Digital Commons Network^™

Healthy, Wealthy And Whys, Debra Pankow, Jane U. Edwards

FE Series – Family Economics/HDFS

No abstract provided.

Cost Of Diabetes Care In Out-Patient Clinics Of Karachi, Pakistan, Liaquat A. Khowaja, Ali K. Khuwaja, Peter Cosgrove

Community Health Sciences

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a growing epidemic and the cost of treating diabetes is largely increasing. The objective of this study was to estimate the cost-of-illness of DM among attendees of out-patient clinics in Karachi, Pakistan. This is the first study conducted from a societal perspective to estimate the cost of managing diabetes in Pakistan.Methods: A prevalence-based 'Cost-of-Illness' study for diabetes care was conducted in six different out-patient clinics of Karachi, Pakistan from July to September 2006. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to collect the data from 345 randomly selected persons with diabetes.Results: The annual mean direct cost for …

Maternal Characteristics In Relation To Income In A Semi-Rural Community In Pakistan, A R. Siddiqui

Community Health Sciences

Women's health and socioeconomic status is fundamental to development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of monthly household income with demographic, nutritional and social characteristics in women living in a semi-rural location near Karachi. Thus 1111 mothers with at least 1 child under 5 years of age were interviewed. Self-reported monthly income was positively associated with gravidity, mid upper-arm circumference, cooking frequency per day and self and spousal literacy; it was negatively associated with number of occupants per room, wood used as cooking fuel, and spouse in a skilled occupation. Income is dependent on non-income factors …

Women's Empowerment And Health: The Role Of Institutions Of Power In Pakistan, N Qureshi, B T. Shaikh

Community Health Sciences

Women's right to health has been reiterated many times. However, there are social and cultural barriers in developing countries that hinder their empowerment. Women's low status, deprivation of education and lack of control over their own lives and bodies have a negative impact on their health status and that of their families. This paper discusses women's empowerment and health within the framework of the 4 institutions of power in a society-family, community, health care systems and the state--with special reference to the situation in Pakistan. It concludes that to improve women's health status, concerted efforts are needed by all these …

Correlates Of Cigarette Smoking Among Male College Students In Karachi, Pakistan, Shafquat Rozi, Zahid A. Butt, Saeed Akhtar

Community Health Sciences

Background: About 1.3 billion people are regular smokers world wide and every day between 8,200 and 9,900 young people start to smoke, risking rapid addiction to nicotine. Transition from high school to college is a critical period to adopt healthy habits and life style. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that might influence their smoking habit. Our study aims to assess the influence of factors that encourage college students to smoke cigarettes.Methods: The data used in this survey were obtained from a representative sample of registered colleges of Karachi. A random sample of 576 male college students of …

Prevalence And Predictors Of Smokeless Tobacco Use Among High-School Males In Karachi, Pakistan, S Rozi, S Akhtar

Community Health Sciences

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 3 towns in Karachi, Pakistan to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with the use of smokeless tobacco among 772 high-school adolescent males. A structured questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic factors and history of cigarette and smokeless tobacco use. Prevalence of smokeless tobacco use (gutka, snuff, niswar) was 16.1% (95% CI: 13.5%-18.9%). On multiple logistic regression analysis, the factors significantly related to smokeless tobacco use among the sample were: attending government school [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 6.3], smoking cigarettes (OR 3.2), not seeing anti-tobacco advertisements (OR 1.5), family history of tobacco use (OR …

Noncommunicable Diseases And Injuries: Action Needed In South Asia Too, Ali Khan Khuwaja, Riaz Qureshi, Zafar Fatmi

Community Health Sciences

No abstract provided.

Knowledge And Beliefs Of Adolescents Regarding Sexually Transmitted Infections And Hiv/Aids In A Rural District In Pakistan, Hafsa Raheel, Franklin White, Muhammad Masood Kadir, Zafar Fatmi

Community Health Sciences

Objective:

To assess the knowledge and beliefs of adolescents (15-19 years girls and boys) regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS.

Methods:

A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in October 2002 in a rural district (Mirpurkhas) of Sindh province, Pakistan.

