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A Study of the Effects of Various Levels of Cranially Applied Electricity on Passage of Glucose from Cerebral Circulation into the Brain
Get PDF37 leaves. Advisor: Donald b. StrattonThe problem. Electricity, as a controlled energy, has been utilized in many capacities with varying degrees of success. Among these applications is Electroanesthesia (EA). Much is known about the gross effects induced on
physiological systems while a subject is experiencing EA, but little is known about the effects on glucose transport into the brain.
Procedure. Thirty male rats were subdivided into 6 groups of 5 each, 1 serving as the control and the remaining 5 as experimental. The right common carotid artery was
surgically exposed in all rats and a solution of 3HOH, Glucose-u-14C, and physiological saline was injected cephalically with decapitation 15 seconds later. The right
rostral, ipsilateral portion of the brain was then extracted and prepared for scintillation counting. The experimental groups received 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 milliwatts respectively for 3 minutes and 45 seconds prior to injection. Nine
separate counts were run on each sample of brain tissue. Findings. Examination of the 3H and 14C disintegrations per minute showed no difference between the control and experimental groups in uptake of the Glucose-U-14C as compared to the freely diffusing 3HOH indicator. Conclusions. Statistical analysis of the resulting
data indicates no significant change of glucose passage across the blood-brain barrier into the brain tissue between control and experimental groups. Recommendations. The parameters of this study did not include the effects produced by electricity at levels other
than the 5 investigated. Future studies should encompass a wider scope of electricity levels, regulation of the injection speed, and use of a chemical anesthetic which does not depress metabolism
The Effects of a Social Concept Unit on the Developing of Positive Concepts of Self, Among First Grade Students at Colfax, Iowa
No full text63 leaves. Advisor: Carol BurdenThe problem. The problem of this study was to
ascertain to what extent instruction of a social-concept unit would change a child's self-image; and if a change was evident, was it of a positive nature.
Procedure. Two self-contained classrooms of first grade students in Colfax, Iowa, were chosen as the population for this study. The author was the instructor for the experimental group and the regularly employed classroom
teacher was the instructor for the control group. The two samplings were pre-tested before the unit's instruction began. At the conclusion of the project, the same students
were post-tested.
Findings. The results of this study showed that
there was no significant difference in self-concept measures between the control and experimental groups. Based upon this research, the author must conclude that the conscious teaching of a social-concept unit did not change the children's self-concept any more than the usual activities of another classroom teacher who did not employ a specific curriculum.
Recommendations. While the results of this study did not show a significant positive change in self-concept development when the groups were considered as a whole,
individuals did make sizeable gains. The evidence of this research indicate that a change in self-concept can take place. (The direction of the mean difference in each case
was in favor of the experimental group.) Therefore, there is a need for further studies to investigate who makes what kind of gains under what kind of conditions. The author
recognizes the need for a more applicable form of self-concept appraisal and recommends the continued search and development of a more refined measuring device
A Descriptive Analysis of an Organization in Transition
Get PDF110 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Richard BrooksThe problem. The problem was concerned with the need for Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, to determine whether its renewal efforts aimed at increasing the participation of upper, middle, and lower management personnel were successful.
In addition, the hospital needed a baseline with which to compare future evaluations of the management system in the process of organizational renewal.
Procedures. In this study, a modified version of
Rensis Likert's Profile of Organizational Analysis was administered to 50 hospital management personnel. These subjects were divided into three groups--the administrative team, the
department heads, and the supervisory personnel. Each subject made two responses, in the form of personal perceptions, to each of 19 items on the research instrument. These responses, the way the subject felt the management system of the hospital
is and the way they felt it ought to be were profiled on Likert's four management systems to ascertain whether there were any differences in the perceptions. A t-test was applied to the mean differences of the is and the ought perceptions
of each group on the six organizational characteristics that were measured on the Profile. An analysis of variance was made
on the is perceptions of the three groups to see if there were any intergroup differences in those perceptions. The data obtained in these analyses were used to describe the management system at Mercy Hospital.
