Digital Commons Network^™

Sensitivity Of Air Pollution-Induced Premature Mortality To Precursor Emissions Under The Influence Of Climate Change, Efthimios Tagaris, Kuo J. Liao, Anthony J. Delucia, Leland Deck, Praveen Amar, Armistead G. Russell

ETSU Faculty Works

The relative contributions of PM2.5 and ozone precursor emissions to air pollution-related premature mortality modulated by climate change are estimated for the U.S. using sensitivities of air pollutants to precursor emissions and health outcomes for 2001 and 2050. Result suggests that states with high emission rates and significant premature mortality increases induced by PM2.5 will substantially benefit in the future from SO2, anthropogenic NOX and NH3 emissions reductions while states with premature mortality increases induced by O3 will benefit mainly from anthropogenic NOX emissions reduction. Much of the increase in premature mortality expected from climate changeinduced pollutant increases can be …

Coadministration Of Adenoviral Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor And Angiopoietin-1 Enhances Vascularization And Reduces Ventricular Remodeling In The Infarcted Myocardium Of Type 1 Diabetic Rats, Samson M. Samuel, Yuzo Akita, Debayon Paul, Mahesh Thirunavukkarasu, Lijun Zhan, Perumana R. Sudhakaran, Chuanfu Li, Nilanjana Maulik

ETSU Faculty Works

OBJECTIVE - Hyperglycemia impairs angiogenesis in response to ischemia, leading to ventricular remodeling. Although the effects of overexpressing angiogenic growth factors have been studied in inducing angiogenesis, the formation of functional vessels remains a challenge. The present study evaluates the reversal of diabetes-mediated impairment of angiogenesis in the infarcted diabetic rat myocardium by proangiogenic gene therapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Ad.VEGF and Ad.Ang1 were intramyocardially administered in combination immediately after myocardial infarction to nondiabetic and diabetic rats. Ad.LacZ was similarly administered to the respective control groups. The hearts were excised for molecular and immunohistochemical analysis at predetermined time points. …

Mitochondrial Function As A Determinant Of Life Span, Ian R. Lanza, K. S. Nair

ETSU Faculty Works

Average human life expectancy has progressively increased over many decades largely due to improvements in nutrition, vaccination, antimicrobial agents, and effective treatment/prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc. Maximal life span, in contrast, has changed very little. Caloric restriction (CR) increases maximal life span in many species, in concert with improvements in mitochondrial function. These effects have yet to be demonstrated in humans, and the duration and level of CR required to extend life span in animals is not realistic in humans. Physical activity (voluntary exercise) continues to hold much promise for increasing healthy life expectancy in humans, but remains to …

Foothills Academy: A Program Ranking And Comparative Analysis Of Residential Treatment Programs, William Aaron

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The Foothills Academy is an all male adolescent residential treatment facility in Albany, Kentucky. As more states turn toward alternative treatment options to address the growing needs of youth suffering from mental and emotional disorders and substance abuse issues, demand for more efficient treatment programs is on the rise. To remain competitive and to administer the best treatment services for their clients, residential treatment programs must utilize industry best practices that allow efficient use of public funds. By identifying high performing programs, those programs may then be studied to identify factors key to individual program success.

My findings were consistently …

What Is The Impact Of Kentucky’S Pharmacy Recovery Network?, Benjamin Paul Clark

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Problem Statement: This capstone will focus on Kentucky’s Pharmacy Recovery Network (PRN). In general, professional recovery networks are organizations that act as a liaison between professional state boards and the health professionals who are dealing with substance abuse and addictions that sometimes result in negative consequences to that individual and/or their profession. Instead of a “one-strike and you are out” approach, these organizations recognize that there is a disease process occurring. Thus, as opposed to engaging in strictly punitive measures, a rehabilitative approach is chosen to allow the health professional an opportunity to recover and successfully reenter into their profession. …

Impact Of Levalbuterol Versus Albuterol In Kentucky Medicaid Patients, Velma Henry

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Problem:

