Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Identification Of Human Pgc-1Α-B Isoforms Using A Novel Pgc-1Α-B Specific Antibody, Shannon Hedrick

Theses and Dissertations

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) is known as the master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. PGC-1α holds this role by acting as a transcriptional coactivator for an array of transcription factors and nuclear hormone receptors, such as NRF-1/2 and ERRα/γ, whose downstream targets function in mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation. PGC-1α is regulated both at the transcriptional and post-translational level in several signaling pathways, including p38 MAPK and AMPK. This regulation affects which transcription factor binding events can occur in a given tissue, and thus affects regulation of PGC-1α target genes. PGC-1α is downregulated in many neurodegenerative disorders as …

Beta 2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Contributions To Anxiety-Like Behavior, Shawn Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Nicotine is a major psychoactive ingredient in tobacco that is thought to promote smoking behavior via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain. Given reports that people smoke to relieve anxiety and that anxiety precipitates relapse, the overarching goal of this dissertation research is to assess beta 2 subunit containing nAChR (beta2*nAChR) contributions to anxiety-like behavior. Nicotine’s activity at beta2*nAChRs is concentration-dependent, with high concentrations facilitating activation followed by rapid desensitization and low concentrations preferentially desensitizing beta2*nAChRs; hence, activation or inhibition of beta2*nAChRs may support smoking behavior. Rodent studies reveal that nicotine affects anxiety-like behavior dose-dependently: low doses promote anxiolysis- …

A Boot Camp Approach To Remediating Interdental /S/ In A School-Aged Child, Melanie Ellen Peris

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between speech articulation therapy dose (frequency, intensity, duration) and treatment outcomes are poorly understood. Identifying optimal therapy doses for specific articulation disorders is essential to providing efficient clinical care. Recent research indicates that intensive speech therapy doses-known as boot camps-may promote rapid improvement and generalization for certain speech disorders. Therefore the present investigation examined the effects of a boot camp speech therapy approach to remediate interdental /s/ production in an 8-year-old male. The boot camp included two days of speech therapy involving visual, tactile, and auditory feedback approaches. Therapy was administered 5.5 hours per day across morning and …

Alcohol And Medication Use In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Understanding The Effect Of Alcohol And Central Nervous System-Acting Medications On The Risk For Falls, Maitreyee Mohanty

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Aging, comorbid conditions, and use of medications render older adults more susceptible to alcohol-disease or alcohol-drug interactions that may lead to harmful outcomes. In this dissertation project the risk profile of alcohol and medications use among older adults was investigated. Considering the rise in CNS-acting medication use and the adverse effect profile linked to CNS-acting medications, it was also of interest to find if older adults were at risk of falling due to interactions between alcohol and CNS-acting medication. Objectives: The objectives were as follows: 1) to determine the prevalence, pattern and factors associated with at-risk drinking, 2) to …

Behavioral And Genomic Characterization Of Scheduled Ethanol Deprivation, Jonathan Warner

Theses and Dissertations

Alcoholism is a persistent substance abuse disorder that is associated with negative health, social, and economic outcomes. Treatment strategies for alcohol use disorders are limited, and only three drugs have been approved by the FDA for treatment. Although behavioral therapy and drug combination strategies improve abstinence outcomes, the majority of those in treatment will not achieve long-term abstinence. Therefore, better treatment strategies are needed. While much progress has been made toward understanding the neurobiology of alcoholism, this knowledge has not been effectively translated into treatment strategies. Animal models of alcohol drinking have been crucial to this research effort, but until …

Analyzing The Functions Of Human Polynucleotide Phosphorylase (Hpnpaseold-35), Upneet K. Sokhi

Theses and Dissertations

RNA degradation plays a fundamental role in maintaining cellular homeostasis, along with being a part of normal regulatory mechanisms, whether it occurs as a surveillance mechanism eliminating aberrant mRNAs or during RNA processing to generate mature transcripts. 3’-5’ exoribonucleases are essential mediators of RNA decay pathways, and one such evolutionarily conserved enzyme is polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). The human homologue of this fascinating enzymatic protein (hPNPaseold-35) was cloned a decade ago in the context of terminal differentiation and senescence through a novel ‘overlapping pathway screening’ approach. Since then, significant insights have been garnered about this exoribonuclease and its repertoire of expanding …

