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Biomedical subjects

M K Wagner

Publications and source records attributed to M K Wagner.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Behavioral characteristics related to substance abuse and risk-taking, sensation-seeking, anxiety sensitivity, and self-reinforcement.

Given the multitude of negative outcomes associated with substance abuse and other risk-taking behaviors, the current study sought to investigate sensation seeking, anxiety sensitivity, and self-reinforcement as they relate to participation in high-risk behaviors with 155 undergraduate students. The measures were the Reckless Behavior Questionnaire, Sensation Seeking Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, Heiby Self-Reinforcement Questionnaire, and a sample of items from the treatment factor of the Substance Abuse Attitude Survey. Significant multivariate effects were attributable to sensation seeking and anxiety sensitivity. Sensation seeking and anxiety sensitivity were significant predictors of substance abuse. The model significantly predicted risky sexual behavior with a positive relationship between sensation seeking and risky sexual behavior. High anxiety-sensitivity scores were associated with a greater reported incidence of high-risk sexual practices. Participants highest in sensation seeking were most likely to engage in reckless driving, with male incidence being greater than for females. An unexpected finding was that anxiety sensitivity negatively correlated with substance abuse.

Adolescent↗

Fluorogenic assay for rapid detection of Escherichia coli in chilled and frozen foods: collaborative study.

A collaborative study was conducted to compare a proposed LST-MUG method with the AOAC official method for Escherichia coli detection. E. coli produces an enzyme, beta-glucuronidase, which cleaves the substrate, 4-methyl-umbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide (MUG), to yield a fluorescent end product. Incorporation of the MUG substrate into lauryl tryptose broth (LST) enables a rapid quantitative method for screening E. coli, which is detected by fluorescence of the medium under longwave UV light. In this collaborative study, 5 food samples, 2 frozen (entree sauce/gravy and dairy topping) and 3 chilled (hamburger, pork sausage, and cheese), were tested for E. coli detection by 17 collaborating laboratories. Results indicate that the LST-MUG method is equal to or better than the current AOAC method for detecting E. coli. The LST-MUG method has been adopted official first action.

Animals↗