Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Comparison Of Indirect Lingual Bracket Placement By Practitioners And A Commercial Laboratory As It Relates To Height And Angulation, Steven F. Brizendine

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With the increase in use of lingual appliances a more accurate assessment is needed of exactly where the brackets are being placed. This study was undertaken in order to see if it makes any difference who places the brackets. Three groups of participants were selected. One, the commercial laboratory which offers a bracket placement service. Two, clinicians experienced with the lingual appliance, and three, clinicians with no clinical experience with the appliance.

Four sets of patient models were selected from eighty cases Ormco used in the original development of their lingual bonded appliance. These were duplicated and the four sets …

The Influence Of Situational Cues On A Standardized Speechreading Test, Maria Navarro Montserrat

Dissertations and Theses

Aural rehabilitation programs recommend the use of situational cues by hearing-impaired individuals to facilitate understanding in everyday communication. Although this practice is generally accepted, little is known about the use of situational clues as an adjunct to speechreading performance.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the influence of situational cues on a standardized speechreading test in order to assess an individual's natural speechreading ability. The widely used, standardized Utley Lipreading Test was selected to which photoslides of message-related situational cues were added. The Utley Lipreading Test consists of two relatively equivalent test lists, containing series of unrelated …

A Comparative Study Of The Developmental Sentence Scoring Normative Data Obtained In Portland, Oregon, And The Midwest, For Children Between The Ages Of 5.0 And 5.11 Years, Eileen Mcnutt

Dissertations and Theses

The focus of this study was the Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS), developed by Lee and Canter (1971) and Lee (1974). The DSS is used to analyze a corpus of 50 utterances according to eight grammatical categories. Once a DSS score is determined for an individual child, that child's performance can be compared to that of his/ her peers, using the normative data provided by Lee (1974), and reported by Koenigsknecht (1974). This normative data has been widely used both clinically, and in research projects with little regard for the validity of the norms when applied outside the Midwest, where it …

A Comparative Study Of The Northwestern Syntax Screening Test Data, Sharon Ann Moore

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare NSST data (Lee, 1969, 1971) with data obtained in Portland, Oregon for children 4.0-4.11 years of age. The questions this study sought to answer were: 1) Is there a significant difference between the expressive and receptive scores obtained by Lee, (1969, 1971) and the scores obtained in Portland, Oregon? 2) What are the means, standard deviations and percentiles of the NSST scores of a select group of four-year-old children in Portland, Oregon?

A Comparative Study Of The Teem And The Morphological Aspects Of The Blst And Told-P, Kathleen Marie Zuehlsdorff

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the construct validity of a new test, which purports to measure morphology, entitled Test for Examining Expressive Morphology (TEEM) (Shipley, Stone and Sue, 1983). Additional tests of expressive morphology, the Bankson Language Screening Test (BLST) (Bankson, 1977) and the Test of Language Development-Primary (TOLD-P) (Newcomer and Hammill, 1982) were utilized to determine the association of the TEEM with two highly-researched instruments.

Ethical Decision Making By Hospital Nurses (Work Alienation), Jonathon Lawrence Cox

Wayne State University Dissertations

The hospital nurse is required to make decisions that affect the lives of patients. The American Nurses Association Code for Nurses ought to be the framework used by nurses in making those ethical decisions. The Code is not the primary basis for ethical decision making as has been shown in this and previous research. In this research the role of hospital employer, personal and professional values of staff nurses has been examined for their influence on the ethical decisions made by nurses. The nurses completed the Health Care Work Powerlessness Scale, and the Nursing Dilemmas Test and Ethical Behavior Inventory. …

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 …

Effects Of A High Fiber-High Carbohydrate Diet On Selected Blood Chemistries Of Post-Myocardial Infarction Clients, Evelyn Mckinney Baskin

MSN Research Projects

This was a quasi-experimental study designed to determine the difference in blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels of subjects post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) who practiced the high fiber-high carbohydrate diet and subjects post-MI who did not practice the diet. The researcher had hypothesized that when the blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides of post-MI subjects who were practicing the high fiber-high carbohydrate diet were compared to those who were not practicing the d i e t , there would be no significant difference. There was a total of 18 subjects in the study, two groups with nine participants in each group. The …

The Effects Of An Intervention Program On Nursing Burnout, Maria Rosa-Morales

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The risk for professional burnout has become commonly recognized and in the past several years has been a focus of research efforts. Nursing is one of the professions generating a high level of stress which results in burnout.

