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A Comparison Of Predictive Validity Of The Norton Scale, The Daly Scale And The Braden Scale, Sharon L. Marini

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the predictive ability of three tools (the Norton Scale, the Braden Scale and the Daly Scale) to predict risk of skin breakdown in a hospitalized population. Neuman's theoretical framework served as the organizational framework for the study.; A convenience sample of 27 patients who were admitted to one of three medical/surgical floors in an acute care hospital were selected for the study. The Braden Scale and the Norton 14 each identified 50% of those subjects who developed pressure ulcers. The Norton Scale 12 identified 96% of those subjects without pressure ulcers who …

The Effects Of Aids Education On Knowledge And Health Care Beliefs Of Nursing Students, Catherine Taliaferro Earl

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of AIDS education on knowledge and health care beliefs of nursing students. There were two hypotheses tested. Hypothesis one: nursing students presented with factual information about AIDS have more knowledge about AIDS than nursing students without AIDS instruction. Hypothesis two: strength of health care beliefs related to AIDS susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, barriers, and health motivation of students with AIDS instruction differ from those without AIDS instruction.; The study was conducted using a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. The sample included 29 second term nursing students enrolled in the nursing curriculum of an …

David Copperfield And Great Expectations: A Comparison Of Dickens' Bildungsromane, Donald R. Price

Masters Theses

Charles Dickens wrote two autobiographical novels which are developed in the Bildungsroman genre. Although the self-formation of the two young heroes, David in David Copperfield and Pip in Great Expectations, are very similar, reflecting the struggles in Dickens' own development, there is an important and interesting difference in the forces that influence each young hero. This difference evolves from Dickens' responses to forces affecting his life at the time he wrote David Copperfield in 1849-50 and Great Expectations in 1860.

This thesis addresses the internal forces influencing David's development, contrasting them with the external forces to which Pip must …

The Zen Of Stevens, Rebecca Dickens

Masters Theses

Using comparative studies as background, I develop a Zen model for reading Stevens, arguing that his poetry works in the manner of Zen anecdotes and that it can be understood better by understanding Zen. Three critical studies of Wallace Stevens and Zen assert the Zen-like qualities of Stevens' poetry. Stevens has affinities with Zen writers in three areas: use of language, explorations into the nature of thought, and the structure of anecdotes and poems.

I develop a terminology in order to construct my model, giving attention to the definitions and interrelations of terms such as logical thought, figurative thought, paradox, …

Continuous Passive Motion After Knee Arthroscopy, Lisa Bauman

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of continuous passive motion (CPM) after arthroscopy. A CPM machine was used one hour following knee surgery. Statistical analysis was performed to determine differences in knee range of motion (ROM), strength and circumference, at time intervals preoperatively, one, seven, and twenty-eight days following surgery. The analysis of variance revealed no significant difference between the CPM and control groups for any parameter. A significant interaction effect between treatment and time was demonstrated one day after surgery for extension, joint line circumference, and midthigh circumference; and 28 days after surgery for the …

Site-Directed Mutagenesis Of The Putative Processing Site Of Recombinant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Reverse Transcriptase, Susan M. Poppe

Masters Theses

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the etiological agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This retrovirus, encodes a RNA dependent DNA polymerase, reverse transcriptase (RT), which is essential to virus replication. Biochemical analysis indicated that RT is composed of 2 polypeptides of 66,000 and 51,000 daltons (p66 and p51) which combine to form a heterodimer. This heterodimer is thought to arise from the post-translational processing where p66 is made and either autocatalytic or proteolytic cleavage events result in a heterogeneous p66/p51. Site-directed mutagenesis was used at the proposed processing site to probe HIV-RT processing.

Three prokaryotic expression vectors …

The Effects Of Added Purpose On Fine Motor Performance In Learning Disabled Children, Sarah Lynn Austin

Masters Theses

The idea that occupations which offer added levels of purpose elicit a high quality of performance is widely accepted within occupational therapy. In this experiment involving fine motor performance, fifty-three learning disabled children were randomly assigned to two groups. It was hypothesized that children cutting out a circle, presented as a wheel which would complete a paper truck, would cut more accurately than those who cut out the same circle without the suggestion of it being used as a wheel. Accuracy was assessed by measuring the area of the children's cutting errors. The experimental design included the use of a …

