Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Visual Speech Training Aid For The Deaf, Subhashri Venkat

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A computer-based vowel articulation training aid has been developed. A "continuous" acoustic-phonetic transformation is performed to map speech parameters to a lower dimensionality display space. There are two possible approaches to this transformation problem. The transformation could be either linear or a combination nonlinear/linear. The nonlinear transformation is performed using a multi-layered feedforward neural network with linear output layers. Speech parameters are extracted either from an analog filter bank arrangement (band energies) or by a digital signal processing procedure (Discrete Cosine Transform Coefficients). The speech parameters obtained from both methods correspond to the spectral envelope of the speech signals. The …

Health Locus Of Control, Sexual Self-Concept, Self-Efficacy And The Contraceptive Behavior Of College Students, Lorraine Kime Perkins

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the following study was to determine whether contraceptive use could be predicted from health locus of control, contraceptive self-efficacy, and sexual self-concept scores in a selected group of single college students ages 18-24. In order to better understand contraceptive behaviors, it is desirable to determine which personality variables may influence contraceptive behavior in young adults. A sample of 122 single undergraduate college students, both male and female, ages 18-24, completed a self-reported questionnaire including tools to measure health locus of control, contraceptive self-efficacy, and sexual self-concept, as well as demographic data. The participants were divided into two …

Head Nurse Leadership Behavior And Head Nurse And Staff Nurse Job Satisfaction And Burnout In The Intensive Care Setting, Dianne Vick Benton

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between head nurse (HN) leadership behavior and head nurse and staff nurse (SN) job satisfaction and burnout in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The two target populations for this study were: ICU HNs and ICU SNs. A sample of 10 HNs and 65 SNs completed four questionnaires. This study was conducted in eight community hospitals ranging in bed size between 150 to 700. Four research questions were tested. Utilizing t-tests. a significant difference was found between ICU HNs' and SNs' perceptions of the HN leader behavior of high task - …

An Explanatory Study Of Maternal Stress And Coping With A Cystic Fibrosis Child, Leslie G. Potter

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the concept of coping with a cystic fibrosis (CF) child and to define coping strategies from the perspective of the mother. The research design was based upon a phenomenological approach with analysis of transcribed, semi-structured interviews with mothers of CF children. A purposive sample of eight mothers with CF children were interviewed to explore the maternal CF experience. Each interview was tape recorded and followed up with a phone call to allow the mothers to add additional information, if so desired. Data analysis consisted of reviewing each typed, verbatim transcript to categorize …

Job Satisfaction And Retention: Outcomes Since Implementation Of Three Scheduling Options, Katherine Marie Newnam

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine if flexible scheduling options influenced retention and job satisfaction of 109 full time registered staff nurses within a selected hospital setting. The Anticipated Turnover Model, developed by Hinshaw and Atwood (1984) provided the theoretical framework for the study. Perceived job satisfaction was measured by the Nursing Job Satisfaction Scale (Hinshaw & Atwood, 1984). The Anticipated Turnover Scale (Hinshaw & Atwood, 1984) measured the possibility of voluntary termination by sample respondents. The respondents were divided into three groups according to three schedule options: Group 1, 12 hour, weekend only (Baylor); Group 2, …

Morphological And Physiological Examination Of A Demyelinating And Remyelinating Lesion, Paul Anson Felts

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Multiple sclerosis causes demyelination of central nerve fibers, and it is this pathology which results in most of the symptoms of the disease. The repair of the fibers by remyelination has been advanced as a potential symptomatic therapy, but at present the conduction properties of remyelinated central fibers are not well understood. In this study the conduction properties of Schwannian or oligodendrocyte remyelinated central nerve fibers have been determined. In addition, the status of the blood-brain barrier has been examined in lesions characterized by Schwann cell remyelination. These lesions chronically lack astrocytes, a cell believed to be involved in the …

Parallel Process: An Empirical Investigation, Thomas E. Pollack

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to conduct an empirical investigation of parallel process. The study used a cross-sectional design in which 30 therapy relationships and the corresponding supervision relationships were studied. The therapist assessed the behavior manifested by the patient during a targeted therapy session. Following the subsequent supervision session, the supervisor assessed the behavior manifested by the supervisee during the supervision session. In addition, each of the triad participants (patient, therapist, supervisor) rated the level of anxiety they experienced during the targeted therapy and supervision sessions. Measures of interpersonal style for each of the subjects were also …

