Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Regulation Of Irf-3-Dependent Innate Immune Signaling Pathway By The Plpro Domain Of Non-Structural Protein 3 (Nsp3) Of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) Coronavirus, Sandra Nicole Lester

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The induction of Type I Interferons (IFNs) is a powerful and rapid innate defense mechanism against viral infection, and many viruses have developed elaborate strategies to overcome the antiviral effects of IFN, ensuring their survival and replication. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is a highly pathogenic virus that causes severe lung disease in humans and is associated with high mortality rates. SARS-CoV, like all other successful viruses, encode proteins that counteract the innate immune response. A number of reports have indicated the papain-like protease (PLpro) domain of SARS-CoV Non-Structural Protein 3 (NSP3) as a powerful interferon antagonist, by suppressing …

Super-Utilization: The New Perfect Storm Of Health Reform, Jill Diane Nault

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This three-essay dissertation was focused on geographic variation of super-utilization, or the disproportionately high healthcare utilization and costs attributed to a small sub-set of the inpatient population. For purposes of this research, super-utilization was operationalized as high repeat utilization (HRU) and referred to inpatient utilization and inpatient readmission expenditures attributed to beneficiaries with four or more 30-day readmissions per year. The overall purpose of the research was to identify geographic areas at increased risk for HRU. These areas corresponded to where beneficiaries live and were aligned with the geographically-bound healthcare delivery systems. Each essay employed an observational study design using …

Relationship Of Force Variables To Vertical Jumps Performance, Hugo A. De Paula Santana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) has been cited often in the scientific literature; however, there is still a lack of agreement as to the ideal body position used during this test, and how body position impacts the relationship between IMTP performance and dynamic performance. Thus, one aim of this dissertation was to compare two different IMTP positions and correlate the kinetic outputs from each position to vertical jump (VJ) performance. Another purpose of this dissertation was analyze which method of data normalization for IMTP force variables best correlates to squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance.

In the first …

The Dissemination Of Local Food Rhetoric Via Restaurant Wait Staff: A Pilot Study, Laura Dragon

Dissertations - ALL

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe restaurant waiter and manager perceptions of local foods with regard to customer inquiries, personal values, barriers of local foods, ingredient source, waiter training, and personal definitions of local food.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from restaurant managers, chefs, and wait staff at local food promoting restaurants (LFPR) in an urban county in central New York State. The study design involved questionnaires consisting of close-ended and open-ended questions about local foods. Questions regarding local food perceptions, motivations, customer inquiries, training, source, and barriers to local foods were …

Exploring Dietary Intakes Of Micronutrients Involved In Bone Remodeling In Relation To Bone Mineral Density And Physical Activity Levels: An Examination Of Pre-Menarcheal Female Gymnasts And Non-Gymnasts., Sarah Kristine Skinner

Dissertations - ALL

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between dietary intake of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin D, fiber, and bone mineral density in a sample of pre-menarcheal female gymnasts and non-gymnasts in the Syracuse-area. The goal was to observe whether higher intakes of these vitamins were associated with higher bone mineral density as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and to potentially examine the impact of activity level on these relationships.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to examine a subset of data from a larger on-going longitudinal study on bone growth and physical activity in …

Filifactor Alocis, A Newly Appreciated Oral Pathogen, Fails To Induce The Respiratory Burst Response Of Human Neutrophils., Jacob S. Edmisson

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Almost 50% of adult Americans suffer from periodontitis which is a bacterially induced inflammation of the tissue that surround and support the tooth. The accumulation of neutrophils, a critical cell component of the innate immune system, in the gingival crevice contributes to tissue damage. Filifactor alocis is a newly appreciated pathogen present in oral biofilms at periodontal disease sites. Studying the interactions between neutrophils and F. alocis will provide valuable information for delineating the role of this bacterium in periodontal disease and enhance our understanding of bacterial strategies to evade leukocytes’ antimicrobial mechanisms. The hypothesis that F. alocis modulates human …

