bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Introduction to the Electrocardiogram during Adult Donor Care
Authors: Powner David J.
Published: July 2017

Organ procurement coordinators use continuous monitoring of the electrocardiographic rhythm from the donor's heart during bedside care. Similarly, organ procurement coordinators are often asked to report interpretations of 12-lead electrocardiograms provided by hospital cardiologists. To aid in these important functions, this article describes the biochemical bases of electrocardiograms and alterations in electrocardiograms caused by common electrolyte disorders, hypothermia, and myocardial ischemia that may occur during donor care.
Importance of Depression and Active Coping in Liver Transplant Candidates' Quality of Life
Authors: Telles-Correia Diogo , Barbosa A. , Mega I. , Monteiro E.
Published: July 2017

Objective

To investigate the importance of psychiatric and psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, personality traits, and coping strategies in liver transplant candidates' quality of life.

Methods

A total of 131 consecutive liver transplant candidates attending outpatient clinics at a liver transplantation central unit were assessed by means of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form quality-of-life questionnaire, psychiatric diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, a personality inventory (NEO Five-Factor Inventory), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Brief COPE scale.

Results and Conclusions

Both physical and mental components of quality of life are far more correlated with depression and active coping strategy than with clinical and sociodemographic factors. Neuroticism was also strongly correlated with the mental component of quality of life, and employment was correlated with the physical component of quality of life.
Donor Factors That Affect the Number of Organs Transplanted per Donor
Authors: Olson Leslie , Cravero Lynn
Published: July 2017

Background

Demographic factors and factors from donors' medical and social history influence the number of organs transplanted per donor. The goal for organ procurement organizations is 4.30 organs transplanted per standard criteria donor.

Objective

To examine the influence of factors related to donors' demographics and donors' medical and social histories on the number of organs transplanted per donor.

Methods

The medical and social histories of 772 deceased donors were reviewed to assess demographic factors (eg, age, sex), diseases (eg, heart disease, hepatitis, diabetes, hypertension), and other factors (eg, body mass index, high-risk behavior, alcohol abuse). Statistics were calculated by using MarketSight software.

Results

Between 2003 and 2007, 2409 organs were recovered and transplanted from 772 donors (number of organs per donor, mean [SD], 3.12 [1.73]) in our designated service area. Some demographic factors (eg, age, sex) were associated with significantly fewer organs transplanted per donor. Other factors from donors' medical and social histories also played a major role, with each added factor significantly decreasing the number of organs transplanted per donor. The number of organs transplanted differed significantly between donors with 0 vs 1, 1 vs 2, and 2 vs 3 or more factors related to their medical and social histories.

Conclusion

Demographic factors and other factors in donors' medical and social histories significantly reduced the number of organs transplanted per donor. An algorithm that uses all potential demographic factors and factors related to medical and social history nested within each other could be developed to predict number of organs transplanted.
Effects of Administration of Intravenous Naloxone on Gas Exchange in Brain-Dead Lung Donors
Authors: Eagan Christina , Keller Cesar A. , Baz Maher A. , Thibault Michael
Published: July 2017

Objective

To observe the effect of naloxone on the lung function of potential lung transplant donors with neurogenic pulmonary edema.

Design and Interventions

Donors aged 16 to 55 years without any factors to contraindicate lung donation (pneumonia, pulmonary contusion, etc) were included. Ventilator settings were standardized to a tidal volume of 10 to 12 mL/kg, an FiO2 of 0.40, and a respiratory rate that kept PCO2 between 35 and 45 mm Hg. Chest physiotherapy, nebulizer treatments, and frequent suctioning were undertaken. Baseline arterial blood gas analysis and an oxygen challenge were performed. The patients were then given 8 to 10 mg of naloxone. Oxygen challenges and arterial blood gas analyses were repeated every 4 to 6 hours. The data were analyzed by using a paired t test, and each patient served as his or her own control.

Setting

These interventions were performed on the 19 LifeQuest donors who met the set criteria from July 2002 to July 2004.

Results

The PaO2 on the oxygen challenge immediately after administration of naloxone increased from 329 (SD 177) to 363 (SD 191) mm Hg, although the increase from baseline was not significant. The PaO2 from the second oxygen challenge (median time, 7 hours after administration of naloxone) increased to 413 (SD 177) mm Hg ( P < .01).
Tacrolimus: Review of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacogenetics to Facilitate Practitioners' Understanding and Offer Strategies for Educating Patients and Promoting Adherence
Authors: Vicari-Christensen Michele , Repper Suzanne , Basile Sharon , Young Danella
Published: July 2017

