Digital Commons Network^™

Atg Interviews Dr. Medhi Khosrow-Pour, Katina Strauch

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Atg Special Report -- Libraries & The Digital Commons: Eight Principles For An Emerging Ecosystem, Ellen Finnie Duranceau

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Will Anyone Adopt The Orphans?, Dan Duncan

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

People Profile: Dan Duncan, Editor

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Midwest Evaluation Of The Adult Functioning Of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes At Age 21, Mark E. Courtney, Amy Lynn Dworsky, Gretchen Ruth Cusick, Judy Havlicek, Alfred Perez, Thomas E. Keller

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth (Midwest Study) is a longitudinal study that has been following a sample of young people from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois as they transition out of foster care into adulthood. It is a collaborative effort involving Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago; the University of Wisconsin Survey Center; and the public child welfare agencies in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. This report concentrates on the outcomes of 21 year old youth as they "age out" of the child welfare system and transition to adulthood.

The Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effect Of Tetrahydrobiopterin Administration In Renal Mass Reduction-Induced Chronic Renal Failure In Rats, Aida A. Korish, Maha M. Arafah

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) supplementation on the markers of inflammation, and on the histological picture of the kidney in chronic renal failure C-reactive protein (CRF) induced in rats by subtotal nephrectomy (SNx). METHODS: This study was performed at the Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the period from December 2005 to January 2007. Chronic renal failure was induced by 5/6 SNx in 20 male Wister rats, and another 10 rats were sham operated by flank incision and served as controls. Ten SNx rats received 10mg kg-1 BH4 intraperitoneally daily for 4 weeks. …

Infliximab Tnf-Alpha Antagonist Decreases Intraabdominal Adhesions, Osman Kurukahvecioglu, Hande Koksal, Ozlem Gulbahar, Ozlem Erdem, Doruk Engin, Omer Yazicioglu, Mustafa Kerem, Ferit Taneri

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of infliximab on adhesion formation and it9s associated morbidity and complications. METHODS: This study was performed in the Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Turkey between July 2005 and October 2005. Thirty-five rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Laparotomy was performed in the Sham group (n=5), whereas cecal abrasion was carried out in all other groups. After cecal abrasion 0.9% sodium chloride was administered in the saline group (n=10), infliximab was administered to the study group (n=10) and nothing was administered to the last group (n=10). Adhesion formation was evaluated with macroscopic and microscopic adhesion …

Prevalence Of Dyslipidemia In The Iraqi Adult Population, Waadallah S. Mula-Abed, Saba K. Chilmeran

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of dyslipidemia in the Iraqi adult population in Mosul, Iraq, according to the different recommended criteria. METHODS: The study was carried out from October 2003 to April 2004, with 871 apparently healthy volunteers (413 males, 458 females) aged 20-70 year ([mean ± SD] 41.2 ± 13.8 year). Fasting blood specimens were collected from all subjects for measurement of serum lipid profile including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and ratios of cholesterol such as TC:HDL-C, LDL-C:HDL-C, and TG:HDL-C. Classification was carried out according to the different cut-off levels …

The Prevalence Of Abdominal Obesity And Its Associated Risk Factors In Married, Non-Pregnant Women Born And Living In High Altitude, Southwestern, Saudi Arabia, Mohammed E. Khalid

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of abdominal obesity and it9s associated risk factors in a married, non-pregnant, high altitude female population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted from January to March 2003, with 438 currently married non-pregnant women aged 18-60 years, born and permanent residents in and around Abha, southwestern heights, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire describing the demographic, social, reproductive, physical activity, and educational status was completed. The subjects were measured by weight, height, and waist circumference (WC). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each woman (BMI=weight [Kg]/height [m2]). Abdominal obesity was defined as WC>88cm, and total …

Constrictive Pericarditis Presenting As Recurrent Ascites For 10 Years, Nazir A. Lone, Hilal A. Rather, S. Jalal, Khurshid A. Khan, Mohammed S. Alai, Viqar M. Jan, Kaiser H. Hakeem, Pawan K. Suri, Dharminder K. Angurana

