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The Effects Of Historical Alcohol Use On Neuropsychological Functioning In Older Adults Following A Traumatic Brain Injury, Ryan Sever

Dissertations

The present study aimed to determine the effects of alcohol abuse and dependence in long term functioning of older adults who have experienced a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. The research question being answered in the current study was if a history of alcohol abuse or dependence would worsen neuropsychological functioning in older adults who experienced at least one moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Participants of the study were selected from the more extensive database provided by the Brain Aging in Vietnam War Veterans (DOD-ADNI) database. All participants were Vietnam War veterans between the ages of 61 and …

The Big Five Inventory, Substance Abuse History, And Academic Success Among Students Majoring In Substance Abuse Counseling, Christi D. Myers

Dissertations

Students pursuing careers in substance abuse counseling may have higher rates of substance abuse histories than the general student body Previous research has shown that substance abuse is negatively correlated with Conscientiousness, yet academic success is positively correlated with Conscientiousness. This may put them at risk for academic difficulties. There is no previous research that has investigated the links betwe en personality traits, substance abuse history, and academic success. This study investigated the correlations between personality, substance abuse history, and academic success with 103 participants from an addict ion counseling program at a community college in South Texas. The Big …

Correlates Of Desire For Children Among Black Women With And Without Hiv Infection, Yvonne Wesley

Dissertations

HIV infection poses a threat to women, children and society in general. Public health officials recommend that women with HIV avoid pregnancy, however these recommendations do not consider women's desire to bear children. Many authors suggest that desire for children, especially among Black women with HIV, is related to sense of self. This study examined whether there is a relationship among self-esteem, self-efficacy and desire for children, and compared these relationships between 52 Black women with HIV infection (mean age 34) and 46 Black women without HIV infection (mean age 31).

Gaining A Voice: A Study Of The Breastfeeding Experiences Of A Select Group Of Educated, Low-Income, Minority Women Supported By Peer Counselors, Maryanne Phyllis Locklin

Dissertations

This grounded theory study describes the experiences of a small select group of educated, low-income, culturally diverse women who were supported by peer counselors/breastfeeding advocates in their communities as they attempted to breastfeed. The study explores their issues and concerns. In-depth interview data from seventeen women (ten African-American and seven Latina) were analyzed, using constant comparative analysis. Findings from the study indicated that the perception of successful breastfeeding can have an empowering effect on women when support for their endeavors are gender--and culturally--appropriate, The five themes that emerged as primary descriptors of the experience were Making the Discovering, Seeking a …

A Comparison Of The Nursing Costs Associated With The Implementation Of The Mandated Nurse-To-Patient Ratios In California, Shelly C. Wells

Dissertations

Nurse executives are challenged to provide adequate nurse staffing to prevent adverse patient outcomes, promote patient satisfaction and enhance nurses' job satisfaction. Historically, nurse staffing strategies have involved the use of patient classification systems, the use of time studies to predict staffing numbers and the best guesses of the nurse administrators. Collective bargaining units moved to include staffing ceilings or nurse-to-patient ratios to address staffing needs in hospitals. In 1999, the state of California signed AB394 into law requiring the implementation of mandated minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. The California Department of Health Services estimated that the mandated nurse-to-patient ratios would cost …

Self-Efficacy, Social Support, Therapeutic Support And The Initiation And Duration Of Breastfeeding In Adolescent Mothers, Deborah L. Birk

Dissertations

This longitudinal investigation examines self-efficacy, social support and therapeutic support as predictors of initiation and duration of breastfeeding in adolescent mothers. It proposes that prenatal levels of self-efficacy, social support and therapeutic support are significant predictors of breastfeeding initiation in adolescent mothers. It also proposes that postpartum levels of these variables are significant predictors of the number of days breastfeeding after delivery in adolescent mothers.

Hypertonic Lower Extremities In Infants: Correlation To Motor Function Scores At Thirteen Months Of Age, Susan Jean Brillhart

Dissertations

Exploring a large data set, hypertonicity of the lower extremities has been incidentally identified as occurring in one out of every five infants, whether term or preterm. This retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive, quantitative study examined data from 463 functionally and structurally normal infants and identified infants that were considered to be hypertonic at either hospital discharge and at one month of corrected gestational age to determine what their motor capabilities were at 13 months of age. Understanding the correlation will assist in determining whether early intervention is indicated for these infants. Multiple statistical analyses revealed no correlation between hypertonicity as a …

Community Nursing Support For Schizophrenic Clients, Lora Humphrey-Beebe

Dissertations

Decreasing hospital stays necessitate various community supports for persons with schizophrenia. However, there is little research on the effectiveness of community-based nursing interventions for this population. A true experimental, post test only design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a telephone nursing intervention in increasing community survival, and decreasing the number and length of stay of rehospitalizations for persons with schizophrenia.