Kidney transplantation requires lifelong immunosuppression with agents that prevent allograft rejection. Immunosuppressive regimens typically include a steroid, an immune modulator (eg, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, or mycophenolate sodium), and a calcineurin inhibitor, either cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Tacrolimus is metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 in both the liver and small intestine. Drugs that are substrates of cytochrome P450 3A4, as well as inhibitors and inducers of cytochrome P450 3A4, can cause significant interactions with tacrolimus. A review of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus is important to enhance practitioners' understanding when using tacrolimus after kidney transplantation. It is also important to educate patients and their families about tacrolimus. Patients' adherence to this medication regimen is pivotal for allograft survival. A consistent and comprehensive approach to education and discharge teaching is a key component of adherence and the attainment of therapeutic drug levels. At Shands Jacksonville Transplant Center, discharge education and teaching tools aid the transplant professionals and facilitate patients' adherence. This in turn supports the goals of maintaining therapeutic serum levels of tacrolimus and improving renal allograft survival.
Increasing Organ Yield through a Lung Management Protocol
Authors: Kirschbaum Cyndy E. , Hudson Sarah
Published: July 2017

Gift of Life Michigan determined that the largest gap between the number of organ donors and the number of organs transplanted has been in the number of lungs transplanted. The literature was reviewed for lung donor management strategies and other organ procurement organizations were surveyed for existing donor management guidelines to improve lung function. On the basis of pulmonary physiology and the knowledge gained from the literature search, Gift of Life Michigan developed a lung donor management protocol that has been very effective. In 4 years, the number of lungs transplanted has increased from 37 to 135, representing a 265% improvement.
Ventricular Assist Device: Saving the Failing Heart
Authors: Kurien Sudha , Gallagher Colleen
Published: July 2017

Background

Improving the survival and quality of life of patients with end-stage heart failure is the primary goal of using a ventricular assist device, generally known as mechanical circulatory support. Ventricular assist devices are a practical long-term surgical option for a select group of patients with end-stage heart failure.

Method

A case study is used to demonstrate the process of selection and evaluation of patients with end-stage heart failure for ventricular assist device therapy. Also, a detailed description of all aspects of care of patients before, during, and after implantation of a ventricular assist device is presented.

Conclusion

A ventricular assist device is a superior therapeutic option for patients with end-stage heart failure who have become intolerant to medical therapy or in whom medical therapy has been unsuccessful. Advances in device technology through the development of nonpulsatile continuous flow devices are showing favorable long-term outcomes for patients with a ventricular assist device by minimizing complications and enhancing quality of life.
The Role of a Clinical Engineer within a Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Program: A Single Center's Experience
Authors: Princer Kathleen
Published: July 2017

With the rapidly growing world of mechanical circulatory support device programs, a variety of multidisciplinary team models have been successful. Most include nurses, nurse practitioners, perfusionists, and/or clinical engineers, with patient care and education primarily directed by nurses. At Aurora St Luke's Medical Center, the team includes transplant surgeons, transplant cardiologists, nurse practitioners, clinical engineers, perfusionists, and nurses who serve as transplant coordinators and research coordinators, but the team is unique in having clinical engineers at the center of patient care. The clinical engineers and the transplant coordinators split many of the duties of a typical ventricular assist device coordinator. The role of the clinical engineer within the program is elucidated by discussing the history of the program, the structure of the clinical engineering team, the duties related to mechanical circulatory support devices and the additional responsibilities of the clinical engineers.
Thromboelastography during Adult Donor Care
Authors: Powner David J.
Published: July 2017

Thromboelastography is a test of blood coagulation used to evaluate all components of clot formation and possible abnormal clot dissolution. It supplements traditional laboratory testing by demonstrating the integration of coagulation factors, platelets (number and function), and other factors during coagulation. Analysis of abnormalities demonstrated by thromboelastography can guide organ procurement coordinators in titrating appropriate quantities of fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, or platelet transfusions during treatment of coagulation in adult donors.
Newsletters and Adherence to a Weekly Home Spirometry Program after Lung Transplant
Authors: LaVelle Meghan B. , Finkelstein Stanley M. , Lindgren Bruce R. , Lindquist Ruth , Robiner William N. , MacMahon Kathleen , VanWormer Arin M.
Published: July 2017

Context

Newsletters are a common intervention for patients in clinical trials. However, it is not clear whether newsletters are associated with increased adherence to the health regimen, and if so, which aspects of the newsletter are reported as most helpful to patients.

Objective

To examine the association between patients' ratings of worthwhileness of a quarterly newsletter and adherence with a home spirometry regimen.

Design

Patients (n=48) were in a research-based spirometry program after lung transplant and had received at least 1 newsletter; 24 (50%) returned completed surveys via postal mail.

Main Outcome Measures

Adherence for forced vital pulmonary function tests for respondents versus nonrespondents, number of weeks they were adherent, ratings they gave the newsletter, and which components of the newsletters were helpful to the respondents.

