Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Predicting Flavonoid Ugt Regioselectivity With Graphical Residue Models And Machine Learning., Arthur Rhydon Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning is applied to a challenging and biologically significant protein classification problem: the prediction of flavonoid UGT acceptor regioselectivity from primary protein sequence. Novel indices characterizing graphical models of protein residues are introduced. The indices are compared with existing amino acid indices and found to cluster residues appropriately. A variety of models employing the indices are then investigated by examining their performance when analyzed using nearest neighbor, support vector machine, and Bayesian neural network classifiers. Improvements over nearest neighbor classifications relying on standard alignment similarity scores are reported.

Comparison Of Ammonia And Particulate Matter Air Sample Concentrations At Task-Locations Within Swine Confinement Buildings., Earl Dan Bembry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: A task-associated analysis of ammonia and particulate matter concentrations was conducted on swine farms in breeding and gestation barns. The purpose of this study was to determine if specific tasks performed by workers increase concentrations of ammonia and particulate matter exposure.

Methods: An exploratory, descriptive design was used to determine if swine confinement workers have increased ammonia and particulate matter exposure when performing assigned tasks in breeding and gestation barns. A convenience sample of 8 workers volunteered from among all breeding and gestation workers (n=24). Data collection occurred in the morning at each of the 8 farms …

Soothability And Growth In Preterm Neonates, Holly Johanna Diesel

Dissertations

This proposal seeks to understand the relationship between soothability, weight gain and length of hospital stay in premature infants when the infants receive a simple, non-invasive treatment to help them cope with the noxious environment of the special care nursery. Thousands of premature infants are born every year in the United States, and the numbers are increasing. Prematurity is the leading cause of mortality in infants. Despite numerous technological and medical advances in treatment and care, premature infants still have difficulty adapting to life outside the uterus as a result of immature nervous systems and significant differences in the pre …

Rx For Change: Nurses' Response To A Smoking Cessation Intervention, Laura Louise Bisch Ochoa

Dissertations

Problem: An evaluation of a smoking cessation educational intervention for direct care RNs. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: The study was conducted at a large Midwestern academic medical center. Direct care Registered nurses (dcRN’s) employed at least .7 FTE and spending 80% of their time in direct patient care on general medicine or general surgery units were recruited. Recruitment occurred between April and May, 2009. Outcome data was abstracted from charts of patients receiving care from the intervention group. Interventions: Participants were randomized to either ‘Rx for Change’ which was a training program regarding tobacco cessation or to a …

Antibiotic Use By Members Of The American Association Of Endodontics: A National Survey For 2009- A Follow Up From The Report In 1999, Pye Kyu

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in prescribing habits of active members of American Association of Endodontics (AAE) with regards to antibiotics in comparison to the findings reported by Yingling et al. in 1999. The invitations to take the online survey were sent via email to 2593 active members. A response rate of 37.75% was obtained. It was determined to be adequate for analysis and for comparison to the results obtained by Yingling et al. Comparisons between the percentages shown in this survey and the previous survey were tested using a z-test. An ANOVA model was …

A Head Injury Teaching Module For Pre-Hospital Assessment: Using The Four Score, Chris A. Wolf

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to create a teaching module and evaluation tool for a United States Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron for the pre-hospital assessment of patients with head injuries using the FOUR Score assessment scale. Specifically, this project integrates theory, relevant literature, and reflection on service to and caring for others. Information from published literature supports the development and implementation of a new assessment tool, such as the FOUR Score, to assess patients who have suffered a head injury. Ultimately, a teaching module is presented, described, and evaluated, along with potential questions to be addressed in the …

Examining The Association Of Fruit And Vegetable Intake And Breast And Prostate Cancer Screening, Mark Yu

Theses and Dissertations

Breast and prostate cancer incidence and mortality have been steadily decreasing. Reasons for these reductions may be related to increased rates of cancer screening and other factors such as improvements in diet, including consumption of fruits and vegetables. We wanted to determine if individuals who get screened for breast and prostate cancer are more or less likely to consume adequate servings of fruit and vegetables. A cross-sectional study using the BRFSS survey was conducted. Individuals included in this study (n=26,222), were asked about their breast or prostate cancer screening history. They were also asked about their servings per day of …

The Association Between Lead Exposure And Respiratory Health In Children, Colleen Coleman

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The substantial impact of indoor air quality and environmental hazards in the home on one’s health has long been recognized in the field of public health. This cross-sectional study investigates the risk between home based hazards, specifically lead, and respiratory health in children. The objective of this study is to examine the extent to which children testing positive for blood lead exposure are at an increased risk for having poor respiratory health. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 977 children ages 1- 6 years was obtained from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Information from the …

A Nursing Educational Program For Recognizing And Managing Emotional Labor, Kathleen Kuzelka

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to develop a one hour learning module on emotional labor for all staff that will enable them to recognize and manage emotional labor for themselves and their coworkers in their daily work. This project presents the concept of emotional labor and emotional labor in nursing. A one hour learning module is described. The presentation of this module is discussed. There is discussion of the implications of emotional labor for nursing research, nursing practice and nursing education.

