Digital Commons Network^™

Visual Analog Scale And Pressure Pain Threshold For Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Assessment, Wing Y. Lau, Makii Mishan Muthalib, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2013

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between two assessments to quantify delayed onset muscle soreness [DOMS]: visual analog scale [VAS] and pressure pain threshold [PPT].

Methods: Thirty-one healthy young men [25.8±5.5 years] performed 10 sets of six maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors with their non-dominant arm. Before and one to four days after the exercise, muscle pain perceived upon palpation of the biceps brachii at three sites [5, 9 and 13cm above the elbow crease] was assessed by VAS with a 100mm line [0=no pain, 100=extremely painful], and PPT of the same sites was determined by an algometer. Changes …

Occupational Respiratory Health Surveillance At Minara Resources, Murrin Murrin Mine Site [Journal Article], Martyn Cross, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2013

A respiratory health study of fly-in-fly-out workers potentially exposed to airborne contaminants, and a control group, was conducted at the Murrin Murrin mine site in Western Australia. Lung function was measured in terms of validated protocols (American Thoracic Society, 1995; Miller et al, 2005). The effect of length of service, as well as work area/department on lung function was established. Repeat lung function tests were conducted after approximately two years, in order to measure decrements over time. Furthermore, testing was conducted on a cohort of refinery workers prior to commencement and upon completion of their work period on-site (swing), in …

Physical Activity: Its Implication On Attention Span And Quality Of Life In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Beron W.Z. Tan, Lynne Cohen, Julie A. Pooley

Research outputs 2013

This study examined the effects of physical activity on the attention span and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children in Singapore. Male participants (N = 12) aged 2-6 years, diagnosed with ASD were randomly assigned to either a physical activity or non-physical activity group. In the physical activity group, participants were administered 8 tri-cycling sessions; both groups of participants were measured for their attention span, and their parents completed the HRQoL questionnaires. Results indicate that as the exercise increases, the physical activity group demonstrated increasingly longer duration of attention span. These results extend the findings …

Plain Language Review Of Cardiovascular Health Among Indigenous Australians, Caitlin Gray

Research outputs 2013

This document summarises, in plain language, information about the cardiovascular health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It provides information about :

• the various cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors
• the extent of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including prevalence, hospitalisation and death rates
• types and levels of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CVD patients
• strategies and programs that aim to improve the cardiovascular health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The publication is a plain language summary of the Review of cardiovascular health among Indigenous Australians (2013) by …

Overview Of The Health Of Indigenous People In Western Australia 2013, Neil Thomson, Andrea Macrae, Anomie, Jane Burns, Belinda D'Costa, Caitlin Gray, Joanne Hoareau, Leah Levitan, Miranda Poynton, Kathy Ride, Avinna Trzesinski

Research outputs 2013

This Overview has been prepared by the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet as a part of our contributions to ‘closing the gap’ in health between Indigenous people and other Australians by making relevant, high quality knowledge and information easily accessible to policy makers, health service providers, program managers, clinicians, researchers, students and the general community.

The main purpose of the Overview is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent indicators of the health of Indigenous people.

Research for this Overview involved the collection, collation, and analysis of a wide range of relevant information, including both published and unpublished material. Sources …

Review Of Physical Activity Among Indigenous People, Caitlin A. Gray, Rona Macniven, Neil J. Thomson

Research outputs 2013

Physical activity is important for all Australians, particularly in the prevention, management and treatment of chronic conditions, and for social and emotional wellbeing. Chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular conditions, endocrine conditions (such as diabetes), and certain cancers, account for 70% of the observed difference in the burden of disease between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Modifiable risk factors, particularly behavioural determinants such as physical activity, can help to reduce the extent and impact of these conditions, and assist in the prevention, management and treatment of disease. The levels and impacts of physical inactivity are greater for Indigenous people than they …

Review Of Kidney Disease Among Indigenous People, Sasha A. Stumpers, Neil J. Thomson

Research outputs 2013

Kidney disease is a significant health problem for all Australians, but severe kidney disease is more common among Indigenous people than among non- Indigenous people. In particular, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the overall levels of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are consistently reported as significantly higher than among other Australians. Information on CKD among Indigenous Australians is available from self-reported survey data, as well as from community-based studies and screening programs [10-20] but the main focus in the literature has been on ESKD. The incidence of ESKD is especially high …

Tests Examining Skill Outcomes In Sport: A Systematic Review Of Measurement Properties And Feasibility, Sam Robertsson, Angus F. Burnett, Jodie Wilkie

Research outputs 2013

Background: A high level of participant skill is influential in determining the outcome of many sports. Thus, tests assessing skill outcomes in sport are commonly used by coaches and researchers to estimate an athlete’s ability level, to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions or for the purpose of talent identification.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to examine the methodological quality, measurement properties and feasibility characteristics of sporting skill outcome tests reported in the peer-reviewed literature.