Results

Respondents had more forced vital capacity pulmonary function tests (“blows”) overall, blew more times weekly, and blew more consistently from week to week than did nonrespondents. Although it was not statistically significant, a mild correlation was found between the number of weeks that the respondents were adherent and their ratings of the newsletter ( r = 0.36, P = .08). Most respondents reported that newsletter length was “about right,” and 86% reported that newsletters helped encourage regular spirometer use, maintain interest in the study, educate about general health, and alert readers to seasonal health risks.

Implications for Practice

High ratings for newsletters used to encourage participation among adults in our home spirometry study were associated with higher adherence.
Validity of 2 Sleep Quality Items to Be Used in a Large Cohort Study of Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Burkhalter Hanna , Sereika Susan M. , Engberg Sandra , Wirz-Justice Anna , Steiger Jürg , De Geest Sabina
Published: July 2017

Context

Poor sleep quality and poor daytime functioning affect many kidney transplant patients.

Objective

To evaluate the validity of 2 items assessing sleep quality and daytime functioning using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index as reference standard before use in a large cohort study, following the American Psychological Association's guidelines.

Design

A cross-sectional study using a psychosocial questionnaire developed for a large cohort study and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Sample and Setting

One hundred thirty-five home-dwelling kidney transplant patients aged 21 to 76 years (mean, 51.6 years; SD, 11.9 years).

Main Outcome Measures

Evidence on content, internal structure, and relation to other variables.

Results

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index indicated a 47.4% prevalence of poor sleep quality; the sleep quality item in the psychosocial questionnaire showed a 30.7% prevalence of poor sleep quality and a 34.1% prevalence of poor daytime functioning. Content validity was good for the psychosocial questionnaire's sleep quality item but poor for its daytime functioning item. As hypothesized, the psychosocial questionnaire's sleep quality item was moderately correlated with its daytime functioning item (Spearman rho, ρs = 0.520, P< .001), indicating related but distinct concepts. When combined, the 2 items from the psychosocial questionnaire showed significant correlations with the total score on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (ρs = −0.784, P< .001), depressive symptoms (ρs = −0.680, P< .001), perceived health status (ρs = 0.619, P< .001), and subjective health status (ρs = 0.671, P< .001) in the expected directions.

Conclusion

For kidney transplant patients, validity is strong for the psychosocial questionnaire's sleep quality item, but the mixed findings regarding the validity of the daytime functioning item suggest that additional items are needed to measure daytime functioning.
Preservation of Evidence during Pediatric Organ Donation: A Modified Thoracotomy Procedure Designed to Increase Consent in Medical Examiner Cases
Authors: Wolf Dwayne A. , Derrick Sharon M. , Wood R. Patrick
Published: July 2017

Deceased potential organ donors are often under the jurisdiction of medical examiners/coroners. In these deaths, the medical examiner/coroner has the statutory responsibility of determining cause and manner of death but is also responsible for presenting findings from the complete autopsy in court. The ability to analyze findings such as location, nature, and age of rib fractures and patterned skin injuries may be crucially important to legal disposition, even though those findings may not be critical to determination of cause and/or manner of death. Potential alteration or destruction of those findings is one reason why a medical examiner/coroner may deny organ donation. We present here a modified surgical approach to accessing thoracic organs in children so that posterior rib fractures, which have particular significance in child abuse cases, can be preserved unaltered for subsequent autopsy. This simple modification of surgical technique has greatly facilitated the mutual goals of the medical examiner and the designated organ procurement organization in our jurisdiction, and it has thus decreased the frequency of denials of organ donation.
Virginia Henderson's Principles and Practice of Nursing Applied to Organ Donation after Brain Death
Authors: Nicely Bruce , DeLario Ginger T.
Published: July 2017

Registered nurses were some of the first nonphysician organ transplant and donation specialists in the field, both in procurement and clinical arenas. Nursing theories are abundant in the literature and in nursing curricula, but none have been applied to the donation process. Noted nursing theorist Virginia Henderson (1897–1996), often referred to as the “first lady of nursing,” developed a nursing model based on activities of living. Henderson had the pioneering view that nursing stands separately from medicine and that nursing consists of more than simply following physicians' orders. Henderson's Principles and Practice of Nursing is a grand theory that can be applied to many types of nursing. In this article, Henderson's theory is applied to the intensely focused and specialized area of organ donation for transplantation. Although organ donation coordinators may have backgrounds as physicians' assistants, paramedics, or other allied health professions, most are registered nurses. By virtue of the inherent necessity for involvement of the family and friends of the potential donor, Henderson's concepts are applied to the care and management of the organ donor, to the donor's family and friends, and in some instances, to the caregivers themselves.
Sleep and Daytime Sleepiness of Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Longitudinal Pilot Study
Authors: Casida Jesus M. , Davis Jean E. , Brewer Robert J. , Smith Cheryl , Yarandi Hossein
Published: July 2017

Context

No empirical longitudinal data on sleep and daytime sleepiness patterns in patients with an implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) exist.

