Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [216]-217).

Thesis (doctoral)--Utrecht, 1979.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brock University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-165). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--Brock University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-165).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Anthropology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

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Researchers have examined psychosocial risk variables (e.g., hostility) related to high resting blood pressure (BP), with the majority of findings suggesting that hostility is associated with increased resting BP. Additionally, it has been proposed that constructive verbal anger expression is a protective factor for hypertension (Davidson, MacGregor, Stuhr, Dixon, & MacLean, 2000; Davidson, MacGregor, Stuhr, & Gidron, 1999), while others have hypothesized that humor promotes physical health (i.e., the humor-health hypothesis) (Martin, Puhlik-Doris, Larsen, Gray, & Weir, 2003; McClelland & Cheriff, 1997). The primary purpose of the present study is to examine the relations between hostility, humor styles, constructive verbal anger, and resting BP, with an emphasis on the humor-health hypothesis. One hundred and ninety nine undergraduate university participants had six resting blood pressure measurements taken at three-minute intervals. Participants then completed the following questionnaires online in a randomized order: Cook-Medley Hostility Scale (CMH), Constructive Anger Behaviour-Verbal Scale (CAV), Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ), and a health and demographic questionnaire. A series of hierarchical regressions were conducted to test the hypotheses with resting systolic BP (SBP) and resting diastolic BP (DBP). Two health and demographic variables, age and body mass index (BMI), were entered into step 1 of all the regressions analyzed as covariates. In step 2 of each regression model, the respective psychosocial variables were independently entered. Comparisons were conducted between the various psychosocial variables entered into step 2 to determine which variable accounts for the most unique variance in resting SBP and DBP. Small to moderate positive correlations were observed between age and resting BP, as well as BMI and resting BP. Regarding psychosocial variables, small positive correlations were observed between affiliative humor and resting SBP, and between self-enhancing humor and resting BP. Multiple regression analyses revealed that after controlling for age and BMI, adaptive humor styles uniquely predicted higher resting SBP, while no psychosocial variables predicted resting DBP. The present investigation provides evidence suggesting that psychosocial risk factors are not associated with resting BP while also contradicting the humor-health hypothesis, suggesting that adaptive humor is associated with increased resting BP.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-12-21Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:50:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 lima_cg_me_arafcf.pdf: 1008854 bytes, checksum: 28a1c2125034fb28814f133b659e1b14 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a ingestão regular do suco de laranja de polpa vermelha sobre alguns fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares em indivíduos adultos residentes nos municípios de Araraquara (SP) e Matão (SP). A variedade das laranjas de polpa vermelha é também conhecida como laranja sanguínea de Mombuca, e sua coloração é devida à presença de carotenóides, especialmente beta-caroteno e licopeno. Participaram deste estudo 19 homens e 16 mulheres que receberam 750 mL/dia de suco de laranja vermelha pasteurizado durante 8 semanas. As variáveis antropométricas utilizadas foram: peso, altura, dobras cutâneas do tríceps, bíceps, subescapular e suprailíaca e circunferência da cintura. Para a avaliação bioquímica foram realizadas dosagens de colesterol total, colesterol de HDL, apolipoproteínas A1 e B, proteína C reativa, homocisteína, triglicérides e glicemia. Para a avaliação hemodinâmica foram verificadas a pressão arterial sistólica e a diastólica, e para a avaliação dietética foi utilizado o recordatório alimentar de 24 horas. Todas as avaliações foram realizadas antes e após o consumo de suco de laranja vermelha. Os resultados mostraram que o colesterol total foi reduzido em 9% entre os participantes que consumiram o suco de laranja vermelha, o colesterol de LDL em 11%, a apolipoproteína B em 5% e a proteína C reativa em 49%. A pressão arterial sistólica foi reduzida em 4% entre os participantes eutróficos e a pressão diastólica foi reduzida em 4% entre os participantes com excesso de peso. Não houve diminuição significativa das variáveis antropométricas. O consumo do suco de laranja vermelha aumentou em 907% a ingestão de vitamina C e 145% a ingestão de folato das mulheres, e 1130% de vitamina C e 123% de folato dos homens. A ingestão regular de suco de laranja vermelha apresentou... / This study had as objective investigates the regular ingestion of the red orange juice over risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease in adults residents in the cities of Araraquara (SP) and Matão (SP). The variety of red pulp orange is also known as Mombuca blood orange, and its color is due to the carotenoids, especially from beta-carotene and lycopene. The study included 19 men and 16 women, which received 750 mL/d of pasteurized red orange juice during 8 weeks. It was evaluated in all subjects: weigh, height, skin folds (triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac), waist circumference and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Biochemical parameters were accomplished for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins A1 and B, C reactive protein, homocysteine, triglycerides and glucose. For hemodynamic assessment were observed systolic and diastolic blood pressure and dietary evaluation was estimated using 24h food record. All evaluations were accomplished before and after consumption of red orange juice. The results showed that the consumers of red orange juice decreased total cholesterol by 9%, LDLcholesterol by 11%, apo B by 5% and the C reactive protein by 49%. Systolic blood pressure was reduced 4% among eutrophic participants and the diastolic blood pressure reduced 4% among the pre-obese participants. There was no significant reduction on anthropometric variables. Consumption of red orange juice increased 10 folds the intake of vitamin C and double the intake of folate for all volunteers. Regular consumption of red orange juice has shown hypolipidemic and hypotensive properties, while both juices, from the red and yellow oranges, have shown antiinflammatory effects

The value to consider user needs throughout the development of medical devices has been acknowledged in the field of health technology assessment. Yet, user needs are narrowly conceptualised and are mainly examined from an ergonomic perspective. By focusing on the user-device interaction per se with a view to detect use errors and to create design solutions that promote intended use, the dominant approach to user needs research fails to adequately elaborate upon symbolic and practice-related dimensions in the user-technology relationship. Moreover, whilst the examination of user needs from a User standpoint is clearly required, it is also crucial to investigate how the medical device industry understands and addresses this issue, since it is these understandings that will eventually be projected onto the technology. The present research sought to provide a cross-actor account on the issue of user needs by examining the perspectives of two key stakeholders: the users and the medical device manufacturer. Using the example of home blood pressure (BP) monitoring, a qualitative programme of research explored, on the one hand, the process of integrating home blood pressure monitors (HBPMs) into daily life as well as the elements that are conducive to building trust in this technology, and on the other, the practices the medical device manufacturer adopts to capture its users and their needs. The results suggest that people engage with home BP monitoring in an effort to develop an experiential understanding of their health condition reproducing the dominant discourse around the benefits of self-care. Nevertheless, communicating this practice outside the home was not always without tension since concerns around the ascription of undesired identities were expressed. Home measurements were occasionally performed to check the dependability of technology – arguably an unintended device use – indicating the importance of establishing trust in the artefact. Building trust in HBPMs appeared to be a multifaceted phenomenon that was not limited to the perceived trustworthiness of the technology but implicated a network of other trustworthy relationships with humans, institutions and technologies. Medium-to-large medical device manufacturers appear to appreciate the value of a user needs-informed approach to medical device development employing a series of routes, more or less direct and formalised, to reach their user. The challenge for the industry is to synthesise the evidential base deriving from individual user studies to create a higher order knowledge base. The term ‘symbolic’ – also employed in the title of this thesis – signifies people’s representations, reasoning and meanings constructed around the use or production of home medical technology whilst the term ‘practical’ (or practice-related) refers to actions, activities, and routines pertaining to these two aspects.