Digital Commons Network^™

Increasing Nurse's Knowledge Of Neonatal Pain Assessment Through Inservice Education Program, Carol Beloff

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recognizing neonatal pain is a challenge for nurses working with newborns due to the complexity of the pain phenomenon. Pain is subjective, and infants lack the ability to communicate, and their pain is difficult to recognize. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of education on the NICU nurses' ability to assess neonatal pain. With a better understanding of pain theory and the effects of pain on the newborn the nurse will be better able to assess newborns with pain. Designed as a quasi-experimental one-group pretest and posttest study, the data was collected on a convenience sample …

Anthropometric Estimates For Colombian Adults, Orlando A. Corredor

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Knowledge of anthropometric dimensions is important for the design of workspaces and equipment. In a developing country, such as Colombia, no anthropometric survey for Colombian adults has yet been published. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assemble a Colombian adult anthropometric data set sufficiently accurate for design applications. An anthropometric survey was conducted on 134 Colombian adults living in South Florida. Twenty body dimensions were measured. Moreover, an anthropometric estimation method was selected, described and validated to be used as a reference when measurement of the user population is not possible. Anthropometric estimates, using the scaling ratio method, …

Occupational Therapists As Consultants In Florida Schools : A Survey, Leigh Ann Agee

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little research has been done on how well prepared occupational therapists feel to perform the role of consultant. This study investigated the perceptions of occupational therapists acting as consultants in Florida schools, how much education/training they have received and how they perceive their consultation skills. Participants in the study were sent a questionnaire and measures of central tendency were calculated on each item. Crosstabulations using Fisher's exact test were completed to investigate any relationship between type of consultation model used and relationships with educators. A one way ANOVA was conducted to investigate any relationship between self-perceived consultant skills and age, …

Broadband Rf Current Detector, George Cabrera

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problems to be solved in this thesis were 1) development of a broadband RF preamplifier to be used with non-ferrous current probes so that the amplified signal exceeds the errors due to cable pickup, no detection is needed in this application, and 2) development of a self-contained device that amplifies and detects the output from a nonferrous current probe, providing a digital readout of the current. These instruments have been completed and are being tested for use by the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The self-contained current meter operates at frequencies up to 600 MHz, and …

A Case Tool Supporting The Moses Development Methodology, Florida International University Glupe

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A new breed of CASE tools is taking advantage of object-oriented development. The CASE tool in this thesis will serve as a top-level guidance platform. The user will be able to follow an agenda in which his progress is recorded for each step of the development process. At the same time, the user will still be able to develop documents, diagrams and source code by using provided editors. The specific object-oriented methodology followed in this thesis is MOSES (Methodology for Object-Oriented Software Engineering of Systems). This advocates an iterative approach to development while providing both textual and graphical deliverables to …

Fault Tolerant Medical Network (Mednet), Hamid Ghassemi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This investigation describes the development of a new fault tolerant Medical Network (MEDNET) model based on the existing Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and Intemetworking (Internet). This research includes the original design, development and testing of the required hardware and software interfaces to provide a complete Medical Network model. MEDNET ties the Doctor, the Patient, the Hospital, the Medical Lab, and the Pharmacy for near real time and fault tolerant exchange of medical information. The MEDNET model includes the following modules: 1 Central Database Server, 2. Remote Client Access, and 3. Communication Interface. This work …

Alternative Methods For Newborn Urine Sample Collection, Nancy Ann Burke

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project investigated the accuracy of laboratory results of urine samples collected from cotton balls as compared with samples collected from catheterization, preemie pampers and newborn pampers. Also, it examined the cotton ball's effect on the infant's skin upon its removal. Comparisons in test results were made concerning the Directigen test for Group B strep (GBS) and labstick analysis, using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The infants (21) who were tested for GBS using catheter and cotton ball samples yielded the same results.