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of an intervention program for nurses who felt they were experiencing burnout. Nursing burnout was defined as a chronic condition of stress among nurses, which leads to a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. The design used was a true experiment. Fifty-two nurses served as voluntary participants who …

Customer And Food Item Selection Forecasting In A Hospital Cafeteria, M. Sue Davis

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

For many years various types of forecast models have reportedly been used in hospital foodservice systems to estimate the patient census level or meal demand for menu items. None of these reports have dealt with the application of forecast models in a hospital cafeteria setting. The purpose of this study was to test selected forecast models in a hospital setting to determine the one that most accurately predicted the number of customers utilizing the cafeteria on a particular day, and the number of servings of a specific food item that was utilized at selected meals. Historical data was used to …

A Sensitivity Analysis Of The Coefficients For The Transformation Of The Electrocardiographic Orthogonal Three-Lead System (Frank) To The Standard Twelve-Lead System, Rasa Ona Draugelis

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS is performed on the transformation coefficients of the Frank XYZ signals generating standard 12-lead ECG with respect to diagnosis. The analysis is adapted for the individual waveform and per each lead. The disease/abnormality categories are described in terms of discrete pattern classes based on criteria used by Marquette Electronics, Inc. The nonlinear global sensitivity analysis method developed by Shuler, et al, is selected for this project. The diagnostic change in the waveform is denoted by a distance measurement from the pattern class boundary corresponding to the best-experimental coefficient estimates (Dower coefficients) to the alternate coefficient specification measurement …

A Rapid Concentration And Identification Technique For Human Malaria Infections Using A Mouse Model, Donald D. Barton

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Red blood cells infected with malaria parasites experience a change in density making them lighter (less dense). This paper reports a new, rapid diagnostic technique using this change in density in the infected red blood cell. It is not only easy to use, but it is also compatible with the technological conditions found where the malaria problem is most acute - in many developing countries of the world. A small sample of blood drawn from a simple finger stick can be concentrated and examined microscopically for malaria parasites within 10 minutes. The thick film slide preparation, presently used, takes a …

The Relationship Of Vitamins B-6 And B-12 To Plasma Homocysteine Levels In Men At Low- And High-Risk For Coronary Heart Disease, Marlene E. Swift

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

There is evidence that homocysteine may be a factor in increasing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). To explore this relationship further, we assessed the interrelation of dietary vitamins B-6, B-12 and folate, and plasma pyridoxal-5'-phosphate and vitamin B-12 with plasma free and protein-bound homocysteine levels. Fasting blood and three-day dietary records were obtained from nine men low-risk (LR) and five at high-risk (HR) for CHD. The HR mean systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), and TC/cholesterol ratios were significantly higher than LR levels. Groups were comparable by age, weight, height, skinfolds, exercise, and smoking history. No significant difference …

Evaluation Of Stress Management Program Participant Outcomes, Kanya Boondharm Sitanggang

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study, conducted by a Health Maintenance Organization in Southern California, evaluated the impact of a stress management program in reducing stress/anxiety, stressors/hassles, and perception of stressors. Impact of the program in reducing negative coping mechanisms and increasing positive coping mechanisms as well as the retention of stress management training over a three month follow-up period was examined.

A quasi-experimental -- non-equivalent control group design was used. The experimental group consisted of 54 clients who registered for stress management classes. The control group consisted of 105 matched subjects selected from a larger group of 212. All subjects were tested prior …

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 …

A Comparison Of The Nurse's Perception Of The Priority Needs Of The Spouse As They Relate To Those Identified By The Spouse, Kathleen A. Johnston

Masters Theses

Twenty-five spouses of patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) with diagnoses of Myocardial Infarction (MI), Rule Out MI, or Angina Pectoris were asked to Q sort 45 "need statements" to reflect their priority needs within the first 72 hours of admission to the CCU. Seventeen nurses caring for the 25 patients were instructed to sort the statements as they felt the spouses would do so. The data were submitted to factor analysis and three factors emerged; the Shared Factor, the Nurse Factor, and the Spouse Factor. The majority of nurses in this study were associated with a factor …

Effects Of Pet Facilitation On Social Interactions And Cardiovascular Responses Among Institutionalized Elderly, Katherine Hubbard Burkhalter

