Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Hand Position On Maximum Performance Of Push-Ups In Adults, Gregory Douglas Brickey

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Push-ups are widely used in public school physical education classes, and by military and law enforcement organizations to test upper body muscular fitness. The majority of the test protocols do not specify a hand position. Some research has demonstrated that hand positioning has a significant effect of on electromyographic activity of the working muscles, ground reaction forces and elbow joint loads during single or sub-maximal push-ups. However there are no scientific studies on how a change of hand positions would affect performance in a maximal push-up test to volitional exhaustion. This study examined performance in a maximal push-up test in …

Effect Of Resistance Training In The Improvement Of H:Q Ratio In Males And Females, Pradeep Edupuganti

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the change in hamstrings to quadriceps (H:Q) strength ratio between males and females following a 12-week resistance training program.

Design and Setting: We used a pretest-posttest experimental design to determine the amount of change produced by the training intervention in males and females. Isokinetic testing was performed on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic machine at 30°/sec, 60°/sec, 180°/sec and 240°/sec angular velocities, both before and after a 12-week training program.

Subjects: Twenty eight (14 male, 14 female) university recreationally active volunteers.

Variables: The dependent variables of interest were the conventional …

In-Vivo Delivery Of Dna Vaccines Using Metallo-Lipid Nanoparticles, Clarissa Sara Gomez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

There has been a rapidly growing area of research in the design and synthesis of molecules that self-organize in water to form functional nanosystems and due to the high interest in the area metal ligand complexes were tested as drug delivery systems with a Leishmania vaccine. Herein, we present the design, synthesis and functional activity of Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes that self-assemble in water to form spherical nanoscale structures that exhibit an affinity to bind DNA and deliver it into eukaryotic cells with a high percent efficiency in-vitro. In order to assess the effectiveness of these nanoparticles to deliver DNA …

Theory Of Planned Behavior Constructs As Mediators Of Behavior Change Associated With A Brief Alcohol Intervention, Denise Servo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the Theory of Planned Behavior constructs (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control [PBC], and behavioral intentions) as mediators of changes in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in a longitudinal sample of 206 college students. The Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) is a program designed to curb risky alcohol consumption and its related consequences among college students. Eligible students completed a baseline assessment battery at assessment and again six months after participating in BASICS. The AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) assessed alcohol consumption and the RAPI (Rutgers Alcohol Problem Inventory) assessed alcohol-related problems. …

Evaluation Of A Nutrition Program Targeting Child Care Centers, Kendra Witt

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Color Me Healthy (CMH) is an interactive nutrition program designed for preschool aged children in child care settings. The current study examined if CMH increases the consumption of fruit and vegetables. Child care centers were randomly assigned to one of two conditions; children (n=165) in ten centers received CMH and children (n=98) in seven centers acted as controls. Consumption of fruit and vegetable snacks was assessed at baseline, one week post-intervention and 3 months post-intervention. Hierarchical linear modeling determined that group assignment was the only significant predictor of fruit and vegetable consumption. Children who were exposed to the CMH program …

The Influence Of Environmental Factors And Organizational Characteristics On Innovations In Family Medicine Practices In Virginia, Debora Goetz Goldberg

Theses and Dissertations

Family medicine practices are currently threatened by factors such as poor reimbursement, physician stress, shortage of providers, and difficulties in providing prompt access and reliable continuity of care. The external environment faced by family medicine practices is extremely complex and characterized by high pressure from regulatory sources, decreasing reimbursement levels, an increasing rate of change in technologies and care delivery processes, and increasing patient and community expectations. Over the last several years there have been many efforts in family medicine to respond to the challenges presented by the external environment. The majority of these efforts focus on redesigning the delivery …

Virginia Emergency Department Physician Knowledge Of The Emergent Treatment Of Avulsed Teeth, Joy Leatrice Barnes Phelps

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and treatment protocols for physicians in Virginia emergency departments in regards to the emergent treatment of avulsed teeth.Methods: Using a cross sectional survey design, an 8-item questionnaire regarding the treatment of avulsed teeth was emailed to 75 emergency department chairpersons in Virginia. After 30 days, a reminder paper copy of the questionnaire was mailed and an email reminder with the on-line link was sent. After 60 days the study was closed. Comparisons were made using chi-square analysis based on percentages to test for significance. Results: The response rate was …

