Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of An Academic Community Health Nursing Program On Self-Reported Functions And Competencies Of Entry Level Public Health Nurses, Charlotte Powell

MSN Research Projects

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of an academic community health nursing program on functions and competencies of entry level public health nurses. The primary purpose of this study was to ascertain if additional knowledge regarding functions and competencies expected of public health nurses, acquired in an academic setting at the baccalaureate level, would improve self-reported functions and competencies of public health nurses. This study was based on King's (1981) conceptual model for continuing nursing education and her Theory of Goal Attainment. This model depicts the interrelatedness and importance of nurses continuing their nursing education which leads to effective goal …

Relationship Between The Effective Use Of Coping Strategies By Spouses Of Clients With Myocardial Infarctions And Their Knowledge Level Of The Psychological And Emotional Effects, Sue Bryant

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the effective use of coping strategies by spouses of clients with myocardial infarctions and their knowledge level of the psychological and emotional effects of a myocardial infarction. In particular, will spouses with greater knowledge of the psychological and emotional effects of a myocardial infaraction cope more effectively than those with less knowledge? Coping effectiveness was measured by the Jalowiec Coping Scale. Knowledge level of the psychological and emotion effects was tested by the Heart Attack Knowledge Scale. The subjects were drawn from local cardiologists' offices in central Mississippi. The …

Effects Of An Educational Program On Perceived Environmental Risk And Identification Of Corrective Actions Related To Falls Among Community-Based Elders, Mary Davis

MSN Research Projects

Injury from falls is a prevalent problem among the elderly population. There is not only high morbidity associated with falls, but also a high mortality rate. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an education program on perceived environmental risks and corrective actions related to falls among community-based elders. Johnson's Behavioral System Model provided the conceptual framework for this study. A quasi-experimental posttest only control group design was used to test the two hypotheses : The knowledge level of perceived environmental risks for falls will be higher among elders who participate in a falls prevention education …

Comparison Of Behaviors Of Suspected Sexually Abused And Nonsexually Abused Preschool Children Using Anatomical Dolls, Rita Kenyon-Jump

Masters Theses

Using anatomical dolls, the play behaviors of nine sexually abused preschool children (five males, four females), ranging in age from 3-5 years, were compared with nine preschool children with whom there was no suspicion of sexual abuse and who were matched on the basis of age, gender, race, family status, and socioeconomic status. There was no significant difference between the two groups on explicit sexual behavior (vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse with thrusting motions between the dolls or between the child and dolls and masturbation by the child). The groups were significantly (t (8) = 2.19, p < .05 ) different when behaviors with suspicious sexual implication were combined with explicit sexual behaviors. There were no differences between the groups on measures of aggression, anxiety, and nonsexual behavior. The occurrence of the suspicious sexual behaviors is discussed and reviews of previous doll research and physical evidence of child sexual abuse are provided.

Improving Active Treatment Through Performance Management, Carman E. Stark

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of this project was to evaluate a performance management program using a goal setting and feedback system implemented by unit supervisors in a large psychiatric hospital. The focus of the research study was to improve active treatment for mental health patients by increasing levels of staff-patient interaction. Behaviors o f self-recording by staff and instructions and goal setting by the unit supervisor were targeted. Feedback was provided by the unit supervisor in the form of publicly posted graphs indicating percent of completed assigned activities. The four phases used in the data summary include: (1) baseline, (2) goal …

Identification Of Dyspraxic Characteristics In Children With Moderate And Severe Articulation Disorders, Gail Woodward

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if public school children with moderate and severe articulation disorders exhibit dyspraxic characteristics on a standardized developmental dyspraxia screening test.

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 …

Dental Hygiene Manpower Distribution In Virginia, Christine Ann Nielsen

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investig~tion was to conduct a comprehensive dental hygiene manpower study in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Data were collected to establish the present number of dental hygienists and dentists in Virginia; the estimated number of practicing and nonpracticing dental hygienists and dentists in Virginia; and the past, present and forecasted employment opportunities for dental hygienists in Virginia. Primary and secondary data were collected via professional associations, state regulatory boards, health agencies, employment and educational commissions and labor statistics bureaus. Frequency distributions were used to analyze the data. Results suggest that there is an adequate supply of dental …

Microwell Based Solid Phase Competitive Enzyme Immunoassay For Estradiol And Estriol, Jeng-Ting Yang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

A sensitive and simple microwell based competition enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative determination of estradiol (E₂) and estriol (E₃) was developed. Nicrowells coated with antibody were incubated with antigen followed by adding horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) conjugate. The assay, which can be performed within two hours at room temperature, involved simultaneous incubation of E₂ - or E₃-HRPO conjugate and serum sample in polystyrene microwells coated with anti- E₂ or anti-E₃ gamma globulin fraction.