Impact Of Nursing Interventions On Positive Confusion Assessment Method (Cam) Scores, Katie Halsell

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Delirium occurs in patients of all ages, especially in the older adult population. Symptoms vary from patient to patient, and delirium is often misdiagnosed. Patients with delirium have a higher cost of care and a longer length of stay in the hospital. Delirium is a stressful event for both the nurse and the patient, resulting in poor patient outcomes. The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) tool is used to diagnose delirium in confused patients; a positive CAM score indicates delirium. Nursing interventions are used to treat delirium. Interventions used range from non-pharmacologic measures to use of pharmacological measures and restraints. This …

The Effects Of Congestive Heart Failure On Quality Of Life: As Evaluated By The Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire, Diana G. Gonzalez

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic disease that impairs the quality of life (QoL) of patients and is associated with both high hospital readmission rates and healthcare resource utilization such as emergency services. This study proposed use a student led transitional care program in providing home care to NYHA functional class II and III CHF patients. It evaluated the impact of the program on their quality of life as measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire© (MLWHFQ), the percentage of patients requiring readmission to the hospital within 30 days of initial hospitalization, and healthcare utilization. Thirty-six …

Information Processing Speed Impairment After Stroke, A Descriptive Study, Susan Alderman

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Background Information processing speed (IPS) is an elemental cognitive function impacting multiple other functions including memory, attention, and executive function, and academic skills like arithmetic, reading and writing. However, little research has been done on IPS impairment in acute stroke. This article compares the frequency and severity of IPS impairment in mild and moderate stroke and its impact on quality of life.

Methods The longitudinal study of patients with mild stroke (NIHSS

Results Using linear mixed model regression, similar frequency and severity of IPS and memory impairments were noted, regardless of stroke severity, in the sample of 30 patients (60% …

Psychometric Performance Of The Arabic Versions Of The Cancer Behavior Inventory‐Brief And The Functional Assessment Of Cancer Therapy‐Breast In Saudi Arabia, Maaidah M. Algamdi Msn

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Background: Arabic is the mother tongue of 26 countries, including Saudi Arabia where cancer is the fourth leading cause of death. Cancer is a sensitive issue in the Arabic population and a clear understanding of patients’ perceptions of self-efficacy for coping with cancer and quality of life helps assess interventions designed to facilitate optimal patient outcomes. In preliminary studies, the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief (CBI-B) was translated and back translated between English and Arabic, and reviewed for translational validity by an expert panel. The Arabic version of the CBI-B (CBI-BA) had acceptable evidence of translational validity with an overall translational validity …

Redesigning Gfp Reporter System For Utilization In Clostridium Difficile, Laura E. Fitzgerald

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a gram-positive bacterium that comprises part of the healthy human gut microbiome. When it gains sufficient access to peptides, C. difficile flourishes and releases tissue-damaging toxins, which cause inflammation of the colon that can develop into a Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI).¹⁰ The Ivey Laboratory believes that the best tactic in preventing CDIs is stopping peptide ingestion, which theoretically could be accomplished by manipulating the oligopeptide permease (App) system.⁷ In order to verify that altering the App system would successfully impede peptide uptake, first the expression of the app Promoter Region ( …

The Effects Of Smoking On The Calcification Of The Aortic Valve, Brittany Pendergraft

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Calcific Aortic Valve Disease is responsible for approximately 28,000 deaths annually and the complete mechanism is not completely understood. The disease is known to be effected by an inflammatory response, osteogenic response and an oxidative stress response that leads to thickening and mineralization of the aortic valve. Originally, this disease was thought to be brought on by age and deterioration of the valve but these rapid stress responses when the valve is disrupted by biochemical and mechanical stress has led to its classification as an active disease. Smoking has been shown to have many of the same effects experienced by …

