Digital Commons Network^™

Does Safety Culture Predict Clinical Outcomes?, Katherine Ann Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Patient safety in healthcare has become a national objective. Healthcare organizations are striving to improve patient safety and have turned to high reliability organizations as those in which to model. One initiative taken on by healthcare is improving patient safety culture--shifting from one of a 'no harm, no foul' to a culture of learning that encourages the reporting of errors, even those in which patient harm does not occur. Lacking from the literature, however, is an understanding of how safety culture impacts outcomes. While there has been some research done in this area, and safety culture is argued to have …

The Impact Of Co-Teaching On Student Learning Outcomes In Secondary Social Studies Classrooms Implementing Content Enhancement R, Kimberly Zgonc

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine if differences exist in student learning outcomes between students who are instructed in a co-taught or non co-taught environment in secondary social studies classrooms implementing Content Enhancement Routines (CER). This study examined student and teacher data from seventeen matched pairs of co-taught and non co-taught middle and high school general education social studies teachers who participated in professional development in CER and professional development in co-teaching if applicable. Of the 34 participating teachers, 23 were visited by school district personnel to verify implementation of CER. Five co-teaching teams, each consisting of a …

Using Surrogate Measures To Predict Patient Satisfaction In The Emergency Department, Erica Egri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With healthcare organizations struggling to remain competitive and financially stable in a market where minimizing costs is a priority, hospital administrators feel the sense of urgency when it comes to keeping patients satisfied with services in order to expand volume and market share. The Emergency Department is considered the front door of a healthcare organization, and keeping its visitors satisfied in order to guarantee a future visit or a referral to a friend or family member is a must. While patient input on the services received in a healthcare facility is essential to improving quality of care, the costs associated …

Pilot Study Of Nutrient Loading In A Wet Detention Lake, Eric C. Gurr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Florida is surrounded by water, and its many internal lakes and rivers have long been recognized for their excellent fishing and boating. This notoriety draws land developers to the lake shores to establish residential and commercial infrastructure. This land development brings with it flood plain alteration, water level stabilization, and increased nutrients which cause adverse impacts to our lakes. In response, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1972 which set the framework for the water quality standards for the entire United States. As a result of the CWA many point sources …

Congestion Avoidance And Fairness In Wireless Sensor Networks, Mohammad Ahmad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sensor network congestion avoidance and control primarily aims to reduce packet drops while maintaining fair bandwidth allocation to existing network flows. The design of a congestion control algorithm suited for all types of applications in sensor networks is a challenging task due to the application-specific nature of these networks. With numerous sensors transmitting data simultaneously to one or more base stations (also called sinks), sensor nodes located near the base station will most likely experience congestion and packet loss. In this thesis, we propose a novel distributed congestion avoidance algorithm which calculates the ratio of the number of downstream and …

An Investigation Of Size Exclusion And Diffusion Controlled Membrane Fouling, Colin Michael Hobbs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The reduction of membrane productivity (i.e. membrane fouling) during operation occurs in virtually all membrane applications. Membrane fouling originates from the method by which membranes operate: contaminants are rejected by the membrane and retained on the feed side of the membrane while treated water passes through the membrane. The accumulation of these contaminants on the feed side of the membrane results in increased operating pressures, increased backwashing frequencies, increased chemical cleaning frequencies, and increased membrane replacement frequencies. The most significant practical implication of membrane fouling is increased operating and maintenance costs. As such, membrane fouling must be properly managed to …

Assessment Of The Contribution Of Game-Based Simulation In The Advancement Of Individual Soldier Intelligence Gathering Skills, Carlos Wiley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Self-directed Learning Internet Modules based on gaming technology are making tremendous strides as tools to current training system for our military services. Currently, the US Army is testing the Every Soldier is a Sensor Simulation software (ES3) as part of the Every Soldiers a Sensor program that focuses on intelligence gathering and maintaining situational awareness. The primary training goal of this simulation is the training of individual soldiers on conducting "Active Surveillance" and "Threat Indicator Identification" where the soldier is an active participant in the process. Traditional training in intelligence gathering is based largely on cold war models. As a …

Comparison Of Thm Formation During Disinfection: Ferrate Versus Free Chlorine For Different Source Waters, Adhem Mukattash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the study was to compare the trihalomethanes (THMs) produced from ferrate with hypochlorite and to determine how different the THM production would be for a given degree of disinfection (3 log reduction in Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC)). Different water samples were collected from Lake Claire, Atlantic Ocean, and secondary effluent from an advanced wastewater treatment plant. THM formation was determined using a standard assay over 7 days at room temperature. In addition samples were tested for Total Coliform Escherichia coli (TC/E.coli), and heterotrophic bacteria using HPC by spreadplating on R2A agar. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was measured …