Calculation Of Electron Scattering For 4He In A Continuum Shell Model, Ming Yu

Masters Theses

Calculations for the electroexcitation of the ⁴He, O+ state have been performed within the context of recoil corrected continuum shell model. Approximations previously employed for inelastic scattering with the recoil corrected continuum shell model are eliminated in the work. The O+ state exhausts only 10% of the energy weighted sum rule and previous shell model calculations for the excitation of this state produce about ten times too much strength. This difficulty is alleviated by the use translationally invariant wave functions and the application of continuum boundary conditions for this particle unbound state. The structure of the O+ state is …

Analogical Processing Skills In Three Modalities In Fifth, Eighth, And Eleventh Graders, Amy Sirrae Cashen

Masters Theses

This study examined the ability of fifth, eighth, and eleventh graders to complete multiple modality analogy tasks. Three groups, for a total of 201 subjects--68 fifth graders, 66 eighth graders, and 77 eleventh graders--solved word, picture, and figure analogies. A significant difference was found in the performance of the three groups, indicating that analogical processing skills increase with age. No significant difference was found between males and females on the combined analogy tasks. A significant difference was found for modality, indicating that the three sets of analogies were different in difficulty. The grade-by-modality interaction also was found to be significant, …

The Role Of Socialization In The Process Of Political Life: An Analysis Of Gender Roles In Elementary School Textbooks On Taiwan, Chien-Hong Lee

Masters Theses

This thesis contains both theoretical and applied research. In the theoretical part, political socialization is the main theme to be studied; and an incorporated model is designed to examine how political socialization can be viewed in the process of political life. In the applied part, three sets of elementary school textbooks have been examined and we have found that those textbooks contain clear sex-typed images of adult behavior; and male characters are emphasized more than female characters, which might contribute to the understanding why women are rarely seen in any positions of power in any realm on Taiwan.

Application Of Risk Analysis In Investment Decision Making For New Products, Chul Paik

Masters Theses

This study presents the development of a quantitative model to deal with the decision to invest or not invest in the development and production of a new product. It is most applicable to new products which present a high probability of economic failure. The model employs only simple mathematics and statistics, so the decision maker can easily understand the model.

The model uses as input data three variables. These include: (1) the risk of product failure, (2) the maximum loss a company can afford in an investment, and (3) the estimated project cost. These three variables combined furnish as output …

Computer Assisted Drill And Practice: An Instructional Aid To Increasing Rate Of Acquisition Of Addition Math Facts, Paula G. Frandsen

Masters Theses

This study supplemented existing math instruction and drill and practice (flash cards and worksheets) with computer assisted drill and practice (CADP) to facilitate addition math fact attainment of first grade students. The six students selected were introduced to (CADP) on an individual basis using a multiple baseline across subjects research design. Timed tests were used to select subjects, as baseline measures, and as probes throughout the study to measure the students' rate correct per minute (the dependent variable).

All subjects showed an increase in their individual rate correct per minute after the introduction of CADP. This rate increase is important …

Relativistic And Non-Relativistic Nuclear Charge Form Factors, Tao Wang

Masters Theses

This thesis presents an examination that the two nuclear charge form factors, relativistic and non-relativistic, are equivalent approximately in an appreciable range. The relativistic one is contributed by both vector charge density and tensor charge density. And the non-relativistic charge form factor is contributed by the nuclear densities from experimental electron scattering cross section, these densities are fundamental to much of nuclear structure physics.

The Dirac equation is used to calculate the vector charge density and tensor density, because the charge density from the analysis of the experimental data may be compared with proton charge densities obtained from various models …

Hands-On Purposeful Activity And Short-Term Memory Retention In Elderly Patients With Cognitive Deficits, Desiree Arah Varner

Masters Theses

This study compared the effects of hands-on purposeful doing with demonstration (HO) versus a demonstration-only (DO) activity in terms of the level of memory retention in elderly females. Twenty-nine females with a mean age of 81.8 years (SD = 11.6) and with moderate cognitive deficits as determined by a score of 3-8 on the Mental Status Questionnaire (Kahn, Goldfarb, & Pollack, 1960) were selected from an extended care nursing facility. Fifteen randomly assigned subjects (in three sub-groups of five) had approximately one hour of demonstration and hands-on involvement with ice cream making. Fourteen randomly assigned subjects in sub-groups of four …

Comparison Of Traditional And Computer-Assisted Administrations Of The Ppvt-R With Trainably Mentally Impaired Students, Wanda Balla

Masters Theses

A group of 20 trainably mentally impaired students, ages 6-24, was randomly assigned to two groups, one of which received the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (Dunn & Dunn, 1981), manual administration, and the other a computer-assisted version, which required a switch closing response. Two weeks later, the order of administration was reversed. The results showed a difference of - 1.73 points in the manual to computer administration, and a -3 point difference from computer to manual administration. Overall difference between both administrations was -2.36 points, favoring the manual administration. Recommendations include systematic evaluation and/or training of TMI or lower- functioning …

Techniques For Increasing Writing And Reading Proficiency Of International Students, Abatah D. Daher

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine and develop a program to increase the language proficiency of international students.