Results:

A total of 428 adolescent girls and boys were interviewed. Only 44% correctly named at least one STI, while 55% knew at least two modes of transmission for HIV/AIDS. Adolescents with education greater than or equal to secondary level, those who were able to read the newspaper, possessed electricity in their homes and were allowed to meet their …

Introduction: Visual Communication In Life Sciences, Kathryn M. Northcut

English and Technical Communication Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Review Of Martin Willis And Catherine Wynne, Eds., Victorian Literary Mesmerism And Martin Willis, Mesmerists, Monsters, And Machines: Science Fiction And The Cultures Of Science In The Nineteenth Century, Kristine Swenson

English and Technical Communication Faculty Research & Creative Works

The article reviews two books including "Victorian Literary Mesmerism," edited by Martin Willis and Catherine Wynne, and "Mesmerists, Monsters and Machines: Science Fiction and the Cultures of Science in the Nineteenth Century," by Martin Willis.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) In Children Following Acute Injuries Requiring Emergency Medical Care, Virginia Depp Cline

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Unfortunately, one rite of passage of childhood is often serious injury that carries psychological impact along with the obvious physical repercussions. Prior studies have found conflicting results for protective/risk factors, thus this study attempted to explore PTSD in a sample of children ages seven to thirteen years of age with moderate to severe injuries. In this study (N = 32), 31.3% of children experiencing such a sudden injury requiring hospitalization at the University of Kentucky Childrens Hospital demonstrated significant indications of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the injury. Several pre, peri, and post-trauma variables from during the childs hospitalization to …

Simulations-Guided Design Of Process Analytical Sensor Using Molecular Factor Computing, Bin Dai

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Many areas of science now generate huge volumes of data that present visualization, modeling, and interpretation challenges. Methods for effectively representing the original data in a reduced coordinate space are therefore receiving much attention. The purpose of this research is to test the hypothesis that molecular computing of vectors for transformation matrices enables spectra to be represented in any arbitrary coordinate system. New coordinate systems are selected to reduce the dimensionality of the spectral hyperspace and simplify the mechanical/electrical/computational construction of a spectrometer. A novel integrated sensing and processing system, termed Molecular Factor Computing (MFC) based near infrared (NIR) spectrometer, …

Sorbitol Dehydrogenase Expression In Apple Fruit, Marta Nosarzewski

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Sorbitol, the primary photosynthate and translocated carbohydrate in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.), is converted to fructose by SORBITOL DEHYDROGENASE (SDH; EC 1.1.1.14) which is active in apple fruit throughout fruit development. Apple fruit set and early development is very sensitive to carbohydrate availability, but details on carbohydrate metabolism during this phase are limited. The first objective of this work was to determine if SORBITOL DEHYDROGENASE, the primary enzyme responsible for metabolism of the major phloem-transported carbohydrate sorbitol, is present and active during apple fruit set and early development. The second objective of this work was to determine if SDH …

New Developments In Cyclized Arsenic And Antimony Thiolates, Taimur A. Shaikh

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

There is a continued interest in the properties of arsenic thiolate compounds for both industrial and biological uses. Recent discoveries in the medicinal properties of such compounds have resulted in a sustained need for the synthesis of new dithiarsolane compounds for research as anti-leukemic compounds. Close analogues of the 2-halo arsenic dithiolates, namely those with an arsenic-carbon bond instead of an arsenic-halide bond, have recently been shown to have some efficacy towards leukemia cells. Based on the hydrolytic character and the active role of glutathione with arsenic in vivo, the compounds reported here may also have such activity. Arsenic compounds …

Integrated Approach To The Superplastic Forming Of Magnesium Alloys, Fadi K. Abu-Farha

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The economical and environmental issues associated with fossil fuels have been urging the automotive industry to cut the fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels, mainly by reducing the weight of vehicles. However, customers increasing demands for safer, more powerful and luxurious vehicles have been adding more weight to the various categories of vehicles, even the smallest ones. Leading car manufacturers have shown that significant weight reduction, yet satisfying the growing demands of customers, would not be feasible without the extensive use of lightweight materials. Magnesium is the lightest constructional metal on earth, offering a great potential for weight-savings. However, magnesium …

Targeting Axon Growth From Neurons Transplantedinto The Central Nervous System, Kristine S. Ziemba

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Damage to the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS), either by traumatic injury or disease, usually results in permanent sensory and/or motor deficits. Regeneration of neural circuits is limited both by the lack of growthpromoting molecules and by the presence of growth-inhibitory molecules in the mature brain and spinal cord. The research described here examines the therapeutic potential of viral vectors and neuronal transplants to reconstruct damaged neural pathways in the CNS. Experimental neural transplantation techniques often fall short of expectations because of limited transplant survival and insufficient neurite outgrowth to repair connections and induce behavioral recovery. These shortcomings are …

