Using the Health Belief Model to assess Undergraduate College Students Knowledge and Perceptions of Human Papillomavirus in Order to Better Understand Vaccine Intentions

According to the Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC)(2016b), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly sexually transmitted infection in the United States. HPV is so prevalent that nearly all sexually active people will obtain a strain of HPV at some point in their lives (CDC, 2016d). Approximately one in four Americans are currently infected in the United States with HPV, and approximately 14 million new infections of HPV spread each year in the United States (CDC, 2016b). Ultimately the HPV vaccination is a form of cancer prevention. With the vaccination uptake, the burden of HPV related health problems could be eliminated. The purpose of this study is to better understand whether college students intend to receive the HPV vaccine or not. By developing a better understanding of college student vaccine intentions, health care professionals will be able to develop appropriate interventions designed to increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine among college students. This will in turn create a reduction of infections and cancers caused by HPV. There was a significant relationship between participants perceived barriers and their intentions to receive the HPV vaccine. The respondents who had already received the HPV vaccine had fewer perceived barriers then who did not intend to receive the HPV vaccine and those who do intend to receive the HPV vaccine in the future. There was a significant relationship between the participants perceived self-efficacy their intentions to receive the HPV vaccine. The respondents who have already received the HPV vaccine has higher perceptions of self-efficacy then those who did not intend to receive the HPV vaccine and those who do intend to receive the HPV vaccine in the future. Education will be a key component to break down barriers that prevent college students from receiving the HPV vaccine. Further research should include how to improve self-efficacy as it pertains to the uptake of the HPV vaccine

Striking a Balance with School Accountability: Design and Use of Progress Reports and Quality Reviews in New York City.

In recent decades, people have turned increasingly to accountability to fix schools. Amidst mounting demands for improved student outcomes, states and school districts are trying to determine how best to apply pressure and provide support. Yet, it remains unclear which strategy will produce desirable changes in teaching and stronger schools. In New York City, in 2002, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein set in motion a series of reforms to overhaul New York City’s school system. These leaders sought innovation and improved performance – neither of which could be achieved evenly across schools under the former system. They pursued these goals through a variety of instruments including a novel accountability scheme. In 2007, the New York City Department of Education designed and implemented two unconventional accountability instruments, the Progress Reports and Quality Reviews. In addition, they created a market for the Children First Networks, external support organizations that were meant to provide targeted supports. The networks were held accountable for school outcomes, as well. This unconventional accountability scheme was meant to change outcomes, as well as, the conditions and processes involved in school improvement efforts. The three studies in this dissertation explore the conceptual underpinnings of accountability as a reform strategy and the case of New York City’s novel approach. I conducted an exploratory study of New York City’s accountability tools and the networks’ use of these tools in the service of school improvement, which draws on data from sixty-eight interviews, more than ninety hours of observation and stacks of internal documents and external reports about the reforms that took place over more than a decade in the country’s largest school district. New York City’s accountability scheme involved a novel attempt to balance pressure and support for school improvement from which we can learn about school accountability as a strategy for school improvement and system reform. The principle lesson from this study is that researchers and designers should avoid looking for whether balance is achieved and consider, instead, how a district attempts to strike the right balance and learn from its efforts.PhDEducational StudiesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113332/1/kmcmahon_1.pd

Thyroxine treatment in patients with symptoms of hypothyroidism but thyroid function tests within the reference range: randomised double blind placebo controlled crossover trial

