Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1993.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1987.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1978.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1974.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1993.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1988. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1981. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-59).

The use of behavioral therapies, such as relaxation therapy, is well documented in the literature as an intervention which may control some of the symptoms and symptom distress associated with the use of chemotherapy within the experience of cancer. However, over 50% of individuals with cancer are also treated with radiation therapy, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Individuals being treated with radiation therapy experience symptoms and related distress similar to those associated with chemotherapy as well as a loss of personal control. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of relaxation therapy on symptom distress and personal control as perceived by adults receiving abdominal/pelvic external radiation treatment for a diagnosis of cancer. A quasiexperimental design, the nonequivalent control-group, was used to achieve the purpose of this study. It was hypothesized that the daily use of relaxation therapy by individuals receiving radiation therapy would decrease the amount of symptom distress and increase the amount of personal control perceived. The sample consisted of twenty eight individuals, fourteen in the control group and fourteen in the intervention group. Data were gathered by interview, two sets of questionnaires, and written diaries. The interview was done before the participants began their radiation treatment. The questionnaires were also completed at this time and then again three weeks after the treatment began. A diary was kept by those in the intervention group who were also taught a specific relaxation technique and asked to record the number of times they used the technique and any comments. To answer the two hypotheses, summary statistics were used. The results indicated that individuals who used relaxation therapy perceived a decreased amount of symptom distress than those in the control group. The Mann-Whitney U Test indicated that this difference was at the .05 level of significance. On this basis the first hypothesis was accepted. The results also indicated that there was no significant difference between the groups in the amount of perceived personal control. On this basis, the second hypothesis was not accepted. A recommendation based on this research study was for nurses to become knowledgeable in the use of relaxation techniques. Further research to better understand the cancer experience in relation to personal control was also recommended to enable nurses to provide appropriate and effective care to these individuals. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

<p> Traditionally, Molecular Dynamics combined with pair potential functions or the Embedded Atom Method (EAM) is applied to simulate the motion of atoms. When a defect is generated in the crystalline lattice, the equilibrium of atoms around it is destroyed. The atoms move to find a new place where the potential energy in the system is minimum, which could result in a change of the local atomic structure. This thesis introduces a new Dynamic Relaxation algorithm, which is based on explicit Finite Element Analysis, and pair or EAM potential function, to find equilibrium positions of the block of atoms containing different structural defects.</p> <p> The internal force and stiffness at the atoms (nodes) are obtained by the first and second derivatives of the potential energy functions. The convergence criterion is based on the Euclidean norm of internal force being close to zero when the potential energy is minimum. The damping ratio affects the solution path so that different damping ratios could lead to different minimum potential energy and equilibrium shapes. The choice of scaled mass of atoms, proper time step, boundary conditions and damping appropriate for the efficient and stable simulation is studied.</p> <p> A small block of atoms is used to obtain the numerical responses from a hybrid algorithm of potential energy functions and Dynamic Relaxation techniques such as repulsion and attraction in pair potential, minimum configuration, damping effects and different boundary conditions.</p> <p> The simulation using modified Dynamic Relaxation techniques is performed to the real material model with dislocation defect. The results after relaxation are in agreement with the prediction and current Molecular Dynamics simulation. Therefore, Dynamic Relaxation could be an alternative tool for atomistic simulation.</p> / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

This study presents the findings of an investigation of the effects of two different treatments, progressive relaxation and cerebral electrotherapy, on heart rate. With progressive relaxation, the subject relaxes by following instructions. With cerebral electrotherapy, relaxation is due to an external source of stimulation. Decreases in heart rate for subjects receiving progressive relaxation were compared with decreases for subjects receiving cerebral electrotherapy. A placebo group was used to evaluate the effects of both treatments independently. While decreases in heart rate were observed for both treatments, only progressive relaxation produced decreases significantly greater than those of the placebo group. However, decreases in heart rate produced by progressive relaxation were not significantly greater than decreases produced by cerebral electrotherapy.