Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Medicine and Health Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

PDF

Honors Theses

2015

Discipline
Institution
Keyword

Articles 1 - 30 of 70

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Finding Optimal Brain Mappings Using Integer Linear Programming Solvers And Other Methods, Heriberto Flores Dec 2015

Finding Optimal Brain Mappings Using Integer Linear Programming Solvers And Other Methods, Heriberto Flores

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Student Nurse Behaviors And Barriers To Successful Completion Of The Traditonal Bachelor's In Science Of Nursing (Bsn) Program., Carri Shaw Dec 2015

Student Nurse Behaviors And Barriers To Successful Completion Of The Traditonal Bachelor's In Science Of Nursing (Bsn) Program., Carri Shaw

Honors Theses

Change is often said to be the only constant in life. This holds true to the rapidly growing field of nursing. In order to meet the demands of new challenges that emerge in nursing, the way future nurses are educated also has changed. Not all nursing students find that the profession is for them. Therefore, some attrition from school is expected. This descriptive study will explore factors that the literature suggests are related to attrition at a mid-sized public university in the Midwest. A survey given to two different level nursing cohorts will give insight to pre-licensure nursing students’ experiences …


Family Centered Care In Icu Settings, Victoria Kingsinger Dec 2015

Family Centered Care In Icu Settings, Victoria Kingsinger

Honors Theses

More than 5 million patients are admitted each year to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in the US, and approximately 55,000 critically ill patients are cared for each day. ICU patients are a diverse population that has a need for an increased level of care. These patients often require ventilatory or cardiovascular support, invasive monitoring, and intense nursing and physician observation (Society of Critical Care Medicine, 2015). There are five primary admitting diagnoses for adults, which include respiratory failure, postoperative management, ischemic heart disorders, and sepsis. The mean age of patients is rising, particularly due to the baby boom generation, and …


Recommendations For The Development Of New Hospital Guidelines Due To The Effects Of Antibiotics On Clostridium Difficile Colitis, Megan Kohsel Dec 2015

Recommendations For The Development Of New Hospital Guidelines Due To The Effects Of Antibiotics On Clostridium Difficile Colitis, Megan Kohsel

Honors Theses

Clostridium difficile colitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the colon and diarrhea. This can even lead to death in some cases. The incidence of this infection and its overall effects have been on the rise throughout the last twenty years as antibiotics have been prescribed more frequently. Therefore, it is necessary that the rate of C. difficile infection is lowered by improved guidelines for hospitals, so that fewer people are infected and also that fewer antibiotics are prescribed to avoid the infection with C. difficle.



Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Study Of Mikey, Gabrielle Lober Dec 2015

Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Study Of Mikey, Gabrielle Lober

Honors Theses

This paper describes Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) including diagnostic criteria, suspected causes, prevalence, comorbidities, and influences on client factors. A hypothetical case study is presented to give readers an illustration of what someone with ASD might look like. Possible treatment based on evidence and selected frame of references will be given for the hypothetical client. This paper is not all inclusive of the role of occupational therapy in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, but gives an illustrative example.


Potential Cellular Mechanisms Of Estrogen's Effects On Maintaining Sperm Production In Aging Rats, Matthew Pate Dec 2015

Potential Cellular Mechanisms Of Estrogen's Effects On Maintaining Sperm Production In Aging Rats, Matthew Pate

Honors Theses

Testosterone production by Leydig cells declines during aging in both men and rodent models. Previous results from our lab demonstrated that daily sperm production also declines in aging rats and alterations in the estrogen environment of the testis contribute to this decline. Importantly, estrogen treatment during aging was able to attenuate the age-associated decline in sperm production. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which estrogen maintains sperm production remain unclear. These experiments were designed to further investigate the effects of estrogen on sperm production in an attempt to further define the cellular mechanisms regulated by estrogen within the testis. …


A Comparison Of Gastrointestinal Bacterial Population Between Indoor Cats And Outdoor Cats, Farhana Binti Ikmal Hisham Dec 2015

A Comparison Of Gastrointestinal Bacterial Population Between Indoor Cats And Outdoor Cats, Farhana Binti Ikmal Hisham

