Digital Commons Network^™

Access To Medicine In An Era Of Fractal Inequality, Frank Pasquale

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Isp Licensing - A Carrot To The Stick Of Three-Strikes Laws, Steven Masur, Cynthia Katz

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Growing Need For A Unified Biopsychosocial Approach In Mental Health Care, Timothy Melchert

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Psychology has been remarkably successful as a scientific discipline and field of clinical practice. Despite its remarkable growth, however, the field has also experienced substantial conflict and controversy. There has been great diversity in the approaches counselors and psychologists have used to understand development, psychopathology, and the goals and processes of psychotherapy. This has led to large numbers of conflicts and controversies that have distracted the field from its primary purposes. A biopsychosocial approach has the potential to bring the field together around a unified science-based framework for understanding mental health practice that will avoid these conflicts.

Conceptual Skills Needed For Evidence-Based Practice Of Psychotherapy, Kenneth L. Critchfield, Sarah Knox

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

‘Evil Against Evil’: The Parabolic Structure And Thematics Of William Friedkin's The Exorcist, Larrie Dudenhoeffer

Faculty Articles

This essay examines and deconstructs three sets of antagonisms in William Friedkin's The Exorcist (1973). It argues that the film describes its own narrative conflicts as a thematics of ‘evil against evil,’ so as to de-ethicize the moral violence of those metaphysical dogmatisms that compete over the ‘souls’ of others. It then re-couches the one-sidedness of scientific and religious orthodoxies, which damage in similar ways Regan MacNeil, one of the film's main characters, as another variation of this thematics. Finally, this essay suggests that The Exorcist surveys certain sociopolitical tensions, thus commenting, in its video and theatrical re-releases, ‘timelessly’ on …

Do The Stimulant Medications Improve Neuropsychological Performance Of College Students With Adhd?, Chunqiao Luo

LSU Master's Theses

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent disorder estimated to affect 5% to 10% of school-aged children and approximately 4% of adults worldwide. The defining symptoms are hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention, which are all acutely reduced by the stimulant medications, methylphenidate and amphetamine. Nevertheless, in spite of robust short-term efficacy, long-term follow-up studies fail to show drug effects on academic achievement of ADHD students. Because recent research indicates that the medications also do not normalize performance of ADHD patients on some neuropsychological tests, we thought this might shed some light on the causes of ADHD students’ academic underachievement. There is …

Embyronic Nicotine Exposure And Its Impact On Spinal Neuron Development In Zebrafish, Latoya Telameca Paul

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Nicotine, a drug of abuse, has been shown to have deleterious outcomes on nervous system development in vertebrates. Using zebrafish behavior as a diagnostic tool, we aimed to understand the effects of embryonic nicotine exposure on spinal neuron development. We initially quantified nicotine incorporation into zebrafish embryos. We found that only a fraction of the waterborne concentration of nicotine was incorporated into embryos. Also, when embryos were exposed to epibatidine and ABT 418, potent alpha 4/beta 2 nAChRs agonists, the embryos exhibited a robust swim-like behavioral response similar to that of nicotine. We then performed immunohistochemistry utilizing the mAB290 antibody …

An Investigation Of The Prevalence Of Upper Limb Neuropathies In Different Types Of College Musicians By Use Of Neurometrix Device, Saunders Jones Jr., Christi Hernandez

Faculty Articles

In general, people who perform repetitive motions are often vulnerable to repetitive strain injuries. Because musicians must execute the same motion over and over again while practicing and performing their music, they are an example of a group that often develops these repetitive strain injuries. More specifically, musicians are known for developing neuropathies in their upper limbs, with carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome being most common. However, because of varying playing postures, all musicians may not be at equal risk for developing these two neuropathies, so the purpose of this study was to identify which musician group has …

Caregiver Perceptions Of Aggression In Preschool-Aged Boys, Charlene Philleatric Jenkins

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between caregiver level of education and their perception of aggression in preschool boys. Accurately perceiving aggression is important in that it affects how caregivers interact with children in their care. Research has demonstrated that caregivers have an important role in helping a child shape his identity; getting accurate feedback would be important for a child’s self-perception. It was hypothesized that caregivers with less education may be more likely to misperceive preschool boys play and label them aggressive. The results indicated that caregiver’s with a high school or GED education were …

A Real Time Optical Biosensor Assay For Amoxicillin And Other Β-Lactams In Water Samples, Israel M. Scott, Lewis J. Kraft, Jonathan D. Parker, Kathryn Daniel, Sarah Kustick, Diana Kennen, Jonathan L. Mcmurry