Urine samples subjected to labstick analysis were obtained from 30 infants, the urine being extracted from preemie …

Improved Frequency Response Measurements In The Human Visual System, Yuping Chen

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The temporal frequency response characteristics of the human visual system have been investigated by combining the increment threshold and sinusoidal flicker methods. Gain and phase spectra were obtained for two subjects using improved equipment and methodology compared with previous investigations. While the output of the system for sinusoidal input stimuli was generally also sinusoidal, as required for a linear system, other non-linearities emerged. Gain spectra for both subjects indicated a low-pass filtering action. Phase spectra showed a possible low frequency phase lead followed by a high frequency lag. Earlier studies suggested that the system might be a minimum phase system …

Jack's Bight : Solace Of An Open Place, Hamish Winthrop Ziegler

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Jack's Bight: Solace of an Open Place is a non-fiction book; partly a story of place, as well as the spirit of the people I lived with for seven years aboard a houseboat in a floating community called the Anchorage, off Miami. It starts with how I came to the Anchorage and my first months aboard with my girlfriend. Character portraits follow, with a shrimping trip and a historical account of Jack's Bight. This is followed by the first of several chapters on our political struggle with Miami city government. Subsequent chapters describe living aboard in nature, the life of …

The Survival Strategies Of Haitian Immigrant Women, Sue Chaffee

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of The Effect Of Structure On Reactivity In The Titanium Dioxide Mediated Photodecomposition Of Phenols And Haloethers When Irradiated At 350 Nm In An Aqueous Medium, Claudia Cardona

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three studies were performed to obtain fundamental mechanistic information on the TiO₂ catalyzed photooxidations of organic substrates irradiated at 350 nm in dilute aqueous solutions under oxygenated conditions: (a) The photodecomposition of three haloethers, 2-chloroethyl ether, 4-chlorophenyl phenyl ether, and 4-bromophenyl phenyl ether, was investigated in an aqueous media at pH 7.0. (b) A comparative study of structure-reactivity was conducted on para-substituted phenols whose substituents range from electron-withdrawing to electron-donating in an aqueous media at pH 3.0. (c) The initial rates of the TiO₂ catalyzed photodegratation of phenol were studied in an aqueous media at pH 1.0, …

Job Satisfaction Of School-Based Physical Therapists, Leonard Elbaum

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recruitmuent and retention of Physical Therapists (PTs) by public school systems has been identified in the literature as a significant problem, and the resultant shortage of school-based PTs hinders the capability of school systems to deliver physical therapy services to exceptional students as mandated by federal statute. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of job satisfaction among physical therapists who currently work in public school settings. Job satisfaction can be an important factor affecting recruitment and retention.

A systematic sample of 462 school-based PTs was chosen to receive via mail a survey instrument which requested information …

The Effect Of Familiarity Of Task And Choice On The Functional Performance Of Young And Old Adults, Anne E. Dickerson

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An experiment was conducted to compare the functional performance of young and old adults on familiar and unfamiliar tasks under two conditions of perceived control. Specifically, the relation between age and motor and process skills was examined. The familiar tasks were simple cooking tasks, whereas the unfamiliar tasks were contrived, meaningless tasks developed for this study. Young and old did not differ in the ratings of the familiarity of the tasks, but results from two Age by Task by Choice ANOVAs demonstrated a significant age difference for motor and process skills under all conditions. For the process skill scale, there …

Memory For Contingent Versus Noncontingent Events, Maricel Cigales

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Twenty-four 7.5- to 8-month old infants were presented with two manipulanda and given either behavior-contingent or noncontingent experience with an object. Infants in the contingent group learned and remembered the controlling action for up to 1 week (t(11)=2.83, p

Relationship Between Technical Knowledge And Price-Perceived Quality In An Industrial Setting, Jeannie Helen Caicedo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As proven by many studies, non-industrial consumers perceive price as a strong quality indicator. However, the applicability of this behavior to an industrial setting has been long questioned. It is hypothesized in this research that the levels of price-perceived quality will decrease in an industrial setting as the technical knowledge of the buyer increases. Judgement Sampling method was used to select the most appropriate sample for this study. Since engineers are particularly important influencers in the purchase decision process in organization, engineering students and professors were chosen as the study population. A survey was administered to a sample population that …

Ethnicity And Reaccumulation : An Ecological Analysis, Linda Beer

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study looks at the process of reaccumulation of resources in Miami following Hurricane Andrew. Emphasis is on differences between four major ethnic groups: Anglos, African- Americans, Cubans and non-Cuban Hispanics. Secondary data is used to analyze measures of housing recovery on a census block group level. Results indicate that, while there are ethnic consequences on a block groups level, support for enclave hypotheses are equivocal.