Honors Theses

This study used fecal samples from four indoor cats and four indoor-outdoor cats in order to identify the microbial communities in the gut of cats. This information was then used to compare the microbial phyla between both groups for any differences. Total microbial DNA was isolated from each fecal sample, and the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq high throughput method. The sequences were identified using the bioinformatics program mothur. The results show that indoor cats had a more diverse microbial community as compared to outdoor cats. Indoor cat samples had 26% more microbial species, and eight more …


Quality Of Life In Adolescents With Cancer, Alexis Guastella Nov 2015

Quality Of Life In Adolescents With Cancer, Alexis Guastella

Honors Theses

There is no current universally accepted definition for quality of life (QOL). One source defined the concept of QOL as how an individual measures the goodness of different aspects of their life. These assessments include one’s emotional reactions to life events, disposition, sense of fulfillment, and satisfaction with personal relationships and work (Theofilou, 2013). Another definition encompasses the person’s level of functioning and overall satisfaction and well-being of their life (Lavdaniti & Tsitsis, 2015). QOL can be influenced by many factors, including physical health and certain disease processes. One disease in particular that can significantly affect one’s QOL is cancer. …


Quality Of Life In Adolescents With Cancer, Molly Ryan Nov 2015

Quality Of Life In Adolescents With Cancer, Molly Ryan

Honors Theses

There is no current universally accepted definition for quality of life (QOL). One source defined the concept of QOL as how an individual measures the goodness of different aspects of their life. These assessments include one’s emotional reactions to life events, disposition, sense of fulfillment, and satisfaction with personal relationships and work (Theofilou, 2013). Another definition encompasses the person’s level of functioning and overall satisfaction and well-being of their life (Lavdaniti & Tsitsis, 2015). QOL can be influenced by many factors, including physical health and certain disease processes. One disease in particular that can significantly affect one’s QOL is cancer. …


The American Health Care System, Health Care Reform, And The Effects Of The Affordable Care Act, Adam Becker Jun 2015

The American Health Care System, Health Care Reform, And The Effects Of The Affordable Care Act, Adam Becker

Honors Theses

Through the lens of access, quality, and cost I will present and outline the various historical approaches to health care reform, how they have contributed to the formation of our current system, and a preliminary evaluation of the Affordable Care Act. Specifically, I will be analyzing these major reforms in relation to, and their impact, on healthcare payers and providers. By understanding prior health care reform, it will provide the necessary foundation to properly investigate the prospects of success for the ACA. In order to address these questions, I investigated the evolution of the medical professional and modern hospitals, the …


Investigating The Impact Of Marijuana Legalization On Income, Education, And Depression, Wayne Fu Jun 2015

Investigating The Impact Of Marijuana Legalization On Income, Education, And Depression, Wayne Fu

Honors Theses

Over the past two decades, marijuana has been the most widely used illicit drug by adolescents in the US. The drug continues to soar in popularity as both a recreational and medicinal drug despite mounting scientific research that marijuana consumption may impair cognitive function including deficits in learning, memory, motivation, and attention. Marijuana use has also been linked to exacerbation of depression and anxiety symptoms. Though federal laws still classify marijuana as an illegal substance, recent state-level legislation has sparked national debate over its legal status. In fact, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical …


Undergraduate Student Attitudes On Concierge Medicine, Sushane Gupta Jun 2015

Undergraduate Student Attitudes On Concierge Medicine, Sushane Gupta

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the opinions of undergraduate students on a field of personalized primary care known as concierge medicine, as well as assess their satisfaction with their current non-concierge healthcare providers. Concierge medicine aims to provide patients with a high level of customer service and satisfaction, and in exchange for an annual fee, they receive benefits such as lower waiting times for appointments, access to the physician by phone or e-mail, and a stronger patient-physician relationship focused on preventative care. The current literature on non-concierge healthcare reveals several deficiencies including poor insurance coverage, poor patient …


A Comparative Analysis Of Medical Pluralism In Fiji And The United States, Meaghan Jain Jun 2015

A Comparative Analysis Of Medical Pluralism In Fiji And The United States, Meaghan Jain

