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University of Northern Colorado

Master's Theses

Theses/Dissertations

2019

College of Natural and Health Sciences

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Characterizing The Susceptibility And Type I Interferon Response Of Primary Mammalian Cells During Zika Virus Infection, Douglas Petty Dec 2019

Characterizing The Susceptibility And Type I Interferon Response Of Primary Mammalian Cells During Zika Virus Infection, Douglas Petty

Master's Theses

Zika virus (ZIKV), a member of the genus Flavivirus, has become a major public health concern since 2007. During the most recent 2015 outbreak, ZIKV rapidly spread from South America to over 84 countries and territories across the world in two years. ZIKV has also been associated with previously uncharacterized neurological manifestations during the 2013 and 2015 outbreaks. The novel manifestations include Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in adults and Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) in newborns. GBS is a progressive paralysis caused by damage to the peripheral nervous system; while CZS is an all-encompassing term for the severe neurological and developmental complications …


A Description Of Lichen Community Structure And The Impacts Of Spruce Beetle Disturbance In Northwestern Colorado, Anna Freundlich Dec 2019

A Description Of Lichen Community Structure And The Impacts Of Spruce Beetle Disturbance In Northwestern Colorado, Anna Freundlich

Master's Theses

Spruce beetle disturbance has affected millions of acres of forest throughout North America and Europe, but thus far little research has investigated how this disturbance influences lichen communities. To address this problem, we studied lichen communities and habitat characteristics within 44 plots across a chronosequence of spruce beetle damage spanning 1996–2017 in northwestern Colorado. We found 82 species of lichens, few habitat differences among spruce beetle disturbance classes, and only the most recently affected plots (2012–2017) had significantly different lichen community structure relative to remaining areas. Two primary gradients explained the majority of variation of lichen community structure within our …


Effectiveness Of Teaching About Preventing And Detecting Complications Of Hand, Foot, And Mouth Disease At My Phuoc Hospital, Ha Thi Kim Phung Dec 2019

Effectiveness Of Teaching About Preventing And Detecting Complications Of Hand, Foot, And Mouth Disease At My Phuoc Hospital, Ha Thi Kim Phung

Master's Theses

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is an infectious illness that affects millions of people, especially children under five years of age. The social impact of severe HFMD to the health community, family members, and children is also of big concern. In the south of Vietnam, Binh Duong province is located in the area affected by HFMD. Unfortunately, caregivers have little knowledge to prevent and detect HFMD severity in children. The research question asked how effective teaching about HFMD was to improve knowledge of caregivers for detecting HFMD severity in children under five years of age at My Phuoc Hospital …


Tectonic Setting And Timing Of Deformation In The Big Thompson Canyon, Northern Colorado Front Range, Simone Muller Dec 2019

Tectonic Setting And Timing Of Deformation In The Big Thompson Canyon, Northern Colorado Front Range, Simone Muller

Master's Theses

The 1.8-1.6 Ga rocks of the western United States were formed through accretionary tectonics either by collision of juvenile island-arcs or by cycles of extension-accretion. For the juvenile island-arc model, basins between the arcs are expected to be older than the arcs and long periods of time (>10-20 Myr) may exist between basin formation, arc formation, and the deformation caused by their accretion. In contrast, the extension-accretion model predicts sedimentation within extensional basins must be younger than the earliest arcs and may be deformed by accretion shortly (~10-20 Myr) after formation. The Big Thompson Canyon area, between Loveland and …


The Influence Of Job Motivation On Nurse Retention: A Study Of Vietnamese Private Hospital., Hoa Thi Ngoc Nguyen Dec 2019

The Influence Of Job Motivation On Nurse Retention: A Study Of Vietnamese Private Hospital., Hoa Thi Ngoc Nguyen

Master's Theses

For years, the concept of motivation has been a popular topic of discussion among various researchers and practitioners. Nowadays, managers are continuously challenged to perceive the motivated factors in their employees in order to promoting the retention of the motivated workforce. Healthcare worker retention is critical for health system functionality; however, the key issue is how to best motivate and retain health care professionals. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of literature on measuring motivation of health workers in Vietnam especially among nurses. For this reason, the study was conducted to survey the influence of job motivation on nurse retention in …


