The purpose of this study was to determine the impact on engagement and challenging behaviors in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) under two treatment conditions: 1) physical modifications to the home environment, and 2) physical modifications plus visual supports in the home environment. Treatment conditions were implemented in the child's home environment with parents serving as interventionist. A single-subject nonconcurrent baseline design was used across three male participants: ages 3 years, 2 months; 4 years, 4 months; and 4 years, 11 months. The study included four to five baseline sessions, six to nine sessions in Treatment 1, six to nine sessions in Treatment 2 and two follow-up sessions per participant. During Treatment 1, modifications were made to each child's environment (e.g., decreasing clutter, organizing playthings, and/or establishing a defined play space). Parent awareness training regarding the change was provided, and data was collected using the Individual Child Engagement Record-Revised (Kishida, Kemp, & Carter, 2008) and the Challenging Behavior Record (researcher developed) during play and/or daily routines with the child's parent. During Treatment 2, visual supports were added to the modified environment to add structure and visual clarity (e.g., choice boards and "how to boards"). Parent awareness training regarding the change was provided, and data was collected using the Individual Child Engagement Record-Revised (Kishida et al., 2008) and the Challenging Behavior Record during play and/or daily routines with the child's parent. Based on the findings of the study, active engagement increased and challenging behaviors decreased following modifications in the home for three young children with autism. In regards to engagement across Treatment 1 and Treatment 2, children demonstrated active engagement with a mean of 62%, 76.89%, and 74.41% from a baseline of 1.75%, 15.75%, and 14.6%, respectively. In regards to challenging behaviors, across Treatment 1 and Treatment 2, children had fewer behaviors that interfered with engagement with a mean of 13.3%, 8.15% and 13.32%, from a baseline of 75%, 27.75%, and 49.2%, respectively. The overall results indicated significant positive effects from the use of physical modifications and physical modifications plus visual support in increasing engagement and decreasing challenging behaviors.

No description available.

No description available.

The major purpose of this study was to examine the Virginia Teachers Association as a force for educational change in Virginia. The study involved (1) an examination of the primary purposes of the association and their relationship to its educational goals and programs, (2) a review of the forces that generated educational change in Virginia during the period 1940-1965, (3) a survey of the contributions of two of the organization's most influential leaders, and (4) an examination of the process involved in merging Virginia's black and white teachers associations. The historical method of research was utilized in this study.;On the basis of the findings of this study, the following conclusions seemed to be warranted: (1) The primary goals and purposes of the Virginia Teachers Association as well as the program which it projected were of such depth and quality during the period covered in this study that the organization was able to survive and grow. (2) Black educators used effectively the political and social mood of the 1930's and 1940's to build a network of self-help organizations and through these mechanisms contributed significantly to changing the attitudes of the members of the social and political power structure of Virginia. (3) Through the leadership of many members of the Virginia Teachers Association but specifically as a result of the leadership of Lutrelle F. Palmer and J. Rupert Picott the Association made a lasting contribution to the professionalization of Virginia's teachers by the elimination of discriminatory practices in public education. (4) The Virginia Teachers Associal seized the initiative in bringing about the merger of the VTA and the Virginia Education Association and thus gave Virginia a single professional organization of educators.;Upon the basis of this research, the following recommendations are made. (1) Many assure that most of the problems of discrimination and separation that affected educators prior to the period of desegregation and the ultimate merging of the dual teachers associations have been solved. A study is needed to ascertain the degree of real progress in human relations that has been realized since Virginia has had a single professional organization of educators. (2) The Philosophy and major activities of the merged VTA-VEA projects an identity that is different from either of the former organizations. What makes the current organization a different entity? Further study is necessary to determine the conditions that caused the new directions of the merged organization to develop. Also, to what extent have some of the primary attributes of each of the former organizations (VTA and VEA) been preserved? Finally, to what extent have the changes in emphasis and impact of the Association resulted from factors not directly associated with education or the professional development of educators in either of the former organizations. What makes the current organization a different entity? Further study is necessary to determine the conditions that caused the new directions of the merged organization to develop. Also, to what extent have the strengths of the two original organizations been retained? Finally, to what extent have the changes in emphasis and impact of the Association resulted from factors not directly associated with education or the professional development of educators. (3) The records, official documents and working papers and the VTA are scattered and housed in the archives of several institutions. For the purpose of conducting further research, in connection with the former teachers association, these records should be collected, organized and housed in a single location preferable the VEA headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. (4) This study reveals the tremendous impact of the educational and cultural improvement of the entire black community in Virginia.

