Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Peptidomimetic Inhibitors: Molecular Modeling And 3d Visualization, Sonika Tahiliani

Senior Honors Projects

Zoonotic viruses, including coronaviruses, Ebola virus, HIV, influenza, and more, are ubiquitous and can emerge as significant human pathogens capable of global epidemics and pandemics. Most often, researchers spend their time and resources targeting only the human pathogens and developing therapeutic compounds to treat the associated diseases. However, a missed opportunity is targeting the zoonotic host instead and aiming to acquire the chemical and structural knowledge to inform us of the evolutionary path of the virus. The bat coronavirus HKU4 belongs to the same lineage as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and shows high sequence similarity. This is …

Iatrophobia: How It Impacts Health, Jessica Newbury

Senior Honors Projects

According to Mara Hollander (2019), iatrophobia is “the fear of doctors, medical care, or the medical care system." The most severe cases of this fear only affect a small percentage of the population; however, many people, for a variety of reasons, reported that they disliked or felt uncomfortable seeking medical care. An anonymous survey was created and distributed to males and females between the ages of 18 to 75 to retrieve self-reported data regarding specific questions about doctor's visits and the healthcare system. The total sample consisted of 379 participants who voluntarily completed the assessment. Quantitative data was collected using …

Locked Up And Locked Out: True Stories Of Individuals Who Experienced The Intersection Between Homelessness And The Criminal Justice System, Jean Johnson

Senior Honors Projects

JEAN JOHNSON (Criminology & Criminal Justice)

Locked Up and Locked Out: True Stories of the Interlocking Cycle of

Homelessness and the Criminal Justice System

Sponsor: Jill Doerner (Criminology & Criminal Justice, Sociology & Anthropology), Heather Johnson (Writing & Rhetoric)

Key locks work when a key made with teeth is placed into a cylinder with a series of pins and tumblers. If you don’t insert the right key one or more of the pins will remain in the way, preventing the key from turning and the lock will remain closed. According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, tens of …

The Effects Of Contrast With Compression Therapy On The Recovery Of Muscle Glycogen After A Bout Of Resistance Exercise, Vincent Colantuono

Senior Honors Projects

Contrast with compression (CwC) therapy is commonly used by athletes to reduce pain and swelling and improve the rate of recovery of strength after intense exercise. Muscle glycogen is an important energy source for many athletes and is often a rate limiting factor of performance in prolonged high intensity sports. It is presently unknown if CwC affects the rate of muscle glycogen recovery after exercise. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to use a recently developed CwC device to determine if its use after an intense bout of resistance exercise affects the rate of intramuscular glycogen recovery. METHODS: The …

Hear Me Out: Communication And Peer Support For Adults With Hearing Loss, Emma Furness

Senior Honors Projects

Progressive hearing loss is a natural part of aging. It can take adults an average of seven years between the time they perceive they have a hearing loss and they see an audiologist for testing, diagnosis, and treatment. Dealing with hearing loss can be extremely stressful and confusing for both the patient and the family. After receiving the diagnosis of hearing loss, the patient’s next step is to discuss all options with theaudiologist including hearing aids and assistive listening devices. Being fit with hearing aids is a great start, but patients can benefit from further education and support not always …

Bilingualism And The American Family, Caitlin M. Nickerson

Senior Honors Projects

Bilingualism is the ability to speak more than one language fluently. People of all ages may aspire to learn a second or third language in order to fulfill both personal goals and communicate with a variety of people in different contexts. Irrespective of one’s walk of life or socioeconomic status, being bilingual is a valuable skill. Although English is the language of power in the United States, there are hundreds of other languages spoken in this country.

