Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, And Beliefs Of Teachers In Alabama Concerning Comprehensive Hiv Education, Steven Brent Powell

All ETDs from UAB

The Alabama State Department of Education has guidelines for educators to insure HIV information is taught by teachers starting in fifth grade (Alabama Course of Study: Health Education, 2009). As assessed by The School Health Profile (Profiles), 55% of Alabama teachers received professional development on HIV/AIDS. In addition, less than half of grades 9-12 teachers taught how condoms work, the importance of consistent condom use, and how to obtain condoms (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS) administered to grades 9-12 determined that 57% of youth in Alabama are sexually active, with …

Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention To Enhance Communication Skills For Cancer Patients, Heather Prayor-Patterson

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: With nearly 12 million Americans living with or having a history of cancer, the patient-doctor communication process is especially important for this population. Cancer patients are often dissatisfied with the quality of the information they receive regarding their treatment, side effects, symptom control, and the quality of the relationship with their healthcare provider. A patient's self-efficacy during patient-doctor interactions influences the level of trust in his/her doctor, satisfaction with care, and the type of information exchanged. Studies have focused on intervening in patient communication, but there are limitations in the literature, including a focus on improving self-efficacy, addressing communication …

Exploring The Effects Of Limited English Language Proficiency On Disability: A Pilot Study Of Adult Chinese-, Japanese-, And Korean-Language Speakers In The United States, Xiaofei Qiao

All ETDs from UAB

This is a pilot study contending that limited language proficiency is associated with disability outcomes for Chinese-, Japanese-, and Korean-speaking Americans in the United States, as determined by application of the Disablement Process model. Using the 5 percent public-use micro-data samples (PUMS) from the United States Census 2000, this study explores the relationship by employing a Poisson regression on these three language groups from a comparative perspective. The findings shed light on the significant effects of limited language proficiency as a predisposing risk factor on disability outcomes and also demonstrate the importance of individual, family, and community characteristics as either …

Response Dynamics Of Retinal Ganglion And Early Visual Cortical Cells To Simulated Optical Blur, Michael Lance Risner

All ETDs from UAB

Visual neurons are highly sensitive to changes in luminance around the mean level of light. The effects of changes in luminance contrast on the responses of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and V1 neurons have been extensively studied. Sharp transitions in luminance signify edges, which are key features in the visual environment. However, edges are rarely sharp and may be blurred. Edges are generally blurred because eyes have a restricted depth of field, sources of light are rarely point sources, edges are typically smooth, and rapid motion induces blur. The purpose of this research was to understand how RGCs and V1 …

Heparanase Drives The Aggressive Myeloma Phenotype: Preclinical Development Of A Heparanase Inhibitor For The Treatment Of Multiple Myeloma, Joe Ritchie

All ETDs from UAB

Heparanase, an endoglycosidase which cleaves heparan sulfate chains at specific sites, is rarely expressed in normal tissues but becomes evident in many human cancers. We have previously shown that heparanase promotes myeloma growth and angiogenesis through modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Recognition that heparanase drives the aggressive myeloma phenotype has led to new strategies designed to therapeutically target this enzyme. SST0001, a non-anticoagulant heparin that is 100% N-acetylated and 25% glycol split, was previously described as a potent inhibitor of heparanase activity in vitro, and, in limited in vivo experiments, SST0001 was identified to have efficacy as an anti-tumor agent …

Principals Mentoring Teachers To Improve Instructional Practices: A Multiple Case Study, Walter Burke Wren

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine the mentoring relationship between principals and their teachers in regards to instructional practice at three demo-graphically diverse elementary schools. Multiple data sources were used to conduct qua-litative research which resulted in extensive data collection and analysis. The collection of data was conducted through direct observations, semi-structured interviews, and a review of documents provided by each research site. This case study used the theories of adult learning, instructional leadership and transformational leadership to explain the findings, provide focused implications for mentoring processes between principals and teachers, and to influence the …