Objective

(1) To describe the sleep patterns (sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, sleep fragmentation index, total sleep time, and wake after sleep onset), sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness variables and (2) to determine the change in the pattern of these variables before and up to 6 months after LVAD implantation.

Design

A longitudinal descriptive repeated-measures design was used. Patients wore wrist actigraphs (AW64 Actiwatch), which objectively measured sleep, for 3 consecutive days and nights before LVAD implant and at the first and second week and first, third, and sixth month after implantation. During these periods, patients also completed questionnaires on sleep quality and daytime sleepiness.

Patients

Twelve of 15 patients completed the 6-month data. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Results

We found long sleep onset latencies and low sleep efficiency across time periods. High sleep fragmentation index was noted at baseline and 1 week after LVAD. Short total sleep times, long wake-after-sleep-onset durations, and poor sleep quality were evident at baseline and persisted up to 6 months after LVAD implantation. Low alertness level, a manifestation of sleepiness, was common during late morning to early evening hours. However, only sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset showed significant changes in pattern (P < .05).

Conclusion

Sleep disturbance and daytime sleepiness may be prevalent before and up to 6 months after LVAD implantation, warranting further investigation.
From Insiders' Perspectives: Adjusting to Caregiving for Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Authors: Marcuccilli Linda , Casida Jesus M.
Published: July 2017

Context

Caregivers for patients with a long-term implantable left ventricular assist device have a very important role in helping patients maintain their health and well-being and attain an improved quality of life. Although the caregiving tasks, burdens, and challenges of family caregivers have been described in the literature, we know little about how caregivers adjust to or accommodate the new role in their lives.

Objective

To explore and describe the lifestyle adjustments of caregivers for adults living with a left ventricular assist device as a bridge to heart transplant or destination therapy.

Design

A hermeneutic phenomenology was used as a guide for interviews and analysis of the data.

Participants

A purposive convenience sample of 5 women, aged 39 to 71 years, who had served as caregivers of a left ventricular assist device patient for at least 3 months.

Setting

Recruitment and data collection (interviews) were conducted in an outpatient clinic for the mechanical circulatory support program of a large academic medical center in the Midwest.

Results

Three main themes (caregiving: a “24/7” responsibility, coping strategies, and satisfaction) and 13 subthemes emerged from the data.

Conclusions

Lifestyle adjustments with caregiving may become easier over time, and with effective use of coping strategies, caregivers accept their new caregiving role as part of life.
Preoperative Factors as Predictors of Blood Product Transfusion Requirements in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation
Authors: Ghaffaripour Sina , Mahmoudi Hilda , Khosravi Mohammad B. , Sahmeddini Mohammad Ali , Eghbal Hossein , Sattari Hossein , Kazemi Kourosh , Malekhosseini Seyed Ali
Published: July 2017

Context

Intraoperative transfusion can affect the chance of graft survival in liver transplantation, a complicated operation with massive blood loss. Verification of factors that are predictive of intraoperative blood loss and transfusion increases the quality of anesthesia management.

Objective

To assess use of blood and blood products between 2002 and 2008 and to evaluate factors associated with blood loss and requirement for blood products in adult patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation via piggyback technique.

Design

Medical charts and anesthesia records from 261 eligible adult recipients of an orthotopic liver transplant between March 2002 and May 2008 were reviewed.

Setting

Shiraz Liver Transplantation Center, the only active liver transplantation center in Iran.

Main Outcome Measures

Potential influencing factors in blood loss and transfusion, including sex, preoperative hemoglobin level, international normalized ratio, primary diagnosis, platelet count, creatinine level, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, central venous pressure, and total anesthesia time, were measured and subjected to multivariable analysis.

Results

Mean blood loss was 54.2 (SD, 47.9) mL/kg, the mean (SD) for amounts of blood products transfused was 25.3 (19.5) mL/kg for packed red blood cells, 2.6 (3.3) units for fresh frozen plasma, and 1.7 (3.1) units for platelets. Seven recipients (2.7%) underwent transplantation without intraoperative transfusion of red blood cells, whereas 25 patients (9.6%) received more than 10 units of red blood cells intraoperatively. Multivariable analysis showed that no preoperative factor was a predictor of blood loss or requirement for intraoperative transfusion. Transfusion of fresh frozen plasma and packed red blood cells was significantly lower in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 than in 2003 to 2004 ( P< .001).
Billing and Reimbursement for Advanced Practice in Solid Organ Transplantation
Authors: Hoch Deborah Ann , Maynard Erin , Whiting James
Published: July 2017

