Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Tumor Necrosis Factor And The Pathophysiology Of Septic Shock, Mae J. Ciancio

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Construct Validity Study Of The Singer-Loomis Inventory Of Personality, Silas Gregory Gilliam

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Specialty Orthopedic Skilled Unit, Vivian K. Landes

Theses

Unavailable.

Rating Of Perceived Exertion Of Four Swimming Strokes At A Constant Intensity, Betty Lou Hall

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Dentofacial Development In Children With Chronic Nasal Respiratory Obstruction -- A Cephalometric Study, Tai-Yang Hsi

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Determining The Contributions Of The Intrapersonal Factors Of Personality Disposition, Ability, And Attitude To Precompetitive State Anxiety, Jacquelyn Rae Wright

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative contributions of personality disposition (competitive A-trait), ability (skill level), and attitude (perceived ability, confidence, self-esteem) to state anxiety prior to competition. It was hypothesized that personality disposition (competitive A-trait) would be the strongest predictor of competitive state anxiety prior to competition.

Forty-two Luther College women basketball and softball players were selected for participation in the study. The Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) was used to assess A-trait. The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) was used to assess three subcomponents of precompetitive state anxiety (cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety and self-confidence). This …

Women's Resource Centers, Nora Ann Boland

Theses

This study was done to determine if the women of St. Charles County know about the concept of Women's Resource Centers and their preferences as to the types of services they would use.

The survey was conducted in the St. Charles area. The sample consisted primarily of women. The participants were from varied age groups, income levels and educational backgrounds. There were 350 surveys distributed. Two hundred surveys were used for the results.

There were two survey groups; health care workers and the public sector, and results were compared with each other. This comparison was to determine if there was …

The Reduction Of Stress As Perceived By The Alzheimer Patient Caregivers Through The Use Of Support Groups, Linda Blewer Swindle

Theses

This thesis explores how support groups can reduce perceived stress among caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Linda Blewer Swindle, a registered nurse, provides a comprehensive look at both the emotional and practical challenges faced by those providing care, particularly as the disease progresses through its stages. The work begins with a clinical overview of Alzheimer’s, differentiating it from normal aging and emphasizing the disease’s slow, irreversible, and deeply disruptive nature.

Swindle then examines the concept of stress, highlighting both physiological and psychological dimensions, and describes Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) as a tool to help caregivers reframe negative thought patterns. …

Aging Society: Conflict And Struggle Toward The Establishment Of The Meaningful Life For All Generations, Yasukatsu Kudo

Theses

Winter of our life-- A smell of leaves is fallen. The chill finds its way in the dry wind. Leaves little room for a coy disguise. Reflection of our life, Underneath the crammed seams, Is vivid and no-lies. Only a blind man, sitting on the corner, Busy smoothing his gray beard, Can recall his dreams . A song of geese is beaten on the ground. When the ice engraves our wrinkles, Our memories are flatten And worn out.

Statistically, the past few decades showed the rising living standards of the elderly. Social Security benefits have increased almost 50 percent in …

The Role Of The Insulin Receptor Tyrosine Kinase In Two Models Of Insulin Resistance, Nancy Barchus Block

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Activation of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase in vitro and in vivo was studied in two rat models of insulin resistance: hypercortisolemia and streptozotocin-induced diabetes. In control rats, intravenous insulin administration resulted in dose-dependent in vivo activation of the skeletal muscle insulin receptor kinase. Chronic cortisone treatment did not affect the kinase activity of receptors solubilized from muscle after activation with insulin in vivo or in vitro. In contrast, diabetes depressed skeletal muscle insulin receptor kinase activation in vivo by ~50%. Diabetes impaired the in vitro insulin stimulation of receptor kinase activity from skeletal muscle and liver towards the substrate …

The Output Of Compression Hearing Aids With A Transient Input Signal, Michael Andrew Berg

Dissertations and Theses

The output characteristics of five compression hearing aids in response to a transient signal were examined to determine if, the input-output function (i.e. output levels of the hearing aid as a function of input level) for a transient signal could be made to approximate that of a continuous signal, by activating the compression circuit with a second signal (activator). Input-output functions for three input compression and two output compression hearing aids were obtained in order to determine if: 1. the automatic gain control (AGC) was activated by the second signal and the transient signal output approximates that of a continuous …

Naive Listener Judgments Of Esophageal Air Intake Noise Acceptability, Janet Gordon Daucsavage

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the judgments by naive listeners of the acceptability of esophageal air intake noise and compare those ratings to their judgments of overall esophageal speech proficiency. The primary question this study sought to answer was: Are naive listener judgments of overall esophageal speech proficiency significantly correlated with naive listener judgments of esophageal air intake noise acceptability? The secondary question asked was: Are naive listener acceptability judgments of air intake noise significantly correlated with sophisticated listener acceptability judgments of air intake noise?