Findings. There are significant differences in the way the management personnel surveyed in this study perceived the management system that exists at Mercy Hospital and the management system they desire to exist there. There is no significant
difference in the way the three groups perceived the management system as it exists at the hospital.
Conclusions. Even though the hospital has been involved in a renewal effort to increase the participation of the upper, middle, and lower management personnel, that renewal process has
not been completed. In spite of the differences in the way the groups perceive the organization as it is and as it ought to be, there is no significant difference between the groups in their
perceptions of the present management system regardless of their hierarchal position or their involvement in the renewal process.
Recommendations. Based on the findings in this study, is recommended that the hospital continue its renewal efforts that an ongoing process of evaluation of the organizational style be instituted. In addition, further research
be undertaken to determine why there were no significant differences in the perceptions of the three groups in the sample regardless of their involvement in the renewal program or their organizational position
Ideological Differences Between Whigs, Republicans and Democrats in Iowa, 1838-1860: Real or Illusory?
Get PDF124 leaves. Advisor: Charles A. NelsonThe problem. There has long been historical controversy surrounding political parties of the Jacksonian period. This thesis focuses on Iowa's political parties in the legislative process to determine whether there is ideological concensus or conflict on selected issues in the period from 1838 to 1860.
Procedure. Issues of political interest were
selected: banking, slavery, the Mexican War, the Compromise of 1850, the return of Jackson's fine and the dispute in Kansas. The thesis followed these issues through the legislative sessions 1838-1860. A study of voting behavior on the issues was compiled as indices of consensus
or conflict.
Findings. The voting behavior indicated considerable conflict in the areas of banking, the Mexican War, the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas dispute and the return of Jackson's fine; however, in the area of internal improvements,
the parties found substantial common ground.
Conclusions. The voting record on these issues
appear to show that in areas of emotional intensity, slavery, the Mexican War, and banks, as well as in areas marked specifically for party loyalty, such as the return of Jackson's fine, party lines were clearly defined. Areas less traumatized by party rhetoric have a concensus based on sectional or county advantage. Overall parties do appear to be ideologically based and in conflict.
Recommendations. Additional study of political
parties could be profitably taken on issues such as the constitutional conventions, Indians, land policy, schools and the Des Moines River Improvement Commission. Additional scalograms could be compiled in several of these areas. A follow up on election statistics and individual
members within party ranks would also be profitable
A Study of the Macroinvertebrate Drift in the Des Moines River
Get PDF69 leaves. Advisor: Wayne B. MerkleyThe problem. To determine the effects of Red Rock
Dam on one segment of the aquatic fauna, the "drifting" macroinvertebrates.
Procedure. Drift samples were taken at two points
on the Des Moines River. One sampling station was located above Red Rock Reservoir and one below. Samples were taken every other week at each station, on two consecutive nights, from August 7, 1973, through November 1, 1973, and April 3,
1974, through May 28, 1974. All sampling periods began at sunset, and ended one hour later. Samples were taken in a Wildco, 33 cm X 48 cm, 491 micron mesh drift net.
Findings. Thirty-one taxa were sampled above the
reservoir, while twenty-three were sampled below the reservoir. Total number of organisms per cubic meter were calculated. A decrease in the total number per cubic meter was observed below the dam. The control station had 16.7 times more organisms per cubic meter. The only taxa that were more numerous below the reservoir were the
filter-feeding Trichoptera, Hydropsyche, and Cheumatopsyche. This is apparently a result of the washout of detritus and lentic zooplankton, such as Leptodora, from the reservoir. A positive correlation between numbers in the drift and
volume was noted, except as a result of major variations caused by life cycle stages of an individual taxon.
Conclusions. The total number of organisms and the
number of different species of drifting macroinvertebrates in the Des Moines River was reduced downstream from Red Rock Dam.