Faculty Articles

Antibiotic contamination of drinking water and sewage is a matter of environmental and public health concern. Traditionally, ELISA or HPLC methods have been used to detect and measure antibiotic contamination. By applying an optical biosensing method, biolayer inteferometry (BLI), we have developed a kinetic competition binding assay capable of quantitating less than lppm (~33 μM) amoxicillin. Similar to surface plasmon resonance, BLI senses changes that occur upon binding of one molecule to another near a surface to measure association and dissociation. Immobilized amoxicillin was used to screen for binding against an analyte solution of anti-amoxicillin equilibrated with amoxicillin-containing water samples, …

Patient Education And Involvement In Care, Linda Reynolds Andiric

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A study conducted on patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty indicated that participants who were offered preadmission education for their procedure had statistically better outcomes than patients who had not attended an educational class. The study further focused on patients’ confidence in their ability to take control of their health situations as well as the effect of encouragement and motivation to provide active involvement. Two surveys, the Krantz Health Opinion Survey and the Multi Dimensional Health Locus of Control, were used to assess patients’ innate desires to be involved in their care and if they felt they could render any …

An Evidence Based Multi-Activity Handwashing Education Program In Children, Sandra M. Annesi

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Proper handwashing is one of the simplest, most affordable and effective means of stopping the spread of infection. Due to the close proximity of children in schools and child care settings, there is a high risk for the spread of infectious disease. The purpose of this project was to improve handwashing behaviors of three to six year old children in a community school setting by implementing an evidence based multi-activity handwashing education program. The objective was to increase understanding of the relationship between germs and handwashing, as well as increase the frequency and correct technique procedure of handwashing behavior in …

Culture Change And Quality Of Life In Elderly Persons Living In Long Term Care, Carol S. Jones

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Quality of life in long term care (LTC) is a concern for many stakeholders. The elders who are living in LTC facilities, their families, the staff, and government and policy makers are all interested in providing quality care and quality of life to those persons living within the facility. Culture change is one way for LTC facilities to begin to give decision making to the residents, and to increase quality of life of these elders. There are different culture change models that embrace the concept of person-centered care. No matter which model is chosen, the essence of the change is …

The Perceptions Of Recent Business Graduates Of The Transition Experience From The Collegiate Environment To The Work Environment, Gloria Jean Davis

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study represents an examination of the perceptions of 18 recent business college graduates of their transition experiences from college to the workplace. The participant’s ages ranged from 23 to 28 years including 4 males and 14 females of diverse racial and ethic groups. One-on-one, semi-structured, open-ended interviews were the primary method for data collection. Using excerpts from the participants’ interviews, the data were examined and analyzed using content analysis (Patton, 2002) and educational criticism (Eisner, 1998). The data were organized into three main topics: the importance of organizational socialization, the complexity of mentoring in the workplace, and the …

The Application Of Margin In Life Theory In Regard To Attrition And Remediation Among Emergency Medicine Residents, Colleen J. Kalynych

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Medical residency is a time of high stress, long hours, high case loads, fatigue, and lack of free time. Burnout rates among residents have been reported to be between 25-76%. Scant literature exists in regard to resident stress and its impact on learning and attrition during residency. The theory of margin posits that a healthy margin is necessary for adults to learn. Healthy margin exists when a person’s ratio of burdens over resources creates a surplus of energy. This study sought to determine if there was a difference between emergency medicine (EM) residents’ margin in life scores and remediation, at …

Ospc In The Pathogenesis Of Borrelia Burgdorferi, Sunita V. Seemanapalli

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Lyme disease is a multisystem disorder caused by the tick vector Borrelia burgdorferi. During its life cycle between the tick vector and the mammalian host, Borrelia up- and down-regulates the expression of its surface lipoproteins. Of its many surface lipoproteins, the Outer surface protein C (OspC) is crucial for initial mammalian infection. OspC has a common role shared with other lipoproteins of protection against host innate defences and a unique function in facilitating the dissemination of B. burgdorferi in the murine host. The structure of OspC was solved in 2001 and the lipoprotein was found to be predominantly alpha-helical with …

Does The Experimental-Use Defense To Patent Infringement Still Exist, Sonya J. Bible

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Challenges Under Ocsla And The Future Of Offshore Drilling Under The Obama Administration, Jennifer Larson

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Complex Patent Cases: Observations From The Bench, John D. Love, Jessica L. Hannah, Jong K. Choi

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Video Software Dealers Association V. Schwarzenegger: Defining The Constitutional Perimeter Around State Regulation Of Violent Video Games, David S. Dubinsky

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

When Is Enough Simply Enough - Shining Light On Medical Futility Through Bernstein V. Superior Court, Phillip L. Kim

