Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effectiveness Of A Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate Dentifrice Upon Microbiota Associated With Periodontitis, Jill M. Modi

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a hydrogen peroxide, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate dentifrice upon quantitative changes in the sulcular microbial species Bacteroides melaninogenicus and in the gingival condition and plaque accumulation associated with periodontitis. Fifteen subjects from the Hampton Veteran's Administration Medical Center w e r e selected according to a standard criteria. Split mouth experimental design was used. One arch of each patient was assigned randomly to periodontal instrumentation. Half the mouth then was assigned randomly an experimental or a control dentifrice to be utilized once daily. culture analysis, the Gingival Index and …

Determination Of Human Sperm Cell Acrosin Activity From Normal And Subfertile Men, Dilrowshan H. Haque

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Acrosin is an acrosomal enzyme which is reported to be involved in sperm penetration through cumulus, zona, and ooplasma. This enzyme has been reported to be significantly lower in sperm of infertile men compared to sperm of fertile men. The acrosin assay which has been developed can be used for studies in patients with suspected infertility and may be used on a fraction of most semen specimens being evaluated in a clinical andrology laboratory.

Within-run precision studies yielded coefficients of variation of 11% for a low-activity pool and 9% for normalactivity pool specimens. Between-run precision studies using a single donor …

Preferred Provider Organizations: Developmental Indicators, Marcia Anne Guida

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine what factors, if any, led to the development of a preferred provider organization and if these factors were related to sponsorship. A survey instrument was developed and mailed to a random sampling of 90 existing preferred provider organizations' executive directors for their completion. A Two-Factor Contingency Table Analysis was compiled. Chi-square, and the Contingency factor, C, were computed and tested at the .05 level of significance. First and second preference analyses were done on the responses to developmental indicators. Mean percentages were tallied for: sponsorship, tax status, alternative delivery systems in the …

Factors That Influence Prepared Childbirth Couples' Use Of Epidural Anesthesia For Labor And Delivery, Terri S. Chambers

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence a Prepared Childbirth couple's decision to utilize epidural anesthesia for labor and delivery. Review of the literature indicated a high correlation between epidural use for uncomplicated labors and deliveries and a high incidence of maternal complications and low neonatal neurological and behavioral scores.

A sample of twenty-nine couples was used in this prospective, non-experimental field study for the research. Data were collected utilizing two developed demographic and factual event tools, Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Tool and Spanier's Dyadic Marital Adjustment Tool.

Three hypotheses were developed and data were …

Pregravid Weight, Prenatal Weight Gain And Maternal Age As Risk Factors In Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension Development, Maryellen C. Remich

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

This study examined whether the factors of pregravid weight, total prenatal weight gain at twenty-eight weeks and maternal age correlated with the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension in the third trimester. An ex post facto chart review of low risk primigravidas attending a public health maternity clinic was performed. A multiple regression correlation procedure demonstrated no significant correlation between the variables. Significant results of Chi-sguare tests of independence were demonstrated between low maternal age and pregnancy-induced hypertension development and between the failure of the mean arterial pressure to decrease in the second trimester and the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension in the …

The Effects Of Luteinizing Hormone And Adenosine 3',5'-Cyclic Monophosphate On Phospholipid Metabolism By Luteal Mitochondria, Jim John Sadighian

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Luteinizing hormone (LH) increases intracellular concentrations of adenosine 3', 5 '-cyclic monophosphate and the phosphoinositides, phosphatidylinositol (PI), PI 4'-phosphate (PIP) and PI 4' .5 1 - bispbosphate (PIP₂). It is believed that cAMP and the phosphoinositides act concertedly to regulate mitochondrial conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. This study examined the effects of LH and N⁶ ,O² -dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) on phospholipids metabolism by luteal mitochondria and the influence of dbcAMP and the phosphoinosi tides on mitochondrial steroid production. Mitochondria were isolated from unincubated and incubated luteal tissue by differential centrifugation. Phospholipids were extracted from the mitochondria …

