Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references: (p. 322-336).

No description available.

Background: The prevalence of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) in Taiwan has risen to the first in the world in recent years. Non-traumatic lower extremity lesion is a common disease of diabetic and ESRD patients. Many studies have found that the prevalence of non-traumatic lower extremity lesion in diabetic patients with ESRD is higher than normal diabetic patients. Prevention the incidence of lower extremity lesions in patients with ESRD may prevent patients from further amputation. Objectives: This study explored the prevalence of ESRD with Non-traumatic lower extremity lesion. We focused on demography status, comorbidities, dialysis therapies and utilization of health care to define the risk factors of disease. Methods: This study conducted secondary data analysis with administrative data from Bureau of National Health Insurance (HV_CD data) for four years (2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006). In total, there were 57021, 75711, 76750, and 86902 for years 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006, respectively. To attain the research purposes, descriptive analyses and logistic regression were performed. Result: The prevalence of ESRD with non-traumatic lower extremity lesion for the four years were 1.30%, 1.44%, 2.71% and 2.45%, respectively. ESRD patients with and without non-traumatic lower extremity lesion were significant difference between comorbidities (OR for the four years were 2.06, 1.98, 1.86 and 1.83), dialysis therapies (hemodialysis / peritoneal dialysis, OR for the four years were 17.1, 16.79, 15.12 and 9.23) and duration of dialysis (1-5 years / 5 years and more, OR was 1.39 in 2002).There were significant differences in regions of hospital organizations (compared with the north, OR were 0.67 in the center in 2000, 1.47 in the east in 2002 and 0.87 in the center in 2006), class of hospital organizations (compared with Academic Medical Centers, OR were 1.40 in Regional Hospitals, 1.50 in District Hospitals and 0.36 in Physician Clinics in 2000, 0.18 in Physician Clinics in 2002, 0.76 in Regional Hospitals, 0.78 in District Hospitals and 0.23 in Physician Clinics in 2004, 0.66 in Regional Hospitals, 0.75 in District Hospitals and 0.26 in Physician Clinics in 2006 ) and outpatient visits ( positive correlation in all years except 2000). Conclusion: The risk factors of suffering non-traumatic lower extremity lesion in ESRD patients are comorbidities, dialysis therapies and duration of dialysis. In the part of regions of hospital organizations, the east region has higher and the center region has lower probability of suffering the disease, comparing with the north region. Academic Medical Centers has the highest probability to find ESRD patients with non-traumatic lower extremity lesion. We also found the numbers of outpatient visits were increasing with the disease. Based on the results, we highly suggest that caregivers from dialysis units have to pay great attention in taking care of the ESRD patients with non-traumatic lower extremity lesion to prevent from the further amputation.

The lower extreme asymptotic is analised in this master’s work. I have analysed the marginal term case, when sample size N is accidental. The ordinary accidental sample is taken from general set, what is spreaded along logistic low. I have searched for logistic dimensions minimum limiting distribution function in the investigative part. Than I’ve practised transfering theorem. My task is to find such normalization, along what logistic dimensions lower extreme distribution functions are geometrically ministable or asymptotically k-stable. I have proved in my job, that first lower extreme distribution function is geometrically ministable, and other distribution functions – asymptotically k-stable.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) of the lower limbs is a major problem in the western world with 1% of the adult population estimated to be affected at any one time. The clinical sequelae of CVD of the lower limbs range from oedema, haemosiderosis and pigmentation, to gross lipodermatosclerosis (LDS) and venous ulceration. The site most commonly affected is the gaiter area of the lower limb. The extent and severity of venous disease can be assessed by clinical and physiological methods which include duplex ultrasonography and plethysmography. Tissue oedema can be assessed by volumetric or circumferential measurements and venous ulcers may be quantified by area measurements and response to treatment in ulcer healing studies. In the vast majority of patients a spectrum of skin changes precedes venous ulceration. At present, there is no standardised objective method of assessing the degree of skin change in these patients, so that the response to treatment can be objectively monitored. I have developed a tissue tonometer and standardised the methodology for the objective assessment and quantification of the skin changes seen in patients. The tissue tonometer is a simple non-invasive instrument which uses a sensing device that detects the movements of a loaded plunger placed on the skin. The movement of the plunger is dependent on the mechanical properties of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The instrument is positioned on the gaiter region of the leg with the subject in the supine position. The movement of the plunger into the tissues is recorded and analysed by a computer. The data obtained from the tonometer were analysed as distance and rate constant parameters. A simple mathematical model using spring and dashpot constants was also applied to see if it fitted the data. Skin compliance was investigated in normal control subjects and patients with varying severity of skin changes due to CVD, clinically classified according to the CEAP (Clinical, (A)Etiological, Anatomical and Pathophysiological) method. There was a significant reduction in skin compliance in patients with clinically severe LDS as compared to normal controls and patients with pigmentation alone or oedema without any clinical evidence of skin change. I further investigated the correlation between the recently introduced CEAP method of classification and scoring of chronic venous disease of the lower limbs with the tissue tonometry findings and parameters obtained with duplex ultrasonography, air plethysmography and photoplethysmography. Tissue tonometry provides a standardised objective means of assessing the severity of skin change in CVD which may prove to be useful in evaluating response to a particular treatment and comparing data from different centres. The deterioration of the venous physiology shown by blood flow measuring techniques correlates poorly with the clinical sequelae of venous disease, whether assessed by a trained observer or measured by the tonometer. Patients show a wide range of sensitivity to venous valvular incompetence, suggesting that factors related to the tissue response to venous hypertension are crucial in determining which patients develop venous ulceration.

