Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iii, 89 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-89).

Thesis (M. Sc. (Physics and Electronics))--Rhodes University, 2006. / A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Science.

Duisburg, Essen, Universiẗat, Diss., 2004.

Thesis (M. CM)--Hong Kong Baptist University, 2006. / Dissertation submitted to the School of Chinese Medicine. Includes bibliographical references (p. 23-26).

The purpose of this study was, first, to further our understanding of the experience of dying in a long-term care (LTC) facility from the perspective of family members and second, to identify the relationships between the various factors which may influence satisfaction with end-of-life care. Using a sequential mixed methods design, a convenience sample of 87 family members completed a survey interview using a modified version of the Toolkit of Instruments to Measure End-of-life Care (TIME) Nursing Home Version in the first phase of the study. Findings from the parametric and non-parametric analyses indicated that family satisfaction with end-of-life care was best predicted by contact and communication with nursing staff, feeling that care provided at the end of life met expectations, staff providing consistent care, feeling that the health care aide listened to their concerns about care and that respondents felt they had received enough emotional support. Being transferred to hospital in the last month of life, dying in a place other than the LTC facility, and respondent age and employment status were all associated with significant mean differences in satisfaction scores. In the second phase, three focus groups were conducted to further explore areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with end-of-life care. Focus groups provided confirmation of the findings of the first phase of the study and were instrumental in developing a list of ten recommendations for improvements in end-of-life care delivery. Recommendations for future research are made based on the study results. / October 2007

Thesis (Ph.D) - Swinburne University of Technology, Faculty of Information & Communication Technologies, 2009. / A dissertation presented in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, [Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies], Swinburne University of Technology, 2009. Typescript. Bibliography p. 215-236.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are often defined as transcripts >200nts that have no discernable protein-coding ability (Quinn and Chang, 2016). Although relatively little is understood about the molecular mechanisms of lncRNA function, they have established roles in regulation of gene expression during development, cell differentiation and pluripotency (Fatica and Bozzoni, 2014; Luo et al., 2016; Quinn and Chang, 2016; Rinn and Chang, 2012) across vastly diverse organisms ranging from plants to humans (Ulitsky and Bartel, 2013). LncRNAs have also been associated with numerous pathological conditions, such as cancers (Brunner et al., 2012), cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration (Chen et al., 2013). Investigations into lncRNAs in wide ranging organisms, have revealed that many influence gene activity by forming ribonucleoprotein complexes that affect the conformational state of chromatin (Rinn and Chang, 2012). A genomic region that has revealed several functional lncRNAs in diverse organisms is the Hox complex (Pauli et al., 2011; Pettini, 2012; Rinn et al., 2007). The Hox complex encodes a set of transcription factors (TFs), physically clustered in the genome, which provide morphological identity along the anterior to posterior axis of developing embryos (Mallo and Alonso, 2013), throughout the majority of bilatarian animals (Moreno et al., 2011). Misexpression or mutation of Hox genes causes morphological and pathophysiological defects (Quinonez and Innis, 2014). We investigated clustering of lncRNAs throughout the D. melanogaster genome using available annotations and carried out RNA-seq in D. virilis to expand the repertoire of lncRNAs and identify clusters of lncRNAs. We found the Hox complex to be heavily enriched with lncRNAs in both organisms, and syntenic transcripts from D. melanogaster could be identified in D. pseudoobscura and D. virilis. Several lncRNAs aligned with polycomb response elements (PREs); transcription of PREs has previously been linked to a switch in their activity (Herzog et al., 2014). However, we found that transcribed PREs in D. melanogaster move positions relative to the protein-coding genes in other drosophilids, whilst the transcriptional units remain in the same syntenic region. Conservation of syntenic transcripts without evidence of remaining a PRE suggest that the transcription is not linked to PRE function, agreeing with recent findings that transcription of PREs does not affect their function (Kassis and Muller, 2015). We investigated functions of a novel lncRNA and adjacent PRE in the Hox complex by ectopic expression and utilization of other genetic manipulation tools. Overexpression of either the lncRNA or PRE and partial duplication of the lncRNA caused phenotypes such as missing halteres and/or T3 legs, misshaped T3 legs or malformed abdominal segments. The observations that ectopic expression of this lncRNA and an adjacent regulatory element from the Hox complex causes phenotypes that can be linked to adjacent Hox gene misregulation, Antp and Ubx, suggest that they are likely to have roles in the regulation of at least one of these Hox genes.