Honors Theses

Both indigenous Fijians and Americans practice a medically pluralistic style of healing that includes biomedicine, herbal medicines, and spiritual healing. People in both cultures use alternative medicinal styles to fill in around gaps left by biomedicine, but the reasons why they do this, and how they do this, are different. Urban indigenous Fijians supplement biomedicine with healing styles that utilize their social networks. Fijians have a sociocentric sense of self and the body; they feel uncomfortable with impersonal treatment by doctors and feel better about treatments that bring social support. Americans, on the other hand, follow a rhetoric strongly oriented …


Understanding Childhood Hunger: A Qualitative Look At The Issues Hindering Progress In The United States, Samantha Kropp Jun 2015

Understanding Childhood Hunger: A Qualitative Look At The Issues Hindering Progress In The United States, Samantha Kropp

Honors Theses

This thesis examines childhood hunger as roughly 1 in 5 kids live in households that struggle to put food on the table. These children experience physical problems as a result of their food instability, but this problem is connected to other personal and societal issues, such as poor education. To understand how hunger affects children, this study began with a historical analysis of the past 60 years of government supported programs and policies, such as the school breakfasts and summer lunch programs. Four interviews were conducted with different experts in the field, specifically three individuals from a prominent national non‐profit …


Le Diagnostic Social De L'Autisme : Un Examen Du Processus De Diagnostic De L'Autisme En France, Mary Katherine Mackenzie Jun 2015

Le Diagnostic Social De L'Autisme : Un Examen Du Processus De Diagnostic De L'Autisme En France, Mary Katherine Mackenzie

Honors Theses

Autism is a set of developmental disorders that cause social, behavioral, and communication deficits. This disorder is found throughout the world although its prevalence varies considerably between countries. These international differences in autism rates are inconsistent with scientific evidence that suggests there is a genetic basis for the disorder. This inconsistency indicates that autism rates are not representative of actual variation in prevalence. An analysis of these variations suggests that international divergences are caused by the different social structures that influence the process of diagnosing autism in an individual country. This theory holds that the manifestation of autistic symptoms is …


Causes And Consequences Of Bullying, Molly Maloney Jun 2015

Causes And Consequences Of Bullying, Molly Maloney

Honors Theses

What causes people to bully others? Some evidence suggests that being the victim of bullying can cause a person to become aggressive, but research on the topic is flawed. The current research attempts to improve on prior research to examine (1) whether being bullied causes individuals to become bullies, themselves, and (2) whether there are personality traits or situational variables that predispose individuals to respond to bullying by becoming aggressive. Participants were either included in all three rounds of an online game (Cyberball; Williams et al., 2012), or ostracized to varying degrees. I hypothesized that participants who were ostracized would, …


Electrical Characterization Of Nanomaterials, Chase Martin Jun 2015

Electrical Characterization Of Nanomaterials, Chase Martin

Honors Theses

Our dependence on energy sources and depleting fossil fuel reserves are forcing the world to look for efficient and renewable sources of energy. Current renewable technology lacks the efficiency and storage capability necessary to continue our heavy reliance on energy. This project focuses on understanding the physical and electrical properties of nanomaterials for their use as super capacitors and as photovoltaic cells. Using multiple microscopy techniques on the Cascade Probe Station and Veeco Dimension V Atomic Force Microscope, local and bulk conductivity measurements were performed on Laponite RD infused polyaniline (PANI) samples synthesized by Union College Chemistry Department Students. Four …


Do Good Deals Really Increase Consumer Spending Patterns?, Georgina Teasdale Jun 2015

Do Good Deals Really Increase Consumer Spending Patterns?, Georgina Teasdale

Honors Theses

Annually, the average American spends thousands of dollars on goods and services, financing millions of jobs. Employees then continue this cycle, through spending their paycheck on goods and services thus continuing the cycle. It is this cycle that is at the forefront of the American economy, and thus of utmost importance to increase the profitability of businesses. In part, this can be accomplished through a greater understanding of consumer spending patterns. This study aims to help understand consumer behavior through looking at both loss leader pricing, and the endowment theory. This was done through an on-campus experiment that looked at …


Does Positive Reframing Lead To Better Coping Styles: Examining The Effects Of Two Different Writing Prompts On Self-Reported Stress Of Caregivers Of People With Dementia., Marisa Thurin Jun 2015

Does Positive Reframing Lead To Better Coping Styles: Examining The Effects Of Two Different Writing Prompts On Self-Reported Stress Of Caregivers Of People With Dementia., Marisa Thurin