MSN Research Projects

This quasi-experimental study was designed to determine the psychosocial and physiological effects of pet-facilitated therapy upon a group of institutionalized elderly. The study population was comprised of 16 institutionalized elderly who were (a) oriented to person, place, and time; (b) mobile; and (c) physically able and willing to hold a live pet rabbit during 30 minutes of four group sessions. Researcher-designed tools and protocols were used in the study to record blood pressures, heart rates, and the number of social interactions during each group session. The subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. Each group had …

The Effects Of Exercise On Cognitive Function In The Elderly, Pamela D. Thomas

MSN Research Projects

In order to determine the effect of exercise upon cognition of institutionalized elderly a quasi-experimental research approach was used. A sample of 20 was selected from two long-term care nursing facilities to make an experimental and a control group. The experimental group had a prescribed exercise plan followed by a cognition test while the control group received only the cognition test. The cognition test scores were analyzed using the ^ test statistic with a significance level of 0.05. Analysis of the data led the researcher to fail to reject the null hypothesis; however, a marginally significant trend for the experimental …

An Experimental Study: The Effects Of A Premenstrual Syndrome Intervention Program On Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms, Lisa May Pullen

MSN Research Projects

This experimental study was designed to compare the relief of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms of women between the ages of 18 to 40. The experimental group was asked to follow a nonmedical PMS Intervention Program one week prior to and during their menstrual cycle. The researcher hypothesized that there would be no significant difference in PMS symptoms between women who participated in the treatment and women who did not participate in the treatment. A researcher-designed survey which consisted of the Menstrual Symptomatology Fact Sheet (MSFS) and the Menstrual Symptomatology Questionnaire (MSQ) was administered to 35 women who reported PMS symptoms …

Speaking Rate Effects On Language Comprehension By Autistic Children, Cheryl Ann Lehr

Masters Theses

This was a study of language comprehension abilities of autistic children who were between 6 and 12 years of age. The 22 subjects were assigned to either a middle functioning (N=14) or high functioning (N=8) group, based primarily on I.Q. scores. The subjects in the two groups each heard four sets of ten sentences divided into two levels of difficulty at four, electronically controlled speaking rates (McCroskey, 1984).

Results of multifactor ANOVA (Winer, 1971) showed language comprehension to be affected by functioning group, sentence difficulty and interactions of sentence difficulty with speaking rate. Speaking rate had an effect on language …

The Survival Of Mesophilic And Thermophilic Bacteria Subjected To Uv Irradiation, Sajida A. Shaikh

Masters Theses

Survival curves were determined for the mesophile, Bacillus licheniformis and the thermophile, Bacillus stearothermophilus after subjecting the cells to ultraviolet irradiation. Cells were grown at 37°C for the mesophile and at 55°C for the thermophile.

At low UV exposure times, the thermophile was more resistant to UV irradiation (had a better survival rate) than was the case for the mesophile. At higher exposure times, the situation was reversed, the mesophile having a greater survival rate than the thermophile.

The effect of changes in the temperature during irradiation was also determined. Thermophiles were greatly affected by changes in temperature while the …

Differences In Typology Among Nurses At Different Levels Of Management In Acute Care Institutions As Measured By The Mbti, Catherine Marie Devet

Dissertations

This survey research study explored differences in personality types between staff nurses and nurse managers in acute care institutions (hospitals). The study tested a theory about expected differences which was based on an extensive literature review of nursing administration and type theory as developed by Jung and measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).

Eight acute care institutions were selected randomly from hospitals listed by the American Hospital Association (1983) as having 400-600 beds and located in the state of Michigan but outside of Wayne County. Of the eight hospitals approached, permission to conduct the study was obtained in five. …

The Rorschach As A Diagnostic Aid In Differentiating The Bipolar Affective Disorder From The Schizophrenic Disorder, Stephen James Newman

Dissertations

Misdiagnosis of the bipolar affective disorder (manic type) has profound consequences Including prescription of counterproductive medication, non-aggressive treatment approaches, extended hospitalizations, and poor prognosis (Fleve, 1975). Misdiagnosis Is extensive and has resulted from the tendency to over diagnose schizophrenia (Fleve, 1975), the tendency to equate psychotic symptomatology with schizophrenia (Garvey & Tuason, 1980), the similarity of psychotic symptomatology of the bipolar affective and schizophrenic disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1980), past confusion regarding diagnostic criteria of the bipolar affective disorder (Spltzer, Williams, & Wynne, 1983), and the absence of psychometric tools to differentiate the bipolar affective and schizophrenic disorders.

