Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exercise Level And Age As Related To Self-Perceived Physical Health, Mental Health, And Social Health In Older Adults, Barbara Jean Leach Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the level of exercise and age and self-perception of physical, mental and social health in older adults. Voluntary quota sampling was used to recruit 224 older adults aged 55 and up. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for the Elderly (Voorrips, Ravelli, Dongelmans, Deurenberg, & Van Staveren, 1990) was used to determine the current level of exercise of the older adult. Age was measured using the Demographic Questionnaire by Leach (1999) and self-perception of physical health and mental health was measured using the SF-36 Health Survey by Ware (1993). The Texas …

The Effect Of Local Muscle Fatigue On The Threshold Frequency Of An Electrically Induced Cramp, Marcus B. Stone

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: Muscle fatigue has been implicated as a factor in the cause of exercise associated muscle cramping. In an electrically induced muscle cramp, threshold frequency (TF) is the frequency of stimulation at which the cramp originates. Therefore, the TF of a fatigued muscle should shift from a previously established baseline. Objective: To determine the effect of local muscle fatigue on TF of electrically induced muscle cramp. Design: A 2 X 2 repeated measures design was used for this study. The independent variables were test (pre- and post-) and condition (control and fatigue). The dependent variable was TF of an electrically …

Technique Differences In Women's 100m Hurdles Between The Current Hurdle Height Of 84.0 Cm And A Proposed Hurdle Height Of 91.4 Cm, Jason M. Francis

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined women's 100 rn hurdle technique modifications over the proposed hurdle height of 91.4 ern compared to the current hurdle height of 84.0 ern. The technique modifications were determined by the kinematic variables composed of linear displacements and angular displacements, and the performance variables composed of velocity measures and timing information. Three women collegiate 1 OOrn hurdlers at Indiana State University and one post collegiate hurdler training at Indiana State University volunteered for the study. The athletes finished a six-week conditioning program prior to the start of hurdle training. The athletes were given two weeks or four hurdle …

Adhd: What Educators And Parents Should Know, Jessica J. Foust

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Treatment And Prevention Of Overuse Hand Injuries Related To Rock Climbing In Chattanooga And Its Surrounding Areas, Johnathan Gannaway

Honors Theses

In any physical exercise, the risk of injury is always present and cannot be eliminated. Specifically, rock climbing subjects climbers to the dangers of cuts, abrasions, strains, and fractures in the least serious of injuries. Although rock climbers must be conscious of more serious injuries, such as death, they tend to ignore less minor injuries like overuse hand injuries. During rock climbing, the upper extremities are required to support unnatural weight loads for extended periods of time; therefore, they are the primary area for overuse injuries. The hands and fingers in particular are stressed and contorted more forcefully than any …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Among Life-Skills, Self-Esteem, And Well-Being In Adults, Scott David Meche

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the relationship among life-skills, self-esteem, and well-being in 278 adults. Adults were classified into three age groups. Of the 278 participants, 96 were young adults, 92 were middle-aged, and 90 were older adults. Life-skills, global organizations of general coping skills that are learned behaviors which enable effective functioning, were assessed with the Life-Skills Inventory - Adult Form (Gazda, Illovsky, & Taylor, 1991). Analyses were performed to understand the influence of four generic life-skills areas, interpersonal communication/human relations, problem-solving/decision making, identity development/purpose in life, and physical fitness/health maintenance, on self-esteem. Self-esteem was measured with the Self-Esteem Inventory-Adult Form …

Effects Of Diabetes And Aging On Posture And Acceleration Thresholds During Lateral Translations, Samantha Jean Richerson

Doctoral Dissertations

Research objectives. One source of falls in the elderly may be an inability to sufficiently adjust to transient postural perturbations or slips. Identifying useful predictors of fall potential, as well as factors that affect the ability of an individual to detect a movement of the standing support surface may provide insight into postural stability and methods to increase stability in elders. To do this, acceleration thresholds to short, precise, lateral platform translations and the resultant psychophysical responses of adults with early Type 2 diabetes to age-matched controls and young adults were measured.