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether thyroxine treatment is effective in patients with symptoms of hypothyroidism but with thyroid function tests within the reference range, and to investigate the effect of thyroxine treatment on psychological and physical wellbeing in healthy participants. DESIGN: Randomised double blind placebo controlled crossover trial. SETTING: Outpatient clinic in a general hospital. Participants: 25 patients with symptoms of hypothyroidism who had thyroid function tests within the reference range, and 19 controls. Methods: Participants were given thyroxine 100 microgram or placebo to take once a day for 12 weeks. Washout period was six weeks. They were then given the other to take once a day for 12 weeks. All participants were assessed physiologically and psychologically at baseline and on completion of each phase. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Thyroid function tests, measures of cognitive function and of psychological and physical wellbeing. RESULTS: 22 patients and 19 healthy controls completed the study. At baseline, patients' scores on 9 out of 15 psychological measures were impaired when compared with controls. Patients showed a significantly greater response to placebo than controls in 3 out of 15 psychological measures. Healthy participants had significantly lower scores for vitality when taking thyroxine compared to placebo (mean (SD) 60 (17) v 73 (16), P<0.01). However, patients' scores from psychological tests when taking thyroxine were no different from those when taking placebo except for a poorer performance on one visual reproduction test when taking thyroxine. Serum concentrations of free thyroxine increased and those of thyroid stimulating hormone decreased in patients and controls while they were taking thyroxine, confirming compliance with treatment. Although serum concentrations of free triiodothyronine increased in patients and controls taking thyroxine, the difference between the response to placebo and to thyroxine was significant only in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroxine was no more effective than placebo in improving cognitive function and psychological wellbeing in patients with symptoms of hypothyroidism but thyroid function tests within the reference range. Thyroxine did not improve cognitive function and psychological wellbeing in healthy participants

Influence of protein concentration and coagulation temperature on rennet-induced gelation characteristics and curd microstructure

peer-reviewedThis study characterized the coagulation properties and defined the cutting window (CW; time between storage modulus values of 35 and 70 Pa) using rheometry for milk standardized to 4, 5, or 6% protein and set at 28, 32, or 36°C. Milks were standardized to a protein-to-fat ratio of approximately 1 by blending ultrafiltration retentate, skim milk, and whole milk. The internal curd microstructure for selected curd samples was analyzed with transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Lowering the coagulation temperature caused longer rennet coagulation time and time to reach storage modulus of 35 Pa, translating into a wider CW. It also led to a lower maximum curd-firming rate (MCFR) with lower firmness at 40 min at a given protein level. Increasing protein levels resulted in the opposite effect, although without an effect on rennet coagulation time at a given temperature. On coagulation at 28°C, milk with 5% protein resulted in a similar MCFR (∼4 Pa/min) and CW (∼8.25 min) compared with milk with 4% protein at 32°C, which reflects more standard conditions, whereas increasing milk to 6% protein resulted in more than doubling of the curd-firming rate (MCFR = 9.20 Pa/min) and a shorter CW (4.60 min). Gels set at 28°C had lower levels of rearrangement of protein network after 40 min compared with those set at 36°C. Protein levels, on the other hand, had no influence on the levels of protein network rearrangement, as indicated by loss tangent values. The internal structure of curd particles, as investigated by both scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, appeared to have less cross-linking and smaller casein aggregates when coagulated at 28°C compared with 36°C, whereas varying protein levels did not show a marked effect on aggregate formation. Overall, this study showed a marked interactive effect between coagulation temperature and protein standardization of milk on coagulation properties, which subsequently requires adjustment of the CW during cheesemaking. Lowering of the coagulation temperature greatly altered the curd microstructure, with a tendency for less syneresis during cutting. Further research is required to quantify the changes in syneresis and in fat and protein losses to whey due to changes in the microstructure of curd particles arising from the different coagulation conditions applied to the protein-fortified milk

Impact case studies submitted to REF2014: the hidden impact of nursing research

The UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 rated the research from 154 universities and the impact of research was evaluated in 6975 impact case studies. Nursing was returned within unit of Assessment (UoA) 3 which also included Dentistry, Pharmacy, Allied Health Professions, although nursing research was also submitted within other UoAs. The study aim was to collate and categorise available REF impact case studies involving nursing researchers or on topics of relevance to nursing. Using nurs* as a search term 469 case study entries were retrieved from the REF database and placed into three categories determined by the level of involvement of nurses. Some 80 impact case studies were submitted by nurses across 11 UoAs: the majority being in UoA3 (n=55). A further 50 revealed some relevant impact, though nurses did not have an obvious research role. A total of 248 case studies described actual or potential impact on health or social care but were not associated specifically with nursing. Nursing research has demonstrable impact, however there is a significant body of research with relevance for nursing that has not been associated with the profession in the REF. More attention should be paid to the ‘hidden impact’ of nursing research to ensure the full impact of nursing is recognised

A systems biology approach to target identification using three-dimensional multi-cellular tumour spheroids (MCTS). Regio-specific molecular dissection of gene expression, protein expression and functional activity in 3D MCTS.