Examining College Student Athlete Attitudes Towards Concussion Testing And Reporting Concussions, Kaitlyn Fry

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Examining College Student Athlete Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Baseline Neurocognitive Concussion Testing

FryK, Anderson, M, Anderson, M, Schatz, P, Elbin, RJ: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Context: Examining athletes’ attitudes toward concussion diagnosis, management, and treatment can lead to improved multi-faceted management of a concussion injury. Although attitudes towards concussion injuries have been studied, the examination of athletes’ attitudes towards baseline computerized neurocognitive testing is understudied and is warranted. Objective: To examine the relationship between sex, concussion history, and previous exposure to baseline testing on athletes’ perceptions of effort provided during baseline testing and the utility of neurocognitive testing. Methods: …

Short-Term Progression Of Functional Capabilities And Pain Levels Following Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation, Dalton Main

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient-centered outcomes of functional capability and pain levels following Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) surgery, as well as compare results from previous studies. Research was also conducted to find possible predictors of short-term success following ACI surgery. Methods: 10 patients (43 ± 6 years) were asked to complete a survey packet pre-operatively, and at three, six, and 12 months post-surgery as part of their standard medical files. These surveys included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Depression Self-assessment (DSA), and a Global Rating of Change (GROC) …

The Influence Of Anti-Fatigue Matting On Gluteus Medius Muscle Activity During Functional Reaches, Marcus Payne

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to look for changes in gluteus medius muscle activity during functional reaches and investigate whether or not anti-fatigue matting affects these changes. Fourteen participants (seven male & seven female) who did not meet any of the exclusion criteria completed forward and lateral reaches at hip and shoulder height on all four floor conditions for a total of sixteen reaches. Four floor types were tested: a control bare force platform, and a low, medium, and high stiffness anti-fatigue mat. Electromyography was applied bilaterally to the gluteus medius muscles, and maximum voluntary contractions were performed so …

Crizotinib And Ceritinib Induce Apoptosis And Necrosis In Primary Rat Hepatocytes With Distinct Capacity, Alec T. Salminen

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Drug development makes up a major portion of biomedical engineering research interests. The FDA oversees the introduction, experimentation, and implementation of all drugs before market approval is granted. Even after market approval is granted, the FDA continues to monitor the safety of all drugs. Crizotinib and ceritinib are two anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors recently approved by the FDA. Both drugs are indicated for treatment of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) with abnormal ALK gene, and they are approved with a companion diagnostic test that determines ALK abnormality. Clinical trial data suggest that crizotinib and ceritinib can cause liver injury, …

Micellular Electrokinetic Chromatography For Studying Amyloid Beta Oligomer Membrane Affinity, Andrew Bryson

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Amyloid Beta (Aβ) was the major focus of this study. It is a peptide that is present in the brain with a high tendency to self-aggregate. When this protein aggregates, it forms oligomers and protofibrils which in turn are deposited as senile plaques in the brain. The reason for the concern with these plaques is their association with the neurological disorder Alzheimer’s disease. It has been found that the most dangerous oligomers are formed in a portion of the plasma membrane known as lipid rafts. The purpose of this study was to understand how micelles affect the aggregation properties of …

Exploring The Mechanisms Of Action Of Antifungal Peptides Using Saccharomyces Cerevisiae., Michelle L. Mason

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Candida albicans is a normal inhabitant of the skin and mucosal membranes of humans, however, in individuals with depressed immune systems or disrupted cutaneous flora, Candida can overgrow and cause serious infection. Candida infection is the fourth leading cause of nosocomial infection in the United States. These infections are often associated with longer hospital stays and higher mortality. Current drug therapies for this infection are largely ineffective due to the increased drug resistance of Candida species, and for some therapeutics, high levels of drug toxicity to humans. Histatin 5 is a naturally occurring salivary peptide that has strong antifungal properties. …

Sglt-2 Inhibitors: A Novel Mechanism In Targeting Glycemic Control In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Kobi T. Nathan, Nabila Ahmed-Sarwar, Paul M. Werner

Pharmacy Faculty/Staff Publications

OBJECTIVE: To review the chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, tolerability, dosing, drug interactions, and administration of canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin, and comparing the benefit and risk aspects of using these agents in the older adult diabetes patient population.