A Measure Of Nephrology Nurse Perceptions Toward Advance Care Planning: Validation Of The Nephrn Perceptions Toward Advance Care Planning Instrument, Mary S. Haras

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a report of a three-phase quantitative research study that included the development and testing of an instrument to examine the perceptions of nephrology nurses toward advance care planning for persons with chronic kidney disease. Phase 1 began with the identification of the dimensions of advance care planning and creation of an item pool for the instrument. The instrument was distributed to five content experts for evaluation and comments of inclusiveness to measure perceptions toward advance care planning. In Phase 2 the item pool was pilot tested in a convenience sample of 50 nephrology nurses. Exploratory factor analysis …

Understanding Turnover Propensity Via Affective Beliefs, Adam Bradshaw

Theses and Dissertations

Three latent variable models examined relationships among neuroticism, situation-specific affective beliefs, and turnover propensity and were evaluated with Structural Equation Modeling to determine model fit. Results provided additional insight into how affective belief systems relate to turnover propensity reinforcing and expanding upon previous research by Binning, Bradshaw, LeBreton, and Scheier (2010) as the Correlated Antecedents and the Mediated Antecedents Models fit the data as proposed. Neuroticism and situation-specific affective beliefs continue to play distinguishable roles in explaining turnover propensity. Research by Binning et al. (2010) and the present study make it increasingly clear that understanding how affective belief systems relate …

A Molecular Mechanism Regulating The Timing Of Corticogeniculate Innervation, Justin Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

Visual system development requires the formation of precise circuitry in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the thalamus. Although much work has examined the molecular mechanisms by which retinal axons target and form synapses in dLGN, much less is known about the mechanisms that coordinate the formation of non-retinal inputs in dLGN. These non-retinal inputs represent ~90% of the terminals that form in dLGN. Interestingly, recently reports show that the targeting and formation of retinal and non-retinal inputs are temporally orchestrated. dLGN relay neurons are first innervated by retinal axons, and it is only after retinogeniculate synapses form that …

Personal Characteristics And Learning Preference In End-Of-Life Decision Making Of Chronically Ill Community Dwelling Elders, Leigh Ann Bonney

Theses and Dissertations

Leigh Ann Bonney, RN, MSN; Susan Kossman, RN, PhD; MyoungJin Kim, PhD; Wendy Woith, PhD, Caroline Mallory, PhD

Illinois State University, Mennonite College of Nursing

Personal Characteristics and Learning Preference in End-of-Life Decision Making of

Chronically Ill Community Dwelling Elders

Purpose and Background: Clear decision-making (DM) about end-of-life [EOL] contributes to a good death This requires knowledge of life-sustaining treatment with lack of knowledge contributing to feelings of decisional conflict Decision aids can increase knowledge, but elders' preferred learning methods are unknown. Identifying characteristics associated with preferred learning method and decisional conflict can help nurses tailor information to assist in …

Correlation Of Shoulder And Elbow Kinetics With Ball Velocity In College Baseball Pitchers, Eric Post

Theses and Dissertations

Specific injuries at the elbow and glenohumeral joints have been linked to several kinetic variables that occur throughout the throwing motion. Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprains have been linked to excessive elbow valgus and shoulder external rotation torques occurring during the late-cocking phase of throwing. Shoulder external rotation torque during the late arm-cocking phase and shoulder distraction forces during the deceleration phase contribute to tears of the labrum. Additionally, it is believed that the peak distraction force generated during the arm deceleration phase also contributes to SLAP tears and rotator cuff pathologies. Very little research has been done to directly …

Exploring Substance Use Disorders Community Outpatient Counselors’ Experiences Treating Clients With Co-Occurring Medical Conditions: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Lauretta Cathers

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract EXPLORING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS COMMUNITY OUTPATIENT COUNSELORS’ EXPERIENCES TREATING CLIENTS WITH CO-OCCURRING MEDICAL CONDITIONS. AN INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS Lauretta Anne Cathers, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013 Major Director: Amy Armstrong, PhD, Chair, Rehabilitation Counseling The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study presents the findings from a qualitative study examining substance use disorders (SUD) community outpatient treatment counselors’ experiences treating clients with co-occurring medical conditions. Interviews from five SUD community outpatient treatment counselors resulted in four emerging super-ordinate themes. The findings illustrate …