Clinical Effectiveness Of ListerineR And ViadentR Mouthrinses On Bacterial Plaque And Gingivitis, Debra Pizzola Powell

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of two commercial mouth rinses, Listerine^R and Viadent^R, on bacterial plaque and gingivitis. over a sixweek period, 24 adults, ages 18-41, were examined for the amount of bacterial plaque and level of gingivitis using Silness and toe's Plaque Index (PLI) and Gingival Index (GI). At the beginning of each two week period, subjects were examined for the amount of plaque and level of gingivitis and given a different mouthrinse: appointment one--viadent^R (mouthrinse A), appointment two--placebo mouthrinse (mouthrinse B), and appointment three--Listerine^R (mouthrinse C). Additionally, subjects …

Magnesium, Copper And Zinc Concentrations In Blood From Children With Diabetes Mellitus, Linda Lowers Jenkins

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Trace element levels in blood from diabetic children were investigated and compared to control children. Plasma, erythrocyte, mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells were analyzed for magnesium, copper, and zinc content. Leukocyte separation was performed by density gradient centrifugation on Ficoll-Hypaque, followed by washing steps to remove platelet contamination and hypotonic lysis to remove red cell contamination. Polarized Zeeman-effect atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for trace metal analysis.

Decreased plasma magnesium levels were observed in the diabetic children. This finding is well documented and probably due to increased urinary magnesium loss from glycosuria. Lymphocyte magnesium levels in the diabetic children were also …

An Investigation To Improve Linear Predictive Vocoder Pulse/Noise Excitation Models, Elizabeth Annella Martina Effer

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The quality of synthetic speech from Linear Predictive (LP) vocoders is known to be degraded due to the lack of detail in the commonly used pulse/noise excitation model. In this investigation, it was hypothesized that this degradation is due to the lack of precise timing information in the pulses and to the constraint that each short-time segment of excitation be either an impulse train or white noise. Accordingly, more complex excitation models were implemented using precise timing from peaks in the residual and a mixture of pulses and noise. Since the LP residual is known to be the perfect excitation …

The Effectiveness Of Stimulation Therapy For The Cognitively Impaired Elderly, Sylvia H. Old

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The effectiveness of stimulation therapy for the cognitively impaired elderly living in an institution was assessed. Residents with varying degrees of cognitive impairment were treated with twenty, thirty-minute daily periods of reality orientation, reminiscence, resocialization, remotivation, and other stimulating therapies and were compared with a control group_ receiving no intervention. Treatment effects were assessed with a variety of instruments reflecting functioning across several domains. Included were ability to perform both basic self-care functions and activities of daily living, cognitive performance, affect, and satisfaction with the care received and the living environment in the nursing home. The experimental group was divided …

The Short Term Effect Of A Dental Health Fair On Children's Attitudes Toward Plaque Control, Fluorides, Nutrition, And Receiving Dental Treatment, Sue Nell Bethea

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a significant difference exists between dental health attitudes of children who are exposed to a dental health fair and children who are not exposed to a dental health fair. All consenting students, in grades four through six . from two Hampton public schools, completed a Dental Health Questionnaire designed to assess attitudes toward dental health. One day after the experimental group participated in the dental health fair, both groups were post-tested using the same questionnaire. Two weeks after the dental health fair, an identical posttest was readministered to both groups. Two-way …

The Role Of The Nurse Middle Manager In A Military Health Care Setting, Terry Brown

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the expectations and perceptions of 63 military nurse participants from all levels of the nurse hierarchy for the role of the military nurse middle manager. Utilizing a tool developed by the researcher, the MMRQ, the study sought to explore role clarity and the importance of the management principles: planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling. Relationships and differences in nursing perceptions were analyzed using Pearson Correlation and Discriminant Analysis. Although the hypothesis of no relationship between expectations and perceptions could not be supported, findings revealed role confusion for two nurse hierarchical levels. The study showed military nurses differed …

