Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Embryonic Chicken Fibroblast Collagen Binding Proteins: Distribution, Role In Substratum Adhesion, And Relationship To Integrins, Roy C. Ogle, A. Jeannette Potts, Marchall Yacoe, Charles D. Little

Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Collagen binding proteins (CBP) are hydrophobic, cell surface polypeptides, isolated by collagen affinity chromatography. Antibodies to CBPs inhibit the attachment of embryonic chicken heart fibroblasts to native type I collagen fibrils in a dose-dependent manner. The CBP antibodies also induce rounding and detachment of cells adherent to a planar substratum. This process of antibody-mediated substratum detachment resulted in a clustering of CBP and cell-associated extracellular matrix at the cell surface, and the rearrangement of filamentous actin. Other functional studies showed that cells grown within a three-dimensional gel of type I collagen cannot be immunostained at the cell surface with CBP …

Productivity Measurement For Home Health Care Registered Nurses, Lazelle Emminizer Benefield

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

The purpose of this study is to develop a productivity measurement applicable to home health registered nurses (RNs) by identifying and quantifying the knowledge and ability variables that define productive nurse practice.

A preliminary set of knowledge and ability variables was identified based on content analysis of interviews with local nurse managers and round I of a three round Delphi procedure, using a purposive sample of nurse managers from nationally preeminent agencies. A randomized national sample of 337 nurse managers was then surveyed to determine the relative value and rank of the knowledge and ability variables. These variables were refined …

Regulation Of Queuine Insertion Into Transfer Rna: Effects Of Tumor Promoters, Bonnie Jean Brooks

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to treat normal human fibroblasts with known tumor promoters and observe queuine modification of tRNA. The queuine insertion enzyme, tRNAguanine ribosyltransferase, was studied in vivo and in vitro. Tumor promoter-treated human fibroblast cultures exhibited variable queuine-insertion rates with a transient inhibition that correlated with variable levels of queuine modified tRNA over time in culture from passages 3 — 8. In contrast the in vitro studies showed that phorbol cetera and saccharin actually increased insertion with strong evidence indicating phosphorylation as a positive modulating force of the enzyme activity. It is proposed that chronic stimulation …

The Determination Of Tamoxifen Citrate In Human Blood Serum And Semen, Karimdad Tahmoresi

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)methodologies for the determination of tamoxifen and its metabolites 4-hydroxytamoxifen and n-desmethyltamoxifen, and using cis-tamoxifen as an internal standard have been developed.

Clinical analyses of tamoxifen and its metabolites in human serum and semen, were performed as follows: The analytes were extracted from serum and semen with hexane, the hexane evaporated, the dried extract then reconstituted with methanol, followed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography.

Between-run coefficients of variation (CV'S) for tamoxifen and n-desmethyltamoxifen for serum sample analyses, (n = 15) were, 4% and 13% at mean (SD) concentration of 140.2 (6.2) and 71.8 (9.8) …

An Analysis Of Selected Family Life Education Curricula, Phoebe Terry Butler

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the content of family life education curricula in Virginia's public schools and determine its appropriateness for the mentally handicapped students. It was the intent of this study to determine if existing curricula were designed to address the needs of mentally handicapped students according to a standard curricula designed by the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation and the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States. The 15 participants of this study were selected from a random sample of 69. The response rate was 20.2%.

A letter soliciting family …

Articulation Of Practical Nursing Programs To Institutes Of Higher Learning, Gwendolyn T. Sweat

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the size of the Practical Nursing schools, the student/faculty ratio, the admission process, the number of program hours as well as individual course hours of each program, specific aspects of articulation agreements in place, and the need for a bridge course and its contents. Also collected was demographic information regarding the students. The study involved the aggregate population of 43 Practical Nursing Programs in Virginia. Study findings, based on responses from 28 schools, included the following: the practical nursing schools are or the most part 18 months long, have three faculty members, admit students in late summer …

Microwell Based Competitive Enzyme Immunoassay For Quantifying Serum Triiodothyronine And Thyroxine Levels, Yiwen Yang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

A microwell based competitive enzyme immunoassay for determination of total thyroxine and triiodothyronine in human serum was developed with use of horseradish peroxidase conjugate. The assay, which can be performed in only 1.5 hours at room temperature, involves simultaneous incubation of T₃- or T₄- HRPO conjugate and serum sample in anti-T₃ or anti-T₄ gamma globulin fraction coated polystyrene microwells.