The long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis; hereafter LTDU) breeds on the arctic tundra across Alaska and Canada and winters south of the ice edge along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, as well as on the Great Lakes. Data suggest that LTDU populations are in decline and, as a result, efforts have been made to better understand their population distributions through satellite telemetry studies. Radio-marked LTDUs from previous studies have shown very little use of Lake Michigan, even though aerial surveys indicate that large concentrations of this species overwinter there. LTDUs using Lake Michigan face a host of conservation issues, such as risk of exposure to type E botulism, bycatch in fishing gear, wind energy development, and a changing ecosystem. Using satellite telemetry, I documented migratory routes and habitat use of LTDUs wintering on Lake Michigan. LTDUs on Lake Michigan were captured via night-lighting and 10 LTDUs were surgically implanted with Telonics platform transmitter terminals (PTTs). Six (60%) radio-marked LTDUs provided information on Lake Michigan habitat use, while only 3 (30%) provided information on migratory routes. The average distance from shore of individual radio-marked LTDUs on Lake Michigan varied from 1.4-7.8 km and average water depths at these locations varied from 16.8-27.7 m during daylight hours. At night, radio-marked LTDUs were located further offshore (averaging 7.3-16.5 km) and at deeper water depths (averaging 59.6-74.8 m). LTDUs tended to move south on Lake Michigan as winter progressed, and then relocated to the north basin before spring migration. James Bay and Hudson Bay were the primary stopover sites during spring and fall migration, and the province of Nunavut, Canada was used during the breeding season. After breeding, radio-marked LTDUs traveled north to waters near Adelaide Peninsula, Nunavut, Canada. Only one radio-marked LTDU provided information for a full migration cycle and it returned to winter on Lake Michigan. Two methods, ocular and molecular examination of the alimentary canal, were used to determine the diets of LTDUs on Lake Michigan. A total of 16 LTDU carcasses were donated by hunters for diet determination. An esophageal, small intestine, and cloacal swab were collected from each carcass for molecular determination of prey species through qPCR analysis. The esophagus of each carcass was then removed and prey items determined to lowest taxonomic level using a dissection microscope (10X Ocular). Molecular methods detected more prey species (4) than ocular methods (1), so molecular methods show promise as a non-lethal means to determine LTDU diets. Quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) was the primary prey item with 100% occurrence. Diporeia spp., yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) were also detected, suggesting that LTDUs are opportunistic feeders. An in-person hunter harvest survey was conducted at Two Rivers, Wisconsin, to determine how environmental variables influenced harvest, to estimate harvest rates, and to gather hunter input regarding hunting regulations on Lake Michigan. Results indicate that LTDUs made up 97% of the total harvest, and that hunters averaged 3.8 LTDUs per day. Harvest of LTDUs was positively correlated with hunter numbers, and wave height was the most influential environmental variable affecting hunter numbers. Results suggest that few hunters go out when wave heights exceed 1.5 m. Hunters indicated that they would prefer a later or longer season on Lake Michigan, and that they were concerned about LTDU populations. Information from this study aids resource managers and scientists as they seek to determine basic information regarding LTDUs that winter on Lake Michigan. Migratory data is important in determining if the eastern population of North American LTDUs should be managed based on wintering and/or breeding distribution, while habitat use information will aid in mitigating impacts from fishing bycatch and future wind energy development. Habitat use and diet data will benefit resource managers and scientists seeking to determine where and how LTDUs may become exposed to avian botulism type E. Diet data will also aid in determining how LTDU diets are changing due to the altered ecosystem in Lake Michigan from introduced and invasive species. Moreover, results from the diet portion of this study suggest that molecular methods, that can be used non-lethally or in combination with lethal methods, show promise for determining LTDU prey items. Information on harvest rates can be used in determining harvest impacts, while hunter perceptions may aid resource managers as they make decisions regarding season structure and limits for LTDUs on Lake Michigan.

Objective: Chronic physical health problems are on the rise. Psychological interventions can play a role in helping people cope with the challenges that long term physical conditions brings. This thesis systematically reviewed the literature for group psychological interventions. Following this, an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group intervention for people living with a range of long term physical conditions was designed and evaluated. Methods: Key databases were searched for relevant randomized-controlled studies. Papers that met inclusion criteria were quality assessed, and a meta-analysis was conducted. Participants with chronic physical health conditions were invited to an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group (n=53). Measures were completed at assessment, pre, post and 3-month follow-up. These assessed anxiety and depression symptoms, health perceptions, values-based living and psychological flexibility. Assessment to pre-intervention served as a within-participant control. Results: 22 relevant studies were retrieved, with 18 rated as acceptable or high quality and 14 included in a meta-analysis. The majority of studies reported interventions as efficacious at reducing mental health problems, though effect sizes were weaker when compared to active controls such as education. In the Acceptance and Commitment therapy group, depression and anxiety symptoms reduced significantly from pre to post, compared to control period. Conclusions: Group psychological interventions may be beneficial for people with physical health problems. In particular, group-based ACT interventions may be effective with this population and can be delivered transdiagnostically for a range of physical conditions.

Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: During pre-hospital transport, trauma patients may be given a long-acting neuromuscular blocker (NMB) to facilitate endotracheal intubation or to prevent movement. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of long-acting NMB use and evaluate the concurrent use of sedatives. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary care, academic emergency department of trauma patients aged 18-89 years who were intubated in the pre-hospital setting. The primary outcome was to determine the rate of long-acting NMB use. The use of post-intubation sedatives was compared between the groups using Wilcoxon rank-sum test or Fisher’s exact test, using an a priori alpha level of 0.05 for all analyses. Main Result: A total of 51 patients were included in final analyses. All patients received etomidate or midazolam for intubation. 86% (n=44) received succinylcholine, 10% (n=5) were given rocuronium and 4% (n=2) did not receive a NMB. After intubation, 75% (n=38) received an additional long-acting NMB to prevent movement (vecuronium (n=22) or rocuronium (n=16)) . Overall, 82% (n=42) of patients received a long-acting NMB during transport. There was no difference in the rate of post-intubation sedative use between groups (79% versus 67%, respectively, p=0.42). The long-acting NMB group received midazolam less promptly after intubation (16 versus 7 minutes, respectively, p=0.04). Conclusions: The use of long-acting NMB is common during the pre-hospital transport of trauma patients. Some of these patients may not be given sedatives or have delays in receiving sedatives following intubation and be at risk of being paralyzed without sedation.