were many areas of overlap. Suggestions for curriculum selection criteria are …

First-Time Mothers' Parenting Knowledge During Their Infant's First Year: Relations With Information Sources, Social Support Networks, Maternal Self-Efficacy, And Infant Development., Nichole L. Elliott

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A mother's knowledge about parenting and child development is an important facilitator of effective parenting behavior. Research suggests that an infant's healthy development is influenced by his or her mother's parenting behaviors (Kenny, Bowen, & Starte, 2004). Although past research has established the relations between parenting knowledge and many maternal and infant characteristics, the importance of this topic necessitates further research. The current study was conducted to assess relations among mothers’ parenting and milestone knowledge, mothers' sources of information about parenting and child development, mothers' social support network density and satisfaction with the availability of their support networks, mother's parenting …

Durable Consumption And The Life Cycle Permanent Income Hypothesis: Evidence From Survey Data., Chaiwuth Tangsomchai

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation uses the survey data from the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) to test the Life Cycle Permanent Income Hypothesis (LCPI) as it applies to the consumption of durable goods. To measure durable consumption services (“durable consumption,” for short) housing and vehicle consumption data are employed. We find that households mostly behave as implied by the LCPI Hypothesis, although they consume from their permanent income somewhat less than what the strict LCPI Hypothesis predicts. We also incorporate the effect of household financial constraints, which have previously been shown to have …

A Two By Two Comparison Of Offense And Gender: What Characteristics Do Female Sex Offenders Have In Common With Other Offender Groups?, Jill Johansson-Love

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current study was a chart review that examined 31 female sex offenders (FSO), 31 male sex offenders (MSO), 31 female violent offenders (FO), and 31 male violent offenders (MO) using a 2 (female/male) by 2 (sex/violent offender) design. This is the first study to include three comparison groups when researching female sex offenders. Several variables appeared to relate to gender. Having a co-perpetrator during the crime and being a passive participant in the crime was related to being a female. There was a main effect of gender on the Social Introversion Scale of the MMPI-2 indicating that the male …

The Experience Of Choosing The Parish Nurse For Health Care Services., Michalene A. King

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Parish nursing is a new area of community health nursing practice. Parish nurses practice independent, holistic nursing in a faith community and offer a variety of health care services. Few studies have focused on the clients of parish nurses and fewer yet have investigated the experience of choosing the parish nurse for health care services. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of choosing the parish nurse for health care services. The setting for the study included three Christian churches with practicing parish nurses. The participants completed a seven item demographic questionnaire followed by a face to …

Perception Of Students With Disabilities: An Assessment Of Attitudes Held By Pre-Service Teachers., Suzanne Gosden Kitchen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study explored the attitudes pre-service teachers held toward people with disabilities. The researcher conducted a survey methodology study via questionnaire of repeated measures design, using the respondents as their own controls. The goal of this study was to find out if pre-service teachers attitudes toward people with disabilities were affected by descriptive labels such as physicaldisability or mental disability. In other words, did the type of disability affect the pre-service teachers attitudes toward that person? Findings revealed that pre-service teachers had a more negative attitude toward people labeled with mental disabilities, and a more positive attitude toward people labeled …

Suicide Assessment With Residential Adolescent Substance Users: Risk And Resilience Factors., Elizabeth Ann Tyner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Suicide remains stable as the third leading cause of death of adolescents in the United States (CDC, 2004). The rate of adolescent suicide is 10 per 100,000 or approximately one suicide every two hours (AAS, 2006). Adolescent substance abusers are a unique population with a high risk for suicide. The relation between suicide and substance abuse has been examined yet the nature of this relation is unclear (Goldston, 2004). This study added to the two published studies (Berman & Schwartz, 1990; Deykin & Buka, 1994) that examined suicidal behavior in residential adolescents with a primary diagnosis of substance abuse/dependence by …

Conocimientos, Creencias Y Reporte De La Práctica De Los Médicos Generales En Maracaibo, Venezuela, Acerca De Las Demencias, Alexis Romero-Salazar, Raima Rujano Roque, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

The objective of this study is to explore the knowledge, beliefs, and reports of the practice of general physicians from primary care service units regarding dementia, its signs, symptoms, treatment and its impact in early diagnosis. In this exploratory research we applied a questionnaire to every general physician working at urban type 1 and 2 ambulatory centers in the public regional health system. A total of 26 centers were studied in Maracaibo and San Francisco, Venezuela. The results and conclusions demonstrate that there are obstacles to produce early diagnosis. There is a lack of knowledge in relation to diagnostic tests, …