Honors Theses

The challenges caregivers face are often overwhelmingly mentally and physically stressful, and layered in is the grief that comes with watching a loved one slip away (Ornstein, Gaugler, Devanand, Scarmeas, Zhu, & Stern, 2013). The purpose of my study will be to examine if utilizing expressive writing (EW) can benefit caregivers of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), before a patient might progress to dementia. I hypothesize that EW during early stage decline will be more beneficial than later since it is may be an easier time to use this skill, before caregivers are in the most demanding phases …


Patient Perception Of Privacy And The Role Of Electronic Medical Records, Max Louis Willinger Jun 2015

Patient Perception Of Privacy And The Role Of Electronic Medical Records, Max Louis Willinger

Honors Theses

In order to better manage patient records, hospitals and health care settings across the nation have begun to implement electronic medical record systems (EMR). The purpose of this transition is to reduce excessive amounts of paper, to decrease administrative costs, and to increase the overall quality of care. With the implementation of the EMR, relationships between physicians and their patients have the potential to change. Research has shown that patient perceptions are changing regarding confidentiality, trust, and privacy in the doctor-patient relationship because of patient medical records being stored electronically as opposed to being locked away in a file cabinet. …


Exploring Doctor-Patient Communication In The Context Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine, Eva Rachelle Zimmerman Jun 2015

Exploring Doctor-Patient Communication In The Context Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine, Eva Rachelle Zimmerman

Honors Theses

The introduction of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the United States has recently led to increased interest in this topic. CAM encompasses a range of health care approaches that attempt to maintain or prevent illness, such as herbal supplements and acupuncture. The integrative health care movement, which is the integration of CAM with conventional medicine, has been rapidly growing among both health care providers and health care consumers, because most consumers use both types of medicine. Despite this growth, there are barriers to the acceptance and integration of CAM, including the inability of doctors to communicate with patients about …


Euthanasie Und Menschenversuche Im Dritten Reich, Mit Einer Ethischen Analyse Der Menschenversuche, Max J. Roehmholdt Jun 2015

Euthanasie Und Menschenversuche Im Dritten Reich, Mit Einer Ethischen Analyse Der Menschenversuche, Max J. Roehmholdt

Honors Theses

The idea in Nazi-Germany of a “pure” Germany culminated in the systematic murder of millions of people, and within that, the crimes against humanity of euthanasia and human experimentation. The memories of child and adult euthanasia pervade society even today. This project looks at the development of Nazi-euthanasia and the memoirs and films about it, which leave lasting impressions by engraining in audience member’s minds the real facts about euthanasia and euthanasia institutions. The victims of euthanasia were often used in Nazi human experimentation, a product of the Nazi pursuit of scientific advancement. This project also examines these human experiments, …


Psychostimulant Use Among Undiagnosed College Students: Revealing Perceptions Anddebunking The Myth Of Cognitive Benefits, Rebecca Elizabeth Shait Jun 2015

Psychostimulant Use Among Undiagnosed College Students: Revealing Perceptions Anddebunking The Myth Of Cognitive Benefits, Rebecca Elizabeth Shait

Honors Theses

Previous research suggests there is a rising trend of non-medical psychostimulant use on college campuses. The current study examined the prevalence of non-medical psychostimulant use, assessed students’ motivations and perceptions of the cognitive and emotional benefits, and attempted to influence their views by giving them real scenarios where psychostimulants are not effective for individuals without ADHD. Results revealed that there is a prevalence of non-medical psychostimulant use at Union College. Non-medical psychostimulant users had a more positive perception that these medications enhance performance, cognition, memory, mood/energy, and motivation to start and complete work. There were no significant interactions or differences …


The Effect Of Exercise On Emotion Regulation, Stacey Sylvetsky Jun 2015

The Effect Of Exercise On Emotion Regulation, Stacey Sylvetsky

Honors Theses

There is a substantial body of research on the effect that exercise has on emotion and on self-regulation. However, there has not been a great deal of research on the effect that exercise has on emotion regulation, which is crucial for normal functioning in society. Thus, this thesis investigated the relationship between physical activity and emotion regulation. Forty-five Union College students participated in the study. Individuals first filled out various questionnaires relating to physical activity and emotion regulation and then were asked to bike in the lab for a 20-minute period. Participants were randomly assigned to either the low-intensity or …