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Endothelin 1 Genotype On Blood Pressure Is Dependent On Physical Activity Or Fitness Levels, Tuomo Rankinen, Timothy S. Church, Treva Rice, Nathan Markward, Arthur S. Leon, Dabeeru C. Rao, James S. Skinner, Steven N. Blair, Claude Bouchard

Faculty Publications

Contributions of the DNA sequence variation at the endothelin 1 locus to the risk of hypertension and to endurance training-induced changes in blood pressure were investigated in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study and the Health, Risk Factors, Exercise Training and Genetics Family Study cohorts. We identified 586 normotensive control subjects and 607 incident hypertensive case subjects from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study cohort (all whites) who were normotensive and healthy at their first clinical visit. The case subjects were diagnosed with hypertension during an average follow-up of 9.5 years, whereas the control subjects remained normotensive. The allele and genotype frequencies …

United States Food Law Update: Labeling Controversies, Biotechnology Litigation, And The Safety Of Imported Food, A. Bryan Endres

Journal of Food Law & Policy

This update summarizes significant changes and developments in food law throughout the first half of 2007. Out of necessity, not every change is included; rather, this update is limited to significant changes in national law. This series of updates provides a starting point for scholars, practitioners, food scientists, and policymakers determined to understand the shaping of food law in modern society. Tracing the development of food law through these updates also builds an important historical context for the overall development of the discipline.

Coordinating Student Experiences In The Health Care Setting - A Design For Efficient And Effective Learning, Communication And Patient Care, Mary Amundson

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical courses are an essential part of the curriculum for any major involving health care careers. These courses provide the health care student the opportunity to transition from the classroom to the health care environment prior to graduation through guided practice in the provision of patient care. Clinical experiences leave the student with a greater understanding of wellness as well as the pathophysiology of disease, recognition of the relationship between interventions and outcomes, realization of the interplay of culture, spirituality and emotional status with the physical response of the body and provide the student with the ability to provide care …

Community Breastfeeding Attitudes And Beliefs, Patty Ryan Vari

Theses and Dissertations

Breastmilk is designed by nature to meet the specific needs of the human species and provides all that is necessary for normal infant growth, development, and health for the first six months of life. Efforts to extend that message publicly have resulted in an increase of breastfeeding rates, yet still have not reached the goals of Healthy People 2010. This paper adds to the body of breastfeeding literature to understand why some women breastfeed and others do not by exploring some of the individual characteristics of a Midwestern university community, including their breastfeeding and bottle feeding (formula) beliefs, attitudes, and …

Consistent Self-Monitoring Of Weight: A Key Component Of Successful Weight Loss Maintenance, Meghan L. Butryn, Suzanne Phelan, James O. Hill, Rena R. Wing

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: The objectives were to investigate the characteristics associated with frequent self-weighing and the relationship between self-weighing and weight loss maintenance.
Research Methods and Procedures: Participants (n = 3003) were members of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) who had lost ≥30 lbs, kept it off for ≥1 year, and had been administered the self-weighing frequency assessment used for this study at baseline (i.e., entry to the NWCR). Of these, 82% also completed the one-year follow-up assessment.
Results: At baseline, 36.2% of participants reported weighing themselves at least once per day, and more frequent weighing was associated with lower BMI …

Influence Of Stroke Clinical Pathway On Documentation, Shannon Sternberg

All Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the implementation of a stroke clinical pathway could improve compliance with documentation of specific quality measures for patients admitted with the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or transient ischemic attack. The study used the ten standardized performance measures for stroke identified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and integrated documentation of those measures into a stroke clinical pathway consisting of physician order sets, an interdisciplinary plan of care, and a patient/family education flow sheet. The American Stroke Association's Get with the Guidelines - Stroke (GWTG-Stroke) …

December 2007 Commencement Program, Bowling Green State University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Laryngeal Mask Airway Insertion Anaesthesia And Insertion Techniques, Abdul Monem, Fauzia A. Khan

Department of Anaesthesia

Laryngeal Mask Airway has gained wide acceptance for routine airway management, difficult airway and in emergency situations. The classical method of insertion was recommended by Dr Brain. Over the years various induction and insertion techniques have been described with variable results. Combination of induction agents with narcotics, with or without small dose muscle relaxants has been found to be very effective. There is less also lesser incidence of mucosal trauma with partially inflated cuff. Insertion with cuff facing laterally or backwards and rotating it forwards into position has also been described. A review of various options and their advantages and …