Gamma globulin was isolated from whole anti-serum by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. A carbodiimide coupling method was utilized to prepare the …

Development Of A Solid Phase Enzyme Immunoassay For Total Serum Testosterone, Li Li

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

An enzyme-labeled immunoassay of sufficient range and sensitivity was developed for serum testosterone determination. In this method, the testosterone in the serum sample and testosterone-HRPO conjugate compete with each other for the limited antibody binding sites on the anti-testosterone gamma globulin coated microwell. The assay can be performed in only 2.5 hours.

The gamma globulin fraction was isolated from the anti-testosterone whole serum by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Testosterone-peroxidase conjugate was prepared by a carbodiimide coupling method. The interference which arises from the binding of testosterone to steroid hormone binding protein was eliminated by the addition of 17 beta-estradiol. All assay …

The Determination Of Clomiphene Citrate And Tamoxifen In Human Blood Plasma And Semen, Janice Irene Kiss

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Triphenylethylene antiestrogen compounds are used to stimulate ovulation in anovulary women and spermatogenesis in oligozoospermatic males. Clomiphene Citrate (CC) is given therapeuticaly as a mixture of the trans (E) and cis (Z) isomers. Each of these isomers has its own characteristic agonist-antagonist profiles. Only the trans form of Tamoxifen (T) is administered therapeutically.

HPLC methodologies were developed for the determination of CC and Tin human blood and seminal plasma. The methodologies involved extraction of the triphenylethylene compounds using hexane, followed by evaporation of the hexane under N₂. The residue was then taken up in a volume of HPLC …

E Ffe C Ts E Xhibited By E Lderly Insulin Dependent D Iabetics Who Reuse Disposable Insulin Syringes And Those Who Do Not Reuse Syringes, Anita J. Turner

MSN Research Projects

An ex post facto design was used to examine the effects exhibited at the site of injection by elderly diabetics who reused disposable insulin syringes and those who do not reuse syringes. The hypothesis for the study was: There will be no significiant differences in effects exhibited at the site of injection by elderly diabetics who reuse disposable insulin syringes and those who do not reuse disposable syringes. Orem’s Self Care Deficit Model was used to guide the research. The sample (n=42) consisted of elderly insulin dependent diabetics who had reused disposable insulin syringes (ji=15), and those who had never …

Relationships Among Sociocultural Factors And Coping Strategies Of Families With Pregnant Adolescents, Rachel Robbons Schubert

MSN Research Projects

This research explored the relationships among sociocultural factors and coping stragegies of families with pregnant adolescents.

Effects Exhibited By Elderly Insulin Dependent Diabetics Who Reuse Disposable Insulin Syringes And Those Who Do Not Reuse Syringes, Anita J. Turner

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to answer the following question: Do elderly diabetics who reuse disposable insulin syringes exhibit effects at the site of injection different than elderly diabetics who do not reuse syringes?

Life-Affirming Behaviors Of A Person With End Stage Human Immunodeficiency Virus Illness, Carole M. Pindaro

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to describe and record the life-affirming behaviors of a person with end stage Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) illness.

Antecedent Aerobic Exercise Training With Schizophrenic Outpatients, Kathlyn A. Fuller

Masters Theses

This research evaluates the effects of aerobic exercise on the symptoms of schizophrenia. The positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia were repeatedly measured by using direct observation, surveys, and care giver checklists. Symptoms are subcategorized as positive and negative as suggested by Andreasen (1984). Aerobic exercise classes were taught 4 days a week for 6.5 weeks to chronically mentally ill clients in a community based day activity program. Participants were observed 1 hour and 3 hours following the aerobic session. The results demonstrated that chronic individuals exercised at an intensity sufficient to produce an aerobic training effect based on pulse …

The Effects Of Repeated Trials On The Cardiovascular Responses To Reading Aloud And Non-Stressful Conversation, George S. Renfrey

Masters Theses

This study assessed changes in blood pressure, heart rate, skin conductance, frontalis muscle tension, and breathing rates associated with repeated reading aloud and non-stressful conversation. Four male and 3 female normotensive subjects participated. Sixteen presentations of both verbal tasks, each preceded by a quiet rest period, were made across 8 sessions.