An Investigation Of Factors Affecting The Work Motivation Of Nurses Working At University Medical Centers, Quynh Duc Nguyet Nguyen Dec 2019

An Investigation Of Factors Affecting The Work Motivation Of Nurses Working At University Medical Centers, Quynh Duc Nguyet Nguyen

Master's Theses

The study was conducted to investigate factors affecting the work motivation of nurses working at University Medical Center. The study also examined the correlation between factors that might affect work motivation such as demographic characteristics (age, gender, job position, work unit, educational level, etc.). Determination of the importance of motivational factors is essential for managers and would help them develop appropriate solutions to enhance motivation for nurses. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. One hundred and forty (N = 140) nurses working at University Medical Center participated in answering a questionnaire to determine the importance of motivational factors. In addition, …


Nurses' Level Of Comfort, Familiarity, And Knowledge About Diabetes Management In Vinmec Central Park International Hospital, Nguyen Thi Xuan Mai Dec 2019

Nurses' Level Of Comfort, Familiarity, And Knowledge About Diabetes Management In Vinmec Central Park International Hospital, Nguyen Thi Xuan Mai

Master's Theses

Clinical nurses have a key role in supporting and management of diabetes patients during hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate nurses’ level of comfort, familiarity, and knowledge in diabetes management. In this study, 30 full-time nurses working in Vinmec Central Park International Hospital completed a 34-question assessment that included eight questions on comfort, six questions on familiarity, and 20 questions on nursing knowledge. The findings indicated the level of nursing knowledge regarding diabetes management in the hospital was low. The comfort, familiarity, and knowledge scores were not directly proportional to the age, education, and years of clinical …


Sagebrush Seeds Of Success: A Genetic Analysis Of Bureau Of Land Management Seeds Of Success Seeds And Of Eriogonum Umbellatum, Emily Katherine Schumacher Dec 2019

Sagebrush Seeds Of Success: A Genetic Analysis Of Bureau Of Land Management Seeds Of Success Seeds And Of Eriogonum Umbellatum, Emily Katherine Schumacher

Master's Theses

Due to the increasing frequency of anthropogenic disturbances, greater effort needs to be put into identifying appropriate seed material for large scale restoration projects. The Bureau of Land Management created the Seeds of Success (SOS) project to increase stocks of native seeds for restoration projects following worsening disturbances. However, there is little known about the genetic composition of these seeds, so it is unclear if these seed accessions will be able to establish healthy and persistent native plant communities. This thesis identified that in 20 accessions of SOS seeds, inbreeding was low to moderate in 17 accessions, allelic richness was …


Improving The Knowledge Of Port-A-Cath Care For Nurses, Hoa Thi Nguyen Dec 2019

Improving The Knowledge Of Port-A-Cath Care For Nurses, Hoa Thi Nguyen

Master's Theses

The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a training program to improve the knowledge of port-a-cath care for staff nurses. The main objectives were to assess staff nurses’ knowledge of the port-a-cath care process before the training program and measure knowledge of the device and the procedures associated with the use and maintenance of the device after training. The study used a one group pretest and posttest design. Simple random sampling was done in Hoan My Sai Gon Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (N = 90). The study instrument was a questionnaire that consisted …


Associations Between Waiting Time And Patient Satisfaction Level At Tan Phu District Hospital In Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietham, Luu Tien Dat Dec 2019

Associations Between Waiting Time And Patient Satisfaction Level At Tan Phu District Hospital In Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietham, Luu Tien Dat

Master's Theses

Waiting time for a patient at an outpatient department to see a doctor and completing the examination after registration was one problem in most countries and causes patient dissatisfaction. Long times for waiting leads to a reduction in timely treatment, overcrowding in the waiting area in the hospital, and is majorly unpleasant for any patient. Other factors that can contribute to waiting times are the layout of the medical facilities, the quantity and availability of medical equipment, and patient flow. In Vietnam, a developing country in Southeast Asia, patients are facing an issue of patient overload in public hospitals, especially …


The Examination Of The Function Of The Cofactor Schnurri In The Cyst Stem Cells Of The Drosophila Melanogaster Testis Niche, Jade Koretko Dec 2019

