Digital Commons Network^™

The Health Belief Model And Self Breast Examination In Nurses, Valerie L. Holwerda

Masters Theses

The relationship between frequency of self breast examination and health belief model variables was assessed using a convenience sample of nurses. The self-administered survey measured perceived susceptibility, perceived seriousness, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, health motivation, and confidence on 5-point Likert-type scales previously developed by Champion (1993). Individual items measured the frequency of self breast examination and demographic variables. Correlational statistics were used to determine relationships. The results of the data analysis using the Spearman correlation found that perceived benefits (p=.027), health motivation (p=.0289) and confidence (p=.008) were positively correlated with frequency of self breast examination. Perceived barriers (p=.0002) were negatively …

The Correlation Between Quality Of Life And Social Support One Year After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, Sarah S. Arnold

Masters Theses

A descriptive correlational design was used to examine the relationship between the level of social support and the perceived quality of life (QOL) of the patient following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) one year after the procedure. A total of 212 surveys were sent to the homes of former patients admitted to a mid-western hospital and 90 were returned. The Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ-85) was used to measure social support and the Quality of Life Index-Cardiac Version (QLI) was used to measure QOL.

The hypothesis of the study asserted that there was a positive correlation between the level of social …

Role Stress And Career Satisfaction Among Registered Nurses By Work Shift Patterns, Amy Jude Hoffman

Masters Theses

In today’s health care climate, the need to understand the effects of work shift patterns on role stress and career satisfaction of registered nurses (RNs) has never been greater. Therefore, the purpose of this descriptive study was to examine differences in the level of role stress and career satisfaction among hospital-based RNs by shift length. Data were collected through the use of standardized questionnaires from a probability sample of 208 RNs.

The results indicated that RNs practicing in 12-hour work shift patterns experienced significantly higher stress levels that RNs working 8-hour shifts. Additionally, workload issues and dealing with death and …

The Lived Experience Of Student Nurses Providing Health Care Relief To Hurricane Mitch Victims In Nicaragua, Marci Jo Holstege

Masters Theses

International exchange and cultural immersion is becoming a favored way to educate nursing students on cultural diversity and cultural sensitivity. There is no research literature about student nurses rendering health care in a third world country after the turmoil of a natural disaster.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover the lived experience of student nurses who provided health care relief to victims of Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua. Their oral descriptions were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. These descriptions were then analyzed using the Giorgi method. Four focal meanings emerged: a) culture shock, b) adjustments, c) lessons learned, …

Fundamental Study Of The Coating And Basesheet Influences On Gloss In Relationship To Coated Inkjet Papers, Raja Ramakrishnan

Masters Theses

The use of fumed metallic oxides for glossy ink jet media offers alternatives to expensive cast coated and extruded film methods. Fumed metallic oxide pigments provide a high internal porosity and packing porosity that enable the rapid diffusion of liquid inks into the coating layer. Their small particle size (0.1-0.3μm), enable the development of gloss. However, calendering is needed to develop gloss values in the range of cast coated and extruded film grades.

Calendering of coated sheet reduces production speed, adds additional handling and rewinding cost (if performed off-line) and reduces the bulk and porosity of the coating layer, consequently …

Calibration, Installation Techniques, And Initial Measurements For Vertical Resistivity Probes Used In Hydrogeologic Investigations, Jeffrey Mark Groncki

Masters Theses

Vertical Resistivity Probes (VRPs) are being increasingly used in a variety of applications where detailed vertical resistivity information in both the vadose and saturated zones is needed. All the different possible array types and spacings must be calibrated for the effect of the 2" (outer diameter) insulating PVC cylinder on which the electrodes are mounted. Apparent resistivities must be corrected by calibration factors. Varying the installation parameters greatly influences the measured apparent resistivity because of the disturbed annulus and the composition of the backfill materials. Bentonite slurry is necessary for the installations to keep the electrodes in good contact with …

Reactive Oxygen Species Generated By Depletion Of Cellular Glutathione Mediate Cadmium Cytotoxicity, Jun Xu

Masters Theses

Studies were put forth to test whether or not reactive oxygen species, which are influenced by the cellular level of reduced glutathione, mediate the toxicity of cadmium. Cadmium has been a focal point in the health care community in the past few years because it has been shown to induce the development of tumors, interfere with cellular signaling, and cause damage to organs, tissues, and biomolecules. Although various studies and theories have been proposed, little direct evidence, especially from studies utilizing primary cells in culture, has accumulated to show the mechanism by which the cadmium induced toxicity occurs.