Therapeutic Interventions For Chlorine Gas Induced Lung Injury, Amit Kumar Yadav

All ETDs from UAB

Rationale: Nitrite (NO2-) has been shown to limit injury to the heart, liver and kidneys in various models of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Currently, potential protective effects of systemic NO2- in limiting lung injury or enhancing repair have not been documented. Objectives: To assess the efficacy and mechanisms by which post-exposure intra-peritoneal injections of NO2- mitigate Cl2 induced lung injury in rats. Methods: Rats were exposed to Cl2 (400 ppm) for 30 minutes and returned to room air. Nitrite (1mg/Kg) or saline were administered intraperitoneally at 10 min, 2, 4 and 6 hrs post exposure. Rats were sacrificed at 6 hrs or …

The Role Of Map Kinase Cascade In Msp Signaling Response, Youfeng Yang

All ETDs from UAB

The MSP domain is an evolutionarily conserved immunoglobulin-like structure of about 120 amino acids (Miller et al., 2001). A P56S missense mutation in the MSP domain of the human vapb gene is associated with a dominantly inherited form of Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) (Nishimura et al., 2004). In C. elegans, secreted MSP binds to the VAB-1 Eph receptor and other receptors on oocyte and ovarian sheath cell surfaces (Miller et al., 2003). We have recently shown that the P56S mutation prevents secretion of the VAPB MSP domain, suggesting that the signaling function is important in …

Il-21 Dictates The Quality Of The Cd8 T Cell Response During Acute And Chronic Infections, John Seung-Hoon Yi

All ETDs from UAB

CD8 T cells contribute to the control of intracellular pathogens including viruses and certain bacteria. Recognition of foreign antigens by antigen-specific CD8 T cells initiates a differentiation process by which CD8 T cells gain effector functions including the ability to rapidly produce cytokines and kill infected cells. Currently, it is not well understood what signals dictate the generation of robust CD8 T cell responses, however it has been demonstrated that without CD4 T cell help CD8 T cell responses are compromised. CD4 T cells are the primary producers of interleukin-21 (IL-21), which has broad immunological actions. Thus for this dissertation, …

Cardiovascular Endothelial Regeneration On An Electrospun Scaffold, Xing Zhang

All ETDs from UAB

A bi-layer electrospun nano-fibrous scaffold comprising synthetic polymers and natural proteins was constructed as the prototype of an arterial substitute for coronary ar-tery disease. This scaffold featured a highly porous microstructure analogous to native extracellular matrix. Uni-axial tensile test suggested that its excellent mechanical strength could restore normal blood flow immediately after implantation. Subsequent biocompati-bility study demonstrated that scaffolding materials, either traditional or degraded, were non-toxic to the regenerated human endothelium on the luminal layer. Moreover, this re-generated endothelium possessed critical functions, such as the formation of tight junc-tions, the secretion of prostacyclin, and the prevention of platelet adhesion. Thereafter, …

A Ck2-Dependent Mechanism For Activation Of The Jak-Stat Signaling Pathway: Implications For Cancer Biology, Ying Zheng

All ETDs from UAB

Janus Kinase (JAK)-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) signaling is involved in regulation of cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. JAK tyrosine kinases can be transiently activated by cytokines or growth factors in normal cells, while they become constitutively activated as a result of mutations that affect their function in tumors. Specifically, the JAK2V617F mutation is present in the majority of patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) and is implicated in the pathogenesis of these diseases. In this dissertation, we report the identification of the serine/threonine kinase CK2 as a novel interactor and important regulator of activation of the JAK-STAT signaling …

The Influence Of Self-Concept, Physical Activity, And Sedentary Screen Time Activities On Blood Pressure In 11-13 Year Old Middle School Children, Elizabeth Di Benedetto Gulledge

All ETDs from UAB

The aims of this study were to: 1) examine associations between self-concept (SC), physical activity (PA), sedentary screen time (SST), and blood pressure (BP) and 2) determine the amount of variance explained by SC, PA, and SST in BP. The increase in SST along with decreases in PA may contribute to increases in BP. SC, PA and SST have been associated with BP in adolescents but less is known about middle school children. A sample of 116 (36 males; 80 females; 51 African American, 65 White) 6th and 7th grade11-13 year old students were recruited in a southeastern state. Participants …

Information Technology And Quality Of Care In Pediatric Hospitals, Gouri Gupte

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the relationship between the adoption of information technology by pediatric hospitals and performance on several quality of care measures. This research is aimed at addressing a gap in literature by utilizing a relatively large sample size that examines health information technology adoption across institutions and utilizes validated quality indicators from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The Donabedian evaluation model that encompasses "structure, process, and outcomes" provides the conceptual framework for the organization of this research, selection of variables, and analysis. Three secondary datasets were used, 2005 Information Technology Survey of the …

