Thesis (PhD(Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI/Dissertation Abstracts International.

Thesis (B.A.)--Haverford College, Dept. of Philosophy, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Mass., 2001. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-149).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-129).

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 115 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-115).

To investigate the underlying structural features of the neuropeptides α-melanotropin (α-MSH) and substance P (SP), which are responsible for their biological actions, the following study was undertaken. By means of side-chain, fragment and conformational restriction analysis, several α-MSH peptides were prepared by solid-phase synthesis and evaluated by the frog and lizard skin bioassays. Using conformational restriction and fragment methods, several SP peptides were synthesized and examined for biological activity on the guinea-pig isolated ileum, rat brain binding and intrathecal injection assay systems. The results with the new α-MSH analogues show that the histidine-6 side-chain is not needed for signal transduction, but is very important for full potency. The tryptophan-9 side-chain is similarly not needed for signal transduction, but is critically important for full potency. The data also indicate that the positions 6 and 9 side-chains are important for full potency because they likely interact with the melanophore receptor, rather than playing a role in conformationally folding the MSH peptide into a pseudocyclic structure. The results also show that the arginine side-chain at position 8 is not particularly important for signal transduction or full potency, but on the lizard skin bioassay this side-chain is implicated in the previously reported prolongation of Nle⁴, D-Phe⁷-α-MSH. The data provided by the SP peptides suggest that the previously postulated pseudocyclic structure of the 5-11 sequence may not be as fundamental to SP activity as heretofore believed. The data suggest that this type of turn conformation may be important for signal transduction, but is apparently not the only requirement for receptor recognition. Finally, the data show that part of the signal transduction message of SP is contained within the 5-8 region of the peptide, but that most of the receptor recognition elements are probably located outside this sequence.

The focus of this report is on exploring and clarifying research in the areas of spirituality and substance abuse. In terms of their definitions, these constructs, spirituality and religiosity, have been the subject of debate among researchers. The measurement of spirituality/religiosity and substance abuse has been inconsistent from study to study. Conflicting results are reported in the research evaluating the relationship between spirituality/religiosity and substance abuse, and in intervention studies that have employed treatment methods such as meditation and prayer. However, studies comparing spiritual interventions have yet to be conducted. In this report I review and critique the literature and provide guidelines for future research. / text

Alcohol is frequently co-administered with other psychotropic substances, yet little is known about patterns of alcohol use in a simultaneous polysubstance context. In the present dissertation concomitant alcohol-drug administration is examined with an emphasis on delineating patterns of alcohol use when it is co-administered with psychostimulant drugs known to interact with neural mechanisms believed to be involved in mediating alcohol's ascending limb reinforcing effects: midbrain dopamine transmission. / In two retrospective self-report studies polysubstance users reported on their simultaneous use of drugs and alcohol. Results revealed that alcohol was commonly co-administered with various abused substances, particularly with psychostimulant drugs that are known to increase dopamine neurotransmission, and there was an identifiable pattern of administration that was characterized by initial alcohol consumption preceding repeated intermingled alcohol-psychostimulant administrations which resulted in alcohol dose escalation. / In a third study, the effects of administering the psychostimulant drug nicotine on alcohol intake was directly examined using a double-blind placebo controlled self-administration procedure. Nicotine was found to significantly increase alcohol ingestion. / In a final study we examined the effect of decreasing dopamine neurotransmission on alcohol self-administration by using a dietary manipulation that depletes the nutritional precursors to dopamine. This procedure was found to decrease alcohol consumption, an effect that was especially evident in a subset of drinkers thought to be hypersensitive alcohol's ascending limb dopamine effects. Overall findings suggest that alcohol co-administration with psychostimulant drugs affects patterns of alcohol intake and that this may be the result of an interaction involving dopamine neurotransmission.