Our studies …

Intellectuals And Nationalism In Cyprus: A Study Of The Role Of Intellectuals In The 1931 Uprising, Georgios P. Loizides

Masters Theses

My thesis addresses the role of Cypriot intellectuals in the nationalist movement aiming at the political union of Cyprus with Greece. In particular, it will examine the contribution of three intellectual categories to the 1931 uprising, namely clerics, teachers, and journalists. The 1931 nationalist uprising was the first Greek nationalist mass movement in Cyprus, and can be seen as laying the ground for the 1955-1960 armed struggle against the British, who were the colonial rulers of the island at the time. Furthermore, I argue that over and above the petty interests of modernized urban elites, it was the accommodation of …

Creativity Or Collusion?: Representations Of Women In Music Videos, Jan E. Urbina

Masters Theses

There is a need in the field of sociology to expand our knowledge about how media-generated representations of women impact our lives. This research was designed to explore participants' perceptions of music video representations of women. Using a pre- test (survey), treatment (educational video) and post-test (survey), I analyzed participants' perceptions of how women were represented in music videos. The educational video exposed the techniques, which are used by the male-dominated music video industry, that present women in demeaning ways. The post-test proved useful in my attempt to determine whether the educational video impacted participants' understandings of the ways in …

Accelerated Reader: Does It Work?, Deborah J. Morse

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if increased independent reading practice, as verified by 50 or more Accelerated Reader points, would significantly improve standardized reading scores. The reading practice and assessment performance of 60 first, second, and third grade students was monitored for eight months. The students were pre-tested and post-tested using the Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading (S.T.A.R.). Descriptive statistics were used to determine if a significant difference existed between the overall mean scores of the high reading practice group who earned 50 or more Accelerated Reader points, versus the low reading practice group who …

The Relationship Between Vocabulary And Reading Comprehension In Junior High Aged Students With Learning Disabilities, Harvey Burkhour

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the reading ability, particularly in the area of reading comprehension and the level of reading vocabulary possessed by junior high aged students with learning disabilities. Reading is a complex process involving the simultaneous integrated application of the four cuing systems: (a) graphophonic, (b) syntactic, (c) semantic, and (d) schematic. While most people learn to utilize these systems rather easily, this is not true for everyone. Failure to effectively employ any one or more of these cuing systems can spell disaster for the reader both in school and in many …

The Influence Of Fumed Metallic Oxides On Coating Structure And Their Relationships To Print Quality, Hyun-Kook Lee

Masters Theses

Aqueous-based coating for paper or paperboard applications use traditional coating pigments such as clay, calcium carbonate, and titanium dioxide. But, for matte coated ink jet papers, amorphous and gelled silicas are used due to their unique morphological properties, which are sponge-like in nature. The unique structure of these pigments provides an internal porosity and packing porosity which enables the rapid diffusion of liquid inks into the coating layer. The rapid uptake of the ink immobilizes the anionic dyes at the surface of the coating, allowing high optical print densities to be achieved.

The particle size of precipitated and gelled silicas …

Characterization Of Nih-3t3 Mouse Fibroblast Cells Transfected With The Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 2 And The Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Shp-1, Scott Bradford Cross

Masters Theses

The hormone Somatostatin (SMS) and its analogs have been shown to mediate a variety of cellular actions including inhibition of cellular growth and differentiation of endocrine tumors such as insulinomas and glucagonomas. The mechanisms by which SMS exerts its antitumorigenic effects are poorly understood but are thought to include one of the five Somatostatin receptors (SSTR1-5), and the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1. To determine if the antiproliferative effects of SMS were due to the presence of the SSTR2 receptor or the stimulation of SHP-1, we introduced cDNA's of the SMS receptor SSTR2, SHP-1, and a dominant negative mutant of SHP-1 …

A Comparison Of Rhythmical Abilities And Behaviors Between Typical Children And Children With Williams Syndrome, Laura Grafton Pawuk

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the rhythmical abilities and testing behaviors of children with Williams syndrome (Ws) to typical children. Forty-three children took part in the study, including 9 children with W s and 34 children of the typical population.

The MRL Test of Kinesthetic Response to Music and a Behavioral Checklist identified rhythmical ability and testing behaviors respectively. The former indicated that typical children scored significantly better than Ws children in 9 of 11 exercises at the .05 alpha level. Two Ws children were tested in optimum environments. Compared to their typical peers, there were no …

Spectroscopic And Kinetic Investigation Of Carbocation Reactivity In Supercritical Carbon Dioxide, Hongshu Jin

Masters Theses

Recent interest in the use of supercritical CO₂ as an environmentally benign reaction medium has included the development of solvent systems that may support polar and ionic chemistry. Carbocations are key intermediate in a variety of synthetically important reactions and characterization of their reactivity is the focus of this work. UV-visible absorption, and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to identify and monitor the reaction kinetics of 9- phenylxanthenium carbocation. The arylcarbocation is conveniently generated from 9- phenylxanthen-9-ol in supercritical CO₂ under mildly acidic conditions. Under these conditions 9-phenylxanthenium ion is extremely stable and persists for …