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disease that occurs in approximately 10 percent of the population worldwide and is associated with a significant increase in direct medical expenditures. Levalbuterol and racemic albuterol are two short-acting β2-agonists (SABA) prescribed for the treatment of asthma. Racemic albuterol has been used for more than 40 years but is associated with several side effects including tremor. When levalbuterol was approved in 2005 its manufacturer and several studies suggested that using levalbuterol results in better respiratory parameters, fewer hospitalizations, less adverse effects and therefore, lower overall treatment costs and hence less need for β-adrenergic agonist …

Comparative Analysis Of The Financial Performance Of Nonprofit Organizations: Focusing On The Franklin County Senior Activity Center, Shinwoo Lee

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The Franklin County Senior Activity Center is a nonprofit organization founded in 1966 to provide services to help older residents lead independent lives. Cooperating with twelve board members, a staff of 24 people operates the Center and makes huge efforts to accomplish its mission. The mission of the Center is to contribute to and empower the quality of life of the aging citizens in Frankfort and Franklin County, Kentucky. The Center delivers various public services to them including opportunities for socialization, health promotion, benefit counseling, transportation service, home care service, recreation and exercise programs, adult day care, caregiver support, and …

Providing Department Of Defense Support Domestically: A Study Of Cost Effectiveness, Meredith Howes

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The Department of Defense is one of the highest costs to the United States government at any given time. However, as two foreign wars have been going on for nearly 10 years, the amount of resources needed is significantly higher than usual. This increase in required funds is necessary for military personnel salaries, military equipment, government personnel supporting the Department of Defense, along with support services provided by private military contractors. There have been several recent studies reviewing the effectiveness of contractors on the battlefield, but most overlook those supporting the warfighter at home. While there are many different factors …

A Study Of The Effects Of Budget-Balancing Practices And Fiscal Policies On State Fiscal Health, Candice Schultheis

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

During times of economic recessions, many states throughout the U.S. may experience budget pressures that impact their overall fiscal health. Kentucky, in particular, has been faced with structural budget imbalances, declining revenue receipts, and spending reductions. Although economic conditions greatly affect states’ abilities to maintain balanced budgets, other factors may contribute to the variation among states’ financial conditions. This study assesses the effect that budget-balancing strategies, processes, and policies have on states’ fiscal health, as measured by state fiscal peril scores reported by the Pew Center on the States and year-end budget balances as a percentage of expenditures estimated by …

Disability Preparedness: Availability Of Ada Compliant Emergency Shelters Across Pennsylvania, Lisa J. Peterson

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Since the events of September 11th and Hurricane Katrina, the field and research associated with emergency preparedness have grown substantially. Despite the positive contributions of research, problems relating to the use of emergency shelters during the disasters have surfaced. Through anecdotal evidence and subsequent research, it was soon discovered that the needs of those with disabilities were not adequately addressed at many sites. Many potential residents were turned away at shelters due to their disability, or if allowed in, were forced to live in sites with barriers that could hinder activities of daily living.

To address concerns, emergency management officials …

The Makeup And Utilization Of University Student Unions: A Comparative Analysis, Ashley N. Wineki

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The University of Kentucky’s Top 20 Business Plan established a list of goals the university must meet in order to become a top 20 research institution by the year 2020. The University of Kentucky Student Center houses student programming and facilities that impact student involvement and retention, both of which are mandated to increase in order to reach the Top 20 goal.

I conducted this research in order to determine how the University of Kentucky Student Center is utilized by the campus and how, if at all, it could improve to better serve the student body and campus. Survey data …

The Ada Amendments Act Of 2008: Do The Amendments Cure The Interpretation Problems Of Perceived Disabilities, Allison Ara

Santa Clara Law Review

No abstract provided.

Categorizing The Resistance Of Soybean Genotypes To The Soybean Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae), L. M. Pierson, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Thomas E. Hunt, J. C. Reese

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

We evaluated selected soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., genotypes during their reproductive stages for resistance to the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), under greenhouse conditions and documented the categories of aphid-resistant soybean. Two screening studies were performed to assess the level of resistance to the soybean aphid on six soybean genotypes during the reproductive stages of development. Significant differences in aphid damage ratings were detected among the soybean evaluated in the screening studies. Three genotypes (KS4202, K-1639-2, and K1621) were considered moderately resistant based on the assessed damage ratings. Two of these genotypes (K-1639-2 and KS4202), along with …

Brain Injury In Maine: A Needs Assessment, Eileen Griffin Jd

Disability & Aging

This document reviews existing Maine policy and programs to evaluate how well they meet the needs of persons with brain injury.