Neonatal Immune Modulation To Improve Pneumocystis Clearance, Kerry Mcgarr Empey

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Pneumocystis carinii is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes lifethreatening pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals. Infants appear to be particularly susceptible to Pneumocystis (PC) pulmonary infections. The higher incidence of PC as well as other pulmonary infections among infants is likely due to an immature immune system. The neonatal lung environment is deficient immunologically in preterm as well as term infants (1, 2). Decreased phagocytic capacity of macrophages in newborns may increase the risk of infection from inhaled pathogens (1, 2). We have previously demonstrated that there is approximately a 3-week delay in the clearance of PC organisms from pup mouse …

Spectroscopy And Structures Of Cu-Organonitrogen Complexes, Xu Wang

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Copper-organonitrogen complexes are studied by threshold photoionization and zero electron kinetic energy photoelectron spectroscopy. These complexes are prepared in pulsed laser vaporization supersonic molecular beams. Adiabatic ionization energies of the neutral species and vibrational frequencies of the neutral and ionic complexes were measured. Metal-ligand bond dissociation energies were obtained from the theoretical calculations or the experiments. More importantly, by combining the spectroscopic measurements, quantum chemical calculations, and spectral simulations, metal-ligand bonding structures are determined for copper complexes of diamines, pyridine, diazines, aminopyridines, polypyridines, and imidazole. The Cu-ethylenediamine, -(1,3-propanediamine), and -(1,4-butenediamine) complexes have been determined to be in a hydrogen-bond stabilized …

Virtual' Brides In The Post-Soviet Context, Michael Paul Begin

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This project offers a multifaceted, interdisciplinary approach to understanding the contemporary post-Soviet Internet bride phenomenon and the rationales, motives, and aspirations of the industry's participants. As international marriage services have incorporated information and communications technologies (ICTs) to assist in the marketing of women of post-communist nations for correspondence courtship with Western men, the industry has furthered the globalization of marriage markets and the opportunities for communicative exchange among disparate nations and cultures. By way of case study, the project takes a special focus on the Belarusian/American segment of the industry, turning to personal interviews with participants and employing qualitative techniques …

The Effectiveness Of Using Communication-Centered Intervention To Facilitate Phonological Learning In Young Children, Sharon Blodgett Hart

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

A phonological disorder is a communication disorder of the speech sound system characterized by an impaired ability to use developmentally expected speech sounds and sound patterns to communicate with others (Bauman-Waengler, 2004). This impairment affects the clarity of a child's speech and how easily a child's speech can be understood. As stated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), difficulties with speech sound production may interfere with academic achievement, social communication, or future occupational achievement. Children with phonological impairments are generally viewed as being at risk for reading difficulties (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2001).Clinicians …

The Design And Synthesis Of Novel Chelates For The Precipitation Of Mercury, Aaron Robert Hutchison

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Mercury has been an element of great industrial importance since early times.This wide utilization of the element has led to pervasive mercury contamination in theglobal environment. Due to mercury's high toxicity, this is a matter of great concern. Anumber of methods, includ ing phytoremediation, filtration, and precipitation/chelation,have been investigated to remove mercury from the environment. Unfortunately, thesemethods are not entirely satisfactory for the in-situ remediation of mercury from aqueousenvironments.The hypothesis of this dissertation is that this can best be accomplished by theaddition of a large and flexible sulfur-based chelate, that will bind mercury in atetracoordinate and presumably tetrahedral environment, to …

Applying Reaction Time (Rt) And Event-Related Potential (Erps) Measures To Detect Malingered Neurocognitive Deficit, Victoria Louise Vagnini

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the ability of reaction time (RT) and Event-Related Potentials (ERP) to detect malingered neurocognitive deficit (MNCD)in two new tasks compared to the TOMM (N = 47). Honest (HON), malingering (MAL), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) groups were compared on accuracy, RT and ERP measures. Overall, the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) accuracy was the most effective at classifying groups (hit rate = 100%). Several non-TOMM accuracy variables and RT variables reached hit rates in the range of 71%-88%. The TOMM RT variable had an unlimited time for participants to respond and was the most successful RT variable …

Two Essays On Borrowing From Banks And Lending Syndicates, Pankaj Kumar Maskara

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

A loan deal is often composed of several components (for example, a 3-year revolving loan, a 10-year secured senior term loan, and a 5-year subordinated term loan). The division of a deal into two or more components, each with different risk characteristics, is called tranching. This study recognizes the importance of tranching and establishes tranching as an integral component of a syndicated loan structure. In the first essay, we present a model to explain the economic value of tranching and show that riskier firms are more likely to take loans with multiple tranches. Therefore, the average credit spread on syndicated …