The subjects for this study consisted of 44 international students enrolled in the course entitled, "Effective College Reading for International Students." The subjects were divided into two groups, the experimental group and the control group.

Gates and MacGinitie Reading Survey E (1978) was used in assessing language proficiency. Speed and accuracy, vocabulary, and comprehension scores were obtained for the experimental and control groups. An analysis using the Fry formula (1977) to identify the grade level score for their stories was …

The Task /Time Management Component Of The Learning To Learn System, James B. Cook

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of a task/time management training (consisting of breaking large tasks down,planning and practice) on academic task completion for 29 students in an undergraduate psychology study skills course. A training package and individual training and practice were provided by self management coaches. A multiple baseline across groups design was used. Individual meetings were conducted between self management coaches and students to assess the percentage of task completion based upon a 10-point scale. The mean group task completion scores did not show asignificant rate of change as a result of the intervention.

Compliance With Universal Precautions By Health Care Workers In A Rural Community Emergency Room, Jane E. Devries

Masters Theses

Performance feedback has been used in various organizations to correct problems in the areas of safety, customer service, absenteeism, and tardiness. The present research examined the effects of performance feedback to increase compliance with universal precautions in an emergency room department. Four subjects (Registered Nurses) were observed for glove wearing in any of six different situations common to the emergency room. These included cleaning instruments, cleaning a laceration, giving an injection, phlebotomy, inserting an intravenous catheter, and obtaining and/or transporting specimens other than blood. A multiple baseline experimental design was employed in this study. Results indicated that performance feedback increased …

Wetland Study Of Southeastern Portage Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Kevin M. Walsh

Masters Theses

Under the Clean Water Act, Congress passed legislation to maintain and restore the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the water of the United States. The objective of this study is to determine if the wooded area located in Upjohn Company's Property in southeastern Portage Township, Portage, Michigan falls under the classification of a wetland.

This objective has been pursued through an examination of the hydrology of the area, the soil characteristics of the area, and the vegetation types and characteristics of the area. These parameters have been utilized following the guidelines outlined in the "Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation …

The Myth Of Tereus And The Nightingale Motif In Classical And Medieval Literature And In The Works Of Chauce, Betty Vanderwielen

Masters Theses

In the myth of Tereus a woman is metamorphosed into a nightingale, in which form she perpetually laments her killing of her son. An investigation into the use of the myth in classical literature ranging from Homer to Ovid shows that certain themes recur: truth reveals itself in a non-conventional manner, sorrow is paradoxically linked with joy, the victim is the perpetrator of her own suffering.

In the Middle Ages the nightingale motif is associated with joy rather than lament and connected with love (both lascivious and sacred). References to the nightingale seem to have little connection with the myth, …

Temporal Discrimination Training Of Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury Using Computer-Based Operant Procedures, Robert Edward Obrecht

Masters Theses

Computer-based interresponse time (IRT) and matching-to-sample (MTS) procedures were employed in two experiments to assess and effect changes in temporal discriminations made by adults with a history of traumatic brain injury. The results of Experiment One support the interpretation that maintaining correct IRT > t performance was a function of stimulus conditions that included signalled IRTs, values of t less than 3-seconds, a contract agreement to maintain performance, and other contingencies not explicitly part of the design. The results of Experiment Two, that minimal response latencies on MTS tasks are mediated equally well by an experimenter's verbal prompting as well as …

Reliability And Validity Of The Body Mechanics Obstacle Course Evaluation, Louise Sinclair-Eastman

Masters Theses

A review of the literature suggests that the way in which an individual performs activities, or body mechanics, can affect the amount of stress placed on the low back. Several clinical programs treat patients with low back pain by teaching proper body mechanics. Although body mechanics obstacle course evaluations are used by occupational therapists to assess patients, there has been no published information regarding the reliability and validity of these evaluations. The purpose of this study was to establish the validity and reliability of one version, the Body Mechanics Obstacle Course (BMOC).