The purposes …

Factors Related To Perceptions Of Ethicalness In Behavior Modification, John C. Guthman

Masters Theses

This study examined perceptions of behavior modification held by undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory psychology course and editorial board members for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and for the journal Behavior Modification.

Editor reactions to several terms suggest that ambiguity with respect to the questionable behavior status of several techniques exists within the field. The results show that a large proportion of students, as compared with editors, are unclear as to which techniques constitute behavior modification. In this study, the accuracy of student identification of behavior modification techniques did not significantly relate to perceptions of ethicalness of behavior …

The Effects Of Symbolic Modeling And Parent Training On Noncompliance In Hyperactive Children, George Kahle Henry

Dissertations

This study examined the interactions of mothers with their hyperactive children during a structured-task period to determine the effects of a symbolic modeling and parent training intervention on child noncompliance. Analysis of videotaped sequences across all phases of the study indicated that symbolic modeling was not a very effective technique for improving compliance in hyperactive children. Phase one of parent training, which taught mothers appropriate attending, ignoring, and rewarding behaviors, was more effective than symbolic modeling. Phase two of parent training, which introduced a time-out contingency for noncompliance, was the most effective intervention as it resulted in significant reductions in …

Reducing Emg And Cardiovascular Reactivity With Cue-Controlled Relaxation, Janel Kay Harris

Dissertations

The present study compared cue-controlled relaxation (CCR) to progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) as possible methods of reducing reactivity to active stressors (math and anagram tasks). The CCR training entailed practicing relaxation during exposure to the active stressors, while the PMR training did not. Ten cardiac rehabilitation patients served in an experiment which used a repeated-measures ANOVA to assess changes in frontal EMG, skin conductance level (SCL), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, and pulse-rate reactivity across three experimental conditions. These were: baseline, progressive muscle relaxation, and cue-controlled relaxation. The results indicated that CCR led to reduced EMG, SBP, and …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Premorbid Personality And Depression, William Essenburg

Dissertations

Depression is a significant mental health problem and has been studied extensively for decades. However, there is still disagreement among clinicians and researchers regarding the causes and psychodynamic processes of depression.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between premorbid personality and depression. Using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and the Beck Depression Inventory, personality and depression measures were obtained from a sample of adult psychiatric inpatients during acute and remission phases of their hospitalization.

Results obtained indicated that the MCMI scales intended to measure premorbid personality during periods of acute psychiatric illness were sensitive to …

Group Structure And Humor, Effects On Group Cohesion And Affective Meaning, Mary Ellen Rus

Masters Theses

The ability to identify therapeutic components of an activity is an important skill of occupational therapists trained in activity analysis. This study examined potentially significant factors in activity analysis: the use of humor and group structure. Four groups (two with a parallel structure and two with a project structure) participated in a hat making activity designed to elicit humor. Four groups (two with a parallel structure and two with a project structure) participated in a bookmark making activity. Subjects' affective responses were measured by Osgood's short-form semantic differential, and the cohesion among group members was assessed by the Group Environmental …

A Comparison Of Stress Levels And Body Weight In School-Age Children, Melissa Kent

MSN Research Projects

This descriptive study was designed to compare stress levels in school-age children according to weight category. The researcher hypothesized that when third-grade students’ scores on the Kent Stress Measurement Tool for children were compared according to weight category (underweight, appropriate weight, overweight), there would be no signifi­ cant difference. Sixty-four third-grade public school students participated in the study. Height and weight measurements were done, plotted on a growth percentile graph, and a weight category assigned. A researcher-designed question­ naire, the Kent Stress Management Tool for Children, was administered to the students. The one-way ANOVA was used to analyze the scores. …

Mississippi Public Health Nurses' Attitudes And Knowledge About Adolescent Sexuality, Charlotte Peavie

MSN Research Projects

This descriptive study was designed to determine the need for education about adolescent sexuality for public health nurses (PHNs) in Mississippi. Two null hypothesis were stated. Hypothesis I stated that when the nurses' levels of education and attitude scores on the Adolescent Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire were correlated, there would be no significant correlations at the .05 level. Hypothesis II stated that when the nurses' levels of education and knowledge scores on the Adolescent Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire were correlated, there would be no significant correlations at the .05 level. Data were collected from 139 subjects who completed the Adolescent …