Drug Milk To Serum Ratio Prediction And Ontogeny Of Cyp3a Clearance Pathway As A Model Of Drug Exposure In The Developing Rat, Maggie Magdi Abbassi

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Transfer of drugs into milk and the clearance of drugs in neonates are critical determinants of the exposure of infants to drugs in breast milk. Models predicting both parameters have been proposed. The objective of this dissertation is to test two models predicting milk to serum ratio and an ontogeny clearance model predicting clearance in the neonate. Predicted milk to serum ratio (M/S) values were generated according to the Atkinson and Begg model. The model did not adequately predict M/S when comparing the predicted values to observed values in the literature. The Fleishaker model was also tested. The model was …

The Development And Test Of An Exchange-Based Model Of Interpersonal Workplace Exclusion, Kristin Damato Scott

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The vast majority of social exclusion research has taken place outside of the workplace (i.e., in social settings). In addition, researchers often use a myriad of terms (i.e., ostracism, exclusion, rejection) when describing and investigating exclusion-related phenomena thus contributing to widespread conceptual confusion with respect to this construct. Moreover, past studies have failed to consider the role of social exchange in determining how individuals may react to being excluded by others particularly in a work setting. I sought to address these issues by conducting three multi-wave studies which develop and test a social-exchange based model of interpersonal workplace exclusion (IWE). …

Validity Of The Pendulum Test To Measure Quadriceps Spasticity In Children Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy, Henry Dulin White Ii

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The stiff-knee gait pattern of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) is assumed to be caused by spasticity of the quadriceps which interferes with knee flexion normally occurring during the swing phase of walking. In current clinical practice, the ability to assess quadriceps spasticity is limited by the lack of an objective and reliable test that discriminates the role spasticity plays in functional limitations. The primary purpose of this series of studies was to assess the pendulum test as an objective measure of quadriceps spasticity. The first study assessed the reliability of the pendulum test. Moderate to very high between …

Cyclooxygenase-2-Dependent Remodeling Of The Ductus Arteriosus, Darshini Trivedi

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Transition of the cardiopulmonary circulation at birth requires functional closure of the ductus arteriosus (DA). The DA is an arterial shunt that is vital in the fetus for diverting the pulmonary circulation away from the uninflated lungs. Failure of the vessel to functionally close after birth is known as patent DA, which is the second most common congenital heart disease. Patent DA may seriously compromise neonatal health and current pharmacological treatments are often limited by serious complications or a significant failure rate, thereby increasing the necessity for surgical intervention. Recently, we were the first to show that genetic or pharmacological …

Functionalization Of Fluorinated Surfactant Templated Silica, Gifty Osei-Prempeh

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Surfactant templating provides for the synthesis of ordered mesoporous silica and the opportunity to tailor the pore size, pore structure, particle morphology and surface functionality of the silica through the selection of synthesis conditions and surfactant template. This work extends the synthesis of nanostructured silica using fluorinated surfactant templates to the synthesis of organic/inorganic composites. The effect of fluorinated surfactant templates (C6F13C2H4NC5H5Cl, C8F17C2H4NC5H5Cl and C10F21C2H4NC5H5Cl), which have highly hydrophobic fluorocarbon tails, on functional group incorporation, accessibility, and silica textural properties is examined and compared to properties of hydrocarbon surfactant (C16H33N(CH3)3Br, CTAB) templated silica. Hydrocarbon (vinyl, n-decyl and 3-aminopropyl) and fluorocarbon …

Characterization And Flow Physics Of Plasma Synthetic Jet Actuators, Arvind Santhanakrishnan

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Plasma synthetic jet actuators are investigated experimentally, in which the geometrical design of single dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) plasma actuators is modified to produce zero-mass flux jets similar to those created by mechanical devices. The SDBD plasma actuator consists of two rectangular electrodes oriented asymmetrically and separated by a layer of dielectric material. Under an input of high voltage, high frequency AC or pulsed DC, a region of plasma is created in the interfacial air gap on account of electrical breakdown of the ambient air. A coupling between the electric field in the plasma and the neutral air near the …

The First Grade Private School Sector: Taxonomy, Choice, And Achievement, Christine Berry Lloyd

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Studies focusing on Catholic schools as a proxy for all private education or all private religious education miss important variances within the private school sector, especially at the first grade level. The implication of this is that the vast majority of secondary school choice studies are incomplete; the elementary schooling decision of the parents should be included for all secondary school choice analyses. I augment the scope of a households first grade schooling choice by offering a rich model that includes the public schooling option and the most detailed typology of private schools to date: Catholic, Evangelical or Fundamental Protestant, …