Alternative Orthodontic Bonding Protocol Using Self Etching Primer, Rush-Baker Gaines Caldwell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to develop a bonding method that can achieve clinically acceptable bond strength values while leaving a minimum amount of adhesive on the tooth surface during the debonding process. One hundred teeth were randomly assigned into groups. Five different enamel surface preparation protocols were tested (N = 20, each): Conventional acid etch, standard SEP, SEP applied with a light brush stroke (altered SEP 1), SEP applied directly to the composite of pre-coated bracket (altered SEP 2), and Primer Only groups. Brackets were debonded using an Instron universal testing machine (Instron, Canton, MA) in shear …

Endocannabinoid Modulation Of Spatial Memory In Aversively And Appetitively Motivated Barnes Maze Tasks, John Pinckney Harloe

Theses and Dissertations

Genetic deletion or pharmacological blockade of the CB1 receptor has been reported to impair extinction learning in aversive conditioning (i.e., conditioned fear and Morris water maze) paradigms, but not in operant procedures in which food reinforcement is earned. It is difficult to discern whether the differential effects caused by CB1 receptor disruption on extinction result from the hedonics (i.e., aversive vs. appetitive) or is related to the required responses associated with these disparate tasks. In order to evaluate whether the hedonics is the determining factor, we used either aversive (i.e., escape from bright lights and air turbulence) or appetitive (i.e., …

Comparison Of Emergence Behavior In Pediatric Dental Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia With Sevoflurane Versus Desflurane, Carla Lalande

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To determine which maintenance gas (sevoflurane versus desflurane) resulted in a faster emergence from general anesthesia and investigate the patient's emergence agitation. Methods: One group was maintained during general anesthesia with sevoflurane and the other with desflurane. Upon emergence the patient's behavior was evaluated.Results: The average emergence time for desflurane was 9.8; while the average for sevoflurane was 13.98 minutes. Patients who received premedication had an emergence time of 15.43 minutes, while patients who received no premedication emerged after 8.34 minutes.Zofran® was a significant predictor of purposeful actions. Patients were more aware of their surroundings when they received Zofran® …

Characterization Of Yeast 18s Rrna Dimethyl Transferase, Dim1p, Nagesh Pulicherla

Theses and Dissertations

Eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis, a dynamic and coordinated multistep process which requires more than 150 trans-acting factors, has been intensely studied in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This evolutionarily conserved process involves numerous cleavages of pre-rRNA, modification of nucleotides, and concomitant assembly of the ribosomal proteins onto the rRNA. Considerable information is available about the importance of conserved pre-rRNA cleavage events in ribosome biogenesis; however, very little is known about the exact role of modified nucleotides, which cluster within the functionally important regions of the ribosome. One conserved group of modifications is the dimethylation of two adjacent adenosines at the 3´ end …

The Use Of Implants Vs. Endodontics: Practitioner Attitudes In 2007, Gardiner Mckay Packer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what factors influence dentists when deciding whether to place an implant or perform endodontic retreatment. Null hypothesis: Dentists today are no more likely to place an implant than to perform endodontic retreatment. A twelve-item questionnaire was mailed to 525 general dentists and specialists who are members of the Richmond Dental Society. Response rate was 61.9%. The questionnaire included items on demographics, practice profile and cases of failing endodontic therapy which participants were asked to consider and chose between endodontic retreatment or implant placement. The relationship between the treatment choices and the characteristics …

Examining The Behavioral And Molecular Aspects Of Adolescent Nicotine Dependence: Implications For Vulnerability To Drugs Of Abuse, Dena Heath Kota

Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 200 million men and 100 million women smoke worldwide. In the United States, an estimated 25.9 million men (23.9 percent) and 20.7 million women (18.1 percent) are smokers. The commencement of smoking at a young age is thought to increase addiction liability, decrease the probability of successful cessation, and correlate with a higher number of cigarettes smoked per day. Studies from the World Health Organization indicate that between 80,000 and 100,000 children start smoking every day worldwide. These statistics suggest that adolescence is a critical phase for developing nicotine dependence. The work in this dissertation contributes to the further …