Microwave Synthesis Of Nanocrystalline Hydroxy Apatite And Comparison Of Its Biomechanical Properties With Tio2 Structures, Saurabh Verma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) powder of size 10-20 nm was synthesized applying microwave radiation using calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous as the starting materials. Microwave power of 600 W and Ca/P ratio of 1.66 in the starting chemicals served as the major factors in the synthesis of nanocrystalline HAp powder. Phase composition and evolution were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Morphology, agglomeration and particle-size of the synthesized powder were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. Energy Dispersive Spectrum (EDS) was used to determine the elemental composition of the powder. Thermal properties …

Optimizing The Design Of Multimodal User Interfaces, Leah Reeves

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to a current lack of principle-driven multimodal user interface design guidelines, designers may encounter difficulties when choosing the most appropriate display modality for given users or specific tasks (e.g., verbal versus spatial tasks). The development of multimodal display guidelines from both a user and task domain perspective is thus critical to the achievement of successful human-system interaction. Specifically, there is a need to determine how to design task information presentation (e.g., via which modalities) to capitalize on an individual operator's information processing capabilities and the inherent efficiencies associated with redundant sensory information, thereby alleviating information overload. The present effort …

Using Electrochemical Monitoring To Predict Metal Release In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, Rajendra D. Vaidya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Corrosion of distribution system piping and home plumbing materials is a major concern in the water community. Iron release adverse affects aesthetic water quality and the release of copper and lead is regulated by the Lead and Copper rule (LCR) and can adversely affect consumer health. Corrosion control is typically done by pH regulation and/or addition of corrosion inhibitors. Monitoring of corrosion control is typically done after the fact by monitoring metal release, functional group concentration of the selected chemical species or water quality. Hence, the associated laboratory analyses create a significant delay prior to the assessment of corrosion in …

Novel Sigma Receptor Agonists Produce Antidepressant-Like Effects In Mice / By Jiajia Wang, Jiajia Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Microbial Transformation Of 3-Nitro-4-Hydroxybenzene Arsonic Acid (Roxarsone), Bryan Crable

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Land application of chicken litter from production houses that use the organoarsenical 3-nitro-4-hydroxybenzenearsonic acid (roxarsone) results in deposition of significant quantities of arsenic into United States soil each year. Used widely as a feed additive in the poultry industry, roxarsone was originally thought to be stable in the environment. However, recent evidence from our lab, as well as others, has established that this benign compound is readily transformed via several intermediates into inorganic arsenate. While microbial activity has been implicated in this process, there is no direct evidence suggesting the specific processes or the organisms involved.

Using a physiological and …

Examining Factors That Affect Graduation Rates For Pennsylvania Students With Disabilities In Three Intermediate Unit Areas, Linda Jukes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine graduation rates of students with disabilities and factors that may have affected those rates. More specifically, this study compared intermediate unit and county-level data for students with disabilities in districts in 10 counties of Pennsylvania. Correlations were examined between the graduation rates of the students with disabilities in these counties and socioeconomic factors of poverty rate, median household income, and the percentage of students in the counties who were economically disadvantaged. In addition, graduation rates of students with disabilities for these same counties were examined in comparison to the results of their …

Lived Experiences: An Examination Of Older Adults' Late-Stage, Life-Span Ecological Transition From A Home Residence To An Assisted Living Facility, Christin Jungers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The population of older adults in the United States is growing rapidly, and in response to demographic changes, a new housing market for elders known as assisted living is emerging as the fastest growing segment of the senior housing arena. While the impact of the transition to institutional facilities has been examined thoroughly in settings such as nursing homes, little is known about the influences of a late-life transition to assisted living (AL) on American elders. Using a phenomenologically oriented approach, this qualitative investigation examined the lived experiences of assisted living residents as a means of adding to the literature …

Contributions Of Meaning By Service Professionals To The Phenomenon Of The Experience Of Coping For Women In The Spectrum Of Domestic Violence Abuse: A Leadership Perspective, Lisa Haeseler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Domestic violence abuse for women continues to be an urgent concern in American society. This perpetual problem has resulted in revitalization in improving delivery of care for women of abuse. Especially for service professionals who directly aid and council the women in the spectrum of abuse including whether they stay in, or leave, the leadership initiatives, perspectives, and unique leadership style approaches of service providers for enhancing services become vital. This qualitative, phenomenological case study of eight, non-abused service professionals working in four different agencies investigated the phenomenon of the experience of coping in the spectrum of domestic violence abuse …

The Community Newspaper And The Rural Public School System : Relationship Of Mutual Dependence / By Alana Delise Teague, Alana Delise Teague

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Bringing The Home Front To The Battlefront : Mississippi Nurses During The Civil War, Laura Gillentine King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

African American Perceptions Of Childhood Behavioral Disorders And Mental Health Services, Chant Wellington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated African American parents/caregivers perceptions of childhood psychopathology and psychological services. The four participants of this study were African American parents/caregivers of children who were suspected by their respective schools of having symptoms of emotional, cognitive and or behavioral disorders. The researcher of this study asked these participants to describe their lived experiences of their children's functioning that school based evaluators consider atypical.