There are a number of different ways in which children can become bilingual. For example, they may enter the school system speaking the …

Drunkorexia And The Motives Behind Substance Abuse And Eating Disorder Pathology Amongst College Culture, Nicole Caron, Ginette Gosselin Ferszt

Senior Honors Projects

Amongst college campuses throughout the United States, binge drinking has become a major concern. It seems to be integrated into campus culture, and considered “normal behavior”. However, binge drinking is not without its consequences. There are programs and educational materials which warn about the dangers of binge drinking. While binge drinking behaviors are common, there are other troublesome behaviors that are experienced amongst college students which are not discussed as often. In addition, there is an increase in the integration of binge drinking and eating disorder behaviors. This behavior is referred to as “drunkorexia”. Drunkorexia involves the exhibition of eating …

Evaluating The Safety And Efficacy Of Classical Greek And Roman Treatments Compared To Modern Treatment, Morgan A. Wynes

Senior Honors Projects

Classical Greek and Roman civilizations survived for centuries and have greatly influenced the civilizations that have succeeded them. The treatments of diseases of both civilizations changed over time as physicians and philosophers such as Hippocrates and Galen developed a better understanding of the human body. Some of the treatments for disease used in ancient Greece and Rome remain in use today.

This project was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of classical Greek and Roman medicinal treatments and compare them to modern day treatments. The first step of the project was to identify classical diseases with telltale symptoms that …

Critical Analysis Of Breastfeeding Education Provided In The Hospital, Abigail Sweet

Senior Honors Projects

The World Health Organization (W.H.O) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life. A large majority of new mothers are making the decision to breastfeed their newborn child. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2016, high breastfeeding initiation rates show that most mothers in the U.S. want to breastfeed and are trying to do so. However, there are several indicators that suggest that mothers may not be getting the support they need and the early postpartum period is a critical time for establishing support for breastfeeding. Depending on the type of …

Eating Local At Uri: The Real Food Challenge, Kayleigh M. Hill

Senior Honors Projects

Over the past decade sustainability has become more than just a buzzword at the University of Rhode Island. We have adapted it into the fabric of our school and created a student body that is focused on the health of our future, on promoting environmental, social and economic prosperity that is created and sustained by action on a local level. In other words, we have realized that before we can “Think Big”, we have to first consider the impact our actions have on every level of society. This project focuses on how the action of eating is a direct reflection …

Creating Therapy Materials To Improve Communication Of Young Children, Allison J. Corey

Senior Honors Projects

Once children start preschool, they should be able to speak in simple sentences and use basic syntax. When they complete preschool and begin kindergarten, they should be using complete, complex sentences, have an extensive vocabulary, and use correct grammar. However, sometimes a child’s language doesn’t develop as expected resulting in speech delays or impairments. This problem could arise for a multitude of reasons, for example, the child may be on the autism spectrum, he/she may have a specific language delay, or it may be due to an articulation/phonology problem. The role of a speech language pathologist (SLP) in a school …

Honor The Molst, Teresa Guarino

Senior Honors Projects

End of life is a topic many people would rather avoid discussing. Even many healthcare providers are uncomfortable with the topic, and they are at the front line in terms of providing information to patients about their care options. Nevertheless, it is a topic of utmost importance. Regardless of what one values and what choices have been made, preferences and desires at the end of life should be honored. This was the aim of documents such as advanced directives, living wills, and durable power of attorneys for healthcare, but they have been found to not be consistently honored. Seeing this …

A College Study On Grief, Depression, And Anxiety, Briana Alexandre Paulo

Senior Honors Projects

Trauma and stress have been commonly studied with the occurrence of anxiety disorders. However, less research has been conducted on the relationship between the experience of loss, the centrality of the loss to a person’s identity and the experience and severity of symptoms of depression and anxiety. Current research has examined the relationship between a significant stressful event and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of anxiety and depression are experienced by people during various points in their life, although higher levels of these disorders may be exhibited after having experienced a loss or stressful life event.

Grief can …

One For All: Employing People With Disabilities, Krista M. Simeone

Senior Honors Projects

One for All: Employing People with Disabilities

Krista Simeone

Faculty Sponsor: Susan Roush, Physical Therapy

The creators of our constitution believed that all men are endowed with certain unalienable rights, one of which being the Pursuit of Happiness. We all measure happiness in our own lives differently, and many of us find happiness in what we do each day. President Theodore Roosevelt once said “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Everyone should have the privilege of serving a purpose within their society, however, people with …

Understanding Autism, Kaileigh J. Sweeney

Senior Honors Projects

Understanding Autism

Kaileigh Sweeney

Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Hames

Autism spectrum disorders are greatly misunderstood in today’s society. In the United States, it is estimated that 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Despite this high prevalence, a great deal of the population is under the impression that a diagnosis of autism is straight forward and indicative of one set of devastating signs and symptoms. However, the severity of this disorder can range from mild to severe. According to the National Institute of Health, an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized …

Language Barriers In Health Care, Lauren Houle

Senior Honors Projects

Language barriers in health care are a growing concern for patients and health care providers. According to the 2000 U. S. Census, there is an increasing number of people who spoke a language other than English at home. This number increased from 14 percent (31.8 million) in 1990 to 18 percent (47 million) in 2000 (Shin & Bruno, 2003). Studies have shown that patients with limited English proficiency have less access to care, poorer adherence to treatment regimens and consequently contribute to increased health disparities. This issue is of particular importance for nurses due to the intimate contact and need …

Peer Grief Support At The University Of Rhode Island, Ariana Darcy

Senior Honors Projects

According to statistics, 22-30% of all college students are within their first twelve months of grieving the death of a family member or friend (Balk, 2008). There are even more students dealing with the illness of a family member or friend. This demonstrates the immense need on college campuses for support for students experiencing loss. One of the most beneficial types of support are peer support groups.

Peer support groups provide an essential environment for grief that cannot be obtained from individual counseling. People experiencing grief are apt to feel alone. Members of peer support groups tend to be relieved …

A Mounted Strengthening And Stretching Program To Prevent Musculoskeletal Injury In Equestrians, Abigail Guy

Senior Honors Projects

Equestrian sports use muscles uncommon to most normal daily activities. In beginning or returning riders this can lead to muscle strain and pain, and if not addressed, even to serious injury. This program is designed to stretch and strengthen the main muscle groups used in horseback riding: quadriceps, hamstrings, abdominals and obliques, and the lower back. The program is designed to be carried out during fifteen minutes of an hour-long riding lesson to prevent undue discomfort or injury. The counsel of a professional horseback riding instructor and a physical therapist was integrated with exercises from physical therapy resources. Proven stretching …

Coping With Loss: A Khmer Perspective On Guiding Children And Adolescents Upon The Death Of A Loved One, Sekboppa Sor

Senior Honors Projects

The emotions that come with death and dying, such as grief, sadness and anger are experienced by everyone at some point in their lifetime. Because death is such a sensitive subject, many people are hesitant to explain the process to children. Children, like adults, experience loss and it is important that they understand how to cope with the issue if and when it affects them. Soon after the death, mourning begins. The mourning process serves as an opportunity for individuals to express their emotions after a loss through their own traditions and rituals. For many individuals, it is an important …

Healthcare Disparities Between Older And Younger Adults, Megan Coral

Senior Honors Projects

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that within the next few decades, adults aged 65 and older will represent 20% of the US population. As a result, health professionals will see an increase in the number of older patients they treat and as such, must be knowledgeable about the aging process and age-associated issues in order to provide appropriate treatment. Often, older patients do not receive care that is of comparable quality to that provided to younger adults. This original research project was designed to identify perceived barriers to providing appropriate and high quality treatment to older adults and …

Forensic Nursing: Death Investigation, Lauren Palazzo

Senior Honors Projects

Forensic Nursing is a fairly new exciting nursing specialty. Television shows such as CSI portray forensic nurses and investigators in a less than realistic manner. Forensic nursing and investigation are exciting fields to specialize in, but the role of the forensic nurse and investigator are often misunderstood. For my project I wrote a research paper on forensic nursing, joined the international association of Forensic nurses, attended the international conference in washington dc and set in on a few meetings with a board, including lawyers, represenatives from the rape crisis center, clinical managers from W&I ED, nurses, NP’s, etc. in discussing …

Assessment Of Whole Grain Intake And Health Correlates In An Aging Population, Alexis Howard

Senior Honors Projects

Research suggests that whole grain intake may decrease the risk of heart disease, type II diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and many types of cancer. The overall goal of this work is to increase the health status of an older adult population through comprehensive nutrition risk assessment and exposure to tailored nutrition education interventions. This project involved assisting in baseline and post-intervention assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and intake of whole grain foods within a convenience sample of fifty-eight older adults residing in low-income housing sites across Rhode Island. Anthropometry, including height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure was measured, along with …