UMD Theses and Dissertations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/3
New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a given thesis/dissertation in DRUM.
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Item EVALUATION OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA IN TERTIARY TREATED WASTEWATER, RECLAIMED WASTEWATER USED FOR SPRAY IRRIGATION, AND RESULTING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES(2010) Goldstein, Rachel Elizabeth Rosenberg; Sapkota, Amy R; Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Occupational exposures to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in reclaimed wastewater used for spray irrigation were evaluated. In 2009, wastewater was collected from a tertiary-treatment facility, and reclaimed wastewater, nasal and dermal swab samples from an irrigation site. Samples were evaluated for MRSA and VRE using standard methods, PCR, and susceptibility testing. MRSA and VRE were isolated from all wastewater samples except effluent. While wastewater MRSA isolates were multidrug resistant (98%), no MRSA was isolated in irrigation water or swabs. VRE was isolated in one irrigation water sample. Fewer irrigation workers were colonized with S. aureus (31%) compared to controls (46%), but they harbored more multidrug resistant S. aureus. This is the first study to 1) evaluate antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in U.S. reclaimed wastewater and resulting occupational exposures, and 2) detect MRSA in U.S. wastewater. The findings suggested that tertiary wastewater treatment effectively reduced MRSA and VRE.Item Coping, social support, biculturalism, and religious coping as moderators of the relationship between occupational stress and depressive affect among Hispanic psychologists(2005-08-03) Maldonado, Leslie E.; Lent, Robert W; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This study investigated the degree to which coping behaviors, social support, biculturalism, and positive religious coping moderate the relationship between occupational stress and depressive affect. Research survey packets were sent to doctoral level Latino/a counseling and clinical psychologists with residence in the U.S., members of national or state psychological associations. Usable surveys were received from 580 participants for an overall return rate of 50%. Participants responded to the following instruments: Mental Health Professionals Stress Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale short form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Job Content Questionnaire, Brief COPE, Brief RCOPE (religious coping), and the Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale for Latinos short form. Analyses indicated that 13% of the variance in depressive affect is predicted by occupational stress. Coping strategies, positive religious coping, social support, and biculturalism collectively explained 13% of the variance in depressive affect. Specifically, coworker support (B = -.21, p < .001), total non-work support (B = -.20, p < .001), biculturalism (B = -.12, p < .01), and positive religious coping (B = .10, p < .05) made a statistically significant contribution to the variance in depressive affect scores. Analyses showed that interactions terms between occupational stress and coping strategies, work and non-work social support, biculturalism, and positive religious coping did not moderate the relationship between occupational stress and depressive affect. No increments in variance attributed to the product terms above and beyond main effects were found. Results revealed significant main effects for the predictor variables, except for positive religious coping, beyond occupational stress. Coping behaviors, work and non-work social support, and biculturalism were negatively associated with depressive affect regardless of the level of occupational stress. Results of the present study suggested that on average participants employed more problem-focused coping strategies than emotional-focused coping strategies. Analysis of participants' self-reported coping strategies indicated a wide variety of coping responses. The most frequently mentioned coping strategies were; social support, planning and active problem solving, work support, recreational or disengagement activities, and sports and exercise. Among the least endorsed or mentioned coping strategies were; acceptance, humor, and personal psychotherapy or counseling.Item THE CORRELATION BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPE AND PERFORMANCE TIME WHILE WEARING A RESPIRATOR(2004-12-10) Koh, Frank; Johnson, Arthur T; Biological Resources Engineering; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The brain efficiently utilizes dominant templates to think, learn, create, solve problems, and communicate. Many studies have shown that individuals perform better if not wearing a respirator than with wearing a respirator. This study examined the degree of performance reduction attributable to specific dominant character traits. The subjects performed on a treadmill at a constant speed and grade resulting in 80-85% of maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max). A modified M40 respirator was used to create three levels of inspiratory resistance: 2.78, 16.79, and 27.27 cmH2O*(sec/L). The 31 subjects were tested using a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Multiple regressions and an ANOVA were used to test for correlation. When air intake is very constricted, the multiple regression that was found to be statistically significant was sensing-intuition (how one takes in information) and thinking-feeling (how one makes a decision) versus performance time with 27.27 cmH2O*(sec/L) inhalation resistance.