Recommendations. The following three topics are proposed extensions of this study: 1) A study of the diurnal variation of drift in the Des Moines River. 2) A study of the transverse variation of the drift across the Des Moines River. 3) A comparison of the phytoplankton and zooplankton
above and below Red Rock Reservoir
Behavioral Control of Seizures in Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)
Get PDF71 leaves. Advisor: Kenneth E. LloydProblem: to ascertain whether epileptic seizures develop as a result of a laboratory produced lesion of the nodosa ganglia of the vagus nerve, to condition the inhibition
of seizures, and to theorize on sudden death.
Procedures: eleven Squirrel monkeys were surgically implanted with depth electrodes. Electroencephalographic recordings were made and 38 days later lesions of the nodosa ganglia were created. Seizures were punished
with electro stimulation and desirable behavior was positively reinforced.
Findings: the lesion of the nodosa ganglia of the vagus nerve created seizures which were suppressed with punishment-differential reinforcement of desirable behavior.
Conclusions: it is possible that a vagal lesion is the explanation of the sudden death of persons diagnosed as epileptic, of persons who are not diagnosed as epileptic but who have disruptions of cardiac or respiratory functions, and of young babies, classified as crib deaths, who have the same cardiac and respiratory failure.
Recommendations: further research is needed
Sex Role Expectations in Children's Vocational Aspirations and Perceptions of Occupations
Get PDF130 leaves. Advisor: Carol A. BurdenThe Problem. The problem of this study was to determine whether children held sex role expectations in their vocational aspirations and
perceptions of occupations. In addition, the differences in responses between boys and girls; between preschool, lower elementary, and upper
elementary school children; and between children attending schools in two neighborhoods--one predominantly lower to lower-middle, the other
middle to upper-middle class--were calculated and analyzed.
Procedure. A standardized interview procedure was developed for use by a male and a female interviewer with 120 children who were randomly
selected from three grade levels from schools representing two socioeconomic levels. Children were asked the questions, "What do you want to
be when you grow up?" and "Have you any other ideas about what you might like to do?" The number (variety) of specific occupations mentioned as first and second choices were reported on frequency distributions. Responses were further analyzed in terms of whether the occupations named as aspirations by children were sex-typed, using Chi-square (p<.05) to test for independence of the variables of sex, grade level, and socio-economic level. A slide-tape presentation depicting thirty actual occupational
settings without a worker present was developed for use in the interviews. Children were asked who could do the work in each of the occupations--a woman, a man, or both a woman and a man. Chi-square (p<.05) was used to test for independence of sex, grade level, and socio-economic level as factors in sex role expectations in perceptions of occupations.
Findings. Results indicated that sex-typing in vocational aspirations was present both in the number (variety) of occupations named as
aspirations by boys and girls and in the way these occupations conformed to traditional sex roles. Boys named 29 different occupations to 25 by girls as aspirations. The number of occupations named by children increased
with each higher grade level. No important differences were found in the number of occupations nominated by children from the two socioeconomic levels. Second-choice aspirations concurred with the above trends, but of 120, 49 responses were, "I don't know." A significant relationship (.001) was found between sex-typing of first-choice occupational aspirations and the sex of the respondents. No significant differences in sex-typing of aspirations were found on the variables of grade level and socio-economic level. Responses to the slide-tape series were found to be significantly related to the three variables of sex (.01). grade level (.001), and socio-economic level (.05) of the respondents. A majority of responses of "both" indicated that occupations were perceived as places where both a woman and a man could work. However, both boys and girls excluded women from jobs more than they excluded men from jobs. Girls, more than boys, perceived women as being able to do the work in the occupations.
Sex-typing in the perceptions decreased as the grade level of the respondents increased. Responses of children from the lower to lower-middle class schools revealed more sex-typing than their middle to upper-middle class counterparts.
