Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Literacy Based Communication Intervention On Expressive Language Of A Young Child, Celeste C. Reynolds

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

A positive correlation has been demonstrated between improved expressive language skills and intervention using literacy related activities in the school-aged populations for both normally developing and developmentally delayed children. Norris (1991) found that children's literature provides meaningful contexts that are ideal for helping school aged children learn language in a manner that is interesting an does not artificially fragment language into subcomponents or splinter skills. Children can learn to recognize and use the abstract, complex, and subtle aspects of language in the context provided in written language. "The use of written language for intervention provides a context for integrating spoken …

Refeeding Syndrome, Christina H. Sperry

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Refeeding syndrome is a syndrome of electrolyte abnormalities, which occurs in patients who are fed orally, enterally, or parenterally (1). Patients at high risk of getting refeeding syndrome include people with chronic malnutrition-underfeeding, classic kwashiorkor, classic marasmus, anorexia nervosa, chronic alcoholism, morbid obesity with massive weight loss, patients unfed in 7-10 days with evidence of stress and depletion, patients with prolonged fasting, and patients with prolonged intravenous hydration (1,2). Characteristics or complications of refeeding syndrome include congestive heart failure, hypercapnia, hyperglycemia, rebound hypoglycemia, hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalcemia. Prevention is the key in refeeding syndrome and it can be done …

Childhood Choice Making Patterns As A Function Of Contingency Shaping Versus Instructional Control, Nathan Atkin Call

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The term contingency shaped refers to any response class governed by its direct consequences (Catania, 1973). In a theoretical paper on problem solving Skinner (1966) discriminated between contingency shaped and rule-governed behavior by stating that no matter how similar in form they may appear each have independent controlling variables and functional properties. In a later analysis (Skinner, 1974) he elaborated on rule-governed behavior by pointing out that one distinct form of rule-governed behavior is instruction following. An instructional episode, however, consists of more than any verbal or non-verbal statement of contingencies, but includes the consequences in question as well (Cerutti, …

Treatment Of Nocturnal Enuresis In Four Male Adolescent Sex Offenders, Deloy Herman Johnson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Over the three months of this study, the subjects were detained 24 hours per day, every day at a residential center for sex offenders. Of the four subjects, three received medications for nocturnal enuresis while the other one received medication for hyperactive behavior. The time interval between nocturnal events increased for the recipients of sensitivity training. This study was a three-month study without follow up. The increased interval may be explained by two other confounds that were not measured: 1) the clients who had the longer intervals at the end of the study were also on medication, which possibly contributed …

Pre-Referral Portfolio Assessment For Limited English Proficient Students, Elizabeth Grayce Stevens

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

What can be done to ensure that the needs are met of children who are limited in proficiency of the English language? Such is the familiar query of educators and professionals alike. In fact, one elementary school principal stated that this question often presents itself as the first item of business when administrators meet together (Marian Waterman, personal communication, October, 1997). How do we know where to place a child? How do we evaluate progress? When progress is limited, how do we know if the child requires special education services? The answers lie in appropriate assessment.

Influence Of Boat Density Levels On Boaters' Satisfaction At Hyrum Lake, Utah, Floyd Alma Powell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of boat density on boaters' satisfaction at Hyrum Lake State Park, Utah. The study evaluated relationships between boaters' satisfaction with their Hyrum Lake experience and density of boats at different locations on the lake and among participants in different boating activities.

The participants in this study were boaters who used Hyrum Lake between May and September of 1996. An oral, on-site interview survey was randomly given to 282 boaters as they left the lake for the day. The surveys were conducted on high-density days (weekends) and low-density days (weekdays), which …

Analysis Of Gender And Success-Related Kinematic Differences Of Elite Sport Rock Climbers During Competition, Russell Slaugh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study compared differences in kinematically based performance success characteristics of elite sport rock climbers during competition both within and across the variable of gender. The purpose of this study was to identify kinematically based performance success and gender differences in elite sport rock climbers for the development of further studies and gender-specific training procedures. The dependent variables included the kinematics of the dynamic grasping hand (DGH) and the center of mass (CM) and the timing of these variables.