The Effect Of Weathering Processes On The Vertical Turbulent Dispersion Characteristics Of Crude Oil Spilled On The Sea, Donald J. Boyé

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the Exxon Valdez accident in 1987, renewed interest has come forth to better understand and predict the fate and transport of crude oil lost to marine environments. The short-term fate of an Arabian Crude oil was simulated in laboratory experiments using artificial seawater. The time-dependent changes in the rheological and chemical properties of the oil under the influence of natural weathering processes were characterized, including dispersion behavior of the oil under simulated ocean turbulence. Methodology included monitoring the changes in the chemical composition of the oil by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GCMS), toxicity evaluations for the oil dispersions by Microtox …

A New Parallel Technique For The Solution Of Sparse Nonlinear Equations, Maria Cereijo Martinez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Solving nonlinear systems of equations is a central problem in numerical analysis, with enormous significance for science and engineering. A special case, sparse systems of equations, occurs frequently in various applications. Sparsity occurs in the analysis of many types of complex systems because of the local nature of the dependence or connectivity among system components.

One such system which may be modeled by a nonlinear sparse set of equations is the power system load flow analysis. This is a mathematical study performed by electrical utilities to monitor the electrical power system. The data from system components are used to create …

The Relationship Of Learner Entry Characteristics And Reading And Writing Skills To Program Exit Outcome, Patricia Hayden Allen

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An approach to enhancing the success of nursing students is found in understanding the learning process and in the academic and sociologic variables placing students at risk for failure and attrition. Utilizing Bloom's Mastery Model, nurse educators may reduce failure and attrition by enhancing alterable variables. This Ex Post Facto investigation utilized Bloom's learning theory to examine a causal relationship of learner entry characteristics, learner reading and writing skills and the impact on program exit grade point average. The study sample was comprised of 143 nursing students entering an upper division urban multicultural baccalaureate nursing program. Data were collected by …

The Effects Of Laboratory-Induced Mood On Secretory Immunoglobulin A In Saliva, Susan Strum Dubitsky

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effects of induced mood on secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) were tested on 104 students (51 men & 53 women) using a mixed design with between subject factors of gender, induced mood (positive vs. negative), method of induction (writing about oneself vs. viewing a video), and a within subject factor, time (baseline vs. posttest). A split-plot multivariate analysis of covariance, controlling for salivary flow rate, did not support a causal link between induced mood alone and change in SIgA concentration. The effect of induced mood on blood pressure and heart rate was also examined. There were no significant main effects, …

Gradient Based Fuzzy C-Means Algorithm, Issam J. Dagher

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A clustering algorithm based on the Fuzzy c-means algorithm (FCM) and the gradient descent method is presented. In the FCM, the minimization process of the objective function is proceeded by solving two equations alternatively in an iterative fashion. Each iteration requires the use of all the data at once. In our proposed approach one datum is presented at a time to the network and the minimization is proceeded using the gradient descent method. Compared to FCM, the experimental results show that our algorithm is very competitive in terms of speed and stability of convergence for large number of data.

Meson-Meson Scattering In 2+1 Dimensional Lattice Quantum Electrodynamics, Alberto Luis Domínguez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For three-dimensional compact lattice quantum electrodynamics, the meson-meson energy spectrum is obtained from a truncated time-correlation matrix of field operators. The energy levels indicate a slightly attractive residual interaction between the mesons. From the finite-volume spectrum, the scattering phase shifts can be calculated for the various irreducible representations of the lattice symmetry group. The s-wave phase shifts indicate short-range repulsion, while the d-wave data indicate intermediate-range attraction. This work serves as a model for describing the strong nuclear force from basic principles.