Conclusions. Children named a wide diversity of occupational aspirations. It appears that boys begin naming a greater variety of occupations than girls sometime between preschool and second grade. Vocational aspirations tend to be crystallized into single choices for many children, which may indicate a lack of awareness of other vocational possibilities. While children may perceive both a man and a woman as workers in an occupation, boys especially tend to choose jobs for themselves that fall within the usual stereotypes.
Recommendations. Career information experiences should extend to young children, parents, and teachers to encourage them to view occupations as places both men and women can work. Exposure to many opportunities and non-traditional role models is needed by both boys and girls,
especially those from the lower to lower-middle class. Inquiries into the effects of career education and the vocational development of children and adults should not neglect the aspect of sex role expectations
A Component Analysis of the Effects of Contingent Social Attention on Stereotypic Behavior in Blind Retardates
Get PDF32 leaves. Advisor: Mary Ann PowersThe problem: The components comprising contingent social attention were examined for their effects on stereotypic behaviors in blind retardates.
Procedure: Social attention was tested as a positive reinforcer for three blind institutionalized retardates before treatment conditions began. The effect of verbal praise on
the performance of three motor exercises was assessed. During treatment conditions, the effects of the experimenter's presence in the treatment room, noncontingent conversation with the experimenter, contingent praise for not emitting
stereotypies during a prescribed time interval, and noncontingent conversation plus contingent praise were examined for all subjects. A reversal procedure was implemented with experimental conditions followed by a return to baseline phase.
Overcorrection procedures were implemented when no effects of the above conditions on stereotypic behavior were observed. Data were taken on the ward of the institution to test for generalization
of treatment effects on stereotypic behavior outside the experimental sessions.
Findings: For the reinforcer test, a functional relationship was demonstrated between choice of exercise and social reinforcement. Consequation of a particular response selection with verbal praise resulted in a higher frequency of selection than when selection of other responses was consequated.
During treatment conditions, stereotypic responses
did not decrease until contingent praise for not
emitting stereotypies was presented. Overcorrection procedures were necessary to reduce the frequency of stereotypic responses in one of the three subjects. Generalization of
treatment effects on stereotypic behavior to the ward was not demonstrated.
Conclusion: If social attention has been demonstrated to be a positive reinforcing stimulus, contingent verbal praise for not emitting stereotypies should be considered as an effective method for decreasing sterotypic responding in blind institutionalized retardates.
The experimenter's presence and noncontingent conversation appeared to have little or no effect on stereotypic responding.
Recommendations: Further research would include generalization of treatment effects outside the treatment sessions. To aid generalization of effects across situations and persons, similar procedures could be implemented using institutional staff and residents as paraprofessionals both on the ward and in school settings
A Cytological Study of the Sporozoites of Eimeria Caviae, a Coccidian Parasite of the Domestic Guinea Pig, Cavia Porcellus
Get PDF50 leaves. Advisor: Richard S. WachaThe problem. The present study was undertaken in
order to provide information concerning the morphological and cytological characteristics of the sporozoites of Eimeria caviae, Sheather (1924), a coccidian parasite of guinea pigs.
Observations concerning the prepatent and patent periods, the symptomatology and pathology, and the morphological features of the oocysts of this species are also reported.
Procedure. Oocysts of Eimeria caviae, isolated from naturally infected guinea pigs, were excysted in vitro and the sporozoites studied in fresh and stained preparations. Fresh sporozoites were studied in the medium used for excystation, at room temperature, with the aid of a Zeiss RA and/or Zeiss photomicroscope equipped with achromatic objectives and bright field and phase contrast condensors. Smears for permanent preparations were made by smearing No. 1 cover
slips with Meyer's adhesive and freshly excysted sporozoites. Sporozoites stained with the Giemsa method were fixed in methanol and those stained with Harris' hematoxylin and eosin were fixed in Zenker's fluid. Sporozoites stained with the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and the Feulgen methods
were fixed in Bouin's fixative.