A Pilot Study For A Computer-Tailored Program To Increase Calcium And Vitamin D Consumption In Young Women: Does Adding Quantitative Ultrasound Change Outcomes?, Donald Henry Lein

All ETDs from UAB

Osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures are costly personal and national problems. No cure exists so experts stress early practice of bone protective behaviors, like adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, to prevent osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures. However, young women in the United States do not consume adequate amounts of these two nutrients. Further evaluation to identify cost effective programs to increase calcium and vitamin D consumption in young women is needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether quantitative ultrasound (QUS) with bone strength feedback to a computer-tailored feedback and counseling intervention was needed to increase calcium and vitamin …

Effect Of Overexpressing Apolipoprotein A-I In An Animal Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Terry L. Lewis

All ETDs from UAB

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) is the major protein component of high density lipoprotein (HDL) in circulation and is expressed mainly by the liver and intestine. The levels of apoA-I/HDL are inversely related to the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Because of the connections between heart disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD), it is conceivable that high levels of apoA-I/HDL may be protective against AD. However, the limited literature shows mixed results on the role of apoA-I/HDL in the development of AD. It is hypothesized that increased expression of human apoA-I will ameliorate the behavioral deficits and characteristic amyloid-ß (Aß) plaque formation in a …

Protective Antibodies To The Proline-Rich And Alpha Helical Regions Of Pneumococcal Surface Protein A And Their Detection In An In Vitro Surrogate Assay, Calvin Clay Daniels

All ETDs from UAB

Current pneumococcal vaccines containing pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide antigens protect against infection by pneumococci. However, this protection is limited to strains expressing the capsule types included in the vaccine. Since the introduction of these vaccines, the increase in incidence of infection by serotypes not targeted by the vaccine, a process called "serotype replacement," and the growing antibiotic resistance of replacement strains both stress the need for vaccines with broader protection. The alpha-helical region of a protein present on all clinical isolates of pneumococci, Pneumococcal Surface Protein A (PspA), elicits protective immunity. Downstream of the alpha-helical region is a highly conserved region …

Characterization Of Explanted Endovascular Stents: A Study Of In-Vivo Corrosion And The Role Of Vascular Calcification In Stent Fracture, Dina Halwani

All ETDs from UAB

The electrochemical and mechanical stability of endovascular stents in-vivo is essential for their biocompatibility. Limited information is available regarding the condition of stents following interaction with vascular tissue, as a result, twenty seven stented vessels containing 45 stents (33 bare metal and 12 drug eluting) were retrieved during autopsy and vascular surgery. The stent/tissue components were carefully separated using a rigorous tissue dissolution protocol. Stent surfaces were characterized using 3D digital optical and scanning electron microscopy. Transferred metallic elements in dissolved tissue were measured using mass spectroscopy. Histopathologic assessment of stented tissue, when available, was also performed. Fifteen out of …

Fertility Enhancing Drugs, Assisted Reproductive Technologies And Effects On Maternal And Infant Outcomes Among Live Births In Texas, Suzanne Jay Roseman

All ETDs from UAB

Most studies evaluating outcomes among infertility treatment users use a spontaneously conceived (SC) group for comparative purposes, despite obvious limitations to this approach. Further, lack of comprehensive U.S. data-sources recording infertility treatments, especially non-assisted reproductive technology (non-ART) infertility treatments, has hampered the ability of U.S. researchers to explore the effects of a particular infertility treatment modality (for example ART) on maternal and infant outcomes while controlling for the effects of infertility itself. The present study makes use of the new data item: "Pregnancy resulted from infertility treatment," further categorized into ART and non-ART infertility treatments--from the 2003 revision of birth …

Drawing A Bath: Works By Robert Henri And George Bellows At The Birmingham Museum Of Art, Mary K. Russell

All ETDs from UAB

This thesis discussing bathing images by Robert Henri and George Bellows located at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Exploration Of The Crosslinks Between Saccadic And Vergence Eye Movement Pathways Using Motor And Visual Perturbations, Kevin Paul Schultz

All ETDs from UAB

ANCOVA models to be non-orthogonal, we get similar results to the ANCOVA with

Occupational Stress, Job Satisfaction And Job Performance Among Hospital Nurses In Kampala Uganda, Rose Chalo Nabirye