Strengthening Nurse/Physician Collaborative Relationships To Promote Patient Safety, Julie Lynch Weegman

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to identify implementable best practices that promote effective nurse physician collaboration in the hospital setting at the unit level for strengthening the culture of patient safety. These best practices will be shared with nurses and physicians at a workshop using the methods of powerpoint presentation and appreciative inquiry. The goal for this workshop is to inspire nurses and physicians to spread the seeds of collaborative practice throughout the organization through the path of shared governance.

Brad: A Model Of Caring For Persons With Frontotemporal Dementia, Jennifer Mcguire

Theses and Graduate Projects

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is caused by u progressive degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain (Boxer & Miller, 2005), This degeneration causes profound alterations in personality, social behavior, and language skills. FTD is particularly devastating due to the fact that it commonly affects people during mid-life or earlier. Evidence has shown that caregivers face higher rates of burden, distress and isolation when providing care for someone with FTD than other forms of dementia (de Vugt, Riedijk, Aalten, Tibben, van Swieten, & Verhey,2006; Kumamoto, Arai, Hashimoto, Ikeda, Mizuno, & Washio, 2004). The Behavioral Recognition, Assessment and Delivery (BRAD) …

Cardiovascular Reactivity To Forgiveness In Females, Carolyn Mccrocklin

Theses and Dissertations

Empirical evidence exists directly relating forgiveness to physiological markers of cardiovascular health based on the manner in which individuals respond to interpersonal offenses. Extant literature has identified the harmful effects of stress in cardiovascular disease and health in general and unforgiveness has been identified as a stressor with potential implications for cardiac health. Understanding cardiac response to the stress of unforgiveness may have favorable implications for heart disease prevention and treatment in women and may prove to be beneficial in reducing allostatic load.

Does Increasing Flow To A High Flow Nasal Cannula Affect Mean Airway Pressure In An In Vitro Model?, Robert Brent Murray

Respiratory Therapy Theses

DOES INCREASING FLOW TO A HIGH FLOW NASAL CANNULA AFFECT MEAN AIRWAY PRESSURE IN AN IN VITRO MODEL? Introduction: High-flow nasal cannulas (HFNC) have become popular with many institutions for administration of oxygen (O2). HFNCs are also being used in pediatric and neonatal populations for administration of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as a treatment for respiratory distress. Adult patients are being treated with HFNCs in a effort to provide a high percentage of O2 and correct hypoxemia and other related conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of increasing flow via a HFNC to an …

Community Voice: Taking It To The People, Guidelines For Conducting A Process Evaluation, Tiffany Mcghee

Theses and Dissertations

Background The Community Voice program is designed for African-Americans and explores key factors that can contribute to African-American infant mortality. This program was implemented in Henrico County based on Virginia Health Statistics that the White infant mortality rate average during the years of 2001-2005 was 5.3 deaths per 1,000 live births and in the same time period the infant mortality rate for African-Americans was 13.7 deaths per 1,000 live births. At the time of implementation of the program, no plans to evaluate the program had been made. Objective This evaluation was designed to develop guidelines regarding the evaluation process of …

Building Community Among Older Oromo Women Struggling With Sadness In A Large Urban Setting, Fatuma Kotile

Theses and Graduate Projects

Older Oromo women who immigrated to the United States in the early 1990s have experienced several stressful life events including war, famine, acculturation, harsh northern climate, a new language (English), and multiple experiences different from those in their native country, Ethiopia. Coping with these new experiences, correlates with a high level of depressive symptoms that Oromo people call "sadness." The purpose of this project is to create and describe a transcultural model of nursing practice in community that aims to decrease sadness among older Oromo women by promoting community building and healthy life choices in the midst of change. A …

