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Curriculum Vocabulary Acquisition Of 4th Graders Using A Language-Sensitive Teaching Approach, Joanna H. Spielvogel Jan 2011

Curriculum Vocabulary Acquisition Of 4th Graders Using A Language-Sensitive Teaching Approach, Joanna H. Spielvogel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if a direct, explicit method of teaching vocabulary with a Vocabulary Scenario Technique-Language Sensitive protocol (VST-LS) would yield gains in the vocabulary knowledge of 4th grade students greater than those seen in 4th grade students receiving vocabulary instruction typical to some general education classrooms. VST-LS is a detailed description of procedures intended to be used by a teacher in a general education classroom for direct vocabulary instruction. The VST-LS protocol provides for 14 word encounters involving listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Forty-one 4 th grade students consisting of 18 males and …


Adherence Practices Of Caucasian Women With Hypertension Residing In Rural Florida An Exploratory Study, Jeanne M. Hopple Jan 2011

Adherence Practices Of Caucasian Women With Hypertension Residing In Rural Florida An Exploratory Study, Jeanne M. Hopple

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Elevated blood pressure is often a silent process affecting multiple organ systems. Risk for heart disease is associated with poorly treated or unrecognized hypertension that is more common among women than men. Non-adherence to prescribed treatment regimens has been identified as a major reason for inadequate hypertension management. This exploratory descriptive qualitative study using narrative inquiry investigated adherence practices among Caucasian women with diagnoses of hypertension from a rural area of Florida. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding from women who …


The Relationship Among Perceptual And Objective Reflux Measures In Singers, Adam Thomas Lloyd Jan 2011

The Relationship Among Perceptual And Objective Reflux Measures In Singers, Adam Thomas Lloyd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is currently one of the most prevalent conditions associated with voice disorders being treated in voice care centers worldwide. Many singers experience voice related disturbances but are unaware that these disturbances may be the result of LPR. The purpose of this study was to quantify the perceptual symptoms and objective measures of LPR in a population of singers in order to understand the relationship between perceived symptoms, laryngeal findings, and evidence of acid exposure to the larynx. The Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), Reflux Finding Score (RFS), and the Dx-pH monitoring system were used to quantify participant symptoms, …


Effects Of A Reading Inference Strategy Intervention On The Reading And Social Inference Abilities Of Adults With Asperger Syndrome, Kimberly A. Murza Jan 2011

Effects Of A Reading Inference Strategy Intervention On The Reading And Social Inference Abilities Of Adults With Asperger Syndrome, Kimberly A. Murza

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ability to generate inferences is a skill that is necessary to fully comprehend a text and understand the intentions, behaviors, and emotions of a conversational partner. Individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS) have been shown to demonstrate significant difficulty in inference generation in both social contexts and in reading comprehension. Although, the reciprocity of the four components of literacy (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) has been established in the literature (Bradley & Bryant, 1983; Catts & Kamhi, 2005; Englert & Thomas, 1987; Gillon & Dodd, 1995; Hiebert, 1980; Kroll, 1981; Ruddell & Ruddell, 1994); the relationship between inference generation in …


Genetic And Physiological Contribution Of Adrenergic Cells In Heart Development, Kingsley Osuala Jan 2011

Genetic And Physiological Contribution Of Adrenergic Cells In Heart Development, Kingsley Osuala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The adrenergic hormones norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) are essential for cardiovascular development as embryos lacking NE/EPI begin to die abruptly between embryonic days 10.5 and 11.5 due to apparent cardiac failure. The objective of this research aims to elucidate the mechanism of the embryonic fatality observed in the NE/EPI deficient mouse model. Here we utilized the dopamine β- hydroxylase knockout (Dbh-/-) mouse model, which lacks the gene and subsequent enzyme necessary for the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine. Embryonic mouse hearts were extracted from Dbh+/+ (control) and Dbh-/- (experimental model) mice for mRNA transcript expression profiling. These studies were …


Comparative Retrospective Analysis Assessment Of Extracellular Volume Excess In Hypertensive Hemodialysis Patients, Amma Serwaah-Bonsu Jan 2011