The participants included both the men and women competitors registered for the 1997 American Sport Climbing Federation's Fall National competition held …

Effects Of Zinc On Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase In Buffalo Rat Liver Cells, Bryan G. Sauer

Honors Theses

In recent years, interest has surfaced in the use of insulin-mimicking agents for diabetic therapies. Zinc has been shown to have insulin-like effects in vivo and in vitro but has never been studied for its ability to mimic insulin in the regulation of carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism. Therefore, the author studied the effects of zinc on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), an enzyme stimulated by insulin that is imperative in both carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism. Because G6PDH is highly regulated in liver cells, a stable rat liver cell line, Buffalo Rat Liver (BRL), was used. Endogenous G6PDH activity and G6PDH …

The Effect Of Familiar And Novel Testing Environments On The Gross Motor Function Measure Scores Of Developmentally Normal Children 17-37 Months Old, Tracey Blain, Jean Angel

Masters Theses

Our purpose in this research was to compare the reliability of the Gross Motor Function Measure in familiar and unfamiliar environments. Discrepancy between clinical assessment results and true motor functional ability may give false information leading to inefficient treatment sessions. Our research gives therapists information about optimal assessment site choice. Subjects included sixteen developmentally normal children between the ages of 17 and 37 months. Our study fit a repeated measure counterbalanced design, and ANOVA was used to analyze our data. We did not reject our null hypothesis that the child’s score on the GMFM in the familiar environment would equal …

A Kinematic And Kinetic Analysis Of First, Fourth, And Fifth Positions In The Classical Ballet Method, Mary Sue Hill

Masters Theses

The problem of the study was to compare electromyography (EMG) responses, ground reaction forces, and torques on female college-age dancers' knees in selected positions. Subjects were 18 female dancers, aged 18 to 30 years, with 6 subjects from each of three levels: Ballet Technique I, II, and III. The rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis were analyzed in a grande plie in three positions, (1) first, (2) fourth, and (3) fifth, with two phases: (1) eccentric, and (2) concentric. No differences in force or EMG data were found for the concentric phases of the three positions. Significant differences were …

Quality Of Life In Grandparents After A Diagnosis Of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia In Their Grandchild, Laura S. Mullins

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess grandparents' perceptions of their quality of life (QOL) after the diagnosis and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in their grandchild. The following questions were addressed: (a) How do grandparents of children with ALL perceive their current QOL; (b) How do grandparents of children with ALL perceive their current QOL has changed since their grandchild was diagnosed; (c) What specific changes in QOL have grandparents experienced since the diagnosis of ALL in their grandchild; (d) What is the grandparents' overall attitude about life with leukemia; (e) Is there a relationship between the …

Direct Service Staff's Perceptions Of Psychotropic Medication In Noninstitutional Settings For Individuals With Developmental Disabilities, Leeann Christian

Dissertations

Approximately 35-55% of individuals with mental retardation who live in the community are prescribed psychotropic and/or antiepileptic medication (Aman, Saphare, & Burrows, 1995; Singh, Guernsey, & Ellis, 1992). As more individuals with severe behavior challenges are transitioned from institutions into the community, these rates are likely to increase. Given these prevalence rates, it is important to determine whether staff who serve people with mental retardation are adequately educated about psychotropic medications. Previous studies (Aman, Singh, & White, 1987; Gadow, 1983; Singh, Epstein, Stout, Luebke, & Ellis, 1994; Singh et al., 1996) surveyed a variety of service providers in school and …

The Relationship Between Leadership/Followership In Staff Nurses And Employment Setting, Elaine S. Vandoren

Dissertations

This study tested the hypothesis that staff nurses in hospitals used different leadership and followership behaviors than staff nurses in home care settings. Leadership behaviors were measured using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Bass, 1995); followership was measured using Kelley’s Followership Style Questionnaire (1992). Three hospital and home care agencies belonging to a private nonprofit corporation in the Midwest provided data. A total of 136 surveys were used in data analysis; 57% of distributed surveys were returned.

Differences between the hospital and home care staff nurses were not found. Self-perception, difficulty in applying clinical behaviors to the MLQ, unknown aspects of …

Acute Blood Pressure Responses To Static And Dynamic Exercise: Racial Differences, Reuben Leon Wright

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

African Americans have a higher incidence of hypertension than other racial groups. Furthermore, some research suggests that normotensive individuals who exhibit exaggerated blood pressure (BP) responses to exercise may be at risk for future hypertension. This study sought to determine if normotensive African Americans exhibited exaggerated BP responses to static exercise or dynamic exercise relative to Caucasian Americans and Asian Americans. Thirty normotensive subjects participated from each of the three racial groups (15 males and 15 females). Subjects held 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (right knee extension) for 3 minutes, and BP was recorded during the third minute. On a …

Reaction-Diffusion Models Of Cancer Dispersion, Kim Yvette Ward

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

The phenomenological modeling of the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of one-dimensional models of cancer dispersion are studied. The models discussed pertain primarily to the transition of a tumor from an initial neoplasm to the dormant avascular state, i.e. just prior to the vascular state, whenever that may occur. Initiating the study is the mathematical analysis of a reaction-diffusion model describing the interaction between cancer cells, normal cells and growth inhibitor. The model leads to several predictions, some of which are supported by experimental data and clinical observations $\lbrack25\rbrack$. We will examine the effects of additional terms on these characteristics. …

Pressure-Induced Intracellular Signaling In Isolated Arteries, Victor A. Miriel

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The ability of cells to respond to mechanical stimuli has been studied through a variety of techniques in numerous cell types. The cells of the vascular wall have adapted to specific mechanical stresses through the activation of intracellular signaling pathways which result in cell-specific responses such as hypertrophy, hyperplasia, proliferation, and migration. Vascular smooth muscle of the arteries have been shown to be sensitive to mechanical stimuli such as stretch, and pressure.