Methods. Using an innovative SLIP-FALLS platform, …

Psychological Reactance As A Personality Characteristic: Relationships To Attachment And Autonomy, Maurine Traville Hargrove Ladner

Doctoral Dissertations

Psychological reactance is a construct that motivates people to restore lost or threatened freedoms (Brehm, 1966). Research is beginning to show that psychological reactance may be related to family of origin dynamics. Autonomy is developed through a secure attachment. Dowd (1993) stated that autonomy is fostered by an optimal level of reactance, and one's personal identity is dependent on the development of a flexible autonomy. This study explored the relationship between psychological reactance and attachment. Additionally, research has suggested that level of reactance may be related to level of autonomy. This relationship was empirically explored. Participants were assessed using the …

Spiritual Function And Its Relationship To Health-Related Quality Of Life In A Population With Chronic Illness, Holly B. Orozco

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between different aspects of spiritual function (intra- and interpersonal relationships, connectedness to God, and practices) and health-related quality of life, and to determine if perceived spirituality and perceived religiosity were significantly related to spiritual function and health-related quality of life. The study analyzed secondary data collected in the third year of a three year (1997-1999) Ambulatory Care Quality Improvement Project (ACQUIP) of the Veteran's Administration. A sample of 500 male veterans were randomly selected from a larger sub- sample of six Veterans Hospital Administration facilities across the U.S., having one …

Evaluation Of The Systems Theory Based Interdisciplinary Patient Safety Practice Guideline On Restraint Reduction And Fall Prevention, Steven D. Eberth

Masters Theses

Patient safety remains one of the most profoundly complex and important issues in healthcare systems especially regarding the use of restraint and the prevention of falls. Current topic guidelines suggest a "systems approach." These guidelines, however, oriented toward solution application using analytical problem-based approach. The development of this practice guideline was in response to a desire for theory-based practice that could guide outcomes. This practice guideline transforms systems theory into a guide for use by a leader/manager and a tool for the practitioner to rethink patient safety in a more holistic manner. This study was conducted in critical care, older …

Right Hemisphere Effects On Language Processing: Suppression Or Activation Deficit, Sarah A. Orjada

Masters Theses

This study was designed to add to the body of research that examines the possibility of semantic activation or suppression deficits as underlying right hemisphere communication disorders. Modified treatment techniques for activation and suppression deficits proposed by Myers (1999) were used as stimuli for the experimental tasks. A total of four RHD participants and four control participants matched in age, gender, and level of education were included in the study. The study aimed to answer the following questions. Do RHD or control participants have higher scores on the suppression tasks? Do RHD participants have longer reaction times? Do RHD or …

The Immediate Effects Of Vestibular Stimulation On The Language Performance Of A Child With Autism, Jennifer L. Sova

Masters Theses

There is a proposed link between sensory processing abilities and language performance in children with autism. Research evaluating such a relationship is limited. This study sought to evaluate the hypothesis that language expression is facilitated by the application of vestibular stimulation in a child with autism. The purpose of the present study was to implement language interaction techniques and measure the outcome of language performance in a 4-year-old child with autism and sensory integration dysfunction. The child was evaluated in regards to vestibular stimulation and its facilitative effect on language production for social communicative purposes. Direct observation was used to …

Evaluation Of The Pediatric Test Of Brain Injury, Heather K. Koole

Masters Theses

This study was designed to evaluate the Pediatric Test of Brain Injury (PTBI), as well as to examine information obtained from informal measures in assessing children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Three students with TBI and three grade- and gender- matched subjects participated in this study. All six students were administered the PTBI, and their performances were given raw scores, rated for level of difficulty in performing the tasks, and compared among and across the two groups. The students with TBI were interviewed by the graduate student researcher regarding self-perceptions of their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, their …

Development And Psychometric Evaluation Of The Wikoff Spiritual Focus Questionnaire, Karen Luther Wikoff Phd

Dissertations

Spirituality is a concept that has been a part of nursing since nursing began. In every culture spirituality is a component of healing. However, in the United States, nurses seldom assess the concept of spirituality and the patient's spiritual needs are often not addressed. Wikoff Spiritual Focus Questionnaire was designed to help nurses assess and meet the patient's spiritual needs. A review of literature revealed that spirituality was comprised of a relationship between a Higher Power, Self, Others, and Nature which resulted in a sense of being, knowing and life purpose. A fifth dimension of Religion was identified through a …

Expression Of Glutathione-S-Transferase Mu 1 (Gstm1) And Glutathione-S-Transferase Theta 1 (Gstt1) In Patients With Aplastic Anemia And Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Aaron Conrad Spivey

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Aplastic Anemia is a disorder of the hematopoietic bone marrow stem cells that is frequently associated with drug or chemical exposures. Reduced ability to detoxify drugs or chemicals may result in an increased risk of disease. Glutathione S-transferases are Phase II enzymes, which help detoxify xenobiotics. Many patients who have developed aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome have the null genotype for GSTMI and/or GSTTI. For patients with GSTMI and GSTTI positive genotypes, non-expression of these enzymes may cause an increased risk in developing aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. To test whether genotype positive patients have GSTMI or GSTTI null …

The Short-Term Effects Of Grade 1 And 2 Joint Mobilizations On Subject Pain Range Of Motion And Muscle Activity In The Pathological Lumbar Spine, Sean Hanrahan

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the short-term effects of Grades 1 and 2 posteroanterior joint mobilizations (JM) at the pathological lumbar spine on subject pain, range of motion (ROM), and muscle force. All subjects were determined to have sustained mechanical dysfunction of the lumbar spine of less than 48 hours as assessed through a standardized evaluation. Subjects were randomly assigned to a group; the control group received ice and stretching while the experimental group received JM in addition to ice and stretching. The JM's were performed at 3 consecutive lumbar segments surrounding the area of greatest discomfort. …

The Ecological Ramifications Of Disease And Density In The Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Panulirus Argus, Donald C. Behringer Jr.