Vitamin B6 Metabolism And Regulation Of Pyridoxal Kinase, Amit Gandhi

Theses and Dissertations

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is the cofactor for over 140 vitamin B6 (PLP)-dependent enzymes that are involved in various metabolic and biosynthetic pathways. Pyridoxal kinase (PL kinase) and pyridoxine 5’-phosphate oxidase (PNP oxidase) are the two key enzymes that metabolize nutritional forms of vitamin B6, including pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxine (PN), and pyridoxamine (PM) to the active cofactor form, PLP. Disruption of the PLP metabolic pathway due to mutations in PNP oxidase or PL kinase result in PLP deficiency, which is implicated in several neurological pathologies. Several ingested compounds are also known to result in PLP deficiency with concomitant neurotoxic effects. How …

Developing A Community Clinic To Address The Health Needs As Experienced By A Small Rural Village In Sierra Leone, Doris K. Acton

Theses and Graduate Projects

Developing countries experience a disproportionate amount of health care inequities due to extreme poverty, lack of education, minimal resources and marginalization from health care services. Additionally, barriers such as access, availability and affordability prevent people from seeking care. Development of community based clinics can help to address the health disparities that the people of these countries often experience. Utilizing Madeleine Leininger's Culture Care Theory and the Sunrise Enabler provide a framework on which to develop clinics and health care programs in ways that are culturally congruent and acceptable. This paper addresses the health needs of Manonkoh, a small village in …

Effect Of The Interactive Computerized Information For Surrogates Icu Program In Increasing The Understanding Of Informed Consent And The Knowledge Of Genetic And Genomics Research, Ann Kathleen Shelton

Dissertations

Background: A significant and growing number of clinical research studies conducted in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) today have some genetic and genomics component. Surrogates approached to authorize participation in clinical research for a loved-one in the ICU may not be prepared to make informed decisions. A model of stewardship of genetic and genomics research was used as a framework for this study. Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of an educational program, the Interactive Computerized Information for Surrogates (ICIS) ICU Education Program in assisting surrogates to (1) increase their understanding of the process of informed …

Association Between Preconception Multivitamin Use And The Risk Of Preeclampsia/High Blood Pressure In Pregnant Women, Krisandra Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia are significant causes of morbidity and mortality among pregnant women and neonates. This study examined the relationship between multivitamin use and incidence of reported high blood pressure or preeclampsia using data from the 2007 Oregon State Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Overall there were n=1894 women included in the study. Women were asked two to four months after delivery to report their multivitamin or prenatal vitamin usage in the month prior to conception and were categorized as daily users, or less than daily users. The unadjusted prevalence of high blood pressure or preeclampsia was 13.4% …

Developing A Comprehensive Youth Obesity Initiative For The State Of Virginia, Jennifer Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The 2009 Virginia General Assembly Session unanimously voted to change the legislation governing the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation to create the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) and incorporate childhood overweight and obesity prevention and reduction in its mission. In order to successfully meet the requirements of this legislation, VFHY needed assistance developing a strategic plan for the obesity initiative and a knowledge base to draw from. A comprehensive assessment of the status of Virginia’s childhood obesity problem was conducted, including the prevalence of the illness, the barriers existing to and the benefits to obesity prevention programs, the need for …

The 2009 H1n1 Influenza A “Swine Flu” Virus Presentation In Virginia 2009, Tammie Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: 2009 H1N1 influenza was first detected in the Northern Hemisphere in April 2009. National data have suggested that the novel influenza virus disproportionately causes severe illness in children and young adults, a somewhat different presentation from traditional seasonal flu which normally strikes hardest in the very young and older adults. This may or may not be the case in Virginia, which, if it is different, may suggest a need to alter flu prevention messages and vaccine policy as the outbreak continues through the fall 2009-10 influenza season. This report examined the early presentation of the new influenza virus in …

Use Of Oral Chemotherapeutic Medications In Non-Traditional Ambulatory Settings, Sameer Arora

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in economically developed countries. The use and availability of oral treatment for cancer has increased dramatically in the past 10 years. Few studies have described the use of oral chemotherapy in non-traditional ambulatory settings by health care professionals across different specialties. Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe the usage of oral chemotherapeutic medications in ambulatory settings. Methods: Cross sectional study of 2007 NAMCS Survey analysis involving 21,761 subjects aged 18 years and above with cancer who participated in the 2007 National Ambulatory Medical Survey (NAMCS). Main Outcome Measure: …

Client Perceptions And Working Alliance: Predictors Of Outcome?, Theresa Do

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND In recent years, there has been a push to measure and monitor the quality of health care and the delivery of effective services. Substance use disorders are debilitating and in order to better understand this facet of substance abuse, it is important for organizations and providers to assess the quality of services, client satisfaction, and the relationships that exist between clients and treatment providers. PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to (1) assess the extent of the relationship between measures of client perceptions of satisfaction and treatment outcomes and (2) to assess the relationship between measures of therapeutic …