Toward Predicting Completion Of Substance Abuse Treatment, Rebecca Lee Bragg

Dissertations and Theses

This investigation attempts to identify factors which influence whether or not someone is likely to drop out of a chemical dependency treatment program. Dropping out is defined as someone who leaves treatment against medical advice.

The subjects were patients from a private, non-profit, medically based, residential program. Nine demographic characteristics were abstracted from the charts on file for the patients at the treatment center. Two groups of 45 patients each were selected from the inpatient population. One group, the Completed Treatment group, comprised patients who had completed the 28 day program. The second group, the AMA Discharge group, comprised patients …

Maternal Linguistic Input To Normal And Expressive Language Delayed Toddlers, Terril Joy Elwood

Dissertations and Theses

Research suggests that the linguistic environment of the expressive language delayed child is different from that of his peers. Does this difference actually exist and if so, what are its characteristics? The purpose of this study was to describe the linguistic characteristics of mothers' input to children with normal language acquisition and those of mothers of expressively delayed toddlers; and to identify any differences between these groups. Though considerable research exists in this area, few studies have dealt specifically with large groups of expressively delayed toddlers.

Normative Data On The Auditory Memory Test Battery For Ages 9 Through 13 Years, Elisabeth Y. Carter

Dissertations and Theses

Auditory short-term memory (STM) is important for speech and language development and for learning new information presented auditorily. Research has shown that auditory STM ability is of a developmental nature in the 5 through 8 year age range for a variety of auditory stimuli. Many tests and subtests are available to measure auditory STM ability, however one test, the Auditory Memory Test Battery (AMTB) measures auditory memory span and memory for sequence for 5 types of stimuli.

The purpose of this study was to collect normative data on the AMTB scores of normal 9 through 13 year old students and …

The Use Of Auditory Brainstem Responses In Determining The Maximum Outputs Of Hearing Aids, Kathryn Jean Merry

Dissertations and Theses

Uncomfortable listening level (UCL) is a behavioral measure which is currently used to set the maximum outputs of hearing aids. This study explored the feasibility of prescribing the maximum outputs of hearing aids by using results obtained from auditory brainstern response (ABR) testing. More specifically, this study compared ABR wave latencies with behaviorally-measured UCLs for a single cycle 3 kHz stimulus in normal-hearing adults.

Speech Reception Via Bone Conduction, Sherry G. Morris

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the performance-intensity function for spondees delivered via bone conduction (using the Radioear E-72 and Pracitronic KH-70) differed from the performance-intensity function for air conduction (using TDH-39 earphones). A secondary consideration addressed in this study was the comparison of the discrimination scores using the three transducers. Performance-intensity functions for spondee thresholds were calculated on 12 normal hearing subjects using two bone conduction vibrators, the Radioear B-72 and Pracitronic KH-70, and TDH-39 earphones. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between the performance-intensity function of speech via bone conduction as compared to …

Reading Comprehension In Dementia Of The Alzheimer's Type : Factual Versus Inferential, Donna Jensen Graville

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reading comprehension abilities of those with mild and moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) and compare their performance to that of a sample of non-demented elderly. Thirty-eight male subjects were used, 20 non-demented elderly, nine mild DAT and nine moderate DAT. All were administered level B of the NRST. This test contains questions requiring three levels of inference: literal, translational, and high-level inference.

Types Of Phonological Processes Occurring In Normal Black English Speakers, Eileen Rella

Dissertations and Theses

Black English (BE) is a rule-governed linguistic system with its own phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. BE is a dialect, not a disordered variation of standard English (SE). When compared to SE, BE phonology has been described in terms of omissions, substitutions, and additions. This study looked at normal BE speakers in Portland, Oregon and described their dialectal differences in terms of phonological processes.

The Effects Of Massed And Distributed Practice On Learning An Environmentally-Open Timing Task, Mary T. Otten

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of massed and distributed practice on the learning of an environmentally-open timing task. It was hypothesized that distributed practice would enhance the learning of a novice performer compared to using massed practice in learning an environmentally-open task.