The Affordable Care Act Dependent Health Insurance Mandate's Effect On The Life Satisfaction Of Young Adults, Kirti Chakote Jun 2015

The Affordable Care Act Dependent Health Insurance Mandate's Effect On The Life Satisfaction Of Young Adults, Kirti Chakote

Honors Theses

On September 23, 2010, the dependent health insurance mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased the family health insurance coverage of young adults up to age 26. The present study principally examined the effect of this mandate on life satisfaction of young adults, in addition to health care access, self-reported health, preventative care, and labor market outcomes. Through health insurance coverage, it is hypothesized that the ACA mandate will lead to a higher life satisfaction in young adults. Using the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System data of 2005 through 2013 to assess the effect of the ACA mandate, this …


Cycling Through Life: The Bingeing Tendencies Of Women, Danielle Macgregor Jun 2015

Cycling Through Life: The Bingeing Tendencies Of Women, Danielle Macgregor

Honors Theses

The social environment on many college campuses in the United States contains both positive and negative aspects that influence students. Among the various lifestyle changes experienced in college are shared residential living spaces, more frequent social events with peers, a dining meal plan replacing home cooked meals, and an increased sense of independence. These new factors may lead to bingeing behaviors. Determining the connection between binge drinking, binge eating, and binge exercising—a common cycle of behavior that may emerge at the traditional four-­‐year institution—to gender expectations, social group relationships, and self-esteem helps explain the possible catalysts of these behaviors. Binge …


The Connections Between Self-Monitoring And Theory Of Mind, Jane Elizabeth Miller Jun 2015

The Connections Between Self-Monitoring And Theory Of Mind, Jane Elizabeth Miller

Honors Theses

Previous research on the personality characteristic of self-monitoring has shown that high self-monitors constantly adjust their behavior to fit their environment while low self-monitors follow internal cues to keep their attitudes and behaviors consistent with one another. Theory of Mind is a person’s ability to connect unobservable mental and emotional states to one’s self and others, while understanding that other people may have different thoughts, attitudes and beliefs than one’s self that guides their behaviors. The current research examined a possible connection between self-monitoring and theory of mind. Participants completed a self-monitoring scale and two tasks evaluating their theory of …


Design Of A Double-Dose Epinephrine Auto-Injector Using 3d-Printing, Timothy Calvin Sheehan Jun 2015

Design Of A Double-Dose Epinephrine Auto-Injector Using 3d-Printing, Timothy Calvin Sheehan

Honors Theses

This project involved the design and prototyping of an epinephrine auto-injector capable of administering two separate doses. Epinephrine auto-injectors are used in the treatment of patients undergoing anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction causing the restriction of airways and a drop in blood pressure. The timely administration of epinephrine counteracts these symptoms and can be lifesaving. Currently the only devices available to consumers administer one unit dose of epinephrine and are then no longer usable. In 30% of cases where patients undergo these symptoms a second dose of epinephrine is required. My design was based partially off the concept behind currently available …


Grammatical Morphology In A Child With Autism, Katherine Ball May 2015

Grammatical Morphology In A Child With Autism, Katherine Ball

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


College Professors’ And Students’ Perceptions Toward College Students Who Stutter, Patricia N. Chastain May 2015

College Professors’ And Students’ Perceptions Toward College Students Who Stutter, Patricia N. Chastain

Honors Theses

Research on stuttering has reflected the perceptions of speech-language pathologists (Swartz, Gabel & Irani, 2009; Crichton-Smith, Wright & Stackhouse, 2003; Cooper & Cooper, 1996; Kalinowski, Armson, J., Stuart, A., & Lerman, J. W., 1993; Daniels, Panico, & Sudhoolt, 2011), students (Mayo & Mayo, 2013; Dorsey & Guenther, 2000), and professors (Dorsey & Guenther, 2000; Silverman, 1990; Ruscello et al., 1990) toward people who stutter (PWS). The findings of the aforementioned studies indicated there is neither a wholly positive or negative attitudinal trend in the perceptions towards PWS within or across groups. Only one study was conducted (15 years ago) that …