Within solid tumours, a microenvironment exists that causes resistance to chemotherapy. New drugs that target cells within this microenvironment are required, the first step in this process being the identification of new targets. The aim of this thesis was to characterise changes in the transcriptome and proteome within specific regions of multicell-tumour spheroids (MCTS), an experimental model that mimics many of the features of the tumour microenvironment. HT29 MCTS were separated by sequential trypsinisation into 3 main regions; the outer surface layer (SL) the peri-necroric region (PN) and the necrotic core (NC). Using an iTRAQ quantitative proteomics approach, the proteome of the different MCTS regions was investigated. A 2 dimensional separation approach using Agilent¿s OffGel system and RP-nano HPLC was incorporated prior to MS analysis. MS analysis was done using both MALDI-TOF-TOF (Bruker Ultraflex II) and ESI-Q-TOF (Agilent 6530 QTOF LC/MS) instruments. Gene expression profiles of the different MCTS were investigated and compared using Agilent¿s one-color oligonucleotide based microarrays. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis identified several key differences in the proteins involved in cell metabolism between the SL and PN/NC regions. Similar metabolic changes were also noted between autophagic and normal monolayer cells. Many highlighted proteins represented established cancer associated proteins. Interestingly, a number of proteins were highlighted which have no previous association with cancer and may upon further validation, provide attractive leads for therapeutic intervention

The production and deployment of an on-line video learning bank in a skills training environment

Context and Background: Nursing students are taught many skills to prepare them for their practical experience in the clinical environment. To date these skills have been taught to students using a demonstration and practice technique. This teaching method has a number of disadvantages: - it is highly resource intensive - learning experiences vary depending on the mix of demonstration and practice in each session - it can be difficult for students to absorb all of the information presented in a single demonstration. It was decided that video technology incorporating the deployment of a skills video bank over a web server, in conjunction with a shift in emphasis in the teaching contact sessions could provide a useful tool to aid the teaching process. Aim of the paper The aim of the paper is to disseminate our experiences of producing a large scale audiovisual learning package. The Production Process The first step involved the production of a video demonstrating a particular clinical skill, aseptic technique. This replaced the demonstration element of the skills session. Students viewed it online before the skills session and then spent the time allotted to this skill practising it under supervision. It was evaluated positively by students and the lecturer involved. As a result, a bank of 17 more videos focussing on fundamental skills within one first year module was developed in-house. The main focus of this paper will be on the production processes involved in this and its introduction into teaching practice

A novel axial flux permanent magnet generator for wind turbines

This paper presents the development of a framework used to optimize and experimentally validate a novel axial flux direct-drive (DD) permanent magnet generator (PMG) for the offshore wind turbine market. This technology aims to offer significant levelized cost of energy (LCoE) reductions via capital expenditure and operating expense (CAPEX and OPEX) savings – a key objective for the offshore industry. The DD-PMG technology uses ferrite magnets to create the magnetic field, which is a significant source of cost reduction. The use of ferrite could also eliminate an industry wide reliance on Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB), the scarce and expensive rare-earth magnet used in existing designs. Another advantage of a ferrite-based design is that it’s less sensitive to the cooling problems that currently face existing DD-PMGs. This paper describes the development and testing of two prototype machines at nominal 2 kW and 70 kW power ratings. Moreover, the finite element analysis (FEA) and analytical steps employed to develop optimized designs together with the experimental verification are presented. The simulated and experimental results show good agreement which provides confidence in the design and modelling work completed