The Examination Of The Function Of The Cofactor Schnurri In The Cyst Stem Cells Of The Drosophila Melanogaster Testis Niche, Jade Koretko

Master's Theses

The study of adult stem cells in modern day research provides pertinent information about the development of organisms, how they grow, and how tissue is maintained. Drosophila melanogaster provide an ideal model for in vivo stem cell research, with one of the best-characterized niches in the testis. The testis stem cell niche consists of a hub that provides signals to the local stem cells, germline stem cells (GSCs), and cyst stem cells (CySCs). The CySCs produce cyst cell lineage that will provide support for the GSC daughter cells, which differentiate into sperm. Previously, Matunis, et al. determined the function of …


Alternative Conceptions, Initial Knowledge, And Self-Efficacy Of The Novice And Expert Geologist Regarding Mineral Identification, Amanda Manzanares Dec 2019

Alternative Conceptions, Initial Knowledge, And Self-Efficacy Of The Novice And Expert Geologist Regarding Mineral Identification, Amanda Manzanares

Master's Theses

Research shows the novice geologist begins an introductory geology course with alternative conceptions about minerals and other geoscience concepts. Students use their prior understanding of these concepts as the basis for future learning. If students’ frameworks include alternative conceptions about foundational geoscience concepts, these could hinder their ability to learn more factual and complicated ideas and facts in the future. It takes time to change these alternative conceptions. For this reason, instructors need to understand their students’ prior understandings of geoscience concepts at the beginning of the courses to move students to a better understanding of the material. Moreover, the …


Evaluation Of Resuscitation Cardiopulmonary Training For The New Nurse, Nhan Thi Yen Nguyen Dec 2019

Evaluation Of Resuscitation Cardiopulmonary Training For The New Nurse, Nhan Thi Yen Nguyen

Master's Theses

This study aimed to define effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for new nurses. Nurses who respond to emergency situations are required to have the sensitivity and professional skills to respond effectively. Thus, improving resuscitation knowledge and technique for nurses is critical in order to enhance the quality and safety of patient care. This study used a pretest and posttest research design with convenience sampling; the sample consisted of 30 nurses who worked at the study hospital. As a result, new nurses’ knowledge improved from 7% to 73% after training. The psychomotor development of skills after the cardiopulmonary resuscitation training improved to …


Patient Knowledge About Disease Self-Management Of Cirrhosis, Thuy Xuan Trinh Dec 2019

Patient Knowledge About Disease Self-Management Of Cirrhosis, Thuy Xuan Trinh

Master's Theses

This study aimed to define the level of understanding of self-management for patients with liver cirrhosis. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Thirty cirrhotic patients (14 females and 16 males) in the Gastroenterology Department of University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam participated in answering the questionnaire to evaluate their knowledge about liver disease self-management. The majority of cirrhotic patients had an unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding self management of their disease, particularly in terms of recognizing and preventing complications from hepatic encephalopathy, monitoring for liver cancer, and awareness of medications they should not use. Implications of the …


The Relationship Between Nutritional Status And The Quality Of Life For Gastric Cancer Patients, Van Thi Hong Nguyen Dec 2019

The Relationship Between Nutritional Status And The Quality Of Life For Gastric Cancer Patients, Van Thi Hong Nguyen

Master's Theses

Cancer patients often suffer from malnutrition and low quality of life, especially gastric cancer patients. This is an important factor in the decision to treat cancer. Researchers are interested in the relationship of nutritional status between quality of life through body mass index to the main aspects of quality of life: core healthy days, physical, mental, or emotional problems; physical, functional, cognitive, and social limitations; and side effects such as fatigue; nausea, pain, anorexia, constipation, and diarrhea. The relationship between quality of life and weight loss indicates the importance of nutrition management in cancer patients. Cancer patients have special physical …


Evaluation Of Nurses' Perceptions Before And After Applying "I Pass (The) Baton", Tran Thanh Long Dec 2019

Evaluation Of Nurses' Perceptions Before And After Applying "I Pass (The) Baton", Tran Thanh Long

