Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Marital Status And Highest-Grade Achieved: Contribution To Alcohol Screening Scores In Male Veterans, Marit P. Fraune

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

Background: Alcohol is frequently used among active military groups and veterans. There is no research regarding the effects of marital status and highest grade achieved on AUDIT-C screening scores for older male veterans.

Objective: This study aims to determine whether marital status or highest grade achieved significantly impacts AUDIT-C screening scores for older male veterans.

Method: This study used existing medical record data from the VAHS-St. Cloud. IRB approval through the VAHS provided protection of human subjects. Data were analyzed with Chi-square tests.

Results: Marital status did not produce statistically significant impacts on the AUDIT-C screening scores for older male …

Examination Of The Impact Of Living Arrangements And Marital Status On Depression Among Older Adult Male Veterans, Nicole M. Behne

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

As the older adult population grows, depression rates are also on the rise. This is especially evident among American veterans, who experience a depression incidence close to 30%, making it one of the most common diagnoses treated within the Veterans Health Administraiton (Hankin, Spiro, Miller et al, as cited in Cully, Zimmer, Khan & Petersen, 2008).

The purpose of this study is to identify key demographic variables associated with depression among older male veterans. The results could help improve patterns of care, hopefully improving the management of depression. The retrospective descriptive study uses existing medical record data to identify patterns …

Identification Of Contributing Factors To Alcohol Abuse In Korean And Vietnam War Veterans, Hannah Prososki

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

Background: It is known that alcohol use is prevalent among American military personnel. There is little research on whether or not alcohol abuse in the military today can also be applied to Korean and Vietnam era war veterans.

Objective: This study aims to discover if risk factors for alcohol abuse patterns from Korean and Vietnam War veterans match a more recent predictive model for veteran alcohol abuse.

Method: A Retrospective descriptive study, using existing medical record data, drawn from a total record set of 400 veterans, 59 of which met inclusion criteria for alcohol abuse. Cases were then …

Understanding The Vocation Of Health Professionals, Laura Hey, Kate Nowakowski

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

This project seeks to determine if and how physicians and dentists understand their work as a vocation or calling. In order to accomplish this, we interviewed dentists and physicians who were at different points in their careers and analyzed the data in comparison with theological sources on vocation. Dentists defined their vocation in broad terms, saying that it was more than their work. Physicians, on the other hand, see their vocation to mean the work that they do as a physician. Both groups found the most fulfillment in their careers when they feel a sense of joy and excitement, when …

An Endophytic Fungus As A Source Of New Antifungal Compounds, Lisa Marie Jungbauer

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

Medical advances in society such as organ transplants, prolonged chemotherapy, and those that lengthen the lives of AIDS patients and the elderly increase the number of immunocompromised individuals(1). When the immune system is compromised, opportunistic fungi can flourish and become fatal. Current antifungal treatments are limited and often toxic(2,3). In addition, strains of fungi resistant to available antifungals are emerging(4,5). Fungi were selected as the source of potential new antifungal agents because fungal antagonism has been reported in most fungal ecosystems(6). Endophytic fungi, which inhabit the spaces between plant cells, are known producers of natural products and that assist plants …

An Analysis Of Critical Thinking At A Liberal Arts College, Amy Goebel

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

This study investigated the differences among first-year, sophomore, junior, and senior college students in critical thinking skills and dispositions as measured by the California Critical Thinking Skills Test and the California Critical Thinking dispositions Inventory. Tests were administered to college students from a small, private institution in a rural area of the Midwest enrolled in general education courses with a majority being first-year and senior students. Consistent with the hypothesis, critical thinking skills and dispositions differed significantly between first-year, sophomore, junior, and senior students. Scores on the two tests were significantly correlated with each other, and scores on the skills …

Holistic Medicine: The Journey To Health, Molly J. Lahn

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

What I thought was to be a study of "alternative medicine" turned out to be an amazing discovery of not only a way of healing, but a way of life. My work is based on personal experience and supported by literature and the instruction of mentors. Over the span of a year, my experience has included three Healing Touch classes with independent practice and a nine-week class/support group for those with life-threatening illness and their caregivers. I also volunteered at a pain and stress management program at Glenwood Rehabilitation (autogenics/self- regulation training), the St. Cloud Pain Management Center (cranio-sacral therapy), …

Revival Of Metabolism In Rehydrated Marasmius Oreades, Lorie J. Warren

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

Mushrooms from the genus Marasmius have the ability to revive -- viz., dried specimens regain their original shape when moistened. The purpose of this study was to determine if the basidiocarps are metabolically active upon revival or whether they simply absorb moisture like a sponge. The reduction of tetrazolium chloride to a red, water-insoluble formazan pigment was used as a measure of respiratory activity. Basidiocarp samples were incubated in a phosphate buffer containing 1% tetrasolium chloride. After a suitable period, the samples were extracted with MeOH to remove any formazan pigment and the absorbance measured at 530 nm. Fresh M. …

Measuring Airborne Alpha Radioactivity, Greg Taft

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

This project develops alpha spectroscopy to measure the airborne concentrations of attached and unattached radon progeny. The system is designed and constructed to be used in homes, thus is portable, fast, and easy to use.

Suicide: An Introduction And An Attempt At Prediction, Wilbur J. Scott

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

No abstract provided.