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

In 1999, I discovered the first virus known to be pathogenic to any species of lobster. HLV-PA is a pathogenic herpes-like virus that infects juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, in the waters off south Florida (USA), and it alters the behavior and ecology of this species in fundamental ways. Gross signs of HLV-PA infection are lethargy, morbidity, cessation of molting, and discolored, “milky” hemolymph that does not clot. HLV-PA infects the hemocytes of host lobsters, specifically the hyalinocytes and semi-granulocytes, but not the granulocytes. When hemolymph from infected donors was injected into healthy juvenile lobsters, 90% of the …

Predictors Of Oral Health Behaviors: Examining The Effect Of Patient Perceived Humanistic Attitude In The Context Of The Health Belief Model, Linda Leigh Hawkins Carroll

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to test the explanatory power of The Health Belief Model with the added environmental condition of perceived humanistic attitude of a dental hygienist in its ability to predict individual's performance of oral disease prevention behaviors. A cross section survey of an intact group of 1,943 full time employees of Old Dominion University was conducted. The response rate was 52% (n = 1001). An exclusionary rule eliminated respondents who did not have a dental hygienist provide preventive services during dental visits. Seven hundred and fifty four were included in the study analyses. The study participants …

Application Of The Traditional Epidemiological Model To Predict Occupational Injury Rates In Manufacturing Industries, Gary A. Morris

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study was designed to test the usefulness of the Traditional Epidemiological Model of disease causation in modeling occupational injury rates and the presence of occupational illness in the manufacturing industry. More specifically, this research involved use of the agent, host, and environment constructs of the Traditional Epidemiological Model to examine the effects of five environmental-related workplace health and safety practices on occupational injury and illness. Data from the National Occupational Exposure Survey (NOES), conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in 1981–1983, were used to ascertain the presence of specific workplace characteristics and to calculate …

Hybridization Between The Watersnakes Nerodia Sipedon And Nerodia Fasciata, In The Carolinas: A Morphological And Molecular Approach, Konrad Mebert

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

A few traditionally applied diagnostic characters of color pattern were compared with an additional set of morphological and genetic characters to evaluate differences between Nerodia sipedon and N. fasciata and to study the dynamics across their hybrid zone in the Carolinas. Many of the morphological characters exhibited significant interspecific differences, although only the number of dorsally complete crossbands (CBa) was diagnostic by itself. A discriminant function analysis of morphological characters was successful in separating both taxa. Species-specific nuclear markers, identified by the AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) technique were nearly fixed and served as diagnostic markers. They revealed extensive introgression …

Modeling The Decision Process Of A Joint Task Force Commander, John Anthony Sokolowski

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The U.S. military uses modeling and simulation as a tool to help meet its warfighting needs. A key element within military simulations is the ability to accurately represent human behavior. This is especially true in a simulation's ability to emulate realistic military decisions. However, current decision models fail to provide the variability and flexibility that human decision makers exhibit. Further, most decision models are focused on tactical decisions and ignore the decision process of senior military commanders at the operational level of warfare. In an effort to develop a better decision model that would mimic the decision process of a …

Characterization Of Mouse Prostate Tumor-Infiltrating Leukocytes, Daniel Alan Holterman

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Prostate cancer is the most common form of non-cutaneous cancer among men in the United States and the second most common cause of cancer-related death among men with approximately 189,000 new cases diagnosed and 30,200 deaths of the disease in 2002. Prostate cancer can be a treatable disease but once it becomes metastatic there are no acceptable therapies. For this reason, immunotherapy has been attempted but the results have been disappointing. The TRAMP model was used to evaluate specific interactions between an intact murine immune system and a prostate tumor that expressed a naturally processed weak tumor antigen. Vaccination trials …

Automatic Speaker Identification Using Reusable And Retrainable Binary-Pair Partitioned Neural Networks, Ashutosh Mishra

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents an extension of the work previously done on speaker identification using Binary Pair Partitioned (BPP) neural networks. In the previous work, a separate network was used for each pair of speakers in the speaker population. Although the basic BPP approach did perform well and had a simple underlying algorithm, it had the obvious disadvantage of requiring an extremely large number of networks for speaker identification with large speaker populations. It also requires training of networks proportional to the square of the number of speakers under consideration, leading to a very large number of networks to be trained …