Transplantation is considered the treatment of choice for end-stage organ failure in most organ systems. Kidney transplantation is cost-saving as compared with dialysis, and the cost utility of liver transplantation is favorable compared with other accepted medical interventions; nonetheless, transplantation is an expensive endeavor. As a result, both hospitals and payers have made considerable efforts to try to limit the costs associated with transplantation; these efforts have resulted in complicated reimbursement schemes and a variety of models to deliver care. It is in this context that many institutions have looked to incorporate advanced practice professionals in the care of transplant patients. The ability to use advanced practice professionals in a cost-effective manner can be enhanced by an understanding of how reimbursement in transplantation works and the legal and financial implications of their employment.
Compressive Strength of Composite/Concrete Cylinders after Low Energy Impact
Authors: Liu Hsien-Kuang , Chen Zhi- , Tai Nyan-Hwa , Chen Zhi-
Published: July 2017

This paper deals with the repair of the concrete cylinder by fiber reinforced composites fabricated through the filament winding method. Composites fabricated by the method can reinforce concrete cylinders efficiently because they provide comprehensive and multi-axial reinforcing effects. In this work, three winding angles were adopted to wind six layers of glass/epoxy composite jacket onto the concrete cylinder. These three winding angles combined with different lay-up sequence form seven types of composite/concrete cylinders. The compression after impact (CAI) test was conducted on the seven composite/concrete cylinders. These experiments were designed to investigate the influence of winding angles and lay-up sequence of the composite on the CAI strength. It is found that the highest CAI strength among the composite wound concrete cylinder is 4.81 times higher than that of the concrete cylinder without the reinforced composite. In addition, the former has higher failure strain than the latter. The impact resistance can be evaluated by a compression after impact/compression before impact (CAI/CBI) strength ratio. It is also detected that although impact damage has been introduced, the fracture of composite/concrete cylinder under compression may not be initiated from the impact site. Moreover, the failure strengths are influenced by damage mechanisms of the cylinders, and the damage modes for the concrete cylinder and wound composites are related. In this paper, the damage mechanisms of different wound concrete cylinders under CAI test were discussed.
Fatigue Damage and Life Prediction of Glass/Vinyl Ester Composites
Authors: Kim Ho Sung , Zhang Jianping
Published: July 2017

Fatigue mechanisms and life time prediction of E-glass/vinyl ester composites are studied. Unnotched unidirectional composites subjected to tension-tension sinusoidal loading with a frequency of 1.5 Hz were employed. Quantitative damage data were obtained and analysed for the fatigue life prediction. S-N data and curve were constructed and fatigue mechanisms at different stress ranges were discussed in terms of stiffness reduction/fatigue modulus and quantitative damage. It was found that the micro-crack density increased logarithmically with increasing number of loading cycles. A model based on the fatigue modulus reduction was developed to predict an S-N curve using phenomenological parameters. The life time predictions were shown to be in good agreement with experimental results.
Tadeusz Wroński (1915–2000)
Authors: Bugaj Kasia
Published: July 2017

The figure of Tadeusz Wroński is highly respected by the music establishment in Poland. One of the eminent Polish violinists of his generation, his pedagogical contributions form the cornerstone of the Polish violin school during the second half of the twentieth century. His involvement with numerous music-related causes and organizations contributed to the efficient rebuilding of the performance infrastructure in a country devastated by World War II. In the United States, his influence extends to more than four hundred students who studied with him during his two decades of teaching at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. This article examines the life of Tadeusz Wroński, focusing on his experiences prior to his tenure at Indiana University, his contributions to the Polish music establishment, his one-of-a-kind international competition for solo violin, and his vision of a unique curriculum designed for the efficient training of string students enrolled in teacher training programs.
The Rhythm Forms of Philip Cady Hayden
Authors: Gerber Casey L.
Published: July 2017

The purpose of the study was to examine the teaching methods of Philip C. Hayden (1854–1925), an influential music educator during the early part of the twentieth century. Hayden is known for organizing the April 1907 meeting of music supervisors in Keokuk, Iowa, to demonstrate his teaching method that resulted in the formation of the Music Supervisors National Conference. He based his teaching on the premise that students should be educated in ear training before they are exposed to eye training. For this reason, he proposed teaching melodic concepts through the use of rhythm forms. The rhythm forms were based on frequently occurring tonal patterns paired with rudimentary rhythms.