This dissertation was written to examine the hypothesis that, although there were numerous factors affecting the selection of a site, it was primarily a financial decision to maintain the urban environment of the former Richmond Professional Institute campus as the basis of the new Academic Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Other factors involved in the decision include political, historical, social and academic ones.;The political factor involved a division between the City of Richmond and the County of Henrico as to the location of the Academic Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Senator William F. Parkerson, Jr., of Henrico County fought hard to win the political plum of a new university in his district located on the Elko Tract. The City of Richmond succeeded in its attempts to have the Academic Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University remain on the existing site of the Richmond Professional Institute.;Historically, the Richmond Professional Institute had always been closely bound to the City of Richmond, was named after the city, had drawn heavily upon the resources of the city for its adjunct faculty and related resources, and its student population was generally associated with the City of Richmond. The Elko Tract had no such historical ties to demand a change from urban to rural.;Social benefits associated with the Richmond Professional Institute site include the ready accessibility to business centers for student employment. No indication is given that a change in location would have preserved these social benefits which were possible by maintaining the status quo.;The major academic factor was that of an urban university which would use the city as an academic laboratory. From its inception as a school of social work, the Richmond Professional Institute had been closely tied to the urban setting.;The need to combine two distinct institutions into one new university was another significant academic factor. The proximity of the two campuses was important for students and faculty to cross campus lines and take or teach classes on both campuses.;Financial factors were the ultimate determinants of site selection. The value of the existing physical plant, regardless of condition, of the Richmond Professional Institute could not be ignored. The cost of creating a new and expensive campus was far outweighed by the benefit to be derived from using the existing one as a base for beginning a new university.

No description available.

The purposes of the study was to examine selected factors that were influential in the decline of the University College of Medicine (UCM) in Richmond, Virginia, from 1893 to 1913. UCM was created in the midst of a national medical reform movement. In ways, the institution directly contributed to the reform of medical training in Virginia.;It was the writer's contention that the decline of UCM happened because of the political pressures emerging from medical accrediting agencies, licensing and examining boards, and related organizations. The character of the institution was modified through recommendations of external organizations and coercion was felt through advancing accreditation standards. It was further hypothesized that the curricular and structural pressures from accreditation requirements became oppressive and led to the decline of the institution. Finally, it was hypothesized that the decline of UCM was affected because of the lack of a sound financial structure. Without such a structure, implementation of recommended improvements in medical education would not have taken place because of the high cost.;The historical method of research was used in writing about selected factors which affected the decline of UCM. This method allowed for the examination of primary source documents, the obtaining of oral testimony from participants and observers, and the scrutiny of relationships which existed among individuals, institutions, organizations and events.;It was concluded that what constituted an adequate medical education had changed. In addition to national demands for reform, new methods and values began to create new financial pressures for which many medical schools were not able to provide. The only financial relief apparently lay in a medical school combining itself with the scientific department of a university. Such an institution usually had either governmental support, a sizeable endowment or both. In some cases this route was followed by schools that had a university with which they could unite. For others, it meant merging with other medical schools or closing.;Further research is suggested in the area of factors affecting medical education at the Medical College of Virginia and the medical department of the University of Virginia; the impact that the departments of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy had on education in Virginia; the relationship between the Virginia Hospital and UCM; the influence of the departments of dentistry and pharmacy on the department of medicine at UCM; and the effect of political, curricular, and financial pressures on the department of dentistry at UCM.

No description available.

Objective : To determine if the linear measurements made in Galileos CBCT in the presence of soft tissue using cadaver heads are accurate. Materials and methods : CBCT images were obtained in Galileos CBCT device after placement of gutta percha markers, three to the facial and one to the lingual of the area of interest in the mandible. The CBCT orthoradial image showing perfect alignment of the lingual with a facial marker was selected as the plane of measurement. The distance between the most superior and most inferior point on the bone on the selected plane was measured electronically. The specimens were sectioned along this plane and physical measurements were obtained with digital calipers. Linear distance was measured between the most superior and most inferior point on the bone on the selected plane. This distance was measured in 6 specimens with calipers and compared to the distance measured on the corresponding CBCT images. Results: A paired-sample t-test was used to determine whether the mean difference measurement value of two measurements at right side was significantly equal to zero. The data revealed that overall there was no statistically significant difference between CBCT and Physical measurement on right side (p=0.2298), left side (p=0.3554) and overall between CBCT and Physical measuremnets (p=0.2684). Conclusions: Based on the statistical evaluation of the CBCT and Physical measurements it can be concluded that Galileos CBCT unit is reliable for evaluation of linear measurements between anatomic structures within the bone in the presence of soft tissues in the mandible specially for measuring height of available bone.