This study attempts to add to the current knowledge of mechanotransduction by utilizing the isolated artery preparation. This preparation allows for the study of vascular smooth muscle signal …

The Role Of Glycoconjugates In Mediating Human Fertilization And Induction Of Fetomaternal Tolerance, Manish S. Patankar

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Using the hemizona assay (HZA), a in vitro sperm-egg binding assay, we show that specific glycoconjugates known to inhibit immune cell interactions mediated by the selectins, potently block human sperm-egg binding. The selectin ligand sialyl Lewis^x inhibits sperm binding in the HZA by 60% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. Our data indicates that glycodelin-A, a endometrial glycoprotein known to block sperm-egg binding in the HZA at low concentrations expresses unusual fucosylated lacdiNAc type glycans. The fucosylated lacdiNAc type sugars have been previously shown to be 15-20 fold more potent ligands of E-selectin. Glycodelin-S a seminal plasma glycoform of …

A Needs Assessment For A Distance Education Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program For Associate Degree Level Dental Hygienist, Joan Gugino Ellison

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive research was to determine the need for a distance education program for geographically dispersed dental hygienists to complete a baccalaureate degree program in dental hygiene. The sample consisted of randomly selected licensed dental hygienists in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A self-designed instrument, titled The Distance Education for a Dental Hygiene Degree Completion Program Questionnaire, was mailed to the study participants after establishing validity and reliability. The questionnaire asked participants to provide information concerning personal demographics, educational background, and interest in completing a dental hygiene baccalaureate degree via distance education. Frequencies, percentages, crosstabulations, chi-square test …

Course Selection Factors Deemed Important By Dental Hygienists Prior To And After The Initiation Of Mandatory Continuing Education In The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Melissa Lynn Sainsbury

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the factors deemed important by dental hygienists in their selection of continuing education courses prior to and after the initiation of mandatory continuing education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Under mandatory continuing education, dental hygiene educators must be able to plan continuing education courses that meet the needs of potential participants.

Results indicate that relative to each other, the 15 factors within this study, ranked in a hierarchy of importance in continuing education course selection by dental hygienists. Mandatory requirement for relicensure and course time ranked higher and course presenter and cost …

Mathematical Models Of Tumors And Their Remote Metastases, Carryn Bellomo

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Clinical observations and indications in the literature have led us to investigate several models of tumors. For example, it has been shown that a tumor has the ability to send out anti-growth factors, or inhibitors, to keep its remote metastases from growing. Thus, we model the depleting effect of such a growth inhibitor after the removal of the primary tumor (thus removing the source) as a function of time t and distance from the original tumor r.

It has also been shown clinically that oxygen and glucose are nutrients critical to the survival and growth of tumors. Thus, we model …

Developmental And Hormonal Regulation Of The Expression Of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Protein Levels In Baboon Placenta, Kathleen Elizabeth Dunstan

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Cytosolic phospholipase A₂ ( cPLA₂) specifically catalyzes the release of arachidonate from membrane phospholipids, thus initiating synthesis of prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and other eicosanoids. The human and nonhuman primate placenta actively synthesize high levels of eicosanoids which play both an autocrine and paracrine role in placental function. Previous studies in Dr. Miriam D. Rosenthal's laboratory have shown that cPLA₂ mRNA levels are developmentally regulated. The present study was designed to determine whether placental cPLA₂ protein levels increased during gestation. Since the marked increases in estrogen levels during normal pregnancy have been shown to enhance morphological and …

Measurement Of Perceived Service Quality Of Selected Dental Specialists, David P. Paul Iii

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Although consumers find it difficult to evaluate the quality of healthcare services in general and dental services in particular, they do make such evaluations. The most widely accepted measurement scale for service quality is SERVQUAL (Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry 1988). A more parsimonious alternative to SERVQUAL, SERVPERF, has also been developed (Cronin and Taylor 1992). Previous research comparing these two scales in the setting of adult patients of general dentists concluded that SERVPERF accounts for significantly more of the variance in perceived service quality than does SERVQUAL (McAlexander, Kaldenberg and Koenig 1994). This dissertation extends this line of research to …

Comparison Of Mandibular Surgical Techniques For Accessing Cranial Base Vascular Lesions, Michael A. Devlin

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: Treatment of vascular lesions of the high cervical internal carotid artery (zone III) resulting from penetrating trauma, blunt trauma, aneurysms, and atherosclerosis pose a challenge for vascular surgeons due to bony interference's of the mandibular ramus and mastoid process. Although many techniques have been described, two methods, have been identified as effective and associated with low morbidity. The purpose of this study is to compare these two methods, mandibular distraction and vertical ramus osteotomy, for their effectiveness at increasing access to the cranial base and distal internal carotid artery.