Can Collective Action And Capacity Building Reduce Vulnerability Among Settled Pastoralists?, D. Layne Coppock, Solomon Desta, Getachew Gebru, Seyoum Tezera

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

In 2001 PARIMA and her partners began to create collective-action groups among illiterate, settled pastoralists in southern Ethiopia. These groups—dominated by women—focused on savings-led microfinance, small business, and livestock marketing to increase incomes and diversify livelihoods. Fifty-nine groups with over 2,100 members were formed using intensive capacity- building methods. After six years we wanted to compare group members with their neighbors who never participated in the PARIMA program. We surveyed 180 individuals from groups and paired control (traditional) communities. Respondents were asked to assess the extent that they perceived positive, negative, or no change in their lives over the past …

Diffusion Of Collective-Action Innovations Among Pastoralists In Liben District, Ethiopia, D. Layne Coppock, Solomon Desta, Getachew Gebru, Getachew Kassa, Seyoum Tezera

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

In 2001 PARIMA and her partners began to create collective-action groups among illiterate, settled pastoralists in Ethiopia. These groups—soon dominated by women—focused on savings-led microfinance, small business activity, and livestock marketing to increase incomes and diversify livelihoods. Fifty-nine groups with over 2,100 members were formed using intensive training methods, and they have subsequently merged into legally recognized cooperatives. We regard this approach as successful and sustainable. We were curious, however, if “the word has spread” and collective-action has spontaneously arisen beyond our immediate project area. Preliminary findings from recent surveys of settlements in Liben District indicate that diffusion of collective-action …

Stakeholder Alliance Facilitates Re-Introduction Of Prescribed Fire On The Borana Plateau Of Southern Ethiopia, D. Layne Coppock, Getachew Gebru, Solomon Desta, Lemma Gizachew, Dadhi Amosha, Feyissa Taffa

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The implementation of a new prescribed fire program to restore bush-encroached rangelands in southern Ethiopia—and hence increase herbaceous forage supplies for livestock—is given as an example of an integrated action involving multiple institutions to address resource-management problems. The resumption of planned fire—traditionally conducted over hundreds of years by pastoralists until the 1970s—was preceded by key activities including mobilization of the pastoral community, review of government proclamations regarding use of fire, interaction with policy makers, capacity building among pastoralists and agency personnel on how to implement and manage planned fires, development of an overall prescribed burn plan, selection of geo-referenced sites, …

Determination Of The Nutritional Value, Protein Quality And Safety Of Krill Protein Concentrate Isolated Using An Isolelectric Solubilization/Precipitation Technique, Joseph Christopher Gigliotti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Despite its abundance and nutritional value, krill has not been widely utilized for human consumption due to the lack of proper technology for protein recovery. The study objectives were to isolate krill protein concentrate (KPC) and to determine the nutritional value, health benefits, and safety of KPC for human consumption. Proximate analysis indicated KPC on a dry basis is composed of ∼78% protein and ∼8% fat of which ∼27% are omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (o-3 PUFAs). The amino acid composition of KPC indicated that all nine essential amino acids were present in amounts that met the requirements for adult humans …

Sociodemographic And Health -Related Risks For Loneliness And Outcome Differences By Loneliness Status In A Sample Of Older U.S. Adults, Laurie A. Theeke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background. Loneliness is a prevalent problem for older adults and has been shown to be associated with negative physical, psychological, and social variables. There has been limited research focusing on the relationship of loneliness to health. There is a gap in the literature when it comes to understanding how the problem of loneliness relates to the health of older adults in the United States.;Purpose. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in the literature through the testing of two models, the first model represented the postulated risks for loneliness and the second model represented the postulated outcomes …

Exploring The Use Of Human Metrology For Biometric Recognition, Nikhil Mallikarjun Reddy Burri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis explores the possibility of incorporating human body measurements in a biometric framework. While metrological features have been used for identifying persons in the late 19th century, there is limited work in automating this process for surveillance applications. We first establish the relevance of using metrological features in biometric systems by studying two anthropometric data-sets (NASA and NHANES). We then propose a technique to automatically extract a subset of these measurements from a video sequence. A robust segmentation technique (HMMF) to detect moving pixels corresponding to human objects is used in the first stage. Next, we use Active Contours …