Findings. Freshly excysted sporozoites were motile
and exhibited flexion, probing, gliding and rotational movements. The sporozoites were curved in shape with the anterior end tapering to a point and the posterior end being more rounded and blunt. All sporozoites had one anterior and one posterior refractile body with a nucleus between
these bodies. Staining reactions revealed refractile bodies, numerous granules distributed within the cytoplasm and a nucleus containing peripherally distributed chromatin; no nucleolus was observed. Sporulated oocysts were ellipsoidal and brownish-yellow in color. An oocyst residium was not observed. A cone-shaped Stieda body and membrane-bound sporocyst residium were present. The oocyst wall was smooth and consisted of two layers. The prepatent period of Eimeria caviae was found to range from 11 to 13 days; the patent period ranged from 7 to 13 days. Symptoms of infection in guinea pigs experimentally infected with E. caviae were loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, ruffled hair, and a "hunched" posture. Apathetic behavior was also a constant symptom.
Conclusion. The cytological observations of the
sporozoite of Eimeria caviae in the present study agree closely with those observed previously for this and other species. The prepatent and patent periods, symptomatology and pathology, and morphological features of the oocysts also agree with that information previously reported for
this species.
Recommendations. While information concerning the
morphology of the sporozoites of Eimeria caviae is presented in the present study, many important problems concerning their mechanism of invasion of host cells, their excystation process, and the role they play in the immune response remain to be solved
Effect of Organizational Climate on School-Related Discussions Involving the Elementary Principal
Get PDF118 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Richard BrooksThe problem. This study examines the effect of organizational climate in elementary schools on: 1) the nature of school-related discussions with or by the principal,
2) who initiates school-related discussion with the principal, 3) the location of initiation of school-related discussion,
and 4) the amount of such activity.
Procedures. The population for this study consisted of the behaviors of principals in their interactions relative to school-related discussions in public elementary school settings. Two types of settings were selected for comparative purposes: one setting was considered as relatively "open" in organizational climate and the other
setting was considered as relatively "closed" in organizational climate. An instrument was developed which measured three dimensions: the nature of school-related discussions, the initiators of school-related discussions, and the location where school-related discussions were initiated. The study dealt with the classification of types of school-related
discussions involving the principal, who initiated the school-related discussion and the location where the school-related discussion occurred. Data were gathered
through direct observations using an observation record. For each principal, that data collected by the observer and the principal were combined and categorized in each of the three dimensions by frequency. It was then possible to use a Chi-square to determine independence of each of the
three classifications and organizational climates.
Findings. The organizational climate of the school affects the nature (valence and topic) of school-related discussion with or by the principal. The organizational climate of the school affects the type of individual who
initiates school-related discussion with the principal. The organizational climate of the school affects the location in which school-related discussion is initiated with or by
the principal. Each of these were significant at the .001 level.
Conclusions. Principals in relatively "open" organizational climate schools participate in school-related discussions which tend to have valence, either positive or negative, while principals in relatively "closed" organizational climate schools participate in such discussions which tend not to have valence. Co-Curricular, In-Service and
Professional Growth topics are initiated more frequently in relatively "open" organizational climate schools. School-related discussions occur more frequently with the Assistant
Principal, pupils, supervisors, coordinators, and consultants in relatively "open" organizational climate schools, while
such discussions are held more frequently with secretaries in the relatively "closed" organizational climate schools. Principals in relatively "open" organizational climate
schools participate in school-related discussions more frequently in the teachers' lounge, halls and classrooms of the
school, while those in relatively "closed" organizational climate schools participate in such discussions more frequently in the school office area.
Recommendations. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that school district policy makers, central administrators and community representatives should study
the interactions and differences in interactions which exist between climates, decide which climate is preferable, and
then, based on that decision, provide in-service for school administrators to promote the type of climate desired. In
addition, further research should be undertaken to determine if the sex of the principal, the school organization, the
age, and/or the administrative experience of the principal affects school-related discussions between schools of the same climate or across climate types