5-Ht3 Receptor Ligands And Their Effect On Psychomotor Stimulants, Jessica Nicole Worsham

Theses and Dissertations

Drug abuse and addiction are considered to be a result, at least in part, of the rewarding effects produced by increasing dopamine levels. 5-HT3 serotonin receptors have been shown to indirectly affect dopamine levels. Therefore, the effect of the 5-HT3 receptor partial agonist, MD-354, on the actions of psychomotor stimulants was analyzed in mouse locomotor activity assays to determine whether MD-354 is working through a 5-HT3 receptor agonist or antagonist mode of action. Studies with (+)amphetamine and (+)methamphetamine in combination with MD-354 indicated MD-354 is either devoid of action or is behaving similar to the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, ondansetron. This …

The Psychosocial Influence Of Dental Esthetics In Adolescents As Judged By Peers, Scott Thomas Henson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if dental esthetics affects the perception of adolescents regarding their peer's social aptitude in specific areas such as athletics, popularity, leadership, and academics. Ten patient photographs (4 males, 6 females) from a private orthodontic practice in Richmond, VA were selected for inclusion in this study. The frontal smiling photographs were digitally modified with insertion of either an ideal smile (straight) or a non-ideal smile (crooked) to create an image identical to the original except for an altered dental complex. Laypersons rated the straight and crooked patient photographs for athletic performance, socialization skills …

A Capillary-Based Microfluidic System For Immunoaffinity Separations In Biological Matrices, Michael Peoples

Theses and Dissertations

The analysis of biological samples in clinical or research settings often requires measurement of analytes from complex and limited matrices. Immunoaffinity separations in miniaturized formats offer selective isolation of target analytes with minimal reagent consumption and reduced analysis times. A prototype capillary-based microfluidic system has been developed for immunoaffinity separations in biological matrices with laser-induced fluorescence detection of labeled antigens or antibodies. The laboratory-constructed device was assembled from two micro syringe pumps, a microchip mixer, a micro-injector, a diode laser with fused-silica capillary flow cell, and a separation capillary column. The columns were prepared from polymer tubing and packed under …

Fluoride Varnish Use Among Dentists In Virginia, Amanda Bowen Kuhn

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to asses fluoride varnish use by dental practitioners in Virginia. Methods: Using a cross sectional survey design, all dentists in Virginia who are members of the Virginia Dental Association (VDA) were sent an online survey about usage and knowledge of fluoride varnish. Results: The majority of the respondents were general dentists (79%) followed by pediatric dentists (12%). Fluoride varnish use increased with year of graduation from dental school. Dentists who thought fluoride varnish was more effective and less time consuming use it more than other topical fluorides. Dentists who thought their patients prefer …

Frontal Plane Pelvic Drop In Runners: Causes And Clinical Implications, Evie Neff Burnet

Theses and Dissertations

Running is becoming an increasingly popular sport; however, runners have a high rate of injury and are therefore often treated in the orthopedic or sports medicine setting. One current focus of these patients' treatment is gluteus medius muscle (GM) strengthening and gait retraining, with the goal of decreasing frontal plane pelvic drop. Unfortunately, there is a research void assessing the role of GM function on pelvic drop, and the effect of an increased pelvic drop on running performance. The specific aims of this research were to investigate a link between frontal plane pelvic drop and (1) isometric GM torque, (2) …

Exploring The Experience Of Benefit Finding In Parents Of Children With Cancer: A Grounded Theory Study, Carol E. Zogran

Theses and Dissertations

The diagnosis of cancer in a child is one of the most significant stressors a parent can experience, and research in the area of stress-related effects of illness on parents has emerged in many areas. The majority of studies have focused on the potential or actual negative impact on parents during and after treatment of their child's illness. However, studies that initially set out to explore the difficulties associated with coping with childhood cancer found that parents often reported positive aspects about the experience. There is now increasing interest and support for the study of "positive-health" factors that contribute to …

The Effects Of Atomoxetine On Cognitive Performace And Neuroplasticity After Traumatic Brain Injury, Wendy Reid

