published_or_final_version / Surgery / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Biological Sciences / Master / Master of Philosophy

This simulation study examined the performance of the curve-of-factors growth model when serial correlation and growth processes were present in the first-level factor structure. As previous research has shown (Ferron, Dailey, & Yi, 2002; Kwok, West, & Green, 2007; Murphy & Pituch, 2009) estimates of the fixed effects and their standard errors were unbiased when serial correlation was present in the data but unmodeled. However, variance components were estimated poorly across the examined serial correlation conditions. Two new models were also examined: one curve-of-factors model was fitted with a first-order autoregressive serial correlation parameter, and a second curve-of-factors model was fitted with first-order autoregressive and moving average serial correlation parameters. The models were developed in an effort to measure growth and serial correlation processes within the same data set. Both models fitted with serial correlation parameters were able to accurately reproduce the serial correlation parameter and approximate the true growth trajectory. However, estimates of the variance components and the standard errors of the fixed effects were problematic. The two models also produced inadmissible solutions across all conditions. Of the three models, the curve-of-factors model had the best overall performance. / text

Prior research shows that race remains a significant factor of inequality in the U.S. The extent to which Asian Americans face discrimination in the labor market is also a subject of considerable debate. Thus, studying labor market inequality of Asian Americans is important for our better understanding of current/future race relations in the U.S. In doing so, the role of region and migration remain key factors that have not been much taken into account in the prior research, although they play an important role in assessing whether Asian Americans have reached labor market parity with non-Hispanic whites. This research therefore investigates migration and regional aspects affecting the wages of Asian American men. More specifically, this study investigates whether wage determination and regional migration are indeed interrelated among Asian Americans, and the extent to which important migration and regional characteristics of Asian Americans differ from those of whites. Because prior research has limited scope examining these important factors, this study investigates various hypotheses together, to broadly understand the complicated processes across migration patterns, regional aspects, and labor market outcomes among Asian American men. Using the 5-Percent Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) from the 2000 U.S. Census and the 2003 National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG), the results indicate the significance of region of residence and migration processes for understanding the wages of Asian American men, as well as the extent to which they differ from whites. For example, this research finds that region and regional distribution matter in the wages of Asian Americans, because cost of living expense is significantly higher for Asian Americans. Indeed, this study finds that Asian American men do not face a substantial disadvantage in the U.S. labor market, net of cost of living, demographic, and class factors. Prior research shows that Asian Americans had faced significant direct and overt racial discrimination in the labor market before World War II. Then this achievement of parity represents a historic change for Asian Americas. Namely, racial and ethnic discrimination in the post-Civil Rights era has been ameliorated at least for Asian Americans. Findings of this research show that taking regional migration into account does not alter this fundamental and significant conclusion. Furthermore, the regional aspect (i.e., higher cost of living for Asian Americans) does not explain why Asian Americans have socioeconomic parity with whites. Although what this conclusion implies about race relations for other minority groups remains debatable, the post-Civil Rights era appears to be characterized with the greater acceptance of Asian Americans, rather than the extensive and persuasive occupational disadvantages and other forms of discrimination that were commonly found in the pre-World War II era. / text

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The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of triazolam, a short-acting benzodiazepine, on nocturnal arousals, body movements, and quality of sleep in healthy, postmenopausal females. A double-blind control by constancy cross-over design was employed. Twelve subjects were randomly assigned to the sequence paradigm placebo, drug, placebo, drug or to the sequence paradigm drug, placebo, drug, placebo. Each subject slept for six nights in a sleep laboratory that was specifically designed to decrease the artificiality of the laboratory setting. EEG, EOG, and EMG measurements were recorded on a polysomnograph. Body movements were recorded on videotape and measured by radar and ultrasound instruments. Sleep quality was measured using both Likert and visual analogue scales. In examining arousal activity during sleep period time, the findings demonstrated a significant decrease in wakes after sleep onset (WASO), sleep stage one episodes, and sleep stage shifts when triazolam was compared to a placebo reference. There was no significant effect on K-complex activity associated with movement. In examining body movements during the sleep period time, the findings demonstrated a significant decrease in major body movements when triazolam was compared to a placebo reference. Minor body movements were increased, but not at significant levels. In examining the subject's perceived quality of sleep, their satisfaction with sleep was significantly increased on nights following triazolam administration when compared with nights following placebo administration.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health problem among women worldwide. In Thailand, risk factors of CVD in rural Thai women have not yet been examined. The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to examine risk factors of CVD in rural Thai women. Non-modifiable risk factors, modifiable risk factors (physiological, behavioral, and psychological risk factors), contextual risk factors, as well as, coping were conceptualized as major variables in this study.The sample consisted of 149 rural Thai women who had been diagnosed with CVD and resided in rural northern Thailand. A set of questionnaires and physiological measures were used to obtain data. The Chi-square test and the Pearson correlation technique, as well as the Multiple regression were used for data analysis.The results revealed that age, hypertension, cigarette smoking, stress, depression, and poverty had positive relationships with the severity of CVD. BMI, physical activity, education level, and family income were inversely related to the severity of CVD. However, total cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, menopause status, alcohol consumption, distance to hospital, transportation to health care, and coping had no relationship to the severity of CVD. A few of the physiological and behavioral risk factors were significant predictors of the severity of CVD in rural Thai women. These included high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and physical inactivity. Notably, psychological stress and the contextual risk factors of income and poverty were also significant predictors of the severity of CVD in these women. Moreover, there were the significant moderator effects in predicting to the severity of CVD: total serum cholesterol and family income, diabetes and distance to a hospital, BMI and transportation, menopause and income, cigarette smoking and transportation, and depression and poverty.In conclusion, the findings from this study suggested that few of traditional risk factors of CVD were significant risk factors for CVD. Noteworthy findings demonstrated that psychological stress and contextual risk factors played an important role in contributing to CVD in rural Thai women. It is suggested that specific and effective interventions are needed for these women in order to reduce their morbidity and mortality rates of CVD.

This item was digitized as part of the Million Books Project led by Carnegie Mellon University and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cornell University coordinated the participation of land-grant and agricultural libraries in providing historical agricultural information for the digitization project; the University of Arizona Libraries, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Office of Arid Lands Studies collaborated in the selection and provision of material for the digitization project.