Browsing by Subject "function"
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Item Change in positive emotion and recovery of functional status following stroke rehabilitation in older adults(2010-04-26) Gary Steven Seale; Glenn Ostir, PhD; Yong-fang Kuo, PhD; Timothy R. Elliott, PhD; Kenneth Ottenbacher, PhD; Beatriz C. Abreu, PhDStroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States and represents a major public health challenge. Recovery of functional status following stroke is a primary focus for rehabilitation, and is an important health outcome linked to independence, life satisfaction and quality of life. Among factors associated with recovery of functional status following stroke is positive emotion. In elderly populations, positive emotion has been shown to be protective of stroke and has been associated with functional recovery following stroke. However, most studies examining the relationship between positive emotion and recovery of functional status evaluate positive emotion at a single time point, and over relatively brief follow-up periods. Some studies report positive emotion may be a dynamic process and can change over brief periods of time. Not clear is whether positive emotion continues to change over longer time periods and whether change in positive emotion can influence recovery of functional status post stroke. \r\nThe purpose of this study was to examine change in positive emotion over a 12-month follow-up period and to determine whether change in positive emotion was associated with recovery of functional status following rehabilitation for first time stroke in an elderly, ethnically diverse patient population. This secondary analysis of data was collected on 990 older adults with first time stroke admitted to one of 20 acute medical rehabilitation facilities in the United States between 2005 and 2006. Data were examined at discharge from acute medical rehabilitation, and at 3-month and 12-month follow-up. The 12-month follow-up sample was comprised of 684 non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics aged 55 or older with first time stroke. \r\nKey findings of this study included: 1) positive emotion changed over the 12-month follow-up period with the majority of change occurring between discharge and 3-month follow-up, 2) of the patients who demonstrated change in positive emotion, more demonstrated an increase in positive emotion over the 12-month follow-up as compared to no change or a decline, 3) change in positive emotion was significantly associated with recovery of functional status post stroke after controlling for important sociodemographic characteristics and clinical measures known to impact recovery after stroke, including depressive symptoms.\r\nChange in positive emotion can occur over relatively long periods of time (i.e., 12 months) and this change is associated with recovery of functional status post stroke. \r\nItem Preservice Teachers? Content Knowledge of Function Concept within a Contextual Environment(2012-10-19) Brown, IrvingThe overarching goal of this dissertation research was to develop and measure the psychometric properties of an instrument to assess preservice teachers? content knowledge of the function concept embedded in contextual problems. This goal was accomplished through two research projects described in two central chapters. Chapter II reports on the collective case study that was used to pilot test the instrument and Chapter III details the rationale used in item selection and the psychometric properties of the new instrument. Unlike existing research studies that examine a broad range of function related topics using various forms of symbolic, tabular, and graphical representations as the basis for questions and problems, this study focused solely on function problems immersed in various real world contexts. Since this is not a common approach to measuring content knowledge of the function concept, the existing instruments in published studies were not found to be suitable for this specialized purpose. The psychometric measurements of the instrument did not suggest that the instrument was valid or reliable so more research will be required to validate the instrument. However, based on the preliminary results from testing, several potential suggestions can be made to teacher educations programs. Inferences drawn from the mathematical problem-solving cognition will aid in the development and validation of future instruments to assess preservice mathematics teachers? knowledge of how to connect their knowledge mathematical concept of function to a contextual setting.Item Social Context of Gray Whale Eschrichtius robustus Sound Activity(2012-07-16) Charles, SarahThis thesis examines sound production of eastern gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in the wintering lagoons to determine whether sound use is a function of social context. Proportions of sounds used, parameters of each sound class, and rates of sounds were compared among social contexts. Data revealed the strong possibility of context-specific use for particular sound classes. Additionally, sound parameters and rates of production varied by social context. These results reflect similar variations in gray whale repertoire throughout their range that may be due to changes in social and behavioral contexts. Gray whale sounds are classified into several classes based on aural and visual characteristics. This study verifies the classification system determined in previous studies, with the exception of class 8, and supports the division of class 1 into subclasses 1a and 1b. Class 1 appeared to be critical during sexual contexts and all highly social contexts, regardless of age and sex class. Although highly recognizable, its parameters exhibited much variation among social contexts; therefore class 1 may communicate graded emotional states in short-range interactions. Other classes of sounds may be utilized for long-distance communication, as startle responses, or "precursors" to the adult repertoire. Frequency-related parameters of all sound classes showed variation among social contexts, but duration demonstrated very little variation. Calf-containing contexts exhibited greatest and most varied frequencies; this is to be expected if gray whale's sound mechanism is related to body and tracheal length. Variation also may indicate that physical maturity or learning play a role in the repertoire development. The lowest and least varied frequencies were observed in adult contexts. Sound production rates also varied by social context. Active adults produced sounds at high rates during short intervals; mixed/unknown contexts were often silent. Calf-containing contexts produced sounds at intermediate rates and were never silent. The correlations demonstrated here between social context and use of sounds will allow for acoustics to be an indicator of group composition, seasonal movements, and social patterns, thus relieving dependency on difficult visual observation. Additionally, such correlations provide preliminary information for determining sound functions.