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate nurses’ perceptions before and after applying “I Pass (The) Baton” at University Medical Center at Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Hand-off relates to transmission of patient information across clinical teams. This process required a standardized communication framework to avoid medical gaps related to the loss of vital information and emphasize patient safety. The quasi experimential method with an educational intervention to explore nurses’ awareness was evaluated by the TeamSTEPPS Perception Questionaire (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2012). This questionnaire included items on the Team Strucutre, the Leadership, the Situation Monitoring, …


Chromium Mediated Oxidative Transposition Of Secondary Benzylic Alcohols, Samara Weber Dec 2019

Chromium Mediated Oxidative Transposition Of Secondary Benzylic Alcohols, Samara Weber

Master's Theses

Carbonyl transposition serves as an important reaction in organic synthesis. Carbonyl transposition results in transposition of the functional groups without loss of the carbonyl moiety. Chromium oxidations of tertiary unsaturated carbinols have been studied since the 1970’s for their ability to cause carbonyl transposition. It is only recently that carbonyl transposition of secondary unsaturated benzylic alcohols has been reported with the use of chromium. Different oxidation reactions were examined for the potential carbonyl transposition products. Oxidation of unsaturated benzylic alcohols were maintained at varying temperature with pyridinium chlorochromate to monitor for the formation of product. As the temperature increased an …


Construction Of A Flow-Based Atr-Ftir System: Decarboxylation Reactions Rates, Ashley Campanella Dec 2019

Construction Of A Flow-Based Atr-Ftir System: Decarboxylation Reactions Rates, Ashley Campanella

Master's Theses

Diacetyl (2,3-butanedione), a buttery flavored compound made during beer production, is formed from α-acetolactate via oxidative decarboxylation. Current analytical methods to detect diacetyl are time-consuming and expensive; however, measurements of carbon dioxide can be rapid and inexpensive. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) utilizing a flow cell and mid-range infrared energy (400 cm-1 – 4000 cm-1) is capable of measurements for dissolved CO2. An ATR-FTIR system was constructed using a Ge flow cell, an HPLC pump, and stainless-steel tubing. A method for analyzing a model reaction compared to a natural process in fermentation was developed. Exploring the effects of …


Assess Knowledge And Practice Eye Care For Patients Of Intensive Care Unit Nursing Staff, Le Hong Liem Dec 2019

Assess Knowledge And Practice Eye Care For Patients Of Intensive Care Unit Nursing Staff, Le Hong Liem

Master's Theses

Eye care for intensive care unit (ICU) patients is still flawed as surface eye diseases are reported to be frequent in these patients. As nurses focus on saving patients, this process has been easily overlooked. This researcher proceeded with this study to initially evaluate the current knowledge and practice of ICU nursing care and create a proposal to develop a standardized procedure for eye care for patients in the ICU. The sample in this study consisted of 14 female nurses working at Becamex International Hospital. The data collection took place during a one-week period. The educational program was conducted twice …


Characterizing The Role Of Tumor Suppressors Merlin And Expanded In The Stem Cell Niche Of Drosophila Testes, Bryan Johnson Dec 2019

Characterizing The Role Of Tumor Suppressors Merlin And Expanded In The Stem Cell Niche Of Drosophila Testes, Bryan Johnson

Master's Theses

The ability of adult organisms to maintain tissue homeostasis and repair tissue in response to injury is mediated by small groups of partially differentiated cells called adult stem cells that support the tissue they reside in. Adult stem cell maintenance is highly regulated by signals from the surrounding microenvironment referred to as the stem cell niche. A better understanding of this process will have important implications for the fields of both regenerative medicine and cancer biology. Due to the complexity of most niche environments in mammals, we turned to the less complex model organism Drosophila and the well-characterized niche in …


Comparing Terrestrial And Extraterrestrial Lava Surface Roughness Using Digital Elevation Models From High Resolution Topography And Structure From Motion, Davitia Hannah James Aug 2019

Comparing Terrestrial And Extraterrestrial Lava Surface Roughness Using Digital Elevation Models From High Resolution Topography And Structure From Motion, Davitia Hannah James