An After Tax Economic Analysis Of Home Equity Conversion For The Elderly, Lowell James Cramer

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The FHA program to insure reverse mortgages has brought additional attention to the use of home equity conversion to increase income to the elderly. Using simulation, this study compares the economic consequences of the FHA reverse mortgage with two alternative conversion vehicles: sale of a remainder interest and sale-leaseback. An FHA insured plan is devised for each vehicle, structured to represent fair substitutes for the FHA mortgage. In addition, the FHA mortgage is adjusted to allow for a 4 percent annual increase in distributions to the homeowner. The viability of each plan for the homeowner, the financial institution and the …

The Church Of Our Blessed Redeemer Who Walked Upon The Waters, Preston L. Allen

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Church of Our Blessed Redeemer Who Walked Upon the Waters is a collection of short stories about Elwyn Parker, a devout pianist who becomes a worldly car salesman. "Thirty Fingers," "My Father's Business," and "Apostate" introduce Elwyn, a saint at church and a trouble-making evangelist at school, who nevertheless finds himself in a love affair with an older woman, Sister Morrisohn. In "Captivity," Elwyn, a college freshman, experiences worldliness, then grows to resent and ultimately reject Sister Morrisohn. In "The Leap," Elwyn is back at the piano, but unemployed and unhappily married. He finds comfort only in his decade-old …

A Comparison Study Of Hip Range Of Motion And Electromyography During Backward Walking Between Children With Spastic Diplegia And Children Without Known Disabilities, Martin L. Carrillo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the kinematics of the pelvis and the right hip and the electromyographic activity of the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris during backward walking in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and children without known disabilities. Subjects included 6 children, three with a diagnosis of spastic diplegia and three without known disabilities.

The results of the study showed important differences between the experimental group and the control group. Subjects with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP) walked backwards with less hip extension, more body rotation, shorter and slower steps, and used a higher percentage …

Optimal Kernel Development For Real-Time Communications, Monica G. Beltran

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to develop an optimal kernel which would be used in a real-time engineering and communications system. Since the application is a real-time system, relevant real-time issues are studied in conjunction with kernel related issues. The emphasis of the research is the development of a kernel which would not only adhere to the criteria of a real-time environment, namely determinism and performance, but also provide the flexibility and portability associated with non-real-time environments. The essence of the research is to study how the features found in non-real-time systems could be applied to the real-time system …

Correlates Of Union And Organizational Commitment : A Survey Of Former Eastern Airlines Employees, Sharon A. Israel Dolfi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Former Eastern Airlines flight attendants were surveyed regarding their levels of union, organizational, and dual commitment, union participation, strike participation and support, and current feelings of job stress, job affect and job satisfaction. It was found that union commitment was positively correlated with union participation. Due to the unique situation at Eastern, it was also found that there was no difference in levels of strike participation and support between those dually committed and those unilaterally committed to the union. Strike participation and support also correlated positively with one measure of current job stress. Other findings included a positive correlation between …

Infants' Detection Of Synchrony Between Sounds And Pauses In The Movement Of An Object, Linda Alberga

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated the development of sensitivity to temporal synchrony between sounds of impact and pauses in the movement of an object by infants of 2 1/2, 4 and 6 months of age. Ninety infants were tested across four experiments with side-by-side videos of a red and white square and a blue and yellow triangle along with a centralized soundtrack which was synchronized with only one of the films. This preference phase was then followed by a search phase, where the two films were accompanied by intermittent bursts of the soundtrack from each object. Twomonth- olds showed no evidence …

Performance Analysis Of Disk Mirroring Techniques, Taysir Abdalla

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Unequaled improvements in processor and I/O speeds make many applications such as databases and operating systems to be increasingly I/O bound. Many schemes such as disk caching and disk mirroring have been proposed to address the problem. In this thesis we focus only on disk mirroring. In disk mirroring, a logical disk image is maintained on two physical disks allowing a single disk failure to be transparent to application programs. Although disk mirroring improves data availability and reliability, it has two major drawbacks. First, writes are expensive because both disks must be updated. Second, load balancing during failure mode operation …

Howardsville Depot And Other Stories, John Albert Childrey

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The collection of stories recreates an impression of a lost time and place. In "Howardsville Depot," the stories are set in rural Virginia and span the years from 1929 to 1969. While kernel situations are based in identifiable events, the stories explore the subtle dreams and aspirations of characters in the community which has the railroad depot as it hub.

In "Head-on Collisions," protagonists find themselves in inevitable situations provoked by their own limitations. The only choices are forced and evolutionary with no clear solutions.