Comparative Retrospective Analysis Assessment Of Extracellular Volume Excess In Hypertensive Hemodialysis Patients, Amma Serwaah-Bonsu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, accounts for almost 50% of the deaths in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) yet hypertension remains very poorly controlled in this population. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare control of hypertension in hemodialysis (HD) patients when extracellular volume (ECV) was assessed and managed by clinical parameters and physical assessment data alone with control of hypertension when data from blood volume monitoring (BVM) technology was also used to assess and manage ECV in a freestanding outpatient hemodialysis unit. The main cause of hypertension in the ESRD population has been …


Duplicated Laboratory Tests : A Hospital Audit And Evaluation Of A Computerized Alert Intervention, Sharon Bridges Jan 2011

Duplicated Laboratory Tests : A Hospital Audit And Evaluation Of A Computerized Alert Intervention, Sharon Bridges

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Laboratory testing is necessary when it contributes to the overall clinical management of the patient. Redundant testing, however, is often unnecessary and expensive and contributes to overall reductions in healthcare system efficiency. The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, to evaluate the frequency of ordering duplicate laboratory tests in hospitalized patients and the costs associated with this practice. Second, it was designed to determine if the use of a computerized alert or prompt will reduce the total number of unnecessarily duplicated Acute Hepatitis Profile (AHP) laboratory tests. This two-phase study took place in an inpatient facility that was part …


Glial Differentiation Of Human Umbilical Stem Cells In 2d And 3d Environments, Hedvika Davis Jan 2011

Glial Differentiation Of Human Umbilical Stem Cells In 2d And 3d Environments, Hedvika Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During differentiation stem cells are exposed to a range of microenvironmental chemical and physical cues. In this study, human multipotent progenitor cells (hMLPCs) were differentiated from umbilical cord into oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Chemical cues were represented by a novel defined differentiation medium containing the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE). In traditional 2 dimensional (2D) conditions, the hMLPCs differentiated into oligodendrocyte precursors, but did not progress further. However, in a constructed 3 dimensional (3D) environment, the hMLPCs differentiated into committed oligodendrocytes that expressed MBP. When co-cultured with rat embryonic hippocampal neurons (EHNs), hMLPCs developed in astrocytes or oligodendrocytes, based on presence of growth …


Role Of Membrane Lipids In Modulating Protein Structure & Function, Ray Supriyo Jan 2011

Role Of Membrane Lipids In Modulating Protein Structure & Function, Ray Supriyo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A-B family of toxins consists of plant toxins such as ricin and bacterial toxins such as cholera. The A subunit is the enzymatic domain and the B subunit is the receptor binding domain. Commonly, these toxins bind to the target cell plasma membrane receptors through their B subunit followed by endocytosis and a transport to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Inside the ER, the A subunit dissociates from the rest of the toxin, unfolds and triggers the ER quality control mechanism of ER-associated degradation (ERAD). Most ERAD substrates are purged out of the ER into the cytosol for proteasomal degradation. However, …


Photodisruption In Ocular Tissue Near And At The Boundary Between The Anterior Chamber And Crystalline Lens, Richard Ty Olmstead Jan 2011

Photodisruption In Ocular Tissue Near And At The Boundary Between The Anterior Chamber And Crystalline Lens, Richard Ty Olmstead

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lasers have been involved in Ophthalmology in the treatment of myopia and hyperopia for several years. Laser systems have transformed patients‟ quality of life, freeing them from the need for glasses, as in the case of LASIK. Ultrafast lasers have played an important role in surgery of the eye. In LASIK, they are used to cut the flap that is lifted to expose the stroma for UV Excimer laser treatment of this region. They are now being used for surgery deeper into the eye,for instance, treating the lens as part of treatments for cataract surgery. The use of ultrafast lasers …


Exploring Women's Life Course Experiences With Weight Using Story Theory, Poff Allison Edmonds Jan 2011

Exploring Women's Life Course Experiences With Weight Using Story Theory, Poff Allison Edmonds