Intimate Partner Violence And Pregnancy: Data From The Chicago Women's Health Risk Study, Anne Zehner

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy increases the risks of adverse outcomes for both mothers and their unborn children, including maternal and fetal death. However, more research is needed to determine if IPV increases in frequency or severity during pregnancy and to determine what the risk factors are for IPV during pregnancy. Objectives: To use data from the Chicago Women’s Health Risk Study to determine (1) if abuse is more prevalent during the pregnancy period, 2) if abuse during the pregnancy period increases in frequency or severity, 3) if pregnant women who are abused are at increased risk for …

Association Between Obesity And Depression And Anxiety Disorders: Results From The 2008 National Health Interview Survey, Monica Gaidhane

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Obesity is one of the most important medical problems in the U.S. and is considered to be an epidemic with over 30% of the population being obese. Obesity is associated with increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers and a shorter life expectancy. Recent studies have shown that higher BMI levels are also significantly associated with several lifetime mental disorders such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders as well as panic attacks and panic disorders. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to quantify the extent to which higher BMI increased the likelihood of Depression, Anxiety Disorder …

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors And Innate Immunity In Septic Shock, Joseph Bertsche

Theses and Dissertations

Innate immunity depends on pattern recognition receptors, which recognize pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPS), such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which detects the gram-negative bacterial toxin, lipopolysaccharide. Engagement of TLR4 by LPS sets off a cascade ending in the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interferon-β (IFN-β) which alerts the host to the infection. However, these responses can be mal-adaptive, especially in the context of bacterial sepsis, where a "cytokine storm" results in death of the host. Pharmacological modulation of these responses may therefore be a promising treatment modality. Inhibition of classic pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α has been …

The P600 Event-Related Potential Across Ages And Ear Conditions, Kyla Lewis Tree

Theses and Dissertations

Studying language development through event-related potentials provides specific information regarding how the brain processes specific aspects of language over time. In this study, the P600 component, a positive wave occurring approximately 600 ms post-stimulus and known for detecting syntactic errors, was specifically analyzed. Thirty children between the ages of 5 and 12 years listened to linguistically correct, syntactically incorrect, and semantically incorrect sentences in three ear conditions: monaurally to the right ear, monaurally to the left ear, and binaurally. The participants were instructed to judge the sentences to be correct or incorrect. Comparisons were then made of the latency and …

Reaching Resilience: A Multiple Case Study Of The Experience Of Resilience And Protective Factors In Adult Children Of Divorce, Denis' A. Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe the experiences of resilience following parental divorce for university freshmen. Five participants were interviewed using a multiple case study methodology and Richardson’s (2002) resilience model as the theoretical framework. It examined how the three needs of Self-Determination theory (autonomy, relatedness, and competence) and the three categories of protective factors (individual, family, and community) contributed to resilience. Data were collected through demographic surveys, divorce artwork, resilience artwork, and interview transcriptions. General themes, typological self-determination need themes, and typological protective factor themes were developed for each individual and across cases. The findings …

Small Windows Of Hope: Understanding The Meaning Of Fatigue Experienced By Cancer Patients, Lois Starnes Doane

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to describe the experience of early stage breast cancer women who were living with cancer-related fatigue. Using a phenomenological approach based on the work of Merleau-Ponty, the researcher completed six interviews in which women described the experience of being tired each day.

Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a hermeneutical approach developed by Pollio and applied to nursing research by Thomas. Each interview was examined within the context of all the interviews to identify themes noted in all transcriptions. Dealing with the prevailing and profound fatigue that entrenched these women‟s lives was overwhelming. …

The Impact Of Met-Expectation Of Organizational Justice On Attitudinal And Behavioral Outcomes Of Intercollegiate Athletics Coaches, Seungmo Kim

Doctoral Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to examine coaches’ perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice regarding current resource distribution systems in intercollegiate athletics in terms of sport types (high profile sports vs. low profile sports) and gender of players (male participant sports vs. female participant sports) and the impacts of direct or indirect organizational justice on coaches’ attitudinal (job satisfaction and affective organizational commitment toward organization and supervisor) and behavioral (organizational citizenship behavior for organization and supervisor) outcomes through the mediating effects of met expectations, outcome satisfaction, and social exchange relationships (perceived organizational support and leader-member exchange) via a …