Isolation of anti-T₃ and anti-T₄ gamma globulin fractions were accomplished from whole antiserum by using DEAE-cellulose chromatograph. A carbodiimide coupling method was described to prepare the T₄- and T₃-HRPO …

Mounting Sex Pheromone: A Novel Pheromone Responsible For Mate Recognition In The Ixodidae, Jgc Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Cholesterol oleate was demonstrated to be the cuticular contact sex pheromone of Dermacentor variabilis. This pheromone which has been termed the Mounting Sex Pheromone (MSP) was also demonstrated to be present on the surface of D. andersoni, Amblyomma maculatum and A. americanum. This contact sex pheromone enables males excited and attracted by 2,6-dichlorophenol to identify the female as a potential mating partner. The MSP is the second in the series of three sex pheromones guiding the hierarchy of behavioral responses which constitute tick courtship behavior. Tests with D. variabilis and D. andersoni showed that this pheromone …

Identification And Ranking Of Stressors In Nuclear Medicine Technology, Scott R. Sechrist

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the most significant stressors in the field of nuclear medicine technology. A sample of convenience of 25 nuclear medicine technologists was used to generate a list of 35 stressors specific to the occupation. Sixty-three randomly selected nuclear medicine technologists responded to a mailed questionnaire which asked the technologist to assess the relative stressfulness of each of the 35 items on a scale of "0 to 1000". Data from the 59 valid responses indicated that equipment malfunctions, add on exams, uncooperative physicians, lack of staff, and uncooperative patients were the most significant stressors …

The Composition And Concentrations Of Cyanobacteria In The North Landing River, Virginia And Upper Currituck Sound, North Carolina, Sonja E. Midgette

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

A 12 month study of cyanobacteria composition and concentrations in the North Landing River and upper Currituck Sound was conducted from March 1986 to February 1987. Epifluorescence microscopy and the fluorochrome proflavin were used to determine cell concentrations and vertical, station to station and seasonal distribution of these cells. Cyanobacterial assemblage patterns were coupled with pH, temperature, salinity and water transparency readings.

Cyanobacteria were found to be a persistent and prolific phytoplankton component of both the river and upper sound. For a comparison of vertical distribution for each station, an analysis of variance for. two groups of equal size was …

Collagen Binding Proteins Derived From The Embryonic Fibroblast Cell Surface Recognize Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic Acid, Roy C. Ogle, Charles D. Little

Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Several cell surface proteins (Mr = 120,000, 90,000, 63,000 and 47,000) apparently integral to embryonic fibroblast plasma membranes were extracted with detergent and isolated by collagen affinity chromatography. Certain of these proteins (Mr = 120,000, 90,000, and 47,000) were specifically eluted from collagen affinity columns by synthetic peptides containing the amino acid sequence arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD). These data show that a number of collagen binding proteins exist on the embryonic fibroblast cell surface. Some of the proteins may be collagen receptors binding to RGD sequences in the collagen molecule while at least one of the proteins (Mr = 63,000) recognizes …

Motivation And Job Satisfaction Of Direct Care Mental Health Practitioners In A Residential Treatment Center, Joann Zitt

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the general Job satisfaction level of direct care mental health employees and to determine any significant differences in Job satisfaction levels between fulltime and part-time employees. The sample consisted of 60 direct care mental health employees In a residential treatment center in Virginia. There were 28 respondents for a 47% response rate.

The 20 item Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (Short Form> and a demographic questionnaire were the survey instruments used. Respondents were satisfied with 13 Instrument items and undecided about seven of the items. Statistically significant differences occurred in relation to demographic variables …

Health Status And Perceived Health Care Needs Of Female Veterans Of The Armed Services, Nancy Einstein Camp

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the occurrence of genderspecific health problems within the female veteran population of Tidewater, Virginia. A secondary purpose was to determine the perceived quality of care which the Veterans Administration delivers. The study was accomplished by receiving 149 mailed questionnaires regarding health status and health care received from the Veterans Administration. Chi square was utilized to determine significant differences between branch of service served and heal th status. Army veterans had significantly higher incidences of heart disease, diabetes and stomach ulcers. Among the other branches of service (Air Force. Navy, Marines, Coast Guard), …

Factors Determining Peripheral Vascular Disease Clients' Intent To Adhere To Prescribed Behaviors, Gretchen Grahn Hitchcock

Nursing Theses & Dissertations

Motivation of clients with Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) to adhere to Recommended risk-reducing behaviors (RRB’s) was explored. The sample (n =30) was comprised of clients in a vascular physician group’s practice with a medical diagnosis of PVD. A nonexperimental, descriptive design was utilized to investigate how much variation in adherence to RRB’s by PVD clients could be accounted for by the client’s perceived effectiveness of a RRB and the client’s perceived difficulty in adhering to a RRB. A self-administered three part instrument, a demographic data form, and a self-administered qualitative data form were utilized to collect the data. Regression analysis …

Self-Esteem And Perceived Barriers To And Benefits Of Exercise Among Physically Active And Non-Physically Active College Students, Barbara Brown Bonheur

Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine differences in self-esteem, perceived benefits of and perceived barriers to exercise between exercisers and non-exercisers and to determine if relationships existed between self-esteem, perceived benefits of exercise and perceived barriers to exercise, that could explain participation in regular aerobic exercise. A sample of 105 university students completed four questionnaires. The level of social desirability present in participant responses was also measured. Five hypotheses were tested. Utilizing t-tests, a significant difference was found between exercisers and non-exercisers on self-esteem, perceived benefits of exercise, and perceived barriers to exercise. The three variables (self-esteem, …

An Exploratory Study Of Research Utilization By Virginia Nurse Educators, Evelyn M. Clingerman

Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purposes of this study were: to explore research utilization by three groups of Virginia nursing educators; and to determine if differences in stages of diffusion existed between nurse educators working in hospital diploma, associate degree and baccalaureate degree settings within the Commonwealth of Virginia. A stratified random sample included 28 hospital diploma, 41 associate degree and 37 baccalaureate degree nurse educators from the Commonwealth of Virginia, who completed the Nurse Educator Questionnaire (NEQ). Two free-response questions were used to identify factors which the nurse educators perceived as inhibitors and facilitators to research utilization. The results of a two-step mailed …

Reliability Of Q-Angle Measurement, Elisabeth Ann Grusheski

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Various methods of measuring the Q-angle are reported in the literature. The reliability of these measurement methods has not been established. The purpose of this study was to examine the intra- and inter-tester reliability of a method for measuring the Q-angle using a goniometer. The measurement method was performed on 40 normal, healthy subjects who volunteered to participate in the study. There were 27 female subjects and 13 male subjects.

Two physical therapists (Tester 1 and Tester 2) took repeated Q-angle measurements. Measurements were taken on the same day with an interval of five to 10 minutes between measurements. Measurements …

Cognitive, Retention And Transfer Of Learning Consequences Of Computer Assisted Instruction And Videotape Instruction With Registered Nursing Students, Linda Mccormack-Miller

Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) and Videotape instruction on cognitive, transfer and retention learning consequences of RN students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. The sample consisted of 18 registered nurses who were enrolled in a sophomore level physical assessment course. The research design was a pretest-posttest experimental design. Mastery of Learning Theory and Transfer of Learning Theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. The Mann Whitney U Test, significant at P(.05, was performed to test for significant differences between the groups on the dependent variables. The …

An Analysis And Evaluation On Printed Materials Used In Genetic Counseling, Janet L. Macarthur

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine printed educational materials on five specific genetic disabilities and evaluate them for appropriateness of reading level and for inclusion of several specific issues related to the adequacy of the literature. Publicly available literature was analyzed using the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Formula and content analysis to estimate readability and to test for the presence of a definition of the disorder, a description of the basic genetics of the disorder and its symptomology, references to support groups and references for further information.

The data indicate that a definition of the disorder was included in 85% …

Isolation And Partial Characterization Of Basic, Sperm-Specific, Nuclear Proteins In The Dog And Hampster, Richard William Hall

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The purpose was to determine whether dogs and hamsters contain the same sperm-specific protamine and testis specific proteins (TP) as other eutherian mammals previously studied. The proteins (protamine and TPs) were isolated from spermatids and mature spermatozoa, and were subjected to electrophoresis in an acid-urea, polyacrylamide gel system according to the procedure of Panyim and Chalkley (1962). The results indicated that, regardless of the anatomical location of sperm acquisition, acid precipitation technique, or denaturing agents used, epididymal and testicular samples from both the dog and hamster contained protamine in elongated spermatids and mature spermatozoa. The protamines from dogs and hamsters …

Hypoxanthine-Induced Differentiation Of Cultured Human Leukemia Cells, Gayle Jennette Singleton

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Human cultured leukemia cells appear to have a decreased amount of inosine in their tRNA. When cells with inosine deficient tRNA are placed in a hypoxanthine fortified media, they incorporate hypoxanthine into their tRNA by the action of the enzyme tRNA-hypoxanthine ribosyl transferase. This generates the nucleoside inosine in the tRNA. The cultured human leukemia cell lines, CCRF-CEM, HL-60, and HGPRT(-) HL- 60, incorporate hypoxanthine into their tRNA, as determined by tRNA isolation, hydrolysis, and HPLC analysis. Hypoxanthine treatment dramatically inhibited cell growth in conjunction with partial induction of differentiation in the CCRF-CEM, HL-60, and HGPRT ( - ) HL-60 …

House Bill 1024: A Chronology, Clare Houseman, Leslie Hurt, Lucy Smith, Michele Zimmerman

Nursing Faculty Publications

In speaking to those assembled for Legislative Day, Tim Oksman, lobbyist for HB1024 stated that the bill's passage against all odds was a tribute to the respect that the legislators have for the Nursing Profession. For persons interested in the political process surrounding HB1024 this chronology is written. If at times it seems repetitive, it's because the process was. The same core group of people, give or take a couple, said the same things to different people over and over again. Perhaps it is important to emphasize both the frustration and necessity of this repetition and that patience is needed …