Data Sources: A search of both SPORTDiscus and MEDLINE databases was undertaken.

Study Selection: Studies that examined tests of sporting skill outcomes were …

Release Of Dissolved Organic Carbon From Seagrass Wrack And Its Implications For Trophic Connectivity, Paul S. Lavery, Kathryn M. Mcmahon, Julia Weyers, Mary C. Boyce, Carolyn Elizabeth Oldham

Research outputs 2013

The export of old leaves and stems (wrack) from seagrass meadows provides a mechanism for trophic connectivity among coastal ecosystems. As little of this wrack is consumed by mesograzers, leached dissolved organic carbon (DOC) may determine the importance of wrack as a trophic subsidy. However, few studies have examined the effect of seagrass type or age on the release of DOC or its bioavailability. We examined the amount and composition of DOC released from different wrack: Posidonia sinuosa, Amphibolis antarctica and the alga Laurencia sp. We then examined the effect of age on DOC leaching from P. sinuosa wrack. The …

Association Of Hematological Parameters With Metabolic Syndrome In Beijing Adult Population: A Longitudinal Study, Li-Xin Tao, Xia Li, Hui-Ping Zhu, Da Huo, Tao Zhou, Lei Pan, Yan-Xia Luo, Wei Wang, Zhao-Ping Wang, Dong-Ning Chen, Li-Juan Wu, Xiu-Hua Guo

Research outputs 2013

The purposes of the study were to estimate the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to systematically evaluate the relationship between hematological parameters and MetS in a 5-year follow-up of Beijing adult population. The longitudinal study included 3,180 adults, aged 20–65 years, who attended health check-ups in Beijing Tongren Hospital in 2007 and 2012. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to explore the associations between hematological parameters and MetS. The 5-year cumulative incidence of MetS in this sample was 10.82 % (14.22 % for males and 7.59 % for females). Among all the hematological parameters, white blood cell count (WBC) was …

Dietary Patterns Associated With Alzheimer's Disease And Related Chronic Disease Risk: A Review, Samantha L. Gardener, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Jennifer Keogh, Suzanne Mathieson, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2013

The world’s population is growing older due to improved healthcare and nutrition. As a result, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevalence is rapidly increasing. The focus of the current research climate is shifting from understanding AD pathology and diagnosis to primary prevention and intervention strategies. Diet represents one potential intervention strategy accessible to all. Accumulating evidence suggests diet plays a major role in risk and development of AD and AD-related chronic diseases of the periphery like cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. This paper reviews studies that have explored the relationship between “a priori” dietary patterns, AD and AD-related chronic disease risk. The …

Pine As Fast Food: Foraging Ecology Of An Endangered Cockatoo In A Forestry Landscape, William Stock, Hugh Finn, Jackson Parker, Ken Dods

Research outputs 2013

Pine plantations near Perth, Western Australia have provided an important food source for endangered Carnaby’s Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) since the 1940s. Plans to harvest these plantations without re-planting will remove this food source by 2031 or earlier. To assess the impact of pine removal, we studied the ecological association between Carnaby’s Cockatoos and pine using behavioural, nutritional, and phenological data. Pine plantations provided high densities of seed (158 025 seeds ha21) over a large area (c. 15 000 ha). Carnaby’s Cockatoos fed throughout these plantations and removed almost the entire annual crop of pine cones. Peak cockatoo abundance coincided with …

Reversibility Of Membrane N-Glycome Of Hela Cells Upon Treatment With Epigenetic Inhibitors, Tomislav Horvat, Martina Dezeljin, Irma Redzic, Darko Barisic, Maja H. Bosnar, Gordan Lauc

Research outputs 2013

Glycans are essential regulators of protein function and are now in the focus of research in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. There are numerous modes of regulating their biosynthesis, including epigenetic mechanisms implicated in the expression of glyco-genes. Since N-glycans located at the cell membrane define intercellular communication as well as a cellular response to a given environment, we developed a method to preferentially analyze this fraction of glycans. The method is based on incorporation of living cells into polyacrylamide gels, partial denaturation of membrane proteins with 3 M urea and subsequent release of N-glycans with PNGase F followed by …

Trkb Receptor Signalling: Implications In Neurodegenerative, Psychiatric And Proliferative Disorders, Vivek K. Gupta, Yuyi You, Veer Gupta, Alexander Klistorner, Stuart L. Graham

Research outputs 2013

The Trk family of receptors play a wide variety of roles in physiological and disease processes in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. Amongst these the TrkB receptor in particular has attracted major attention due to its critical role in signalling for brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3) and neurotrophin-4 (NT4). TrkB signalling is indispensable for the survival, development and synaptic plasticity of several subtypes of neurons in the nervous system. Substantial evidence has emerged over the last decade about the involvement of aberrant TrkB signalling and its compromise in various neuropsychiatric and degenerative conditions. Unusual changes in TrkB signalling …