The results indicate that: (a) when compared with resting levels, statistically significant increases in heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, and frontalis muscle tension, and decreases in breathing rates may be produced by reading aloud and non-stressful conversation; (b) systolic blood pressure changes attenuate with repeated trials; and (c) …

The Long Term Stability Of The Dental Arches Following Rapid Palatal Expansion, Robert C. Stockdale

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The rapid palatal expander is an appliance which has been used to laterally expand the maxillary dental arch, with subsequent mandibular dental arch expansion.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and quantify long term post treatment changes in the length and width of both dental arches following rapid palatal expansion.

Plaster models from eleven patients treated with rapid palatal expansion were obtained seven or more years after treatment. The dental arches were intact anterior to the first molars and no retreatment had taken place.

Maxillary and mandibular canine, premolar and molar arch width, arch length, arch circumference, and …

Correlation Of Condylar Angulation To Occlusion, Facial Type, Age, And Sex, Perry A. Stevenson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the condylar angulation and the following variables: occlusion, facial type, depth of cut, overbite, overjet, interincisal angle, age, and sex. Pretreatment lateral cephalograms, submental vertex radiographs and study models were obtained for 114 patients (66 females, 48 males) with a mean age of 16 who were considered to have normal, asymptomatic temporomandibular joints. The results indicated that no significant correlation existed between the condylar angulation and the variables measured. Therefore, there is no method of predicting the condylar angulation by occlusion characteristics, facial type, age, or sex.

Maternal Immunomodulation Of Neonatal Alloantigen Response, Leh Chang

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Remarkable success has been achieved in the transplantation of allogeneic cardiac grafts into newborn infants at Loma Linda University Medical Center. The superior graft survival rate documented in these patients has not correlated with the degree of immunosuppression rendered, or the selection of genetically matched donors. However, the clinical success has correlated with the age of the recipient at the time of receiving a transplant. Patients receiving an allograft within the first few weeks of life are unique in that they seem to accept the alloantigens of their cardiac graft while responding aggressively to antigens in their environment. These observations …

Active Treatment Time And Incisor Root Resorption Of Malocclusions Treated With Corticotomy Facilitated Orthodontics Vs. Non-Corticotomy Treatment, Douglas F. Tetz

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variables of treatment time and root resorption comparing subjects treated with corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics and controls treated by conventional methods. Twelve adult corticotomy subjects were utilized for the treatment time variable and seven of these subjects were utilized for the root resorption variable. These subjects were matched with non-corticotomized adult controls with regards to malocclusion, facial type, overbite, overjet and arch length deficiency. Average treatment time was found to be decreased by an average of 50% for those treated by corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics compared to non-corticotomy facilitated orthodontic care. Root resorption was significantly …

Molar And Incisor Changes With Wilson "Rapid Molar Distalization", D. Dween Muse

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

[Abstract Not Included]

Evaluation Of Headgear Safety : A Comparative Study, William J. Pritchard

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative safety of headgear safety straps. Samples from five different safety headgear straps simulated orthopedic and orthodontic use and data were collected from a series of pulls on an Instron machine. The straps were compared by the distance the face bow traveled before the safety mechanism released, the force built into the face bow at safety release and the force required to remove the inner bow out of the molar tube. The conclusions are as follows: (1) the distance a face bow can travel from the molar tube and still be …

Effect Of Glucose Administration On Hamster Liver S9-Mediated Mutagenesis, Metabolism And Dna-Binding Of Benzo[A]Pyrene And Aflatoxin B1, Daniel C. Rubano

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Hamster liver S9 prepared from control animals and animals given 30% glucose in drinking water 48 h before time of sacrifice was used in studies of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and aflatoxin (AFB₁)-induced mutagenesis, metabolism of BaP and AFB₁, and metabolite binding to calf thymus DNA. BaP-induced mutagenesis in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 was reduced 38.5% while AFB₁-induced mutagenesis was increased 36% by S9 from glucose-treated hamsters. The reduction of [³H]BaP metabolite binding to calf thymus DNA in incubations with S9 from glucose-treated hamsters correlated with a decrease in unknown BaP metabolite-deoxyribonucleoside adducts isolated by …