The seven rhythm forms employed by Hayden were presented in a sequential manner and advanced from easier to more difficult as the students progressed through the grades. One fundamental idea in the study of the rhythm forms was the use of the beat as a unit. This differed from previously established methods that did not group rhythms into patterns as related to the beat. The tonal patterns paired with rhythm forms were taught through imitation, dictation, and improvisation. Only after the students had abundant experience with a specified rhythm form, using imitation, dictation, and creation, were they allowed to read them in printed music. Through the use of the rhythm forms, Hayden believed that, by the eighth grade, all students should develop understanding of all musical elements through reading and dictation.
The Conn Conservatory of Music at Elkhart, Indiana
Authors: Hash Phillip M.
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to document the history of the Conn Conservatory of Music operated by the C. G. Conn musical instrument company of Elkhart, Indiana. Research questions focused on the school’s origin, curriculum, pedagogy, faculty, and students. Instrument manufacturer Charles G. Conn opened The Conn Conservatory in 1896 to boost the sale of instruments and fill the need for an institution devoted to training musicians for the increasing number of bands in the United States. Although the student population never attained the size for which the managers hoped, the Conservatory attracted students from across the United States who came to study with Jules Levy (cornet), Edward A. Lefebre (saxophone), and other prominent members of the faculty. In addition to class and private lessons, students at the Conservatory studied harmony and instrumentation as they worked toward medals and diplomas at advancing levels of proficiency. Administrators eventually expanded the curriculum to include piano, voice, orchestral strings, and popular instruments such as the guitar to attract local residents and generate additional income. The school closed in early 1903, probably because of the loss of its most famous faculty members and a dwindling student population.
Teaching Basic Eating Skills
Authors: Stainback Susan , Healy Harriet , Stainback William , Healy James
Published: July 2017

The basic process of teaching eating skills to seriously handicapped children is extremely pertinent to teachers of this population. The development of basic eating functions such as sucking, swallowing, chewing, and spoon and cup use constitutes an important part of the daily curriculum for many of these children. The purpose of this article is to organize some of the techniques and considerations that may provide helpful hints for teachers who will be required to initiate this basic training.
Functional Language for a Severely Handicapped Child: A Case Study
Authors: Firling Janice D.
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this case study is to review the procedures and results of a comprehensive model–employing operant conditioning procedures with a non-verbal child. The model is comprehensive itself in that it provides step-by-step training procedures from the point of training imitation of simple sounds, then a labeling vocabulary, then verbs, and so on through a total of 49 steps. Approximately half of the model is devoted to teaching spontaneous, functional speech. Specific procedures for training by parents or parent-figures are included. The study is also comprehensive in that it covers four years of training with the same child and trainer. Most of this training program is based on an imitation paradigm coupled with a two-trainer modeling procedure. The contents of the functional language program includes six areas of emphasis: Persons and Things; Action with Persons and Things; Possession; Color; Size; and Relation. The individual training steps of this category are repeatedly interrelated in such a way that the acquisition of one particular skill is expanded and refined in subsequent steps. The last nineteen steps of the program deal solely with expansion of spontaneous speech and generalization to other parts of the child's environment. The results of this case study are all empirically based. The child's progress can clearly be traced from steps dealing with simple sound imitation and then on through the rest of the program. Data on generalization of training to probe sessions are also presented.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Review
Authors: Delaney Sam , Hayden Alice
Published: July 2017

In the paper the authors synthesize the information regarding the impact of alcohol consumption upon the offspring of alcoholic women, a condition more specifically known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. It is the intent of the authors that this information spur the development of a number of strategies aimed at primary and secondary preventative interventions for women who either have the disposition to the disease or have the disease, affecting them and their offspring.
Teaching Trainable Level Multiply Handicapped Students to Use Picture Cues, Context Cues, and Initial Consonant Sounds to Determine the Labels of Unknown Words
Authors: Entrikin Diane , York Robert , Brown Lou
Published: July 2017

A detailed curriculum for teaching handicapped students word attack skills is presented. The specific word attack skills of picture clues, context clues, and initial consonant sounds are broken into small, teachable components with specific instructional procedures for each teaching objective. Data on three children who completed the program are presented.
The Elicitation of Latent Oral Communicative Potential in a Severely Handicapped Adult: Procedures and Implications
Authors: Shane Howard C. , Reynolds Anne T. , Geary Diane
Published: July 2017

Several procedures designed to increase the oral communication of a woman with severe neuromuscular and intellectual handicaps are described. Data collected from intervention strategies, as well as the tutorial staff of the student's residential setting, indicate that she is now using speech and language appropriately and consistently, although prior to programming she was virtually non-communicative. Factors relating to her rapid increase in verbal behavior, and implications for therapy with the severely handicapped, are discussed.
Developing Twenty-Four Hour Service Plans for Severely Handicapped Learners
Authors: McCormack James E. , Audette Robert H.
Published: July 2017