The Guinea Pig As A Model For Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease (Ad): The Impact Of Cholesterol Intake On Expression Of Ad-Related Genes, Mathew Sharman, Seyyed H.M. Nik, Mengqi Chen, Daniel Ong, Linda K. Wijaya, Simon Laws, Kevin Taddei, Morgan Newman, Michael Lardelli, Ralph Martins, Guiseppe Verdile

Research outputs 2013

We investigated the guinea pig, Cavia porcellus, as a model for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), both in terms of the conservation of genes involved in AD and the regulatory responses of these to a known AD risk factor - high cholesterol intake. Unlike rats and mice, guinea pigs possess an Ab peptide sequence identical to human Ab. Consistent with the commonality between cardiovascular and AD risk factors in humans, we saw that a high cholesterol diet leads to up-regulation of BACE1 (b-secretase) transcription and down-regulation of ADAM10 (a-secretase) transcription which should increase release of Ab from APP. Significantly, guinea pigs possess …

Self-Assessment Of Employability Skill Outcomes Among Undergraduates And Alignment With Academic Ratings, Denise Jackson

Research outputs 2013

Despite acknowledgement of the benefits of self-assessment in higher education, disparity between student and academic assessments, with associated trends in over- and underrating, plagues its meaningful use, particularly as a tool for formal assessment. This study examines self-assessment of capabilities in certain employability skills in more than 1000 Australian business undergraduates. It evaluates the extent to which student self-assessments differ from academics, in what ways and the influence of certain individual and background characteristics - such as stage of degree, gender and academic ability - on rating accuracy. Explanations for documented disparities are presented, in addition to implications and strategies …

The Acceleration Of Aging And Alzheimer’S Disease Through The Biological Mechanisms Behind Obesity And Type Ii Diabetes, Ian J. Martins, Wei Ling F. Lim, Andrea C. Wilson, Simon M. Laws, Ralph Martins

Research outputs 2013

The incidence of diabetes is predicted to increase to 21% by 2050. Currently, one third of US adults are obese and over 11% of these individuals have diabetes. Due to the growing need for therapeutic intervention to control and/or stabilize this increase in the incidence of diabetes in Western communities, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the association between obesity and Type 2 diabetes has become increasingly important to diabetes research. The increased cell senescence associated with diabetes has been associated with the limited ability of cells to divide, with indication of telomere shortening and genomic instability of the cells. Obese …

Increased Risk For Obesity And Diabetes With Neurodegeneration In Developing Countries [Journal Article], Ian J. Martins

Research outputs 2013

The incidence of global obesity and Type 2 diabetes has increased and is predicted to rise to 30% of the global population. Diet and lifestyle factors are incapable to resolve the increased incidence for obesity and diabetes in various populations of the world. Developing countries have come to the forefront because of the higher diabetic epidemic. The urbanization may possibly provide an explanation for the global diabetic epidemic. In Western countries the metabolic syndrome and non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have reached 30 % of the population and now at present NAFLD afflicts 20% of developing populations. Western diets …

Growth And Herbivory Of The Black Mangrove, Avicennia Germinans, Along A Salinity Gradient, Danielle Neveu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coastal communities will be most affected by global climate change and are important to study to understand current and future ecological processes. The current model for global climate change predicts a change in rainfall, which will alter the salinity of coastal systems. Given the presence of eutrophication in many coastal waters, it is important to understand the effects that this increase in nutrients, coupled with changes in salinity, will have on these communities. This study was conducted to understand the effect of salinity increase on the growth and herbivory of the black mangrove, Avicennia germinans, in the presence of …

Constructing A Healthcare Assets Map In Rural Appalachia: An Analysis Of Healthcare Services And Perceived Health Threats, Catherine Myers

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Using data gathered over the course of two months through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with health providers (n=19) and community members (n=20), this research analyzes patient access to health care resources and describes community members' and health care providers' perceptions of pressing health concerns in their area. The results of this research show the types of health care resources in the county, the similarities and differences between health providers' and community members' perceptions, and how the unique characteristics of this community influence health care access and health disparity.

Associational Resistance And Competition In The Asphondylia - Borrichia - Iva System, Keith Stokes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Indirect ecological effects such as associational resistance and resource competition have the potential to affect ecological interactions and influence the structure of ecological communities. Although resource competition is commonly studied, the effects of associational resistance are not as evident if studies are not designed to detect them. Additionally, the relative strengths of different ecological mechanisms ought to be measured in studies, rather than the strength of singular mechanisms. This permits proper attribution of causes and effects in community structure and detection of higher order interactions in a way that naïve reductionism will not.