Perforated Appendicitis: Accuracy Of Ct Diagnosis And Correlation Of Ct Findings With The Length Of Hospital Stay, Asma Hina Siddiqui, Shaista Afzal

Department of Radiology

Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of CT findings in the differentiation of perforated from nonperforated appendicitis and correlate CT diagnosis with the length of hospital stay.STUDY Design: An analytical study.PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: This study was conducted at Radiology Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2004 to June 2005.PATIENTS AND Methods: The study included 70 patients who presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and underwent pre-operative CT scan followed by appendectomy. Patients were divided into two groups of having perforated and nonperforated appendicitis on the basis of CT scan findings. The surgical and …

Collective Action Among Agro-Pastoralists In Baringo District, Kenya: Identifying And Nurturing The Entrepreneurs, D. Layne Coppock, Mark N. Mutinda, Stellamaris K. Muthoka, Abdillahi A. Aboud

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The rural population of Baringo District in the Rift Valley of north-central Kenya faces numerous challenges including widespread environmental degradation and poverty. The region has endured decades of failed development projects, proliferation of food aid, and has been studied extensively. We have recently undertaken a different approach focused on bottom-up participatory action research and outreach among the Il Chamus and Tugen ethnic communities. The objective is to explore new ways to empower local people via provision of information, novel experiences, and initial access to resources to allow them to envision an alternative future and implement their own activities to better-manage …

Building Effective Community Participation And Stakeholder Partnerships To Promote Positive Change In The Southern Ethiopian Rangelands, D. Layne Coppock, Solomon Desta, Getachew Gebru, Seyoum Tezera, Dadi Amosha

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Recently there has been increased recognition that authentic community participation and creating strong inter-institutional partnerships are both important in the process of capacity building, generating innovation, and sustaining development achievements in rural Africa. Here we summarize a process of community participation and formation of institutional partnerships in support of pastoral risk-management interventions over the past seven years on the Borana Plateau. Community involvement has been stimulated using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods. This has resulted in the proliferation of pastoral collective-action groups that have diversified livelihoods, engaged markets, and improved incomes. Implementing and sustaining positive change, however, has also been …

The Effect Of Preservation On The Shelf Life Of Laboratory Processed Biscuit, Salim S. Al-Timimi, Kalid A., Eshrak G. K.

Baghdad Science Journal

This study has been conducted to investigate the influence of preservatives(sodium propionate and potassium sorbate) at different levels to extend the storage life of laboratory processed biscuit.The results have shown that When%0.10 sodium propionate was added bacteria and fungi was not found for three months while found in the fourth month of storage.However bacteria and mold didnot grow until the sixth month of storage as %0.20 and %0.30 concentration was used. On the other side as %0.03 potassium sorbate was used,the growth of bacteria was cheched for 3 months and 4 months for molds..When %0.06 potassium sorbate was used no …

The Emergence Of Sex, Ursula Goodenough

Biology Faculty Research

Biological traits, the foci of natural selection, are by definition emergent from the genes, proteins, and other “nothing-buts” that constitute them. Moreover, and with the exception of recently emergent “spandrels,” each can be accorded a teleological dimension—each is “for” some purpose conducive to an organism's continuation. Sex, which is “for” the generation of recombinant genomes, may be one of the most ancient and ubiquitous traits in biology. In the course of its evolution, many additional traits, such as gender and nurture, have emerged. Patterns of sexual exchange are the basis for patterns of biological evolution and are central to the …

Gender Disparity In Nigerian Education: Women’S Experience Of Barriers To Equal Educational Opportunity, Eugene Okoli

Dissertations

Discrepancies between males and females in access to schooling, school completion rates, and participation in employment opportunities are still more the norm in some regions of the world than others. Limited access to education plagues women in Nigeria as well as in Sub-Saharan Africa. Disparity in access to educational opportunity is a pressing gender equity issue in Nigeria (World Bank, 2003).

Relatively few studies have focused on obtaining the viewpoints of women who experience this phenomenon. To hear the voices of these women regarding how they gained or were denied access to education in the Nigerian context, a cross-section of …