No description available.

The hypothesis tested in this thesis is that parks in the Lower Fraser Valley are crowded, that visitors perceive this crowding and, as a result, the recreational experience of the visitors has diminished. Cultus Lake and Golden Ears Provincial Parks in the Lower Fraser Valley were chosen as the parks in which the study was to be conducted. Information about perception of crowding and other factors affecting perception was solicited from both campers and day users at the park in the period July-August, 1971. Information was collected through the use of a questionnaire. Several multi-variate data analysis techniques were applied to the resultant data. The object of the analysis was to find out which socio-economic variables were significantly related to perception of crowding and if perception of crowding was related to an objective measure of the environment. The measure was density. In addition, an attempt was made to find out if the traditional concept of user groups is a meaningful way of looking at visitors when perceptions and satisfaction of visitors is the issue being studied. The research analysis revealed that perception of crowding exists to a greater extent among day users than among campers; that perception of crowding was related to density among day users. The analysis further revealed that the traditional concept of user groups, i.e., fishing, hiking, etc., offers little by way of categorizing users when perception is the object of study, since individuals in the same user group perceive crowding differently. The analysis also revealed that there is a need for more intensive research so as to reveal factors significant in influencing perception of crowding in the recreational environment. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

A city cannot exist without its geographic context. This is an irrefutable statement; a city is a singular place, founded upon its location relative to organic and constructed resources. New Orleans is no exception to this rule, yet the chasm between the modern city and its geographic framework has consistently proved to be detrimental to its progress. The ecological conditions that exist are unique to the region yet are often in direct opposition with the trajectory of urban development. This dichotomy can be catastrophic when faced with a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, which devastated neighborhoods across the greater New Orleans area, the Lower Ninth Ward in particular. Due to its low elevation and close proximity to the vulnerable Industrial Canal, the storm surge completely inundated the neighborhood and left its recovery up to outside sources. Ironically, a natural historic buffer exists adjacent to this neighborhood: the Bayou Bienvenue Wetland Triangle. Years of sediment diversion and salt water filtration have left the formerly fresh water swamp a brackish marsh, weakening its role in the surrounding ecosystem and diminishing its capacity to protect the Lower Ninth Ward. Focusing on the parallel relationship between the degradation of Bayou Bienvenue and the slow road to recovery of the Lower Ninth Ward, this thesis aims to explore the historical implications of this connection, while proposing that the future of both these integral pieces of New Orleans can only be achieved through a relationship of reciprocity. By linking the process of wetland reforestation with a dynamic, intrinsic approach to community involvement, a platform emerges that allows for both to not only stabilize but thrive. / 0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

This thesis describes the synthesis of the C1'-C10' portion 72 of the pamamycin-621A using a cuprate conjugate addition to join enone fragment 52 and organostannane fragment 64a. Fragments 52 and 64a were both synthesized from (S)-methylketene dimer 51. / Master of Science

L-citrulline and malate are amino acids within the body that have the potential to affect muscular endurance during athletic performances. Purpose: This study intended to test the effectiveness of CM on muscular performance and fatigue during a lower body resistance protocol. Methods: Twelve trained males completed a lower body resistance training protocol for two sessions, one using CM (8.0g) and the other with placebo (PL), within a randomized, double blind, counterbalanced study. Results: CM supplementation increased repetitions in leg press, hack squat and leg extension. Blood lactate was significantly increased post-exercise compared to pre-exercise, but no significant difference was found between CM and placebo. In addition, no significant differences were found for systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or HR between the CM and PL groups. Conclusion: These findings suggest CM attenuates muscular fatigue during a specific lower body exercise protocol.