The Prospects For Sequencing The Western Corn Rootworm Genome, Nicholas Miller, S. Richards, T. W. Sappington

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Historically, obtaining the complete sequence of eukaryotic genomes has been an expensive and complex task. For this reason, efforts to sequence insect genomes have largely been confined to model organisms, species that are important to human health and representative species from a few insect orders. This situation is set to change as a number of ‘next generation’ sequencing technologies are making largescale DNA sequencing both affordable and accessible. Sequencing the genome of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is likely to become a realistic proposition within the next 2 years. In the meantime, there is an active community …

Varroa Mites And Honey Bee Health: Can Varroa Explain Part Of The Colony Losses?, Yves Le Conte, Marion D. Ellis, Wolfgang Ritter

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Since 2006, disastrous colony losses have been reported in Europe and North America. The causes of the losses were not readily apparent and have been attributed to overwintering mortalities and to a new phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder. Most scientists agree that there is no single explanation for the extensive colony losses but that interactions between different stresses are involved. As the presence of Varroa in each colony places an important pressure on bee health, we here address the question of how Varroa contributes to the recent surge in honey bee colony losses.

Snapshot 2010: Maine Workers With Disabilities, Maine’S Commission On Disability And Employment, Choices Ceo Project

Disability & Aging

No abstract provided.

The Subtle Arbitrios Of Cervantes: Don Quijote As A Cautionary Tale For Leaders, Jonathan Edwin Olson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Miguel de Cervantes was clearly a man who had an interest in leadership. He sought leadership positions for himself during his life, and his works often include treatments of leadership issues. However, there are only three studies of leadership in his most important work, Don Quijote, and all are seriously flawed due to their failure to interpret passages from the novel in their context. This study uses a historical-grammatical hermeneutic to correct this error. Through a close reading of the text, this study demonstrates that Cervantes has encoded warnings for leaders in Don Quixote.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction And Chronic Illness, Kelly Dulohery

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The Minnesota Department of Health (n.d.) defines a chronic health condition as having an extended course, does not resolve suddenly, and complete cure is a rarity. The literature suggests that stress can exacerbate the symptoms of chronic health condition (Roth and Robins, 2004). Addressing the biopsychosocial needs of individuals with chronic health conditions pushes the limits of conventional medicine (Grossman, Niemann, Schmidt, & Walach, 2004). A chronic health condition, if left untreated can lead to additional physical and psychological conditions (e.g. contributing to the development of anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and helplessness) (Ledesma & Kumano, 2009); (Reibel, …

Program Recommendations To Fulfill Restrictive Procedures Training Requirements For School Districts, Annette M. Kleinschrodt

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Minnesota Statute 125A.0942, Standards for Restrictive Procedures goes into effect on August 1, 2011. This law includes stringent training requirements for licensed school staff to complete if they will be using any type of restrictive procedures in their district. The policy encourages proactive methods to address behavior, emphasizes restrictive measures to be used only in cases of emergency, and implementing the least intrusive intervention. The training component is a large part of accomplishing this goal. The purpose of this project is to examine existing programs that train school personnel in administering restrictive procedures. Training programs are reviewed for their evidence-base …

Filling The Gap In Crisis Intervention: Horizon Homes, Inc. Proposal For Sccbi Crisis Services, Ricki Pribyl

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In late April 2010, the South Central Crisis Center operated in Mankato, MN under state operated services (SOS) closed its doors. The closing of the crisis center left a gap in mental health services, particularly for the ten counties it specifically served. Legislators in the Mankato area, specifically Kathy Sheran worked hard to put together a block grant through the Health and Human Services Act, which would allow additional funding for the reopening of the crisis center. Given that the grant went though, the operation of the new crisis center would be overseen by the South Central Community Based Initiative …

Behavioral Health Self-Efficacy Of Nurses In A Rural Emergency Department, Alyssa Schlager

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This project aims to provide a resource manual for the Waseca area which will be utilized by the emergency department‟s nursing staff. As described above, the need for nursing staff to know how to work with, handle, and appropriately refer behavioral health patients is an essential piece of emergency department nursing. After receiving an orientation on the composition of the new resource manual, emergency department nursing staff will have a better understanding of what to do when the social worker is not present as well as feel more comfortable with their knowledge related to behavioral health patients.