Content validity was established by reviewing the literature …

Psychophysiological Assessment Of Panic Disorder, Kent A. Koehn

Masters Theses

This study compared physiological and psychological measures between 9 subjects meeting the DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder (PD) and 9 control subjects to identify psychophysiological differences that might be relevant to the etiology and maintenance of panic attacks. The subjects were assessed through a number of self-report measures and across three laboratory sessions involving five experimental conditions: baseline, role play, relaxation, mental arithmetic, and cold pressor. We measured electrodermal (EDG) and electro-myographic activity (EMG), heart rate (HR), and blood volume pulse (BVP) in terms of absolute values, reactivity, and habituation. Both groups were also assessed in their ability to accurately …

An Efficient Implementation Of Logical Design For Relational Databases, Shakeel Ishaque

Masters Theses

This work presents efficient methodology for the design of relational databases and an implementation of a design tool. A set of algorithms and supporting theory are discussed. Improvements are made on existing decomposition approaches.

The Dependency Preserving Normal Fom (DPNF), which is stronger than 3NF, is presented. It guarantees a decomposition with lossless join property and at the same time preserves all of the functional dependencies.

An algorithm to obtain DPNF decomposition is presented. The algorithm computes DPNF decomposition in polynomial time. It converts supplied functional dependencies to annular cover and uses reduced annular cover to compute closures and decomposition. …

Interpersonal Skills In The Employment Interview: Intended Meaning, Sharron Mccarthy Meisenhelder

Masters Theses

Recently employers have been including references to communication skills in their advertising for employment opportunities. This research examined what people in business and industry mean when they use the phrase "interpersonal skills." A questionnaire was developed and administered to 60 people associated with personnel practices in business and industry. Content analysis of questionnaire responses found the subjects to identify the interpersonally skilled employee to be "effective," to be "sensitive" and to have a "positive attitude."

A Laboratory Characterization Of Pulp And Paper Mill Solid Wastes For Potential Use As Hydraulic Barrier Material In Landfill Covers, Carleton Van Maltby

Masters Theses

Fifteen sludges from wastewater treatment systems of pulp and paper mills that encompass major production categories, and eight fly ashes from mill boilers incinerating wood waste, coal, or their combination were characterized for their potential suitability as hydraulic barrier material. Hydraulic conductivity was observed to range over four orders of magnitude for the materials tested.

The Effect Of Study Skills Training On The Academic Performance Of Learning Disabled Students In Mainstream Classes, Kathleen M. Allen

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Musical Wind Instruments As An Expiratory Therapy With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients, Ellen R. Griggs Drane

Masters Theses

The use of musical wind instruments as an expiratory therapy with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients was compared to the traditional inspiratory treatment of the Inspiratory Muscle Trainer (IMT) during a twelve week pre - posttest study. Sixteen subjects, attending an out patient respiratory rehabilitation program, were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, receiving musical wind instruments, or the control group, receiving the IMT.

Measures for the study were: Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) as measured by the Pulmonary Function Test; physical endurance measured by the Twelve Minute Walk Endurance Test; …

An Analysis Of High Dimensional Data, Ravishankar Swamy

Masters Theses

Projection of a high dimensional data set into a two dimensional subspace can lead to very interesting projections. Note that P dimensional data can be projected onto P orthogonal two dimensional planes, which completely determines the original data. Two dimensional orthogonal projections can be analyzed for patterns in several ways.

In this work we will be trying to explore an unknown P dimensional data set by comparing its test projections with a set of standard patterns. A set of P dimensional data is transformed into K.K grid counts and the whole process of recognition is done using these K.K grid …

A Study Of The Preservation Of The Classical Tradition In The Education, Language, And Literature Of The Byzantine Empire, Germaine Manuel

Masters Theses

The medieval Byzantine world can be perceived as a cultural anomaly in the history of western civilization. During the entire course of its existence, those who endeavored to preserve the light of learning drew inspiration from the classical heritage of Greece and Rome. The education, literature, and language of Byzantium were modeled on what had been bequeathed by the classical world of centuries past.

This paper endeavors to examine the integral role played by the ancient pagan legacy in the curriculum that was followed in Byzantine schools; to illustrate the very potent influence exerted by Homer in the learning and …