DATA SOURCES, STUDY SELECTION, DATA EXTRACTION, AND DATA SYNTHESIS: A search of PubMed using the terms "SGLT-2 inhibitors," "canagliflozin," "dapagliflozin," "empagliflozin," "efficacy," and "tolerability" was performed to find relevant primary literature on each of the sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors currently approved for use in type 2 diabetes. Phase III trials for all agents were included. All English-language articles from 2010 …

Feasibility Test Of The Medacube, Charles Hoffmann, Anne Schweighardt, Kelly Conn, D. Nelson, R. Barbano, F. Marshall, Jack Brown

Pharmacy Faculty/Staff Publications

Poor adherence is a significant barrier to achieve better patient outcomes. Rates of non-adherence approach 40% resulting in 10% of all emergency department visits and 23% of admissions into skilled nursing facilities. Many factors contribute to medication non-adherence including psychological and memory disorders, aging and pill burden. The MedaCube is a medication management system intended to help solve unintentional medication non-adherence. The device is designed to dispense scheduled and as-needed oral medications. The MedaCube provides audio and visual prompts alerting subjects to administer their medications. Caregivers receive notification of missed doses, late doses and refill requests. The null hypothesis is …

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Pancreaticobiliary Intervention In Patients With Surgically Altered Anatomy And Inaccessible Papillae: A Review Of Current Literature., Aaron Martin, Charles Andrew Kistler, Piotr Wrobel, Juliana F. Yang, Ali A. Siddiqui

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

The management of pancreaticobiliary disease in patients with surgically altered anatomy is a growing problem for gastroenterologists today. Over the years, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has emerged as an important diagnostic and therapeutic modality in the treatment of pancreaticobiliary disease. Patient anatomy has become increasingly complex due to advances in surgical resection of pancreaticobiliary disease and EUS has emerged as the therapy of choice when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography failed cannulation or when the papilla is inaccessible such as in gastric obstruction or duodenal obstruction. The current article gives a comprehensive review of the current literature for EUS-guided intervention of the pancreaticobiliary …

The Influence Of Birth Weight On Body Mass Index In Young Children In Northwest Arkansas, Margaret Frame

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a screening tool to measure body fat that is calculated based on the height, weight, age, and gender of a child. Being overweight as a child is defined as having a BMI between the 85^th and 95^th percentiles. Obesity is defined as having a BMI at or above the 95^th percentile (“Basics About Childhood Obesity,” 2012). Having a high BMI comes with an increased risk of multiple co-morbidities, both physical and psychosocial (Pulgarón, 2013). Birth weight has been presumed to play a role in the prevalence of obesity in children. The purpose …

The Effects Of Pulmonary Hypertension In Diabetic Zucker Rats On Pulmonary Vascular Contraction And Right Ventricular Size, Michael Franzetti

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Pulmonary hypertension is a life-threatening disease that is identified by a resting mean pulmonary arterial pressure over 25 mmHg and established by right heart catheterization (Saglam et al., 2015). The symptoms commonly associated with pulmonary hypertension include fatigue, dyspnea, syncope, and chest pain, which severely limit quality of life in diagnosed patients (Saglam et al., 2015). According to recent studies in patients with pulmonary hypertension, the one, three and five year mortality rates are 8%, 25%, and 34%, respectively (Burudpakdee, Shah, Joish, Divers, & Yaldo, 2014). Although some advances have been made in therapies for pulmonary hypertension, the prognosis is …

The Ergogenic Effects Of Acute Citrulline Malate Supplementation On Weightlifting Performance In Trained Females, Lauren Nicole Wethington