A Comparison Of Attention Bias Paradigms Related To Insomnia, Nathaniel Maloney

Theses and Dissertations

Attentional bias to sleep related stimuli by poor sleepers has been reported as a factor in initiating and maintaining sleep disturbance. In this study, three paradigms (Flicker, Posner, and Stroop) were used in comparison to further investigate the role of attentional biases in Primary Insomnia. Participants (n=117) were split into good sleepers and poor sleepers using a median split with the Pittsburgh Insomnia Rating Scale (PIRS). Using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) as the covariate, two-way mixed modality ANCOVAs were conducted for each paradigm revealing no significant differences in word type, quality of sleep, or the interaction …

Spirituality And Alcohol Consumption In A General Population, Nicole Keenan

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between spirituality and alcohol consumption in a general population because spirituality is important when it comes to the treatment and continued recovery from addiction. In order to measure spirituality, we used three psychometrically tested measures; The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale, the Spiritual Intelligence Self Report Inventory, and the Spiritual Assessment Inventory. To measure alcohol consumption we utilized the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Results sustain the multidimensionality and overlap between spirituality and religion and the need for more complete definitions. Our findings support the buffering relationship between spirituality and alcohol consumption as well as a relationship …

Are Your Parents To Blame? Disentangling Temperament, Parenting Style, And Schemas In The Development Of Depressive Symptoms, Jenny Delorme

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined Jeffrey Young's Schema Theory (1990; 2003) and its influence in understanding the etiological factors related to depressive symptoms. It was hypothesized that there would be significant interactions between parenting and temperament traits. It was also hypothesized that The Defectiveness and Insufficient Self Control EMSs would mediate the relationship between the significant parenting/temperament interactions and depressive symptoms. Participants were administered the Young Schema Questionnaire Short form-3 to measure the endorsement of schemas; the Beck Depression Inventory to measure symptoms of depression; the Young Parenting Inventory to measure perceived parenting; and the Adult Temperament Questionnaire to measure temperament traits. …

Locus Of Control And Quality Of Life In Individuals With Schizotypy, Rachael Paulbeck

Theses and Dissertations

The present study collected data from 200 undergraduate students (106 male, 94 female) and sought to examine the relationship between levels of stress, cognitive processes related to stress management (Locus of Control- LOC; Sense of Coherence; SOC), and quality of life (QOL) across varying levels of risk for developing schizophrenia. Results indicated that high-risk individuals are significantly more likely to have an external locus of control (F=4.121, p=.018) supporting hypothesis 1. Counter to our second hypothesis, locus of control was not directly associated with QOL. However, LOC was correlated with both stress and level of risk for schizophrenia which (in …

The Role Of Outer Membrane Protein A In Anaplasma Marginale Cellular Invasion And Its Potential As A Cross-Protective Antigen, Sarvani Emani

Theses and Dissertations

Anaplasma phagocytophilum and A. marginale are the etiologic agents of human granulocytic anaplasmosis and bovine anaplasmosis, respectively. Both diseases can be severe, even fatal, and protective vaccines for each are lacking. We recently identified A. phagocytophilum outer membrane protein A (ApOmpA) as being critical for cellular invasion and is expressed during infection of mammalian but not tick cells. Disrupting ApOmpA-host cell interactions significantly inhibits A. phagocytophilum entry into host cells. ApOmpA and its A. marginale ortholog, AM854 (A. marginale OmpA; AmOmpA) exhibit 44% amino acid identity. The ApOmpA invasin domain is highly conserved between both proteins. In this study, we …

The Role Of Nitric Oxide Dysregulation In Tumor Maintenance, Christopher Rabender