Public Law 94–142 will require many SEAs and LEAs to make significant modifications and/or additions in their educational service delivery capabilities and procedures. This paper examines the relationship between two aspects of the law, developing individual educational plans (IEPs) and serving the severely/profoundly handicapped. A model is provided for developing IEPs for the severely/profoundly handicapped which Integrates residential and school activities.
Relationships between Psychometric and Observational Measures of Performance in Low-Functioning Children
Authors: Diebold Martin H. , Curtis W. Scott , DuBose Rebecca F.
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between measures of cognition, socialization, motor ability, and language ability obtained through the use of two approaches to the assessment of low-functioning multisensorily handicapped children: administration of standardized developmental scales and a systematic behavior observation instrument (the Telediagnostic Protocol). Subjects were 24 ambulatory deaf-blind children who were candidates for admission to educational programs at seven institutions for the handicapped. Results revealed that, as a set, systematic observation measures were highly correlated with the significantly predicted group performance on the standardized developmental scales.
The Modification of Rumination in a Severely Emotionally Disturbed Child through an Overcorrection Procedure
Authors: Simpson Richard L. , Sasso Gary M.
Published: July 2017

The present study demonstrates the efficacy of an overcorrection procedure in eliminating chronic rumination in a 10-year-old severely emotionally disturbed male. The procedure was successfully applied by a teacher and classroom aide in a public school environment, suggesting the applicability of overcorrection technqiues in decelerating self-stimulatory and deviant patterns of behavior in nonclinical and noninstitutional environments.
A Rationale for Comprehensive Longitudinal Interactions between Severely Handicapped Students and Nonhandicapped Students and other Citizens
Authors: Brown Lou , Branston Mary Beth , Hamre-Nietupski Sue , Johnson Fran , Wilcox Barbara , Gruenewald Lee
Published: July 2017

If severely handicapped people are to function as independently and productively as possible in a variety of least restrictive postschool community environments, they must have comprehensive and longitudinal interactions with nonhandicapped persons during the educational years, In this paper some arguments in favor of interaction with nonhandicapped persons and some of the arguments in favor of the segregation of severely handicapped persons are delineated and briefly discussed in a point/counterpoint format. The authors strongly support comprehensive and longitudinal interactions between severely handicapped and nonhandicapped persons.
Severely Handicapped: Toward an Inclusive Definition
Authors: Baker Dixie Branner
Published: July 2017

This article discusses the problem of defining the term severely handicapped and examines and evaluates previously advanced definitions. Results of a study of recent literature purporting to deal with “severely handicapped” individuals serve as the foundation for the development of a new definition. Major advantages of the proposed inclusive definition are outlined and discussed.
Instructional Strategies for Improving Toy Play Skills of Severely Handicapped Children
Authors: Wehman Paul
Published: July 2017

This article identifies play problems that are typically encountered in severely and profoundly handicapped children. Play problems are primarily limited to the difficulties involved in appropriate interaction with toys and peers. For each problem, several instructional strategies are described as possible solutions for parents and teachers. The problems identified are refusal to play, inappropriate play, lack of sustained play, limited range in use of play materials, isolate play, refusal to initiate social interactions, throwing toys, and inappropriate materials. The strategies suggested for alleviating these problems are developed from a review of relevant research literature.
Infogrip Chordic Keyboard Evaluation
Authors: Lu H. , Aghazadeh F.
Published: July 2017

This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of a computer data entry device called Infogrip Chordic Keyboard. Learning time, typing speed and accuracy, and operator discomfort are examined. The result shows that the 30 chords can be learned in two hours. The subjects could type 49 characters per minute with the accuracy of 98.3 percent after two hours training.
Touchscreen Interfaces for Alphanumeric Data Entry
Authors: Plaisant Catherine , Sears Andrew
Published: July 2017

Touchscreens have been demonstrated as useful for many applications. Although a traditional mechanical keyboard is the device of choice when entering alphanumeric data, it may not be optimal when only limited data must be entered, or when the keyboard layout, character set, or size may be changed. A series of experiments has demonstrated the usability of touchscreen keyboards. The first study indicated that users who type 58 wpm on a traditional keyboard can type 25 wpm using a touchscreen and that the traditional monitor position is suboptimal for touchscreen use. A second study reported on typing rates for keyboards of various sizes (from 6.8 to 24.6 cm wide). Novices typed approximately 10 wpm on the smallest and 20 wpm on the largest of the keyboards. Users experienced with touchscreen keyboards typed 21 wpm on the smallest and 32 wpm on the largest. We then report on a recent study done with more representative users and more difficult tasks. Thirteen cashiers were recruited for this study and were required to complete ten trials in which they typed names and addresses with punctuation. Results indicate that the users improved rapidly from 9.5 wpm on the first trial to 13.8 wpm on the last trial, reaching their fastest performance after only 25 minutes. Although custom interfaces will be preferred for special types of data (e.g. telephone numbers, times, dates, colors) there will always be situations when limited quantities of text must be entered. In these situations a touchscreen keyboard can be used.
The Predictability of Cursor Control Device Performance Based on a Primitive Set of User Object-Oriented Cursor Actions
Authors: Chase Joseph D. , Casali Sherry Perdue , Hartson H. Rex
Published: July 2017