The Experience Of Cognitive Change In Women With Breast Cancer Following Chemotherapy, Mary Louise Kanaskie

Dissertations

Change in cognitive function is one side effect of chemotherapy that has been reported in some breast cancer survivors. Alarming reports indicate that between 16 to 50 percent of women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer experience symptoms of cognitive impairment. These symptoms include subtle changes in memory, concentration, and some higher order processes that include psychomotor speed and executive functioning. In addition, it has been reported that these symptoms may persist even years after completion of treatment. Research is limited that has explored the lived experience of the phenomenon of chemotherapy-related cognitive change in breast cancer survivors.

The purpose of …

Implementing A Depression Screening And Referral Program In An African American Church Community, Mary S. Garner

Dissertations

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to launch a depression screening and stigma reduction program in a nondenominational church that serves mainly African Americans. Potential links between stigma, such as beliefs related to mental illness, and how education can influence help-seeking and health literacy among ministerial leaders were identified.

A Secondary Analysis Of Mammography And Pap Screening Among Women With Diabetes, Janet G. Marshall

Dissertations

Using a national database for secondary analysis, the purpose of this investigation was to determine if women with diabetes have different patterns of screening for breast and cervical cancer than women of the general population; and, if so, identify the determinants of the screening pattern. The PRECEDE Model was the organizing framework for this investigation of the complex issues related to cancer screening. The 12 states utilizing the optional women's health module for the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) was downloaded into STATA Software.

Exit Exam Testing, Stress, And Test Anxiety In Prelicensure Nursing Education, Lisa D. Brodersen

Dissertations

Knowledge acquisition in nursing education is commonly assessed with tests, also called exams, or examinations. Because of their impact on course grades and academic success, tests are a substantial source of anxiety and stress for nursing students and the central unifying theme of this three-manuscript dissertation. There are two high-stakes tests that are particularly important in nursing education: the exit exam and the licensure exam. The exit exam identifies deficiencies in nursing knowledge and clinical judgment and quantifies students' probability of passing the licensure exam, which is the final test of competency for nursing practice. The first manuscript resulted from …

The Effect Of Social Support On Women's Perception Of Perimenstrual Changes, Gwen G. Morse

Dissertations

The unidimensional approach that has dominated research on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has been remiss in visualizing the diversity of factors that may be involved in women's menstrual cycle experiences. Traditional menstrual cycle research reflects a stereotypic negative bias that does not encompass the complexity of the phenomena. For example, even though, the majority of menstrual cycle literature has focused on negative changes during the perimenstruum, some women report positive changes. This research represents an endeavor of a unique nursing intervention aimed at reframing perceptions of menstrual cycle experiences for the purpose of diminishing perimenstrual impairment. The intervention was a health …

Managing My Pregnancy: A Grounded Theory Of Pregnancy And Childbearing Beliefs And Practices Of Women Of Mexican Descent, Lorena Consuelo Guerrero

Dissertations

Examples of pregnancy-specific health beliefs and practices of Hispanic women are found in the medical literature, but the findings regarding the beliefs and practices are often outdated, limited, mostly curative in nature, and are often dismissed as benign cultural practices of a mainly homogeneous cultural group. Hispanic women incorporate both conventional and biomedical practices with traditional medicine/complementary and alternative medicine in their treatment of illnesses. The findings from this study served to illustrate current pregnancy-specific health beliefs and practices of pregnant Hispanic women of Mexican origin. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the pregnancy-specific health …

Development Of The Woman Abuse Screening Tool, Wendy K. Taylor

Dissertations

Researchers reported that 25%-33% of female trauma victims had injuries caused by battering. More than one million women per year seek medical care for injuries caused by battering. Of those who seek medical care, only one in ten is officially identified as a battered woman. Women are routinely screened for a variety of problems, conditions, or medical disorders, but violence is not included. An important issue related to identifying battered women is the lack of an appropriate comprehensive screening tool. The purpose of this study was threefold: (a) determine whether using a comprehensive abuse screening tool results in an increased …

Shipboard Nursing On Aircraft Carriers: The Lived Experience Of Twelve Navy Nurses, Catherine Wilson Cox

Dissertations

The purpose of this study, was to describe the lived experience of shipboard nursing on aircraft carriers. As of Spring 2001, the Navy had twelve aircraft carriers in operation. Each carrier's medical department includes just one Navy nurse assigned to directly care for over 5,500 personnel. Currently, there is no research that describes what it is like to be the only nurse available to a patient population in the thousands. Using the principles of phenomenology, twelve Navy nurses previously stationed aboard aircraft carriers were interviewed to explore their experience as ships' nurses.