Theses and Dissertations

Catecholaminergic neurotransmission is regionally altered following injury, and drugs aimed at these systems offer promising avenues for post-TBI pharmacotherapies. Atomoxetine is a selective norepinephrine transporter (NET) inhibitor currently indicated for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The studies in this dissertation were designed to test the efficacy of atomoxetine for treating cognitive deficits following experimental TBI and the potential mechanism for any beneficial effect. The first part of the study focused on behavioral recovery following atomoxetine treatment. Several important questions of dose, therapeutic window, and duration of treatment were addressed in these studies. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to lateral fluid-percussion …

Treatment Outcomes And Retention In Medicaid And Non-Medicaid Orthodontic Patients, Ashkan Ghaffari

Theses and Dissertations

Medicaid orthodontic patients have been shown to miss more appointments and break more appliances than self-pay patients, indicating a greater tendency toward non-compliance. Lack of compliance during the post-treatment phase can be detrimental to retention. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in PAR score changes between Medicaid and non-Medicaid patients during and after orthodontic treatment. PAR scores were determined using study models of 43 Medicaid and 39 non-Medicaid patients before and at the end of active treatment, and 24 Medicaid and 42 non-Medicaid patients at the end of treatment and at an average …

The Underlying Mechanism(S) Of Fasting Induced Neuroprotection After Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury, Laurie Michelle Helene Davis

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is becoming a national epidemic, as it accounts for 1.5 million cases each year. This disorder affects primarily the young population and elderly. Currently, there is no treatment for TBI, which means that ~2% of the U.S. population is currently living with prolonged neurological damage and dysfunction. Recently, there have been many studies showing that TBI negatively impacts mitochondrial function. It has been proposed that in order to save the cell from destruction mitochondrial function must be preserved. The ketogenic diet, originally designed to mimic fasting physiology, is effective in treating epilepsy. Therefore, we have used …

Escalation Of Wheel Running: An Animal Model Of Non-Drug Addiction, Ali Gheidi

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Animal studies using the self-administration paradigm suggest that duration of drug access (Ahmed, 2005) and individual phenotype (Piazza, Deminiere, Le Moal and Simon, 1989) are important factors in the development of drug addiction. Wheel running in rats has been proposed as a model to study non-drug addictions (Eikelboom & Lattanzio, 2003). When first given ad lib wheel access, young male rats initially run at low levels (about 1000 wheel turns per night) and gradually increase this distance to high levels (about 5000 wheel turns per night) (Afonso and Eikelboom, 2003). Like with self-administration, duration of wheel access has been found …

Allergies In University Of Northern Iowa College Students, Lisa Krausman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Allergies diseases, comprising of asthma and allergies, in some direct or indirect way affect most American families as more than 40 to 60 million or one in four Americans suffer from allergic diseases. Allergic diseases are a widespread problem that has a great monetary cost to society and a negative impact on the quality of life for those afflicted. This research was based on an analytical cross-sectional study design with a convenience sample of young adults in a college population. The paper based survey consisted of 55 questions asking various questions throughout various periods of life including the topics of …

The Heart Rate Response Of 5th Grade Students To Various Physical Education Activities, Mark Jungmann

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In an effort to make future curricular choices, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of participation in various activities on 5th grade students' heart rates. It was hypothesized that different activities would influence students' mean heart rates and time in target heart rate zone (THRZ) differently. Heart rate measurements were obtained through the use of Polar E600 heart rate monitors (HRM) during the 2006-2007 school year at Grundy Center, Iowa Elementary School. The data from the heart rate monitors were downloaded into Polar PE Manager Software to gather necessary information for this study. Subjects of …

Development And Validation Of A Movement And Activity In Physical Space (Maps) Score As A Functional Outcome Measure, Stephen Duane Herrmann