The ability to predict performance with a cursor control device on a complex task by measuring performance on a simple task would be useful in evaluating alternative input devices in many types of novel situations. A user would simply have to perform simple cursor movements with each candidate device, and predictions could be made of his/her performance with the devices on any given software application. Such an approach would reduce tedious trial and error procedures, as well as eliminate the time necessary to first learn various software applications. The current study employed the User Action Notation (UAN), a task-oriented notation that describes the behavior of the user and the interface during their cooperative performance of a task, to decompose complex tasks into primitive components. A set of primitive cursor actions was developed which contains the elementary cursor actions found in complex tasks. A graphics software application was then evaluated, using the UAN, with respect to the frequency of occurrence of each of the primitive user-cursor actions. Individual's ability to perform each primitive user-cursor action with three different input devices was then be measured. These measures were used to form estimates of the individual's ability to perform the graphics task with each input device. Correlations between predicted performance and measured performance on the graphics task were found to exceed 0.9. Results demonstrate the success of the method described herein for predicting complex task performance based on simple task performance, as well as, the usefulness of the UAN for decomposing complex tasks into primitive components.
Assessment of a Head-Mounted Miniature Monitor
Authors: Hale Joseph P.
Published: July 2017

Two experiments were conducted to assess the capabilities and limitations of the Private Eye, a miniature, head-mounted monitor. The first experiment compared the Private Eye with a cathode ray tube (CRT) and hard copy in both a constrained and unconstrained work envelope. The task was a simulated maintenance and assembly task that required frequent reference to the displayed information. A main effect of presentation media indicated faster placement times using the CRT as compared with hard copy. There were no significant differences between the Private Eye and either the CRT or hard copy for identification, placement, or total task times. The goal of the second experiment was to determine the effects of various local visual parameters on the ability of the user to accurately perceive the information on the Private Eye. The task was an interactive video game. No significant performance differences were found under either bright or dark ambient illumination environments nor with either visually simple or complex task backgrounds. Glare reflected off the bezel surrounding the monitor did degrade performance. It was concluded that this head-mounted, miniature monitor seems well suited for in situ operations that require ready reference to information and could serve a particularly useful role in microgravity environments.
A Componential Model of Human Interaction with Graphs. H. Effects of the Distances among Graphical Elements
Authors: Gillan Douglas J. , Neary Michael
Published: July 2017

Based on task analyses of people using graphs, Gillan and Lewis (1992) have developed a model that describes how people interact with graphs. The model proposes that for simple tasks (e.g., comparisons and subtraction) and common graphs (e.g., line, scatter, and bar graphs), graph users apply combinations of five component processes — Searching for indicators, Encoding the value of indicators, performing Arithmetic Operations on the values, making Spatial Comparisons among the indicators, and Responding. The model further suggests that the combination and order of the components that the user applies depends on a user's task and the type of graph. The present research investigated two predictions from the model concerning spatial relations in a graph: (1) that response times to answer comparison questions should be sensitive to varying the distance between two indicators, but not to varying the indicator-to-axis distance, and (2) that response times to answer difference questions should be sensitive to the distance between the indicator and the y-axis, but not to the distance between the indicators. In the experiment, subjects used line and bar graphs to answer comparison and difference questions in which the appropriate distances varied systematically. The results of the research supported both predictions, thereby providing empirical validation of the model. In addition, some aspects of the data were not anticipated by the model, suggesting the need to enhance the componential model.
Evaluating User Interface Development Tools
Authors: Hix Deborah , Ryan Tim
Published: July 2017

This paper describes a procedure for quantitatively evaluating and comparing user interface development tools, and presents results of evaluating four user interface development tools with the procedure. For each tool, summary numeric ratings for functionality and usability are presented. General conclusions about the four tools and about the tool evaluation procedure itself are also discussed.
The Effects of Using a Hypertext Tool for Selecting Design Guidelines
Authors: Fox Jeffrey A.
Published: July 2017

Designing a User-System Interface (USI) is a complex task that has been approached in many ways. One approach has been to use USI design guidelines to help improve the quality and consistency of USIs. To be effective, a general set of guidelines must be tailored to a specific application. This study investigated the effects of using a hypertext design aid (DRUID, Dynamic Rules for User Interface Design) for the selection of USI guidelines by both experienced and novice guideline users. Results indicate that, in general, the participants performed their tasks as well with DRUID as with the book. However, the participants accessed the material differently for each medium and they selected more guidelines that were relevant when using the paper book. Subjectively, the software was preferred because it provided assistance in the selection process and provided additional time-saving design aids not available in the book.