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Occupational stress, a common occurrence among various professions worldwide, is regarded as a major occupational health problem for healthcare professionals especially nurses. Occupational stress has been reported to affect job satisfaction and job performance among nurses, thus compromising nursing care and placing patients' lives at risk. Stress is a complex phenomenon resulting from the interaction between individuals and the environment. Therefore, significant differences in occupational stress, job satisfaction and job performance among nurses may exist due to different work settings. The aims of the study were to: 1) examine the relationships between occupational stress, job satisfaction and job performance …

Poxvirus Evolution: The Role Of Horizontal Gene Transfer, Mary Rebecca Odom

All ETDs from UAB

We have investigated the set of all poxvirus proteins for information about the origins of protein coding genes of the Poxviridae family of viruses. A global assessment of all poxvirus proteins for levels of similarity to proteins of other organisms, including eukaryotes, viruses, and prokaryotes, has suggested trends and relationships informative about poxvirus evolution and poxvirus interactions with hosts. Our research has focused on the poxvirus proteins subset this assessment identified as likely to have evolutionary histories involving horizontal gene transfer (HGT). We have used phylogenetic reconstructions to individually determine the sources of more than 70 horizontally transferred genes present …

Collaborative Lawyers' Duties To Screen The Appropriateness Of Collaborative Law And Obtain Clients' Informed Consent To Use Collaborative Law, John M. Lande, Forrest Steven Mosten

Faculty Publications

Collaborative Law (CL) is an innovative dispute resolution process that offers significant benefits but also poses significant non-obvious risks. This Article provides a systematic analysis of these possible risks as identified in books written by CL experts, CL practice group websites, social science research, and bar association ethics opinions. In CL, the lawyers and clients sign a "participation agreement" promising to use an interest-based approach to negotiation and fully disclose all relevant information. A key element of CL is the "disqualification agreement" signed by parties (and sometimes by attorneys) which provides that both CL lawyers would be disqualified from representing …

Ubiquitous Research: Integrating Library Resources Into Online Courses., Kate Lyons, Elisabeth Tappeiner

Publications and Research

Online learning is transforming the way colleges and universities offer credit bearing courses. Now students are able to finish some or all of a degree online, with courses and programs from the hard sciences to the humanities. Nevertheless, a college education is comprised of a variety of educational and social activities that extend beyond a discrete class. Classroom learning is enriched and supported by services across campus, from the writing center to tutoring services, to the library.

This article discusses the experience of librarians working in a small, urban community college in integrating library collections, reference services, and information literacy …

Facing Reality: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act Falls Short For Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment, Katie Cushing

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Secondary-Actor Liability In A Post-Stoneridge World: Yes, A Successful Suit Against Secondary Actors Is Still Possible, Charles J. Wilkes

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Let Me Introduce You To A New Peer: The Postsecondary Education, Employment, And Research Project At Usu, Robert L. Morgan, K. Done

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Patient Factors In The Selection Of Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment For Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction, Kathryn O'Connor, Judith Baumhauer, Jeff R. Houck

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background: The influence of demographic, medical history, and treatment variables on the maintenance of nonoperative care or progression to operative intervention in Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfuction (PTTD) was explored. This retrospective study compared demographic, medical history and treatment variables between operative and nonoperative care in subjects with PTTD.

Materials and Methods: Charts with the ICD-9 codes (726.72, 726.90) and brace distribution records for 2005 and 2006 were used to identify subjects. From these, 166 of 606 charts included documentation of PTTD. Variables were grouped into three categories including demographics (Age, body mass index, gender and working status), medical (stage, symptom …

Professional Development In Elementary School Mathematics, C Scoggins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was an investigation of mathematics instruction and professional development at a rural elementary school. The Department of Education in a southern U.S. state implemented a new curriculum in 2007 that required major changes in mathematics instruction. The problems were that teachers engaged in different levels of training and many students experienced a decline in mathematics scores on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). The historical learning theories of Piaget and Vygotsky framed the study. The guiding questions focused on how to improve mathematics instruction through professional development for teachers. Nine elementary school educators served as purposefully selected participants. The …

Settling Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Cases: Making Up Is Hard To Do, Mark C. Weber

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

No abstract provided.