School-Based Functional Assessment For Adolescents With Adhd: Procedural Issues In General Education Settings, Pamela M. Radford

Masters Theses

Functional assessment is a structured problem-solving process that has been found to be an effective method for guiding the selection of classroom intervention for students who present a variety of problem behaviors (O'Neill, et al., 1997), including Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; American Psychiatric Association, 1994). This study evaluated the utility of school-based functional assessments with 2 adolescent boys diagnosed with ADHD in general education settings utilizing resources typically available to school personnel to document information relevant to behavior function. Descriptive information (i.e., interviews, observations, record reviews) led to the development of potential intervention strategies that were implemented and evaluated by …

Factors Influencing Prison Industry, Erik Dill

Masters Theses

Prison industry has a sporadic history in the United States. Interstate trade of prison made goods was banned from 1940 until 1979; business and labor opposed slavelike competition from early programs. This thesis studies competitive prisoner work, deemed prison industry, as different from state-use labor.

Formal theory on prison industry is inadequate. Rusche would suggest that unemployment directly effects incarceration, and prison industry develops to provide labor in economic upswings. Since 1980 prison industry expanded and unemployment fell, but incarceration did not decline. Therefore, this study focuses on theory genesis. Explanations for incarceration can assume prison is exploitative. Legal history …

Political Violence In The United States: Apocalyptic Typologies Of Left And Right Wing Political Groups And Their Violence Through The Period 1990-1997, Gordon Daniel Green

Masters Theses

Historically the study of apocalyptic groups has occupied the "exotic fringe" of political science (Flanagan 1996). With the use of textual analysis, historical description, and participant observation as its main research methods, there has been little progress made in the study of these groups. By using data analysis of incidents of violence to compare the violent actions of apocalyptic groups, a better understanding of reasons for the use of violence by these groups can be found.

Six apocalyptic groups are studied and categorized into a typology of apocalypticism. The Rescue Movement and End-Times Religious occupy the Supernatural type, Militia/Patriot and …

Barriers To Freedom: Exploring The Influence Of Patriarchy On Risk Preference In Battered Women, Cathy Gordon

Masters Theses

Because contemporary families represent an increasingly diverse and complicated range of relationships and values, individuals engaged in traditional gender roles may find it difficult to challenge gender biased institutions or abandon abusive relationships. While family violence continues to be linked with economic and social power, interpersonal relationships based on traditional gender roles, which require conformity to social expectations, can also be a contributing factor. Feminist theory, which links patriarchal ideology with family violence, is used to explore culturally defined gender roles and the influence of social forces or social institutions that produce conflict, strain or violent behaviors. The influences of …

Conditional Discrimination And Generalization Of Facial Cues As A Function Of Training Multiple Exemplars With Autistic Preschoolers, Sebastien Bosch

Masters Theses

Individuals with diagnosed autism typically show deficiencies in discrimination of facial cues. The ability to respond to facial expressions was assessed and trained with 3 four-year-old subjects diagnosed with autism. Stimulus presentations involved four different stimulus sets ( cards with stick figure, cards with cartoon figures, and cards with photographs of a man and a woman displaying the emotional expression).

Training consisted of differential reinforcement of correct responses. The experimental design was a multiple baseline across stimulus sets, with generalization probes conducted after mastery level of performance was reached on each stimulus set. Some evidence of generalization was observed on …

Demonstrating Loss Of Control Over Technology: A Narrative Criticism, David P. Farlow

Masters Theses

This study focuses on how individuals through their talk about computer mediated technology demonstrate a loss of control over that technology. Three separate computer mediated communication classes were involved in this study through the use of autoethnographies. The students in all three classes were asked at the beginning of the semester to keep field notes on their experiences with the technology. At the end of the semester the students were to summarize and report their experiences.

Because of the qualitative nature of the data, a narrative criticism of the stories students told about their experiences seemed to provide the most …

A Study Of The Perceptions Of Students, Staff, And Parents Regarding Conflict At Mary Miller Junior High School, Georgetown-Ridge Farm Community Unit School District # 4, Georgetown, Illinois, Robert A. Rice

Masters Theses

Too often in schools across the country students and teachers have felt unsafe. Students and teachers have been threatened physically, verbally, and have experienced violence. Besides creating fears, violence in schools has diverted energy and resources from instruction. The researcher believed that based on recent national happenings regarding school violence, it was important to assess the school environment at Mary Miller Junior High School to identify if any problems existed regarding safety at school. It is not surprising that one of the National Education Goals for the year 2000 was to establish safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools that offer an …