Survey Of Virginia Dental Practices To Determine Compliance With The Standards Of Risk Management Theory, Joanne Schade Boyce

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this survey was to determine selected areas of risk in dental practices within the Commonwealth of Virginia. A self-designed, 51 item questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 300 Virginia dentists to examine their risk management procedures in: (1) the medical record and related documentation, (2) infection control, (3) identification and classification of periodontally involved patients, (4) obtaining informed consent, and (5) emergency protocols. Data from 62% of the dentists were analyzed via the chi-square goodness of fit test, frequency and percentage of responses. Results suggest that Virginia dental practitioners are practicing some of the recommended …

The Relationship Between Occupational Choice And Perceptions Of Professional Nursing Functions And Characteristics, Ellis Quinn Youngkin

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

This study identifies the occupational interests and predominant vocational personality types of freshmen students (undeclared majors, nursing majors, and non-nursing majors), explores perceptions about selected professional nursing functions and characteristics among the students, and examines perceptual differences between groups (majors).

A non-experimental ex post facto design is used to analyze data from 312 students in a large urban university. Descriptive and inferential statistics are applied in data analysis. The following findings support the hypotheses: (1) Nursing continues to attract the traditional student who has Holland's Social vocational personality type as measured by the Self-Directed Search, although many Social types are …

Progesterone And 17 Α-Hydroxyprogesterone: Novel Stimulators Of Calcium Influx In Human Sperm, Peter F. Blackmore, Stephen J. Beebe, Douglas R. Danforth, Nancy Alexander

Bioelectrics Publications

Progesterone and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (but not other steroids such as testosterone, corticosterone, beta-estradiol, estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 20 alpha-hydroxypregnen-3-one, androstenedione, and pregnenolone) were shown to cause an immediate increase, in free cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) in both capacitated and noncapacitated human sperm, using the fluorescent indicator fura 2. Significant increases in [Ca2+]i were observed with 10 ng/ml progesterone, while maximum effects were seen with 1 microgram/ml progesterone. Two other steroids 11 beta-hydroxyprogesterone and 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione exhibited significant activity to increase [Ca2+]i. This increase in [Ca2+]i elicited by progesterone was entirely due to Ca2+ influx from the extracellular medium since the increase in [Ca2+]i …

The Role Of Small Peptides In Cancer Physiology And Chemotherapy, Bao-Ling Tsay

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The targeting of proven anticancer drugs specifically to cancer cells would provide a unique opportunity to restrict neoplasms without damaging the cancer patient. The present research utilizes the phenomenon of illicit transport, i.e. the coupling of normally impermeant metabolites to permeant metabolites, in targeting the drug melphalan to mouse Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The dipeptide beta-alanyl-melphalan was synthesized and tested in vitro for toxicity towards mouse Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, mouse liver cells, and mouse 3T3 embryonic cells. The parent compound, melphalan, was used as a control treatment. In addition, both melphalan and beta-alanyl-melphalan were utilized in in vivo chemotherapeutic …

The Relationship Between Needs And Interpersonal Problems Of Women In Four Interpersonal Categories, Valarie Elaine Sikes-Nova

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study empirically assessed the relationship between needs structure and interpersonal presentation in women. Proposed indices for selective attention were assessed as to their ability to detect pathology. The relationship between interpersonal presentation and interpersonal problems were also studied. The measures used were The Picture Identification Test (Chambers, 1976), The Interpersonal Adjective Scales-Revised (Wiggins, 1985), The Inventory for Interpersonal Problems (Horowitz, 1986), and The Marlowe-Crowne Social-Desirability Scale (1964).

Subjects were assigned to one of four interpersonal categories (Friendly-Dominant, Friendly-Submissive, Hostile-Dominant, Hostile-Submissive) on the basis of their self-reported IAS-R and one category on the basis of their counselor-reported IAS-R scores. Subjects …

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 …

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) …

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 …

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

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences 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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences 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 …

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), …

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 …

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

Ellmer School of 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, …

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 …

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

Ellmer School of 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 …

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

Ellmer School of 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 Exploratory Study Of Research Utilization By Virginia Nurse Educators, Evelyn M. Clingerman

Ellmer School of 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 …