The Distribution Of Ceratia Over The Mid-Atlantic Bight, Paul V. Zimba

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The distribution and concentration of Ceratium species, between Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and Long Island, New York ls discussed in relation to specific physical factors and the development of a phytoplankton bloom. The progression of high Ceratium counts Is discussed for the Bight areas of New York, Delaware, and the Chesapeake Bay (April through June). The concentration of Ceratium species declined after June, with highest concentrations along the New York and Delaware coast-lines. Coastal regions (less than 12 km from shore) were associated with high concentrations of several species. Path and regression analysis were used to relate physical factors and …

Color Display Of Vowel Spectra As A Training Aid For The Deaf, Amir Jalali Jagharghi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this research was to develop a transformation for mapping speech parameters to color parameter. This transformation is done in real-time, and the resulting color parameter are continuously displayed on a color monitor. This visual speech display is to be used as a speech articulation training aid for the deaf. The conversion of speech acoustic signals into speech parameter was accomplished using special -purpose electronics. The real-time conversion of speech parameter to display parameter was controlled by an 8086/8088 microprocessor operating in an S-100 bus structure. The coefficients of the Karhunen-Loeve series expansion of speech power spectra were …

Anxiety Differences Associated With Transtelephonic And Conventional Pacemaker Client Follow-Up Methods, Julieta Advento Richman

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore if differences existed in state and trait anxiety between clients with cardiac pacemakers who were utilizing a transtelephonic or conventional method of health care follow-up. A convenience sample of 44 clients with cardiac pacemakers completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory developed by Spielberger, Gorsuch, and Lushene (1964) and a demographic inventory. Subjects were classified into two groups according to the method of follow-up: Group I (n=22) was the transtelephonic follow-up, and Group II (n=22) was the conventional follow-up. Data were analyzed using t-tests for independent samples. The results showed that there were significant …

Correlates Of Knowledge And Locus Of Control On Burden In Professional Caregivers Of Alzheimer's Disease Victims In Three Institution Types, Ruth A. Manning-Gay

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

In assessing professional caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease victims, this study tested whether, 1) knowledge would influence perceptions of burden in providing care to such patients, and if 2) individual locus of control would influence perceptions of burden in caring for; Alzheimer's I patients. Professional nurses (BSN's, RN's, and LPN's) from nursing banes, hospitals and psychiatric facilities were asked to complete a three part survey. Three instruments were utilized in this study: the Burden Self-Interview by Zarit, Reeves and Bach-Peterson and adapted for professional caregivers, a 15 item knowledge quiz and the North Carolina Internal External scale (short form) by Schopler, …

The Effects Of Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring On Self-Esteem And The Ability To Apply Knowledge About Diabetes Mellitus, Nancy-Lu F. Moul

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the effect of blood glucose self-monitoring on two dependent variables: (a) the diabetic client's self-esteem, and (b) the diabetic client's ability to apply knowledge about diabetes mellitus. The sample consisted of two groups of adult Type I diabetic clients. Group I consisted of ten clients who had been performing blood glucose self-monitoring for at least one year, and group II consisted of ten clients who had been performing urine testing for at least one year. A questionnaire was utilized which included: (a) a demographic data sheet, (b) a diabetic knowledge tool, and (c) a self-esteem tool. The …

Clinical Effectiveness Of Hydrogen Peroxide-Sodium Bicarbonate Paste On Human Periodontitis Treated With And Without Scaling And Root Planing, Sylvia M. Lyne

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the main and interaction effects of two oral hygiene regimens and periodontal instrumentation on the periodontal health status of subjects between the ages of 18 and 70 over a two-month period. The sample consisted of 16 subjects with moderate periodontitis. A split-mouth design was used; subjects brushed with fluoridated toothpaste on one side of the mouth and brushed with a hydrogen peroxide-sodium bicarbonate paste on the contralateral side. For each treatment, scaling and root planing were randomly assigned to one arch. At two-week intervals, the periodontal health status was measured using the …

The Effects Of Training In Safe Manual Handling On The Patient Lifting Techniques Of Nursing Personnel, Bruce Paul Klein

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of training on the patient handling methods of nursing personnel. The study sought (1) to determine the effect of three class variables (Group, Session and Task) on behavioral performance, (2) to assess the influence of twelve organismic variables on behavioral performance, and (3) to determine the relationship between written exam scores and trainee behavioral performance.