Population Mobility High-Risk Environments And The Diffusion Of Hiv/Stds: A Community Based Study In Southwest China, Hongyun Fu

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Globally, population migration has been associated with the spread ofHIV/STDs in many countries. A similar trend has been observed in China from the very beginning of the HIV epidemic, but empirical research is very limited. Furthermore, the previous studies mainly focused on the micro impact of migration on individual migrant's risky behaviors. The impact of population mobility on the general population, especially on non-migrant residents, has been ignored. Using data collected from a specially designed community level survey, which was conducted in a province in the Southwest of China, this study examines the macro-level association between temporary migration and the …

Determining The Validity Of A New Cycle Ergometer Protocol For Estimating Vo(2) Max, James Allen Parrott

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The current American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) submaximal cycle ergometer protocol has been evaluated by several researchers for its validity in estimating maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max). It has been found that the ACSM protocol overestimates VO₂max by 28% on average (Swain and Wright, 1997). It is felt that the short stage duration, only 3 minutes, of the ACSM protocol is largely responsible for this overestimation. The new submaximal cycle ergometer protocol evaluated here utilizes a 6-minute stage in an attempt to reduce the overestimation of VO2max while increasing the overall test validity.

A regression performed …

A Qualitative Study To Analyze The Effectiveness Of A Researcher Designed Tool In Documenting Outcomes Of Caring Encounters, Both Individually And Over Time, Karen S. Ackerman

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: Research into the documentation of quality-of-care outcomes is pivotal to developing nursing theory, increasing the knowledge base of nursing, and highlighting nursing accomplishments. This thesis presents a researcher-designed, agency-specific tool as one way of describing and documenting the outcomes of caring encounters. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of a researcher-designed tool in documenting the outcomes of caring encounters both individually and over time. Method: A descriptive research design was used to study the implementation of the tool. Watson's Theory of Human Caring served as the synthesizing framework. Results: Outcome tools applied to 34 …

Effect Of Ca(Oh)2 On Survival Ability Of A Bacterial Mixture: An In Vitro Study, Nishan Antranik Odabashian

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of calcium hydroxide on a mixture of nine bacteria associated with endodontic infections at different time intervals and to examine the survival of the same bacteria when in mixture. A total of 102 teeth were used in the first part of the experiment. Eighty teeth were used in eight experimental groups of 10 each, 16 teeth were used for positive and negative controls, and six teeth were used for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nine species of bacteria were used in both experiments. These consisted of Enterococcus faecalis, …

An Interpretive Exploration Of The Meaning Of Being With Women During Birth For Midwives, Lauren P. Hunter Phd

Dissertations

This study explored the meaning of the phenomenon of the midwife's experience of being present with a woman during childbirth. The value and importance of being with a woman during childbirth, specific and unique to midwifery care, is reflected in midwifery philosophies and models of care. This study looked through the lens of midwives who have written poetry about births they have attended to learn more about the experience of being with a woman. Hermeneutical phenomenology was selected for the philosophical methodology and method because it looked at both the phenomenon and the use of language to describe the phenomenon. …

Justifying Coercion: Nurses' Experiences Medicating Involuntary Psychiatric Patients, Paula K. Vuckovich Phd, Rn

Dissertations

This grounded theory study delineates the process inpatient psychiatric nurses use to respond to the challenging nursing problem of medicating resistant involuntary patients. Since approximately one third of all admissions to psychiatric units in the United States are involuntary (Durham, 1996), caring for involuntary patients is a significant part of psychiatric nursing. Medication administration is a major treatment modality that is expected in caring effectively for psychiatric patients (American Psychiatric Association (APA), 1994; APA, 1997; Patel & Hardy, 2001). The process of getting the involuntary patient to accept medication is a major nursing function in a psychiatric unit that treats …

In Utero Indomethacin Alters O₂ [Oxygen] Delivery To The Fetal Ductus Arteriosus : Implications For Persistent Postnatal Patency, Seth Hamlin Goldbarg

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Exposure of the fetus to indomethacin produces constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus (DA) and hypoxia in the avascular muscle media of the vessel wall. Hypoxia induces cell death, which increases the incidence of patent DA in the newborn period. We used a fetal sheep model to determine the factors that were responsible for indomethacin-induced hypoxia at various degrees of DA constriction. Indomethacin produced DA constriction in all fetuses studied in vivo. Cell death in the DA wall was directly related to the degree of indomethacin-induced DA constriction and was present at both moderate (pressure gradient across DA <16 >mmHg) and …