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study included women who had gone through the menopausal transition and had experienced obesity, and it focused on their weight histories and experiences across the life course. The goal of this research was to add to the body of knowledge concerning weight gain by applying a novel middle range theory (story theory). Story theory was used to collect and interpret from women’s life course stories the critical themes and patterns of their weight gain. Oral accounts were elicited during personal interviews from a convenience sample of ten women recruited from a weight loss and exercise program in Central …


Translocation Of The Cholera Toxin A1 Subunit From The Endoplasmic Reticulum To The Cytosol, Michael Prentice Taylor Jan 2011

Translocation Of The Cholera Toxin A1 Subunit From The Endoplasmic Reticulum To The Cytosol, Michael Prentice Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

AB-type protein toxins such as cholera toxin (CT) consist of a catalytic A subunit and a cell-binding B subunit. CT proceeds through the secretory pathway in reverse, termed retrograde trafficking, and is delivered to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In order for the catalytic A1 subunit to become active it must separate from the rest of the holotoxin, and this dissociation event occurs in the ER lumen. CTA1 assumes an unfolded conformation upon dissociation from the holotoxin and is recognized by ERassociated degradation (ERAD), a quality control system that recognizes and exports misfolded proteins to the cytosol for degradation by the …


Evaluation Of A Quality Management Initiative And Hiv Ambulatory Services Performance In Thailand, Meemon Natthani Jan 2011

Evaluation Of A Quality Management Initiative And Hiv Ambulatory Services Performance In Thailand, Meemon Natthani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The accomplishment of pilot implementation of the HIVQUAL-T model, an innovative HIV care quality management tool, has led to an authoritative decision to scale up the use of the model nationwide in Thailand. However, the level of implementing this model varies across target hospitals. Some hospitals have fully adopted the model by conducting quality improvement (QI) activities following performance measurement (PM) results while others have partially adopted only PM or have not used this model at all. The differential level of implementation could be a contributing factor accounting for discrepancies in the quality of care across different HIV ambulatory care …


Distinct Domains Of Bax Are Involved In Mitochondrial Bioenergetics And Apoptosis, Ge Zhang Jan 2011

Distinct Domains Of Bax Are Involved In Mitochondrial Bioenergetics And Apoptosis, Ge Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Apoptosis is essential for cellular homeostasis and is also a pathologic feature of various diseases. The balance between Bcl-2 family proteins determines whether a cell will live or die. Bax, a member of the BCL-2 family proteins, is a pro-apoptotic protein that exists in both a soluble, cytoplasmic form and a membrane-bound form. Upon apoptotic stimuli, Bax undergoes a conformational change and translocates to the mitochondria, initiating apoptotic events. However, little is known about whether Bax is involved in the regulation of mitochondrial function under non-apoptotic conditions, and how Bax binds to mitochondria to exert its activity. Here, we investigate …


Genetically Modified Es Cells Enhance Cardiac Repair And Regeneration In The Infarcted Heart, Carley E. Glass Jan 2011

Genetically Modified Es Cells Enhance Cardiac Repair And Regeneration In The Infarcted Heart, Carley E. Glass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transplanted embryonic stem (ES) cells following myocardial infarction (MI) contribute to limited cardiac repair and regeneration with improved function. Therefore novel strategies are still needed to enhance the efficacy by which ES cells differentiate into cardiac cell types and inhibit adverse remodeling in the infarcted myocardium. Our studies evaluate whether genetic manipulation of transplanted ES cells employing miR- 1, a pro-cardiac microRNA, and TIMP-1, an anti-apoptotic and anti-fibrotic protein, will enhance cardiac myocyte differentiation, inhibit native cardiac apoptosis, and reduce fibrosis in the infarcted myocardium. Furthermore, we assess levels of associated pro- (caspase-3, PTEN) and anti-(Akt) apoptotic proteins as well …


A Comparison Of Stimuli Presentation In Advanced Theory Of Mind Tasks For Adolescents With Asperger's Syndrome (As), Juliet N. Leon Jan 2011