This project has …

Investigating Compassion Fatigue And Burnout Rates Among Mental Health Professionals At Sioux Trails Mental Health Center, Lora Schoewe

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research is to explore the existence of compassion fatigue and burnout among mental health professionals at Sioux Trails Mental Health Center, which is a community based mental health center in located in various rural communities in Southern Minnesota. The research also sought to identify what the professional and agency can do to reduce burnout rates.

Research Questions: Does compassion fatigue and burnout exist among the mental health professionals at Sioux Trails Mental Health Center? What professional and personal resources do the mental health professionals use to reduce the risk of compassion fatigue an burnout?

Anger Management For Adults: Developing An Evidence-Based Anger Management Program, Kari Velzke

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project is to identify and organize key components necessary in an evidence-based anger management program to be implemented by Lutheran Social Service (LSS) in a rural setting. Current research was examined along with existing anger management program models. Results indicated evidence-based program components that best addressed anger regulation and control for the adult population age 18 and older in a group setting.

Evidence-Based Strategies And Techniques For Children With Asd, Tanya Walerius

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

To identify and research evidence-based Autism Spectrum Disorder strategies and techniques for working with children, particularly children aged 6 –10 years old, who receive In-Home Skills Services. Most therapeutic services are received through the school systems (Shapiro & Accardo, 2008), but Counseling Services of Southern Minnesota (CSSM) provides In-Home Skills Services that requires the Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) staff to be knowledgeable and competent in the services they provide to clients.

The purpose of this project was to provide CSSM with specific strategies and techniques through a manual to be used by the CTSS workers. The information will …

Defining Exemplary Children's Mental Health Services In Minnesota's Rural Communities, Melanie Wurtzberger

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Research shows that children’s mental health services in rural areas are not likely to meet all the qualities to be determined ‘exemplary’ with regards to diverse groups and at-risk populations due to: limited community resources, decreased funding and reimbursement rates, geographic distance from consumers, lack of collaborations from primary care physicians, and sparse number of adequately trained mental health (Fenell & Hovestadt, 2005; Gamm, Stone & Pittman, 2003; Moore et al., 2005; Powell & Dunlap, 2005) The purpose of the research was to define exemplary services as it applies to rural county children’s mental health services so as to assist …

The Spillikin (Vol. 27), Valparaiso University

The Spillikin - The Christ College Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Skilling’S Martyrdom: The Case For Criminalization Without Incarceration, Dr. Sandeep Gopalan

University of San Francisco Law Review

This Article discusses white-collar crimes involving corporate fiduciaries who make bad decisions at the expense of shareholders (corporate governance offenses).

Dr-Cafta: The Siren Song For Improved Labor Standards For Haitians In The Dominican Republic, Jessica Morreale

University of San Francisco Law Review

This comment provides a background to the anti-Haitian sentiment in the Dominican Republic and explores the arguments for and against the DR-CAFTA labor provisions; compares NAFTA, the Jordan Free Trade Agreement, and DR-CAFTA to demonstrate DR-CAFTA does not advance labor rights; looks to the realities of NAFTA and the Jordan FTA, and the effects that previous FTAs have had on laborers; and discusses Dominican laws, workers’ rights violations, and the potential for labor rights enforcement through DR-CAFTA.

The Importation Of Female Genital Mutilation To The West: The Cruelest Cut Of All, Patricia A. Broussard

University of San Francisco Law Review

This Article will explore the phenomenon of the importation of the practice of female genital mutilation to the Western world and the legal steps some countries have taken to ban it from their borders. This Article will also attempt to identify the culprits in perpetuating FGM and proffer some solutions