Materials and Methods: Five fresh frozen cadavers were utilized …

Culture Mediator Model As A Predictor For Somatic Complaints Among Japanese And Japanese Americans, Yoko Tanaka

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

[Abstract Not Included]

History Of The United States Air Force Nurse Corps, 1949-1954, Sharon A. Vairo Dnsc

Dissertations

The Air Force Nurse Corps (AFNC) was established effective July 1, 1949, however, no history of the AFNC has been written. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the first five years of the AFNC when its initial framework, policies, and practices were established. Included in this period was the story of the AFNC response to its first great challenge of the Korean War beginning just before the corps first anniversary. The study framework consists of the four themes of (1) dedication to serve, protect, and care for soldier patients; (2) slow advance in status; (3) need for adequate …

The Effectiveness Of Hypermedia Training Vs. Traditional Classroom Instruction In Stuttering, Micheal Dean Baran

Dissertations and Theses

A study by Henri (1994) showed that fluency is one of two areas where speech-language pathology clinicians feel least prepared and Sommers and Caruso (1995) advocated improved training in fluency. The use of computer technology to train students in the field of stuttering has been proven effective in previous studies (Strang, Meyers & Hall, 1989; Tetnowski & Martin, 1996).

The purpose of this study was to further develop a hypermedia training module for stuttering identification and to determine whether this hypermedia training module was as effective as traditional classroom teaching methods.

Subjects in this study were undergraduate students in speech …

Ethnographic Inquiry Of Social Support Throughout Women's Labor And Childbirth Experiences, Nancy Jane Pinder Saks Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the phenomenon of social support throughout labor and childbirth in order to develop descriptive theory based on the behaviors of the labor and childbirth convoy. Utilizing ethnographic methodology, five women and their support convoys were observed throughout the women's labor and childbirth experience. Word processing and the ETHNOGRAPH software were used for data management, and constant comparative coding methodology was employed for data analysis. Affirmative, affective and aid-giving behaviors were enacted by all convoy members. Consistently, social support was found to be communicated to the laboring woman by her lay supporters by …

Proactive Technique For Workplace Chemical Exposure, James A. Duru

Theses

The rapid increase in the number and quantities of chemicals released into the environment has been accompanied by a lack of adequate pre-released testing for advance health outcomes. Chemicals which serve as feed stock to millions of industries all around the world to produce and process food, cosmetics, equipment, and energy to propel industries, automobiles, home heating and electricity have serious adverse health consequences. They are hazardous. These substances can explode, ignite, react and corrode. Adapting the definition of the international program on chemical safety, a "hazard" is a source of danger. This thesis proposes some proactive prevention techniques useful …

Differences In Lean And Obese Skeletal Muscle Myoblasts Of Adult And Post-Natal La/N (Faf) Rats: A Confocal Description Of The Skeletal Muscle Myoblast, J. Adam Noah

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Mutant strains of obese rats are currently being studied to reveal the mechanisms of increased lipid synthesis and decreased lipid oxidation in these rats. It was originally thought that much of the fat production that leads to obesity is the result of metabolic processes in the liver and adipose tissue. Studies by Kahle et al.³ showed that the liver and adipose tissue account for only 22% and 7% respectively, of total fatty acid synthesis. It was also shown that 21 % of total de novo fatty acid was localized in the postural skeletal muscle.

The dry weight of the …

Effects Of Managed Care On The Professional Autonomy Of Board Certified Physical Therapy Specialist's Practice, Cami Diezel

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose: Identify perceptions of professional autonomy of Board Certified Physical Therapy Specialists (BCPTS) who practiced in managed care environments.

Guiding questions: Do BCPTS perceive an increase in professional autonomy as a specialist than as a generalist? How do the perceptions of professional autonomy vary among each specialization? What variables affect perceptions of professional autonomy among BCPTS?

Method: Two-hundred BCPTS throughout the country were randomly chosen as participants. One-hundred-eight respondents were used as subjects.

Data analysis: Frequency distributions and Pearson's correlation coefficient statistic were utilized.

Results: Majority of respondents reported no increase in professional autonomy as a specialist. Greater than three-quarters …