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Assessing function is an important outcome measure in establishing evidence based practice. Currently, there are no well-accepted functional measures that encompass both physical activity and environment interaction. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a quantifiable functional measure that incorporates physical activity and environmental factors. Sixteen volunteer participants (age [mean± SD] = 28.9 ± 12.0 years; height= 171.9 ± 8.4 cm; weight= 80.9 ± 16.6 kg} were assigned to two groups; post-surgical knee (n = 8; < 7 days after surgery= 4.1 ± 2.8 days} and control (n = 8). Two physical activity measures, step count (volume} and activity count (intensity}, were obtained using minute-by-minute accelerometry. Participants' locations and travel were recorded using GPS. Participants, under free living conditions, wore the accelerometers and GPS receivers on their waist for three days one week after surgery and 2 months later. The step count and GPS data were combined to produce a MAPSv (volume} score and the activity count and GPS data were combined to produce a MAPSi (intensity} score. The reliability for MAPSv and MAPSi scores over three days was acceptable (ICC[l, 1] = .84 - .89). Validity evidence was demonstrated by a significant correlation with a self-report functional knee scale. MAPSv was correlated with all of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales. MAPSi was correlated with all of the KOOS subscales except pain (r = .484; p = 0.058). There were significant differences between the post-surgical and control groups for both MAPSv (t,9.9 = -3.60; p = .007; post-surgical= 14.16 ± 9.71, control= 57.34 ± 32.48) and MAPSi (t10.B = -3.22; p = .013; post-surgical = 480.58 ± 344.01, control= 2143.30 ± 1419.66) immediately following surgery. The ANOVA results for MAPSv indicated that there was a significant time-group interaction, F (1, 12) = 4.60, p = .05. However, for MAPSi there was not a statistically significant time-group interaction, F (1, 12) = 3.42, p = .09. The results provide known-group difference and convergent validity evidence for the use of MAPSv as a functional outcome measure. It also shows evidence that MAPSv is sensitive to the changes in function over time.

Effects Of Acute Static Stretching On Anaerobic Performance Of The Upper Body In Collegiate Wrestlers, Karl Bratland

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Stretching prior to physical activity is common in sports and recreational exercise. Athletes, coaches, trainers, and physicians recommend stretching in an effort to both prevent injury and enhance performance. However, much of this information is based more on anecdotal evidence and intuition, rather than scientific evidence. Researchers have found that typical pre-exercise stretching protocols do not reduce the incidence of injuries (Pope, Herbert, Kirwan, & Graham, 2000). Studies have also found decrements in various performance measures such as maximal strength (Kokkonen, Nelson, & Cornwell, 1998) and explosive force and jumping performance (Young & Elliot, 2001; Young & Behm, 2003) after …

The Impact Of A C.A.R.E. Based Martial Arts Class On Students' Academic Achievement, Peer Relationships, And Social Interactions, David Hite Jr.

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

What is the goal of education in America today? Why is education so important to our society? Why do we spend millions of dollars each year towards the success of America's educational system? What processes and procedures should be employed to insure an efficient and effective education for all individuals? These questions and more arise as we consider the current academic, social, and economic climate of America, as well as the rest of the world; and the role education has played in shaping our past, impacting our present, and directing our future as individuals of a free society. Abraham Lincoln …

The Effect Of A Nurse-Respiratory Therapist Weaning Protocol On The Duration Of Mechanical Ventilation And The Incidence Of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, Andrea Lucas

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research study was to show the effectiveness of implementing a standardized nurse-respiratory driven weaning protocol in decreasing the time spent on mechanical ventilation and the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients compared to using individual physician methods. Chart reviews were performed to compare the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prior to the initiation of the nurse-respiratory driven weaning protocol. Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation theory was used as a framework for this study to show that nurses could promote adaption by using a standardized ventilator weaning protocol. The study did not show statistical significance that …

The Function And Mechanism Of Chmp1a In Tumor Development, Jing Li

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Chmp1A (Chromatin modifying protein 1A/Charged multivesicular protein 1A) is a member of the ESCRT-III (Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport) family, which mediates trafficking via MVB (multivesicular body) formation and sorting. Our studies suggest that Chmp1A is a novel tumor suppressor, especially in the pancreas. Knockdown of Chmp1A resulted in an increase of anchorage-independent growth of HEK 293T cells. Moreover, we showed that Chmp1A depleted HEK 293T cells forms tumor in xenograft mice. Knockdown of Chmp1A in PanC-1 cells promoted cell growth. In contrast, Doxycycline induced over-expression of Chmp1A in pancreatic cancer cells (PanC-1) resulted in cell growth inhibition, tumor …