A Comparison Of Stimuli Presentation In Advanced Theory Of Mind Tasks For Adolescents With Asperger's Syndrome (As), Juliet N. Leon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals diagnosed with Asperger‟s Syndrome (AS) have marked impairments in social interaction, including difficulty expressing and perceiving thoughts, emotions, and intentions. This deficit may be due in part to a delayed or underdeveloped Theory of Mind (ToM). The previous research investigating ToM in individuals with AS has been inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to compare three Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks, presented via three different modalities, to evaluate the recognition of complex emotions and mental states in adolescents with AS compared to typically developing adolescents. Participants in this study included twenty adolescents: 10 adolescents with AS and 10 …


The Lived Experience Of Young-Onset Dementia, Debra A. Hunt Jan 2011

The Lived Experience Of Young-Onset Dementia, Debra A. Hunt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The lived experiences of dementia in older persons have been well studied, but the unique experiences of persons between ages 35 and 65 years who are living with young-onset dementia have not been closely examined. The purpose of the research was to explore the experiences of middle-aged individuals living with young-onset dementia. Van Manen‘s (1990) approach to interpretive phenomenological inquiry was used to answer the research question. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 9 people between 42 to 61 years of age who had received a formal diagnosis of mild or early-stage dementia. Participants were prescreened for the ability to …


Identifying Patients At Risk For Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Primary Health Care : Can Obesity In Combination With Other High-Risk Diagnoses Be Used For Screening Purposes?, Clelia Lima Jan 2011

Identifying Patients At Risk For Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Primary Health Care : Can Obesity In Combination With Other High-Risk Diagnoses Be Used For Screening Purposes?, Clelia Lima

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects about 15 million adults in the United States, and is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality. The under-diagnosing of OSA has been linked to the inadequate screening by primary care practitioners (PCPs). Existing screening tools are not widely used by PCPs possibly due to time constraints they experience as providers. This study demonstrates how common high-risk diagnoses (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia, arrhythmia, and coronary artery disease) can be used to help PCPs identify adult patients at risk for OSA. Unlike other screening tools, these diagnoses are easy to identify in a …


Stem Cell Biology And Strategies For Therapeutic Development In Degenerative Diseases And Cancer, Angel A. Alvarez Jan 2011

Stem Cell Biology And Strategies For Therapeutic Development In Degenerative Diseases And Cancer, Angel A. Alvarez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stem cell biology is an exciting field that will lead to significant advancements in science and medicine. We hypothesize that inducing the expression of stem cell genes, using the embryonic stem cell gene nanog, will reprogram cells and dedifferentiate human mesenchymal stem cells into pluripotent stem cells capable of neural differentiation. The aims of initial studies are as follows: Aim 1: Demonstrate that forced expression of the embryonic stem cell gene nanog induces changes in human mesenchymal stem cells to an embryonic stem cell-like phenotype. Aim 2: Demonstrate that induced expression of nanog up-regulates the expression of multiple embryonic stem …


Hybrid Adult Neuron Culture Systems For Use In Pharmacological Testing, Darin Keay Edwards Jan 2011

Hybrid Adult Neuron Culture Systems For Use In Pharmacological Testing, Darin Keay Edwards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neuronal culture systems have many applications, such as basic research into neuronal structure, function, and connectivity as well as research into diseases, conditions, and injuries affecting the brain and its components. In vitro dissociated neuronal systems have typically been derived from embryonic brain tissue, most commonly from the hippocampus of E18 rats. This practice has been motivated by difficulties in supporting regeneration, functional recovery and long-term survival of adult neurons in vitro. The overall focus of this dissertation research was to develop a dissociated neuronal culture system from human and animal adult brain tissue, one more functionally and developmentally correlative …


Discovery And Optimization Of Novel Small-Molecular Inhibitors Suppressing Stat3-Dependent Tumor Process, Xiaolei Zhang Jan 2011