A Silent Epidemic With No Voice: Alzheimer's Education In An African American Midwest Community, Sandra D. Fields

Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing crisis in this country, particularly in the African American community. Despite this awareness by the health care community and educational programs offered about the disease, a deficit in research assessing the impact of these programs exists. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to analyze the key criterion relative to the educational programs about Alzheimer’s offered by local organizations and the impact they have on a Midwest African American community.

According to research regarding Alzheimer’s disease, African Americans continue to go undiagnosed and untreated. The literature review in this study explores the synergy of three …

The Use Of Ice For Pain Associated With Chest Tube Removal, Jenny L. Sauls

Dissertations

The purpose of this experimental study was to ascertain whether the application of ice would decrease pain before, during, and after chest tube removal (CTR) in adults who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery.

The Lived Experience Of Women Who Quit Assisted Reproductive Technology Without The Birth Of A Live Child And Remained Childless, Linda L. Millenbach

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of women who quit assisted reproductive technology (ART) without the birth of alive child and remained childless.

Minority Students In Stem Careers In The U.S. – The Role Of Ap Calculus, Kendall Coleman

Dissertations

“The number of native-born S&E [science and engineering] graduates entering the workforce is likely to decline unless the nation intervenes to improve success in educating S&E students from all demographic groups, especially those that have been underrepresented in S&E careers” (National Science Board [NSB], 2003, p. 13). More than a decade ago, the National Science Board (NSB) sounded an alarm regarding the projected decline in native-born science and engineering graduates with the aim of driving strategic fundamental changes. There is limited evidence that the NSB’s prognostication is actively being addressed. Approximately 81% percent of all full-time graduate students in U.S. …

Developmental And Sex Modulated Neurological Alterations In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Azeezat Azeez

Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was first described in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kranner in a case study published in The Nervous Child. It is a neurodevelopment disorder, with a range of clinical symptoms. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), used by clinicians to diagnose mental disorders, a child needs to have persistent social deficits, language impairments, and repetitive behaviors, that cannot be explained by neurological damage or intellectual disability. It is known that children diagnosed with ASD are often are developmentally delayed therefore alterations in the typical developmental trajectory should be a major factor in …

Modulation Of Corticospinal Excitability Induced By Paired Associative Stimulation Combined With Movement, Ahmad O. Alokaily

Dissertations

An essential feature of the brain is its capacity to undergo long-lasting morphological or functional changes in response to experiences or trauma. Advances in noninvasive brain stimulation techniques have led to increased interest in understanding neural mechanisms of neuroplasticity at the network level. Paired associative stimulation (PAS) is one of the most commonly used applications for noninvasive brain stimulation because of its clinical potential as an adjuvant rehabilitative intervention. However, the optimal method for incorporating PAS into rehabilitative activities remains unknown. This dissertation explores different approaches to combining PAS with movement and investigates the enhancement of the specificity of conventional …

Modelling In Vitro Dissolution And Release Of Sumatriptan Succinate From Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Based Microneedles Aided By Iontophoresis, James Paul Ronnander

Dissertations

A novel dissolving microneedle array system is developed to investigate permeation of a sumatriptan succinate formulations through the skin aided by iontophoresis. Three formulations consisting of hydrophilic, positively charged drug molecules encapsulated in a water-soluble biologically suitable polymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), have been accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The microneedle systems are fabricated with 600 pyramid-shaped needles, each 500 µm tall, on a 0.785-cm² circular array. In vitro transdermal studies with minipig skin and vertical Franz diffusion cells show > 68% permeation of sumatriptan over a 24-hour period. A combination of microneedle and electrical current density ranging …

Engineering Of Escherichia Coli 2-Oxoglutarate Dehydrogenase Complex With Mechanistic And Synthetic Goals, Joydeep Chakraborty

Dissertations

The Escherichia coli 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (OGDHc) compromises multiple copies of three enzymes - 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (E1o), dihydrolipoyl succinyltransferase (E2o), and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3). OGDHc is found in the Krebs cycle and catalyzes the formation of the all-important succinyl-Coenzyme A (succinyl-CoA). OGDHc was engineered to understand the catalytic mechanism and optimized for chemical synthetic goals.