In a series of experiments, I looked …

Development Of An Investigator-Designed Questionnaire Concerning Childbirth Delivery Options Based On The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Chun-Yi Tai

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study responds to the globally increasing rate of caesarean section, and specifically to the very high rate of elective caesarean section among Taiwanese mothers as evidence suggests that such elective caesareans pose potential health risks for mothers and babies. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a multi-component instrument based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to better understand Taiwanese pregnant women's decisions regarding their childbirth delivery options (spontaneous vaginal delivery or elective caesarean section). The study was a four-phased mixed method design. First, the TPB guided item development and instrument drafting. Second, pretesting and …

Influence Of Maternal Thyroid Dysfunction On Infant Growth And Development, Ronee Elisha Wilson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Thyroid dysfunction is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of childbearing age and the obstetric consequences of abnormal thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy have been established. Less understood is the implication of the presence of maternal thyroid autoantibodies on infant outcomes among women who are euthyroid during pregnancy. The objective of this study was two-fold: 1) to examine the influence of antenatal thyroperioxidase (TPO) status on fetal/infant brain and body growth measurements at delivery and 2) to explore the relationship of antenatal TPO status and maternal postpartum thyroid dysfunction (PPTD) on early infant growth and neurocognitive development. …

A Case Study Of Virtual Physical Education Teachers' Experiences In And Perspectives Of Online Teaching, Leslie Michelle Williams

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The 21st century has brought changes to education — changes that include greater distance learning options for middle and high school students. While distance learning has been around for a century, the progressive ways in which students are able to select and complete virtual courses through the internet in nearly every secondary content area are increasing. Physical education courses at the secondary level are among the courses offered online to students across the United States and Canada. One question that prevails in communities and particularly in physical education circles is, “How do you teach PE online?” In an effort to …

Nutritional Narratives: Cultural And Communications Perspectives On Plant-Based Diets, Julie S. Dare, Leesa N. Costello, Lelia R. Green

Research outputs 2013

This paper responds to a range of popular materials circulating in the public sphere asserting a plant-based (PB) diet is of benefit to humans and a protection against many chronic diseases. Although directed at a lay audience, books such as The China Study (Campbell & Campbell) are based upon extensive academic research, and highlight multiple health, environmental and social advantages of PB diets over traditional western diets. Arguments advocating PB nutrition, however, generally struggle to achieve traction in the public sphere. Narratives around PB food choices, and difficulties in shifting mainstream eating patterns, reflect the cultural symbolism attached to food, …

Antibiotics As Part Of The Management Of Severe Acute Malnutrition, Indi Trehan, Hayley S. Goldbach, Lacey N. Lagrone, Guthrie J. Meuli, Richard J. Wang, Kenneth M. Maleta, Mark J. Manary

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Aku-Nama : Summer 2013, Volume 6, Issue 1, Aga Khan University Alumni Association

The Aga Khan University Newsletter and Magazine for Alumni (AKU-NAMA)

Highlights

- A Changing Relationship

- Marching Towards Healthcare

- Convocation

- Outreach Medical Camp

- Off The Beaten Path

- Campus Happenings

- Class Notes

Vitamin D Accelerates Clinical Recovery From Tuberculosis: Results Of The Succinct Study [Supplementary Cholecalciferol In Recovery From Tuberculosis]. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial Of Vitamin D Supplementation In Patients With Pulmonary Tuberculosis'., Nawal Salahuddin, Farheen Ali, Zahra Hasan, Nisar Rao, Masooma Aqeel, Syed Faisal Mahmood

Department of Medicine

BACKGROUND:

Vitamin D enhances host protective immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis by suppressing Interferon-gamma (IFN-g) and reducing disease associated inflammation in the host. The objectives of this study were to determine whether vitamin Dsupplementation to patients with tuberculosis (TB) could influence recovery.

METHODS:

Two hundred and fifty nine patients with pulmonary TB were randomized to receive either 600,000 IU of Intramuscular vitamin D3 or placebo for 2 doses. Assessments were performed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Early secreted and T cell activated 6 kDa (ESAT6) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis sonicate (MTBs) antigen induced whole blood stimulated IFN-g responses were measured …

Hope And Explanatory Style: A Study Of Outcomes In Inpatient Headache Sufferers, Angela L. Borsuk

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Chronic daily headache (CDH) imposes significant burden on sufferers, among which are impaired quality of life, physical suffering, and financial cost. Psychological factors are known to play a considerable role in headache onset, maintenance, progression, and treatment outcome. Furthermore, headache-related disability cannot be accounted for by biological factors alone; both headache symptoms and psychological variables contribute to headache-related disability (Nicholson et al., 2007). Hope is an important predictor of improved health-related quality of life and has been linked with better outcomes for many diseases, disorders, and also in managing pain. Explanatory style, an individual’s style of making sense out of …

Describing And Assessing Feeding Disorders In Children With Autism, Rae L. Allen

Research Papers

No abstract provided.