Discovery And Optimization Of Novel Small-Molecular Inhibitors Suppressing Stat3-Dependent Tumor Process, Xiaolei Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the critical role of aberrantly active Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (Stat) 3 protein in many human cancers, selective small-molecule inhibitors targeting the dimerization event which is required for stat3 activation, would be valuable as therapeutic agents. And the inhibitors will be useful chemical probes to clarify the complex biological functions of Stat3. By computational and structural analyses of the interaction between Stat3 and the lead dimerization disruptor, S3I-201, we have designed a diverse set of analogs. One of the most active analogs, S3I-201.1066 is derived to contain a cyclo-hexyl benzyl moiety on the amide nitrogen, which increases …


Nursing Homes' Compliance With State Nurse Staffing Standards And Its Relation To Quality-Of-Care Deficiencies, Seung Chun Paek Jan 2011

Nursing Homes' Compliance With State Nurse Staffing Standards And Its Relation To Quality-Of-Care Deficiencies, Seung Chun Paek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine nursing homes‟ compliance with state minimum nurse staffing standards and its relation to quality-of-care deficiencies. Specifically, this study, reviewing staffing standards from 50 states and the District of Columbia for the year 2007, proposes a unique algorithm to calculate the states‟ expected nurse staffing levels for individual nursing homes in order to investigate their compliance with the state nurse staffing standards. By using hierarchical linear modeling method, this study attempts to capture the impact of the staffing standards on actual nurse staffing levels under resource dependence perspectives. Path analysis using structural equation …


Spirituality And Expectations Of Care Providers Of Older Patients With Chronic Illnes In North Central Florida, Myra Sherman Jan 2011

Spirituality And Expectations Of Care Providers Of Older Patients With Chronic Illnes In North Central Florida, Myra Sherman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A qualitative design was used to explore the use of spirituality and prayer by older adults who have chronic illness and reside in a rural community. Thirteen individuals responded to a flyer soliciting participation in a study of the use of spirituality as part of health care. Participants were at least 60 years of age, had at least one chronic illness and resided in North Central Florida. Twelve participants then responded to six open-ended questions based on an adaption of an instrument used by Dr. Shevon Harvey in her doctoral dissertation. The data was analyzed to identify themes and answer …


Yogic Diffusion The Effects Of Yogic Practice And Philosophy On Beliefs About Complementary And Alternative Medicine, Jacqueline Marie Siven Jan 2011

Yogic Diffusion The Effects Of Yogic Practice And Philosophy On Beliefs About Complementary And Alternative Medicine, Jacqueline Marie Siven

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research is a qualitative study that aimed to anthropologically explore the effects of consistent long-term yogic practice on the acceptance and practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among yoga practitioners at a South Florida yoga center. I wished to determine, through in-depth interviews, whether or not yogic practice affects acceptance of CAM. The main objective was to interview individuals from a single yoga center that have practiced yoga at least once per week for at least one year concerning their beliefs about CAM, yoga, and health. This project will begin to fill the gap in social science, in …


Factors Related To Birth Transition Success Of Late-Preterm Infants, Karen L. Wright Jan 2011

Factors Related To Birth Transition Success Of Late-Preterm Infants, Karen L. Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Problem: Identifying the factors effecting birth transition success of late preterm infants may improve early recognition of newborn compromise. Multiple explanatory variables may be associated with birth transition success or failure. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of, and clinical-epidemiological and demographic predictive factors for birth transition success of late preterm infants. Methods: A retrospective case-control chart review was used to compare the characteristics of successful and unsuccessful birth transition of 35 and 36 week gestational age late-preterm infants delivered in a large tertiary-care center during calendar year 2007. A mixture of categorical and numeric variables …


Clopidogrel Provision For Indigent Patients With St-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Sita S. Price Jan 2011

Clopidogrel Provision For Indigent Patients With St-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Sita S. Price

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Joint Commission in a joint effort with the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has established certain "core measures" by which hospital performance is measured. One of these is the measure for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) recommending percutaneous coronary intervention within 90 minutes of presentation to the Emergency Department in institutions that are able to provide this service. This recommendation does not take into account the long-term use of clopidogrel that is recommended by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association for patients that are treated with coronary stents. The purpose of this study …