Regional Safe Schools Programs In The State Of Illinois, Michael R. Metzen

Masters Theses

Alternative educational programs have been in existence for decades in the public school community. They were designed to meet the special needs of students, either for the benefit of the student or the educational atmosphere of their previous program. Many of these programs have been a component of the local district, serving students within that particular district. In 1995, the Illinois General Assembly created a program for disruptive youth. The intent of that program was two-fold in nature. That program, called the Regional Safe Schools Program, was created to serve disruptive youth for their educational benefit, as well as voiding …

The New Frontier: The Presidential Election Campaign Of Jfk, Bryan Wuthrich

Masters Theses

This thesis is an examination of the Kennedy election campaign. It is a narrative and also a brief examination of how this campaign was put together and how the Kennedy campaign staff was formed. The main perspective that it takes is from the vantage point of the Cold War which serves as driving force behind the main issues of the campaign. It is the primary argument of this thesis that the Kennedy campaign marked a period of transition whereby America began to formulate a coherent ideological position for itself as leader of the free world and come into its own …

Struggle, Aspiration, And Obsession: The Discourse Of Diet, Emily K. L. Jahn

Masters Theses

Research has shown that members of society are generally dissatisfied with their current weight. This study examines how individuals socially construct meanings of the word diet and the dieting process. Participants (n=443) were males and females who ranged in age from 7 to 68. Each were given a diet questionnaire to complete. The older groups were given the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scale in addition to the survey. The text for analysis was obtained by the surveys and four focus groups. The resulting data indicated that both males and females perceive the word diet means "to lose weight." …

Symbol Of Youth, Savior From Aging: Dialectical Relationship Between American Attitudes On Vitamin E And Toward Aging, Thalia Rios

Masters Theses

This study explores the dialectical relationship between American attitudes about Vitamin E and American attitudes toward aging. Through an examination of this dialectic, I will demonstrate that Vitamin E's history has contributed greatly to current American discourses on aging. For many Americans, the vitamin symbolizes youth and health because they perceive that its use can prevent or slow the aging process. During the 1990s, many Americans' early negative perceptions of Vitamin E as a quack substance have changed, partly due to recent research advances and studies that have further elucidated its powerful antioxidant function against harmful free radicals. Meanwhile, many …

The Effect Of Antibiotic And Resistance Education On Patient Knowledge, Karen Niemchick

Masters Theses

Our society, which has enjoyed the benefits of antibiotics for over fifty years, is now experiencing an increase in bacterial resistance. One contributing factor is a lack of patient understanding about antibiotics resulting in their inappropriate usage. This study examined the effect of patient education in antibiotics and bacterial resistance on patient knowledge.

Adults from various medical facilities (a student health services clinic, an urgent care office, a family practice, and a community convenience sample) were given a ten-question survey designed to assess their knowledge of antibiotics and resistance. Half of the participants were randomly given an educational brochure to …

Health Care Provider Knowledge Of The Immunization Schedule And The Contraindications To Vaccinate, Lisa Huffstutter, Diane Kassuba, Kelly Beschoner

Masters Theses

The purpose to this study was to determine if the current knowledge of Kent county's health care providers contributed to the under immunization of children less than two years of age.

A survey, modified from a previous study done in Los Angeles, was distributed to Family Practice and Pediatrics offices within the greater Grand Rapids area. Several areas of health care provider knowledge were assessed. These included: (1) knowledge of the primary series immunization schedule in both a child on time and delinquent, (2) knowledge of timing between diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis boosters, and (3) knowledge of the contraindications to …

Incidence Of Myocardial Infarction In Coronary Arteries With Previously Non-Significant Stenosis (<50%) Identified On Angiography, Brandi R. Haik, Amy M. Schreur

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of myocardial infarctions in coronary arteries with previously non-significant (<50%) stenosis identified on coronary angiography. The angiograms of ten subjects who had undergone cardiac catheterization prior to their acute myocardial infarction were evaluated. Six of the ten subjects (60%) were found to have an acute myocardial infarction in areas supplied by vessels with <50% stenosis identified on previous angiography. Three of these six subjects had underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) after angiography and one subject undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) prior to the initial angiogram. Four of the ten subjects (40%) included those who had >50% stenosis identified on prior angiography in the infarct related artery. Although this study involved a small sample that did not yield statistically significant results, the data did point to the fact that an acute myocardial infarction can occur in vessels with non-significant (<50%) stenosis.

Adolescent Knowledge About The Relationship Between Exercise And Prevention Of Osteoporosis, Alice M. Padilla

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess the intact of an educational intervention on adolescent knowledge concerning exercise as an osteoporosis preventive behavior. This study examined whether there was a knowledge gain in each group (girls and boys) after receiving the education intervention and it investigated the difference in knowledge gain between groups.

This was a secondary analysis of data from a study that used a pre-experimental pretest-post-test, no control group design. There were 82 boys and 102 girls who completed the Healthy Bones Knowledge Questionnaire as a pre-test, received an education intervention based primarily on nutrition, then completed …