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

All previous investigations evaluating the effectiveness of citrulline malate (CM) as an ergogenic aid involved male subjects. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the ergogenic effects of CM supplementation on upper- and lower-body, submaximal, resistance exercise performance in trained females. Based on previous results, we hypothesized supplementation with CM would increase performance in females. This study utilized a randomized, double blind, crossover design. Testing trials took place within the Human Performance Laboratory and/or the University of Arkansas: Donna Axum Fitness Center. An a priori sample of 14 subjects were required, therefore this study included 15 female. Subjects reported …

The Relationship Between Qualitative And Quantitative Pain Descriptors Of Prolonged Standing Induced Low Back Pain, Laura Abbott

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if assessing pain symptoms could help to better define prolonged standing induced low back pain (LBP) development. Thirty-five participants (18 male & 17 female), with no prior history of LBP, preformed two-hours of standing while doing occupational tasks in random 15-minute bouts. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire were used to assess the participant’s current level of LBP in 7.5-minute increments for 120 minutes of standing. Participants were instrumented for motion capture and stood on two force plates to track lumbar spine movement and body weight shifts, …

Risk Factors Involved In Cheerleading Injuries, Kelsey Defreece

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Injury prevention is an important aspect of health in which professionals in the field must focus. With a continual increase of risk in activities performed nationwide, health professionals must seek to educate the population on risk factors involved in these activities. For my research, I examined the prevalence of injuries related to cheerleading. I specifically studied cheerleading injuries among female cheerleaders ages fourteen to seventeen. I conducted analyses to study what risk factors contribute to an increased exposure to injury among cheerleaders. METHODS: I used the NEISS database to obtain nationally representative data of patients who reported a cheerleading injury. …

Effects Of An Educational Intervention On Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates In Marshallese Mothers Residing In The U.S., Bentley S. Snider

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Background: The Marshallese are one of the fastest growing migrant populations in the U.S. They have considerable health disparities despite their increasing access to health care. The Marshallese women in this population prefer to breastfeed, but have encountered many cultural barriers that have deterred them from exclusively breastfeeding for a significant amount of time. Breastfeeding is linked to many protective benefits for children’s health, such as decreasing the likelihood of obesity, even into the adult years.

Objective: The purpose was to evaluate the impact on breastfeeding rates through implementation of a culturally significant educational intervention for the …

The Effects Of Patient Education And Knowledge Of Chf Patients As Evaluated By The Paksac Survey, Nabil Tovar

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

After diagnosis, management of congestive heart failure (CHF) can pose quite a struggle to many patients, since it requires that lifestyle changes be implemented into their daily life. Patients require the sufficient knowledge and education in order to best manage symptoms and improve their quality of life after being diagnosed. Use of Patient Knowledge of Self-care activities in Congestive Heart Failure^© (PaKSAC) survey in transitional care programs could identify patient gaps in knowledge, as well as decreasing acute care service use. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the knowledge level of CHF patients at the time …

Friendly Fire: Biological Functions And Consequences Of Chromosomal Targeting By Crispr-Cas Systems, Gary E. Heussler, George A. O'Toole

Dartmouth Scholarship

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) systems in bacteria and archaea target foreign elements, such as bacteriophages and conjugative plasmids, through the incorporation of short sequences (termed spacers) from the foreign element into the CRISPR array, thereby allowing sequence-specific targeting of the invader. Thus, CRISPR-Cas systems are typically considered a microbial adaptive immune system. While many of these incorporated spacers match targets on bacteriophages and plasmids, a noticeable number are derived from chromosomal DNA. While usually lethal to the self-targeting bacteria, in certain circumstances, these self-targeting spacers can have profound effects in regard to microbial biology, including functions …

Nota Bene: News From The Yale Library, Spring 2016, Amanda Patrick

Nota Bene

Nota Bene is published during the academic year to acquaint the Yale community and others with the resources of the Yale Library.