Subjects consisted of 32 college-age students. All subjects were randomly put into each group with the restriction that each group have eight males and eight females. The following three dependent variables were calculated for each subject: Total Variability (E), Variable Error (VE), and Constant Error (CE) based on the criterion time for each …

Oxygen Consumption And Heart Rate During Arm Actions Typically Performed In Low-Impact Aerobic Dance, Katherine Marie Leggett

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

High-impact aerobic dance exercise has become a popular form of aerobic exercise for many individuals. Over the past few years studies have reported a high injury rate in high-impact classes that is associated with a high frequency of participation in the classes. Low-impact aerobic dance exercise developed as an alternative to high-impact classes and was thought by many to be a safe and effective alternative to high-impact classes. The basic principle behind low-impact aerobic dance exercise is that at least one foot is touching the floor throughout the aerobic portion of the workout, which limits the impact. Little research has …

The Lived Experience Of Fear In Battered Women., Linda Lewis Dunn

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Human-Environment Process: Replication And Refinement Of A Study Of Rogers' Principle Of Integrality, Virginia Susan Meggitt

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to test Rogers' principle of integrality by asking: Does a varied harmonic auditory environment increase the perceived restfulness of patients, who are hospitalised in order to heal following surgery? This study modified a previous study (Smith, 1986) which showed that varied harmonic sound had a more positive effect on the perceived restfulness of healthy subjects than did quiet ambience. This experimental study tested 22 post-operative inpatients, using a non-equivalent control group design with pretest and posttest. Varied harmonic sound was provided by audiotaped sequences of music and narrative; quiet ambience was achieved by maintaining …

Cardiac Rehabilitation: Client's Perceived Adequacy Of Education Related To Adjustments Following Myocardial Infarction, Mary E. Flikkema

Masters Theses

Heart disease significantly impacts the lifestyles of clients. Psychosocial difficulties such as anxiety, depression, marital and family conflict are documented in the literature. Various methods and aspects of adjustment have been studied to assist the client with adaptation to changes in exercise, diet, weight reduction and smoking.; This descriptive study used a correlational design to investigate the relationship between the client's perceived adequacy of cardiac rehabilitative education with postdischarge fears and adjustments. Thirty clients participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program completed a self report questionnaire regarding level of preparedness in the areas of exercise, diet, work/activity, sexual functioning, and social …

A Q-Analysis Of Nursing Behaviors Which Facilitate The Grief Work Of Parents With A Premature Infant In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit., Pamela Nelson Fordham

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Domains Of Nursing Practice: Application Of Benner's Model., Rebecca Jean Patterson

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Facilitating The Nursing Process For The Nursing Diagnosis "Alteration In Thought Processes", Meridell Veen

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if nurses who were given a tool to facilitate assessment of thought processes would collect more assessment data, diagnose "alteration in thought processes" more frequently, and include a care plan for this diagnosis more often. A quasi-experimental pre-treatment/post-treatment design was used. An inservice program about the Level of Cognitive Function Scale (LOCF) was the treatment.; Of the 40 randomly selected subjects from the 199 adult critical care nurses at a metropolitan hospital, 20 completed the study with pre-treatment and post-treatment data. Data were collected by scoring patient assessment/care plans pre-treatment and 4 …

Personal And Professional Practices Of Breast Self-Examination In Nurses, Julia Agars

Theses : Honours

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in females in Western Australia (W.A.). Despite technological advances the death rate from breast cancer is not decreasing. With the hope of reducing the mortality rates, preventative measures are being encouraged for the early detection of breast cancer. The Cancer Foundation of W.A. promote the performance of Breast Self Examination (BSE) on a monthly basis. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of BSE practice amongst nurses and the incidence of nurses teaching BSE to patients. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is used as a theoretical framework. This model …

The Development Of The 'Nursing Home/Hostel - Quality Of Life Index': A Tool To Measure The Quality Of Life Of Permanent Residents In Geriatric Care Institutions, Linda Pettit

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to develop the 'Nursing Home/Hostel: Quality of Life Index' (NH/H:QLI). This was to be a tool which would indicate the 'quality of life' of elderly residents in geriatric care institutions, such as nursing homes and hostels. Several means were employed to establish the validity of the tool. These were: consultation with experienced geriatric nurses, an examination of similar types of tools and correlation with another already established tool; Bigot's Life Satisfaction Index. The reliability of the NH/H:QLI was established by determining how well the scores correlated on a test re-test format. Kendall's Tau was …

Patient Attitudes Toward Self-Medication During Hospitalization, Elizabeth A. Reilly

Theses : Honours

This study explored patient attitudes toward the behaviour of self-medication during hospitalization using Ajzen's and Fishbein's model of Reasoned Action {1980}. The goal of Ajzen's and Fishbein's model is to predict and understand an individual's behaviour. This study adapted the model and identified seven variables which were thought to influence a person's intention to self-medicate. Two hypotheses were developed based upon the relationships between the variables in the model and their predicted effect upon the behaviour of self-medication. Correlational statistics were performed to determine the general relationships between a subject's specific and general attitudes toward the behaviour of self-medication, their …