Title: The Esthetic Outcome and the Infiltration Capacity of Three Resin Composite Sealers Compared to ICON (DMG, America). Objective: The aim of these studies, including a randomized control in-vitro study and a survey study was to answer the following question: In treating initial caries lesions, is the esthetic outcome and the infiltration capacity of the three resin composite sealers; BisCover LV (Bisco Dental), Optiguard (Kerr), PermaSeal (Ultradent) similar to that of the gold standard ICON (DMG, America) resin infiltrant. Methods: A sample of 75 extracted human permanent molars were painted with an acid resistant nail varnish (Revlon, USA) to protect the tooth surface from demineralization leaving only two panels of 1x7 mm of exposed enamel on the buccal and the lingual surfaces of each tooth to be demineralized. Samples were immersed in an acidic gel (500g of Fisher G-8 Gelatin, 275 Bloom, 0.1% thymol, lactic acid, pH 4.30) for a period of 3 months to create artificial initial caries lesions. Seventy-five specimens were randomly assigned to 5 groups: I: ICON (DMG, America), B: BisCover LV (Bisco Dental), O: Optiguard (Kerr), P: PermaSeal (Ultradent) and C: control group. Specimens were hemi sectioned yielding two halves, each with a panel of 1x7 mm of initial caries lesion. One side was used to assess the esthetic following the caries lesion resin infiltration with ICON, BisCover LV, Optiguard and PermaSeal applied according to ICON manufacturer instructions. The control group (C) did not receive any treatment and was only included in the esthetic part of this study. Preoperative and postoperative photographs were taken. Two sets of photographs were taken for the control group. The preoperative, postoperative and control group photographs were installed in a PowerPoint presentation and placed side by side on a black background. A total of 17 operative faculties and residents at the department of operative dentistry at the University of Iowa (UI) participated in the survey. The esthetic improvement was assessed based on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). A value between 0 and 20 indicated slight esthetic improvement. A value between 20 and 40 indicated mild esthetic improvement. A value between 40 and 60 indicated moderate esthetic improvement. A value between 60 and 80 indicated high esthetic improvement. A value between 80 and 100 indicated outstanding esthetic improvement. A value of 100 indicated full esthetic recovery. Each subject was asked to look at the preoperative and postoperative photographs of a specimen in each slide and place a line on the respective VAS according to her/his opinion of esthetic improvement. The survey was conducted twice in two different sessions to evaluate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability. For lesions on the opposite side, the resins: ICON, BisCover™LV, Optiguard and PermaSeal were applied according to the indirect dual fluorescence technique protocol using the red fluorophore rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RITC 0.1%; Sigma Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany) and the green sodium fluorescein (NaFl; Sigma Aldrich). Specimens were sectioned in a mesio-distal direction yielding thin sections of 200 μm and were visualized under the Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM, Leica Microsystems, Buffalo Grove, IL.) to assess the infiltration depth percentage (ID%) and the infiltration area percentage (IA%) following the application of the different resins. Statistical analysis: The effect of treatment type on ID% and IA% was evaluated using the one-way ANOVA. The effect of treatment type on esthetic improvement measures represented by VAS scores was evaluated using the non-parametric analogue of the one-way ANOVA; Kruskal-Wallis test. All pairwise comparisons were performed using the Tukey method with an overall 0.05 level of significance. Spearman rank correlations were used to assess the relationship between esthetic improvement measures and infiltration measures. Validity of assumptions related to normality and variance homogeneity were assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk and Brown-Forsythe tests, respectively. The intra-class correlation and associated 95% confidence interval reflecting the reproducibility of the mean VAS scores and the reliability among the evaluators were obtained using the method of Shrout and Fleiss. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank procedure was used to evaluate differences between sessions for individual evaluators. The paired student’s t-test was used to detect any systematic differences between the mean VAS scores at session 1 and 2. Bonferroni adjustment for multiple testing was made for the 17 tests associated with individual raters, using an overall 0.05 level of significance. Results: the mean IA% values were significantly higher in the ICON group compared to the other three treatment groups. Optibond and Permaseal groups resulted in intermediate values that did not differ significantly from each other. Biscover group yielded the lowest mean values and were significantly lower than that of the other three treatment groups. The results of the ID% values were consistent with the results of the IA% values. the mean ID% values were significantly higher in the ICON group compared to the other three treatment groups. Optibond and Permaseal groups resulted in intermediate values that did not differ significantly from each other. Biscover group yielded the lowest mean values and were significantly lower than that of the other three treatment groups. The distribution of esthetic improvement outcomes represented by the average VAS scores for session 1 (AVGVAS1), average VAS scores for session 2 (AVGVAS2), and the combined average VAS scores (AVERAGED_VAS) for each sample obtained from the two sessions were all significantly lower in the control group than in the other four treatment groups. Biscover yielded intermediate average VAS values. ICON, Optiguard and Permaseal yielded significantly greater average VAS values than both the control and Biscover groups and were not significantly different from each other. According to the Spearman rank correlations which was used to assess the relationships between the esthetic improvement measures; AVGVAS1, AVGVAS2 and AVERAGED_VAS for each sample and the two measures of infiltration; the IA% and the ID%, all results were highly significant (p<0.0001) and indicative of a moderately large positive correlation between each of the infiltration measures and the three esthetic improvement measures. The Spearman coefficients for the six relationships evaluated were quite similar, ranging from about 0.523 to 0.548. Conclusion: The resin composite sealers BisCover LV, Optiguard and Permaseal can infiltrate artificial initial caries lesions. The esthetic outcome of artificial initial caries lesion following resin infiltration with Optiguard and Permaseal was similar to ICON and thus might be adequately used in caries resin infiltration. BisCover LV showed the least esthetic improvement and thus might not be indicated for the esthetic management of initial caries lesions but might be used for caries prevention purposes. The esthetic improvement is correlated to the resin infiltration depth to a certain extent after which the esthetic outcome will not be visually impacted.