Data were obtained in the form of an initial phone interview. At a later date a face to face follow-up interview was audio taped and transcribed in order to obtain situated and general narratives.

Findings …

Examining The Influence Of Perceived Risk, Perceived Variability, And Confidence On Consumers' Intentions To Seek Otc Medication Advice From Health Professionals, Gayatri Gopal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Differences Between Older And Younger Adults On Composite Balance And Selected Health Correlates, Abigail Gamble

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Facade, Shawn Whittington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Type A : Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love My Dremel Tool, Christopher L. Brady

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of An Education Intervention For The Staff On The Head Of The Bed Elevation In The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Randall Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Elevating the head of bed (HOB) reduces risks for aspiration and ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in the adult population. Educational interventions have resulted in improvements in achieving a target HOB elevation of 30° in adults. Limited research has addressed this intervention in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The aim of this study was to determine if an educational intervention for the PICU staff would result in improvement in the HOB elevation in the PICU. Four research questions were studied: 1) What is the common practice related to the elevation of the HOB in the PICU? 2) Is there a …

Quality Of Life In Older Breast Cancer Survivors, Victoria Loerzel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Quality of life (QoL) in cancer survivors is an important area of research. While data are available about QoL and breast cancer, there is a paucity of research regarding older breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this research was to examine QoL in older women with early stage breast cancer, within the first year of post-treatment survivorship. The specific aims of this study were to: 1) Describe the changes in overall QoL and the four QoL domains of Physical, Psychological, Social, and Spiritual well-being; 2) Examine the effects of a psychoeducational support intervention on QoL outcomes in older women; and …

Project Camelot And Military Sponsorship Of Social Science Research: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Ryan Hunt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

"Project Camelot" was an ambitious social science research project conceived and funded by the Army, one whose scope and level of funding was unprecedented as of its inception in 1964. It was created in order to examine the potential for "internal war" and insurgency in the "developing countries" of the world, and to identify actions that the U.S. and its allies could take to prevent or suppress such insurgencies. Historians have described the Project as an event of particular importance in the history of American social science, and have argued that it is related to significant changes in their structure …

Self-Forgiveness: A Narrative Phenomenological Study, John Beiter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation critically explored both theoretical and research findings pertaining to self-forgiveness, especially as it related to psychology. An important, though rather apparent finding or conclusion derived from this literature review was that there is an astounding paucity of both theoretical and research work about self-forgiveness within psychology. This lack or shortcoming holds, surprisingly, even in those disciplines perhaps associated more intuitively with self-forgiveness, for example theological and religious studies, and philosophy. Moreover, a contamination, conflation, or supplementarity characterized the relationship between forgiveness and self-forgiveness, such that no clear consensus exists with respect to the distinctions or similarities between those …

Stabel Isotope Turnover Rates And Diet-Tissue Discrimination In The Skin Of West Indian Manatees: Implcations For Evaluating Their Feeding Ecology And Habitat Use, Christy Alves

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is an herbivorous marine mammal that occupies freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats. Despite being considered endangered, relatively little is known about the feeding ecology of either of the two recognized subspecies, the Florida manatee (T.m. latirostris) and Caribbean or Antillean manatee (T.m. manatus). A better understanding of their respective feeding preferences and habitat use is essential to establish criteria on which conservation plans can be based. The present study expands on previous work on manatee feeding ecology by both assessing the application of stable isotope analysis to manatee tissue and providing critical baseline parameters …

Restoration Of Intertidal Oyster Reefs Affected By Intense Recreational Boating Activity In Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, Andrea Barber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, intertidal reefs of Crassostrea virginica (eastern oyster) along central Florida's east coast have suffered extensive losses due to wakes from recreational boats. These wakes have caused extensive shell movement and sediment resuspension which results in large piles of disarticulated shells along the seaward edges of reefs. Dead margins extend up to one meter above mean high water. The creation and enforcement of "no wake" zones in the area are unlikely. Thus, there is an urgent need for an alternative restoration strategy before these oyster reefs decline any further. The goal of this project was to develop a …

The Effects Of Reciprocal Teaching Strategies On Students' Comprehension Of A Seventh Grade Life Science Text, Brooke Bess

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This action research study was conducted with 7th grade life science students at a public middle school in central Florida. The author used Reciprocal Teaching (RT) as described by Annemarie Palincsar and Anne Brown (1984) to examine changes in student comprehension when reading their life science textbook and changes in how the students used the predicting, questioning, and summarizing strategies. The RT strategies ask students to employ 4 strategies: predict what they will read, generate questions about what was read, clarify any ideas that were not understood in the reading, and summarize the main idea of the reading. Students were …