Characterization Of Hsd::Mudx128 Operon Fusion Mutant Of Escherichia Coli K-12, Marjorie Ann T. Reyno

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The study of the regulation of gene expression in complex genes can be facilitated by the use of operon fusions which place a well characterized lacZ gene under the control of a promoter of interest. An hsd::MudX128 operon fusion mutant of E. coli K-12 isolated by Prakash (1986) was observed to have a high β-galactosidase activity (1000 units), ten to twenty times higher than other hsd::MudX mutants. This β-galactosidase activity was suppressed to a very low level (25 units) by the introduction of an F’ plasmid, F'101, which carries the 98 min to 2 min region of the …

The Effects Of Aerobic Conditioning Upon The Resting Metabolic Rate, Marti R. Davis

Masters Theses

This study com pared the metabolic rate following an exercise bout to the resting metabolic rate (RM R) established in pretesting procedures for twelve college age females. The only factor differentiating the groups was length o f the training period (one week, two weeks, four weeks, and five weeks). Training took place on a Bosch cycle ergometer three times a week, for 30 minutes each session, at 70 to 85 percent o f the subjects' heart rate reserve (HRR). Breath analysis was measured on a Beckman Metabolic Cart in both pretesting and post-testing procedures.

The findings indicated that aerobic exercise, …

Perceptual Effects Of Perturbation And Additive Noise, Richard E. Nero

Masters Theses

This study investigated the perceptual effects of varying glottal waveshape perturbation, duty cycle perturbation, jitter, signal-to-noise ratio perturbation, and shimmer at three levels of perceived magnitude (high, medium, and low). Voice signals were synthesized using a modified version of Klatt's (1980) formant synthesizer. Listeners rated signal dysphonia using an A-B dissimilarity procedure. Multidimensional scaling analysis suggested that signals judged low in magnitude of dysphonia were perceived to be most similar. Medium-level and high-level magnitude signals were judged to be respectively less similar. Signals varying in duty cycle and fundamental frequency perturbation were perceived to be very similar while those signals …

A Modified Nance Unilateral Molar Distalizer, Tracy J. Reiner

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This clinical study evaluated a modified Nance appliance designed by the author to distalize molars unilaterally for Class II correction. This fixed appliance did not rely upon extraoral traction or intraoral elastics. Twelve unilateral Class II patients aged 13 to 17 were treated nonextraction with the appliance. Pretreatment and posttreatment photographs were taken of the palatal soft tissue and did not reveal any untoward changes as a result of the Nance acrylic button. All molars were corrected to an Angle's Class I relationship. Molar correction was evaluated visually and molar distalization was measured using an acrylic jig fitted to the …

Analogical Reasoning Of Elderly Adults Using Three Modalities: Words, Pictures, And Figures, Judy L. Rau

Masters Theses

This study examined the analogical processing skills of elderly adults. Forty-seven subjects (ages 65-90) completed analogy tasks presented in three modalities: words, pictures, and geometric figures (90 total). The subjects for this study were elderly adults living independently in a federally subsidized apartment building. The subjects used in this study possessed characteristics similar to the "typical" American adult. Results indicated that performance does not vary significantly with age in the word and picture modalities. Significant (p < .05) negative relationships were found between performance on the geometric figure analogies and increased age and between overall performance and increased age. Significant (p < .05) positive relationships were found between education and performance on each of the three modalities as well as between education and overall performance.

The Application Of Automated Programmed Instruction To The Modification Of Auditory Processing In The Aphasic Patient, Cara Anderson

Speech and Hearing Sciences ETDs

A review of the literature suggests that treatment of the aphasic patient, particularly in the area of auditory input has been and is inadequate at this time. Improved methods of diagnosing and evaluating the levels of communicative ability of aphasic patients, indicate that newly developed techniques would seem to be appropriate for the treatment of auditory input deficits.

The present study, therefore, was designed to investigate two questions: (1) is operant conditioned, programmed instruction as designed and instrumented in this study, a useful and mechanically feasible approach to the treatment of aphasia and (2) are operant conditioned programmed instruction methods …