Theses and Dissertations

The inflammatory nature of the tumor microenvironment provides a cytokine and chemokine rich proliferative environment. Much of the responsibility of this environment is due to the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). These studies examined the proliferative rich tumor environment from a new perspective of Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) dysregulation. NOS’s have the ability to become uncoupled and generate superoxide in lieu of nitric oxide (NO). A requirement of NOS for the production of NO is the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and when it is missing NOS becomes uncoupled and turns into a peroxynitrite synthase. Here I demonstrate that NOS is …

The Freshman Experience, Stephanie Mannon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory research was to investigate if change in sexual risk-taking behavior between high school and college can be predicted as a function of the interaction of person and situation traits. College, conceptualized as a backspace (situation) construct, and personality traits (sensation-seeking, neuroticism, extraversion) conducive to deviant behavior were examined. While significant risky behavior was reported for all students (n = 252), hierarchical regression analyses revealed that higher levels of the specified personality traits in combination with on-campus backspace residential status was not predictive of greater change in engagement in sexual risk-taking behavior. Implications for future research …

Predictors Of Cooperative And Externalizing Behaviors In Siblings Of Children With Disabilities, Christine Rae Platt

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To examine whether caregiver burden, parenting style, and sibling relationships in families raising a child with a disability (CWD) predict cooperative and externalizing behaviors in typically-developing sibling (TDS). Methods: This correlational study included 189 families raising both a CWD and a TDS. Mothers and fathers completed self-report questionnaires on caregiver burden, sibling relationships, parenting style, and TDS cooperative and externalizing behaviors. Results: Authoritative parenting was positively associated with cooperative behaviors, whereas authoritarian parenting was positively associated with externalizing behaviors. Hierarchical regression revealed caregiver burden was a significant predictor of cooperative and externalizing behaviors; however, when parenting style was added …

Functional Characterization Of Crip1a Knockout Mice, Joanna Jacob

Theses and Dissertations

CB1 cannabinoid receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors that mediate the central nervous system (CNS) effects of marijuana and endocannabinoids. Recently, cannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1a (CRIP1a) was discovered as a novel protein that binds to the CB1 receptor C-terminus and inhibits CB1 receptor activity without affecting CB1 expression. This thesis investigated the functions of CRIP1a by characterizing the first CRIP1a knockout (KO) mouse line. The absence of CRIP1a was confirmed in KO mice using quantitative PCR and immunoblotting. I hypothesized that CRIP1a KO mice would exhibit enhanced CB1 receptor-mediated G-protein activity in the CNS, as well as cannabimemetic phenotypes and enhanced …

Positron Emission Tomography For Pre-Clinical Sub-Volume Dose Escalation, Christopher Bass

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This dissertation focuses on establishment of pre-clinical methods facilitating the use of PET imaging for selective sub-volume dose escalation. Specifically the problems addressed are 1.) The difficulties associated with comparing multiple PET images, 2.) The need for further validation of novel PET tracers before their implementation in dose escalation schema and 3.) The lack of concrete pre-clinical data supporting the use of PET images for guidance of selective sub-volume dose escalations. Methods and materials: In order to compare multiple PET images the confounding effects of mispositioning and anatomical change between imaging sessions needed to be alleviated. To mitigate the …

Osteopontin Expression During The Acute Immune Response Mediates Reactive Synaptogenesis And Adaptive Outcome, Julie Chan

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a worldwide epidemic as the number of victims living with the resulting cognitive and physical impairment continues to rise, principally due to limited treatment options which fail to address its multifaceted sequelae. By approaching TBI therapy from a molecular standpoint, we have the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms which prevent effective recovery. With this information, we can move toward the identification of novel therapeutic treatments which target specific molecules to improve patient outcome following TBI. Here, we have focused on the therapeutic potential of osteopontin (OPN), an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein …

Assessment Of The Drug-Drug Interaction Potential Of Anionic Components In The Diet And Herbal Medicines On Organic Anion Transporters (Slc22 Family), Li Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Numerous natural products are widely used as first-line/alternative therapeutics and dietary supplements in both western and eastern society. However, the safety and efficacy profiles for herbal products are still limited. Organic anion transporters (OATs; SLC22 family) are expressed in many barrier organs and mediate in vivo body disposition of a broad array of endogenous substances and clinically important drugs. As some dietary flavonoids and phenolic acids were previously demonstrated to interact with OATs, it is necessary to explore the potential interaction of such components found in natural products in order to avoid potential OAT-mediated drug-drug interactions (DDIs). The inhibitory effects …