Test and control groups were comprised of twelve and twenty-eight subjects, respectively. Behavioral performance in four specified tasks was determined via direct observation of individual subjects by trained observers using specific, dichotomously-measured behavioral criteria. Performance …

Negative Cooperatively In The Binding Of 3-Aminopyridine Adenine Dinucleotide To L-Α-Glycero-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase, David Wheeler

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase catalyzes the reversible reaction:

NAD⁺ + G-3-P ⇌ NADH + DHAP + H⁺

The enzyme is found in organisms from E. coli to man. The primary function of the enzyme varies from organism to organism. Depending on the metabolism of the organism, the enzyme may function primarily to generate G-3-P for lipid (in organisms with a highly aerobic biosynthesis metabolism), or it may function primarily to produce NAD⁺ to support glycolysis. Complex multicellular organisms possess tissue specific isozymes of GPDH whose kinetic parameters reflect the relative importance of G-3-P and NAD⁺ production in various …

A Survey Of Burnout Among Dental Hygiene Educators, Sandra Boggs Ricks

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

A survey was conducted on 159 full-time dental hygiene educators in order to collect data on job satisfaction, morale, and perceived institutional/program effectiveness. Educators were chosen for the study by cluster sampling from two- and four-year accredited dental hygiene programs in the United States. The programs were selected at random from stratified groups according to type of institutional setting. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire which contained four major sections: demographic data, job satisfaction, institutional/program effectiveness, and feelings related to their position. Findings were analyzed utilizing contingency tables and Chi-Square analysis. No attempt was made to establish a cause …

The Effects Of Tri-O-Cresyl Phosphate On 2',3'-Cyclicnucleotide-3'-Phosphohydrolase Activity In Neural And Non-Neural Tissue Of The Rat, Mark K. Schlager

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

A total of 44 Long-Evans rats received 5.7 g/kg tri-O-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) orally every 3 days for 6 days. A second group of 13 rats received 4.6 g/kg orally every 3 days for 6 days. Animals were administered atropine sulfate (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally every 6 hours or as needed to alleviate cholinergic symptoms. Ten control animals were given corn oil orally. Eight rats (18%) survived the 5.7 g/kg dose regimen and 5 rats (38%) survived the 4.6 g/kg dose regimen. Surviving rats were killed at 30-33 days post-dose. Signs of delayed neuropathy included ataxia and motor impairment.

The CNP activity …

Tidewater Virginia: A Case Study In Health Planning, Maria Justice Moore Griffin

School of Public Service Theses & Dissertations

Leigh Memorial Hospital, a small private community care hospital merged with Norfolk General Hospital in 1972 to form an innovative health care corporation in Tidewater Virginia. By deciding to merge and alter its organizational identity, the Leigh Memorial Hospital leadership reversed a previous decision to relocate to the downtown Norfolk Medical Center complex, choosing instead to move to within a few yards of the neighboring city of Virginia Beach. Those two decisions and the story behind them are part of a complex, highly interdependent series of decisions which altered the health care delivery system in Tidewater Virginia.

This study is …

Block Encoding Of Speech Spectral Principal Components, James R. Holland Jr.