Master's Theses

If patterns of lava flow surface roughness at large and small scales can be tied features at similar scales using observations of active volcanoes, then roughness across a lava flow can be related to eruption characteristics such as rate of flow, viscosity, and underlying slope. This will further current understanding of emplacement rates and styles during the volcanically active period of mars’ history. Additionally, describing the effect of the Martian environment on volcanism is necessary to learn the full range of possible volcanic activity in the Solar System. This will also provide insight regarding volcanic hazards here on Earth. To …


The Effects Of Combined Curcumin Supplementation And High Intensity Interval Training On Time Trial Performance In Moderately Active Individuals, Nora Jacqueline Johnston Aug 2019

The Effects Of Combined Curcumin Supplementation And High Intensity Interval Training On Time Trial Performance In Moderately Active Individuals, Nora Jacqueline Johnston

Master's Theses

Individuals who participate in intensified training programs such as high intensity interval training (HIIT), are at risk for an uncontrolled inflammatory response, which may hinder the body’s recovery process. Curcumin is the most recognized compound in turmeric and has a distinctive yellow color. Curcumin has many medicinal actions and is most well-known for its anti-inflammatory activities. More recently, curcumin has emerged as an agent that can potentially optimize performance during intense exercise and may also attenuate pain and muscle soreness. Additionally, curcumin has been linked to improvements in mental health status such as reductions in depression and anxiety. PURPOSE: The …


The Efficacy Of "Chat Sheets" As A Conversation Tool For Communicative Access In Aphasia: A Single-Subject Study, Shyanne N. Heise Aug 2019

The Efficacy Of "Chat Sheets" As A Conversation Tool For Communicative Access In Aphasia: A Single-Subject Study, Shyanne N. Heise

Master's Theses

Adults with aphasia are frequently denied communicative access in family events, discussions, and daily decision-making. Consequently, recent studies have investigated conversational language interventions for individuals with aphasia (IWA) and their families. Aphasiologists support the use of communication partner (CP) training as an intervention method—through which, people around the IWA learn to use strategies and resources to facilitate successful, interactive communication. While CP training alone can be effective, family members of an IWA may benefit from the use of a supplemental conversation tool to bridge the gap between strategy training and implementation. The purpose of this single-subject A1-B-A2 study was to …


Assessment Of Patient Waiting Consultation Time In An Primary Healthcare Clinic -- The Outpatient Department Of Cho Ray Hospital, Pham Thi My Nhung Aug 2019

Assessment Of Patient Waiting Consultation Time In An Primary Healthcare Clinic -- The Outpatient Department Of Cho Ray Hospital, Pham Thi My Nhung

Master's Theses

Long patient waiting times in primary healthcare clinics in South Vietnam such as Thong Nhat Hospital and An Giang Hospital are a common phenomenon. In South Vietnam, especially at the Cho Ray Hospital, long patient waiting times were to be expected. Unfortunately, very little knowledge exists regarding potential causes of this problem or how it impacts patients. The purposes of this non-experimental, exploratory field study were to (a) assess the process and outcomes of an outpatient clinic as they related to waiting times, factors contributing to waiting times, and associated factors (outcomes) that influenced patient satisfaction levels in the outpatient …


The Synthesis And Characterization Of 2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol, Shawn Alan Bydalek Aug 2019

The Synthesis And Characterization Of 2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol, Shawn Alan Bydalek

Master's Theses

Cannabinoids are a structurally diverse class of compounds that act as ligands at the cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, through which the majority of the physiological effects of these compounds are mediated. Endocannabinoids (endogenous cannabinoids) are a subset of the cannabinoid family and include 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoyl ethanolamide, and like most cannabinoids, these compounds have been shown to have anti-neoplastic effects on various cancer lines. The synthesis of 2-AG from dihydroxyacetone was selected as a research goal to try to improve yield over older published synthetic methods, to keep 2-AG in a protected form to avoid isomerization and …


Comparison Of Socket Suspension Systems During Stair Ascent In Individuals With Transtibial Amputees, Gabrielle Marie Rentuma Aug 2019

Comparison Of Socket Suspension Systems During Stair Ascent In Individuals With Transtibial Amputees, Gabrielle Marie Rentuma