Parents' Treatment Of Their Children's Pain At Home: Pharmacological And Non-Pharmacological Approaches, Ayala Y. Gorodzinsky

Theses and Dissertations

During childhood, individuals often experience pain on a daily or nearly daily basis (American Academy of Pediatrics and American Pain Society, 2001). Pain can be treated using pharmacological or non-pharmacological techniques. This study will focus on the techniques provided by parents, since parents most often treat children's painful experiences at home (Finley, McGrath, Forward, McNeill & Fitzgerald, 1996). The processes involved in parental decision-making regarding which techniques to use include a combination demographic, availability and perceived need factors (Andersen, 1995). Seven hundred and fifty-six parents of children 6 to 17 years completed a survey regarding use and effectiveness of pharmacological …

Perceptual Correlates Of Acoustic Measures Of Vocal Variability, Bree Ann Cumbers

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated relationships between acoustic measures of vocal variability (pitch sigma, SFF range) and perceptual ratings of vocal variability during a reading task. Fifteen male (19-30 years of age) and nineteen female speakers (20-30 years of age) who were recorded reading the Grandfather Passage provided the stimuli for the listening task. From these samples, 30 were selected as representing a continuum of degrees of vocal variability. Male (N = 15) and female (N = 15) samples were presented to listeners separately. Thirty graduate students in Communication Sciences and Disorders who had a course background in voice supplied the perceptual …

The Impact Of Cancer Caregiving On Cancer Caregivers: Stories Of Lives In Transition, Cynthia Marie Steinwedel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of cancer caregiving on primary caregivers, exploring their personal narratives looking back on the entire experience from diagnosis, through treatment, and beyond. Caregiving is associated with exacerbation of stress-related disorders such as hypertension and heart disease and may also be associated with increased mortality rates. Transitions theory served as the conceptual framework for the study. Eleven adult caregivers, pre-retirement age, each participated in two semi-structured interviews. Caregivers were recruited from a community cancer resource center and were purposively selected to achieve maximum variation in terms of outcome of cancer treatment. …

Reading Comprehension And Nursing Education: A Missing Variable Associated With Nursing Student Attrition?, Debra L. Lajoie

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

READING COMPREHENSION AND NURSING EDUCATION:

A MISSING VARIABLE ASSOCIATED WITH

STUDENT ATTRITION?

by

Debra L. Lajoie, MSN

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

December, 2013

Under the Supervision of Susan Dean-Baar, PhD, RN, FAAN

The goals of nursing faculty and administrators are to select students most capable of completing the nursing program and to provide academic support needed for program completion. However, despite stronger entrance requirements, educators are still baffled by the persistent attrition from nursing education programs. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the level of reading comprehension of two groups of students, a pre-nursing student …

The Effects Of Static Stretching Versus Dynamic Stretching On Lower Extremity Joint Range Of Motion, Static Balance, And Dynamic Balance, Wenqing Wang

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of static stretching (SS) versus dynamic stretching (SS) on lower extremity joint range of motion (ROM), static balance, and dynamic balance. Fifteen active subjects with tight hamstring and calf muscles participated. Hip flexion and knee extension ROM angle was measured using a fluid inclinometer. A closed-chain method of measuring ankle dorsiflexion ROM was used. Static balance was assessed in single-leg stance on a force plate using the time-to-boundary (TTB) measurement. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) was used to assess dynamic balance in three directions. These measurements were assessed before …

Metformin-Induced Pedf Expression Regulates Cell Proliferation And Lipid Metabolism In Prostate Cancer Cells, Miguel Angel Tolentino

Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in American males. A high fat diet and obesity accelerate PCa progression and increase the 1risk of death from disease. Epidemiological studies have indicated that PCa patients with type 2 diabetes have higher mortality rates than PCa patients without diabetes. Type 2 diabetics who are on metformin, a drug to control blood sugar levels, show a delay in PCa progression in comparison with PCa patients with type 2 diabetes who are not on metformin. It has been proposed that metformin inhibits proliferation via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) or …