Succinyl-CoA formation takes place within the catalytic domain of E2o via a transesterification reaction. The succinyl group from the thiol ester of S8-succinyldihydrolipoyl-E2o is transferred to the thiol group of CoA. Mechanistic studies were designed to investigate enzymatic transthioesterification. His375 and Asp374 was shown to …

Analyzing Evolution Of Rare Events Through Social Media Data, Xiaoyu Lu

Dissertations

Recently, some researchers have attempted to find a relationship between the evolution of rare events and temporal-spatial patterns of social media activities. Their studies verify that the relationship exists in both time and spatial domains. However, few of those studies can accurately deduce a time point when social media activities are most highly affected by a rare event because producing an accurate temporal pattern of social media during the evolution of a rare event is very difficult. This work expands the current studies along three directions. Firstly, we focus on the intensity of information volume and propose an innovative clustering …

Optimal Sampling Paths For Autonomous Vehicles In Uncertain Ocean Flows, Andrew J. De Stefan

Dissertations

Despite an extensive history of oceanic observation, researchers have only begun to build a complete picture of oceanic currents. Sparsity of instrumentation has created the need to maximize the information extracted from every source of data in building this picture. Within the last few decades, autonomous vehicles, or AVs, have been employed as tools to aid in this research initiative. Unmanned and self-propelled, AVs are capable of spending weeks, if not months, exploring and monitoring the oceans. However, the quality of data acquired by these vehicles is highly dependent on the paths along which they collect their observational data. The …

Graphene Channels Interfaced With Distributed Quantum Dots, Xin Miao

Dissertations

Previous research has elucidated the remarkable electrical and optical characteristics of graphene and pointed to the various applications of graphene-based devices. One of such applications is electro-optical graphene-based elements. In this work, the optoelectronic properties of field-effect transistors are explored. These are composed of surface graphene guides, which are interfaced with an array of individual semiconductor quantum dots. The graphene guide also serves as a channel for the field-effect transistor (FET) while the dots provide for fluorescence markers. They may be placed either within the capacitor formed between the graphene and the gate electrode, or on top of the graphene. …

Enzymatic Biofuel Cells In A Sandwich Geometry With Compressed Carbon Nanotubes/Enzyme Electrodes & Hybrid Patch Applications, Biao Leng

Dissertations

Enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs) convert the chemical energy of biofuels, such as glucose and methanol, into electrical energy by employing enzymes as catalysts. In contrast to conventional fuel cells, EBFCs have a simple membrane-free fuel cell design due to the high catalytic specificity of the enzymes, but the power densities obtained are lower. Although the primary goal of research on EBFCs has been to develop a sustainable power source that can be directly implanted in the human body to power bio-devices, other applications such as the use of a flexible film or fuel cell patch as a wearable power source …

Reproductive Decisions In Carriers Of Genetic Disease: A Survey Of Parents Of Children With Inborn Errors Of Metabolism, Catherine Yetter Read

Dissertations

This study explained reproductive decisions among parents who have already given birth to a child with an inborn error of metabolism (IEM). Two hundred thirty parents (65% response rate) completed a telephone survey which addressed biologic, psychological and sociocultural variables relative to five reproductive decision making outcomes (receptivity to prenatal diagnosis, likelihood of pregnancy termination, impact on future reproductive plans, measures taken to prevent future pregnancies, and birth of subsequent children). Using a combination of logistic and multiple regression, five models, derived from the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior (IMCHB), were constructed to explain both the direct and indirect …

Using The Revised Wilson And Cleary Model To Explore Factors Affecting Quality Of Life In Persons On Hemodialysis, Daria L. Kring

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the quality of life in persons with end stage renal disease and examine factors that may affect quality of life. A revised version of Wilson and Cleary's model for health-related quality of life was used to guide the study. Biological factors (serum albumin and serum hemoglobin), symptoms (dialysis symptoms, anxiety, depression, and fatigue), functional status, general health perception, characteristics of the individual (age, gender, race/ethnicity), and characteristics of the environment (time on dialysis, marital status, and socioeconomic status) were examined to determine their potential impact on overall quality of life. A cross-sectional, …