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac: Creatures Of Regulatory Privilege, David Reiss

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Use Of Healing Imagery In Athletic Injury Rehabilitation, Joel Cressman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Healing imagery can be defined as both visualizing affirmative images ofinternal physiological healing occurring in an injured area and visualizing oneselfas healthy and fully functioning (Driediger, Hall, & Callow, 2006). Healing imagery has been found to effectively reduce the time of recovery from various athletic injuries when used in combination with other mental skills, such as self-talk and relaxation (Ievleva & Orlick, 1991). However, the literature remains void of a study that specifically examines healing imagery and the potential benefits that may accompany the regular application ofhealing imagery techniques alone. This study examined the effects ofan imagery intervention on the …

Civilians In Cyberwarfare: Casualties, Susan W. Brenner, Leo L. Clarke

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Destruction Of Α -Synuclein Based Amyloid Fibrils By A Low Temperature Plasma Jet, Erdinc Karakas, Agatha Munyanyi, Lesley Greene, Mounir Laroussi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Amyloid fibrils are ordered beta-sheet aggregates that are associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson. At present, there is no cure for these progressive and debilitating diseases. Here we report initial studies that indicate that low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma can break amyloid fibrils into smaller units in vitro. The plasma was generated by the plasma pencil, a device capable of emitting a long, low temperature plasma plume/jet. This avenue of research may facilitate the development of a plasma-based medical treatment.

On The Go: Sensory Kit Manuals For Families Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sarah Dahlhauser, Holly Frolek

Occupational Therapy Capstones

In the past 10 years the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has increased to 1 in every 150 children (Case-Smith & Arbesman, 2008). According to Greenspan and Wieder (1997), 95% of these children diagnosed with ASD experience sensory modulation problems. Having a child with ASD can have a significant impact on family dynamics during the first years post-diagnosis. The findings of a qualitative study by Werner Degrace (2004) suggest that family life revolves around the preoccupation with the child’s behaviors. The findings further indicate that social and leisure involvement are sacrificed to manage the child’s behaviors at the cost …

Evidence-Based Intervention For Sleep Disturbance In Healthy Elderly Individuals, Sarah Gregory, Heather Hoffman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Elderly individuals have a predisposition to experiencing sleep disorder, yet many remain untreated. Consequences of untreated sleep disturbance may result in decreased cognitive functioning, lowered perceived quality of life, and loss of independence. A literature review describes the definition of sleep, consequences of sleep disorder, sleep disturbance in the elderly population, intervention efficacy, principles of gerogogy, and the role of occupational therapy in sleep intervention.

The scholarly project presents a manual designed for use with well-elderly populations and intended to be guided and/or distributed by occupational therapists. The manual is entitled “Take Control of Your Sleep: An Occupational Therapy Manual …

The Role Of The Occupational Therapist In Adolescent Substance Intervention, Cassandra Leach, Kori Le Blanc

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The current occupational therapy literature has limited information regarding the use of occupational therapy interventions for substance abuse specific to the adolescent population. Adolescents between the ages of 12 to 17 years have increased their engagement in illicit drug use from 9.3% in 2008 to 10% in 2009 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). In regards to alcohol use, in 2009, approximately 10.4 million persons (27%) ages 12-20 years reported drinking alcohol within the last month (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). According to Martin, Bliven, and Boisvert, (2008) substance abuse addictions significantly impact the person’s …

A Lifestyle Modification Program For Community Dwelling Adults With Obesity, Ashlee M. Lee, Julie A. Stolt

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Obesity is significantly rising among adults in the United States. The Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2009e), estimates that obesity increased by 15% to 32.9% within a 20 year span (1985 – 2008). Clinical obesity is defined as having a BMI 30 and over; it is correlated with secondary complications that include hypertension, type II diabetes, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, cerebral vascular accidents, sleep apnea, and respiratory illnesses (CDC, 2009d; World Health Organization [WHO], 2009). Beyond the many health consequences caused by obesity, there are also psychosocial, genetic, and discriminatory aspects of this disease that negatively impact the quality of …

An International Service Learning Guide For Occupational Therapy Students And Clinicians, Alicai D. Bohrer, Emily A. Kringle

Occupational Therapy Capstones

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop" -Mother Teresa

Increased diversity within the U.S. demands the education of occupational therapy clinicians who can deliver culturally responsive care. The number of immigrants to the U.S. is at an all-time high and the African-American and Hispanic populations are expected to double by mid-century (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). Occupational therapy students and entry-level clinicians have identified the need for more information, resources, and experience with people from different cultures (Murden et aI., 2008). Service …