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A Karhunen-Loeve series expansion was used to block encode speech spectral principal components as a function of time. Each of ten principal components was first obtained as a linear combination of 2© speech spectral band energies. Using a fixed block length of 10 frames (0.128 s), the K-L basis vectors were computed separately for various speakers for each principal component. In all cases the resulting basis vectors were essentially a set of discrete cosine basis vectors. Synthesis of speech from the block encoded parameters showed that very little information is lost with up to 70% data reduction. The block encoding …

Orthodontists' Attitudes Toward Expanding Career Opportunities For The Dental Hygienist In Orthodontics, Julie A. Foster

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this survey was to determine attitudes of orthodontists toward employing dental hygienists. A self-designed, 33 item questionnaire was used to obtain descriptive data. The questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of orthodontists chosen from the United States portion of the Orthodontic Directory of the World (N=500). Data were obtained from 298 orthodontists for a 58.6 percent response rate.

The study suggests that although orthodontists believe dental hygienists are important oral health professionals (96.2 percent) and important parts of the orthodontic practice (32.6 percent), only 10.9 percent of orthodontists surveyed employ dental hygienists. Factors determined to be …

Two-Dimensional Electrophoretic Studies Of Normal Spematozoal Proteins, Ying Lin

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Protein profiles of human spermatozoa have been mapped by using high resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis which combines isoelectric focusing as the first dimension and polyacrylamide gradient gels electrophoresis in SDS as the second dimension. The profiles of normal spermatozoa! extraction, acrosomal extraction and seminal plasma showed high resolution in its separation capability. No qualitative or quantitative differences were observed by using Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 staining in a much higher concentration of proteins. However, coomassie blue lacks the sensitivity to detect many minor components. Therefore, a silver staining procedure was used, which resulted in greatly increased sensitivity.

Samples from normal fertile …

How Registered Nurses In Skilled Nursing Facilities Rate The Importance Of And The Frequency Engaged In Specific Nursing Behaviors Related To Their Role, Christine Anne Heine

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

Registered nurses in skilled nursing facilities were surveyed using the Six-Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance to determine: (1) how they rated the importance of specific nursing behaviors related to their role, (2) how they rated the frequency engaged in the same specific nursing behaviors related to their role, and (3) if there was a relationship between how they rated the specific nursing behaviors for importance and frequency. There were five subgroups of nursing behaviors: (a) leadership, (b) nursing process, (c) teaching and collaboration, (d) interpersonal relations and communication, and (e) professional development. Registered nurses rated all of the behaviors as …

Human Need Fulfillment Alteration In The Client With Uterine Cancer: The Registered Nurses' Perception Versus The Clients' Perception, Linda Lane Lilley

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

This study was a comparison of the similarities and differences between the registered nurses' perception and clients' perception of human need fulfillment alterations in the client with uterine cancer. The effect of level of educational preparation and number of years work experience on the nurses' perception was also analyzed. The participants were 15 registered nurses and 15 clients who had uterine cancer and were admitted to two acute care hospitals in Tidewater. Registered nurses were asked to complete the tool entitled Human Needs Assessment Scale and rate the 35 human needs in relation to the perceived importance for the client. …

A Study Of Loneliness And Health Related Complaints In Residents Of High Rise Apartment Buildings For The Elderly, Susan H. Jones

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore feelings of loneliness among relocated elderly residents of age-segregated, high-rise apartment buildings and any relationship between these subjective feelings of loneliness and certain variables which were hypothesized as predictors of feelings of loneliness. The variables studied in relation to loneliness were cathectic investment, activity, and perceptions of health. A non-experimental survey design where data were collected by interviewing subjects was used. The sample consisted of 18 female residents of a high-rise apartment building for the elderly. Each was interviewed using the Loneliness Rating Scale developed by Dr. Gloria M. Francis and a …

Predictors Of Appointment-Keeping Behaviors Among Users Of Adult Medical Clinics, Ruth L. Campau

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

In a descriptive correlational study, three predictors of appointment keeping behaviors of adults who attend general medical clinics in a primary health care setting were explored. The three selected predictors from the Health Belief Model, a preventive health behavior model, were: (a) perceived barriers to health care, (b) health locus of control (HLC), and (c) satisfaction with health care. The purpose of this study was to identify the predictive value of multiple variables for a specific health-related behavior. Data on the study were collected on a non-probability, purposive sample of 52 users of the adult general medical clinics. The tool …