Master's Theses

Socket suspension systems have an important role in an amputee’s ability to perform activities of daily living. There are three common modes of suspension used to attach the prosthetic foot to the residual limb including lock and pin (PIN), suction, and vacuum suspension systems. A new vacuum suspension system has been developed, the PUCK, which has a vacuum system internal to the socket and maintains pressure throughout the residual limb. Previous literature has focused on the role of suspension during over-ground walking but few have examined the effects during a more difficult task such as stair ascent. The purpose of …


Effects Of Creatine Supplementation And Doxorubicin Treatment Of Myostatin And Muscle Ring-Finger Protein-1 Expression In The Rat Diaphragm, Addison M. Shepard Aug 2019

Effects Of Creatine Supplementation And Doxorubicin Treatment Of Myostatin And Muscle Ring-Finger Protein-1 Expression In The Rat Diaphragm, Addison M. Shepard

Master's Theses

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly potent chemotherapy drug that impacts the entire body rather than a targeted treatment area. While DOX treatment assists in the disruption and prevention of certain types of cancer growth, it damages many physiological processes in the body that were functioning normally and otherwise healthy prior to its administration. Damage induced by DOX on organ functioning can lead to other malignancies in the body, such as cachexia, cardiotoxicity, and myotoxicity, among others. Skeletal muscle relies on myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), transcription factors expressed by satellite cells, for positive regulation of phases of muscle development and response …


Effects Of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation On Cytochrome C And Caspase-9 Expression In Skeletal Muscles From Doxorubicin Treated Rats, Yeon Hee Kim Aug 2019

Effects Of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation On Cytochrome C And Caspase-9 Expression In Skeletal Muscles From Doxorubicin Treated Rats, Yeon Hee Kim

Master's Theses

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective chemotherapeutic drug for many types of cancer. However, the deleterious effect of DOX is also observed in heart and skeletal muscles. Doxorubicin-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitochondria causes muscle dysfunction and atrophy leading to the release of cytochrome c (cyt c) and activation of caspase-9 (casp-9) which cause apoptosis, a programmed cell death in skeletal muscles. Previous studies have proposed that creatine (Cr) possesses antioxidant capacity by reducing ROS in oxidative environment. Creatine supplements have shown to reduce mitochondrial ROS production and decrease apoptotic enzyme activities in oxidative skeletal muscles; however, Cr’s effects on …


The Effects Of Fish Meal Supplementation On Gene Expression In The Bovine Corpus Luteum Following Low Dose Administration Of Prostaglandin F2a, Jessica Claire Cedillo Aug 2019

The Effects Of Fish Meal Supplementation On Gene Expression In The Bovine Corpus Luteum Following Low Dose Administration Of Prostaglandin F2a, Jessica Claire Cedillo

Master's Theses

The corpus luteum is a transient endocrine gland that develops from the remnants of the ovulatory follicle and secretes the steroid hormone progesterone. Progesterone is essential in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in all mammalian species. In the non-pregnant bovine, uterine prostaglandin F2α is secreted in a series of pulses between days 15 and 17 after ovulation, allowing the corpus luteum to undergo functional and structural regression and an opportunity for mating. During early pregnancy, trophoblastic cells of the developing embryonic placenta secrete interferon-tau, which attenuates uterine prostaglandin F2α secretion allowing for maintenance of the corpus luteum during the …


Comparison Of Gait Kinematic And Temporospatial Measures Between Lock And Pin And A New Vacuum Suspension System In Transtibial Amputees, Vanessa A. Kellems Aug 2019

Comparison Of Gait Kinematic And Temporospatial Measures Between Lock And Pin And A New Vacuum Suspension System In Transtibial Amputees, Vanessa A. Kellems

Master's Theses

Walking in healthy populations has been characterized by symmetrical gait patterns and used to determine variability within pathological populations. Gait patterns of individuals with transtibial amputation are commonly asymmetrical due to the inability to completely replicate the physiological ankle with prosthetics; thus, contributing to inter-limb asymmetries. Currently, only a few studies have reported the effects of suspension systems on gait mechanics. In this study, functional differences between lock and pin (PIN) and a newly developed internal vacuum suspension system (Smart PUCKTM) (PUCK) during overground and treadmill walking were evaluated in five transtibial amputees. Statistically, no differences were found between groups …