A Practical Scale For Multi-Faceted Organizational Health Climate Assessment, Zandra M. Zweber

Master's Theses

The current study sought to develop a practical scale to measure workplace health climate in a way that has not previously been conceptualized – as a three-faceted approach from the employee perspective serving as an indicator of a healthy organization. The goal was to create a short, useable yet comprehensive scale that could translate into practical use by organizations and occupational health professionals planning workplace interventions. To accomplish this, the proposed multi-faceted organizational health climate scale (MOHCA) assesses three-facets which match up with three organizational levels: 1) organization 2) supervisor and 3) workgroup. Ten items were developed and tested on …

Cultural Traditions And The Reproductive Health Of Somali Refugees And Immigrants, Nancy S. Deyo

Master's Theses

Millions of Somalis began fleeing their country in 1991 to escape the civil war. The largest Diaspora of Somali refugees in the United States currently reside in Minnesota. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, four focus groups with 25 Somali women, two focus groups with 12 Somali men, one focus group with Somali religious leaders and seven in-depth interviews with American healthcare professionals were conducted in Minneapolis to help develop culturally sensitive reproductive health programs for Somali mothers. Twenty key distinctions between Somali cultural traditions and Western medicine were identified. For many Somali women, prenatal care is a new concept. There …

Narrative Abilities Of Optimal Outcome Children And Adolescents With A Previous History Of Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Joyce Suh

Master's Theses

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) have traditionally been considered a lifelong condition; however there appear to be a subset of people who make such significant improvements that they no longer meet diagnostic criteria for autism. The current study examines whether these “optimal outcome” (OO) children and adolescents continue to have subtle language and socio-cognitive deficits. Method: The narratives of 15 children and adolescents with a history of ASD who achieved optimal outcomes (OO), 15 high-functioning children and adolescents with a current ASD diagnosis (HFA), and 15 typically developing peers (TD) were evaluated. Results: OO children and adolescents have few residual …

Effect Of Food Security And Federal Food Assistance Participation On Household Availability And Recorded Preschool Child Consumption Of Sugar Sweetened Beverages And 100% Fruit Juice, Katherine A. Yarbrough

Master's Theses

Sugar sweetened beverage consumption is on the rise in the United States, particularly among children. However, the impact of household food security and federal food assistance participation on beverage habits has not been extensively analyzed. This paper sought to fill the current gap in literature on household beverage availability and recorded preschool child consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) and 100% fruit juice based on food security levels and status of federal food assistance participation. For this thesis, SSB are beverages that have added sugar and include fruit drinks, sodas, sports drinks, syrups, flavored milks, and teas. Baseline data from …

Development Of Repressible Systems To Control Gene Expression In Vaccinia Virus, Allison Titong

Master's Theses

Two vaccinia virus (VACV) expression systems that contain elements from the lactose (lac) and the tetracycline (tet) operons of E. coli were developed to repress the expression of a reporter gene, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), in the presence of tet operon inducers. In the first system, lac and tet operon elements were arranged in a gene circuit, and in the presence of increasing concentrations of a lac operon inducer (isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside, IPTG), EGFP expression increased in a dose dependent manner and at high IPTG concentrations, expression reached the same levels as a positive control virus. Importantly, in the …

Green Tea Extract Protects Against Fibrogenesis Associated With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Diet-Induced Obese Rats, Allyson M. Bower

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Predicting Exercise Adherence In College Students Using A Self-Determination Theory Framework, Megan M. Clarke

Master's Theses

College is a pivotal time for weight gain and unhealthy behavior changes in many young adults. Decreases in physical activity are common in this age group and likely contribute to the 1.6 to 1.8 kg weight gain that is often observed in the first year of college. Identifying groups of students who are at high-risk for decreasing or discontinuing physical activity may help develop more targeted interventions. The present study explored physical activity patterns in the first semester of college and examined predictors of exercise decreases to levels below recommended daily values within a Self-Determination Theory framework. Incoming freshman (n=174; …

Dietary Protein Influences Paracellular Calcium Transport: Two Molecular Targets, Belinda M. Kotler

Master's Theses

The effect of dietary protein on bone health remains controversial. We have shown that increasing dietary protein increases calcium absorption in both humans and rats with no change in bone resorption. We used a rat model in which dietary protein increases intestinal calcium absorption and whole body calcium retention, to explore the molecular basis for this effect. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a low (5%) or high (40%) protein diet for 7 days. On day 7, duodenal mucosa was harvested and total RNA isolated. Microarray analyses using these RNA samples identified 208 genes whose expression was at least 1.5 fold …

A Qualitative Study Of Barriers To Dental Care Among Older Minority Adults Residing In Lower Income Communities, Demetress Davis

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to explore factors that presented barriers to the use of dental care among low-income minority older adults. Participants were recruited from low-income senior housing in Hartford, CT. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain data on demographics, oral health status, oral health knowledge and factors that affected use of dental care including finances, perceived oral symptoms, cultural factors, and beliefs about dental care. Interviews were conducted with 17 participants. The major perceived barriers were ability to pay for care, transportation and fear/mistrust of the dentist. Participants may have had poor oral health as …

Immediate Versus Delayed Loading Of Two Implants Supporting A Locator Retained Mandibular Overdenture. A Randomized Controlled Study., Sejal R. Thacker

Master's Theses

The aim of this study was to evaluate immediate versus delayed loading of two implants, six months post-surgery, supporting a locator retained mandibular overdenture. The objective was to evaluate implant bone remodelling using radiographic bone level changes (RBL) as the variable, from baseline to six months, between the test and the control groups. The secondary objectives included (1) evaluation of implant survival, (2) nature and frequency of surgical and prosthetic complications, and (3) correlation of implant length and insertion torque on RBL.

Eligible patients were randomized into test (immediate loading) and control group (delayed loading). Five patients were allocated to …

Three-Dimensional Force Systems Produced By Vertical V-Bends In An Arch Wire, Raja Shah

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Upper Body Vs Lower Body Training On Rate-Pressure Product, Zanae Baird

Master's Theses

Lower body activities such as walking, running, and cycling have traditionally been used as the activity mode during physiological exercise testing. Interest in specific responses to upper extremity exercise has increased since upper body cycle ergometry became an important alternative exercise mode in the 1970s. Previous research on upper extremity exercise utilized upper body cycle ergometry or a standard push-pull rowing movement. Few upper extremity studies measured rate-pressure product. The purpose of this study was to compare rate-pressure product between lower extremity exercise utilizing upright cycling and primarily upper extremity exercise on a double arm swing Ski Erg ergometer. Hemodynamic …

Recognition Of Speech In Multi-Talker Babble By Individuals With Hearing Loss, Kyle J. Christensen

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the speech recognition abilities of individuals with hearing loss using multi-talker babble as a competing stimulus. Twenty-six young adults participated, 15 in the normal hearing group (mean age of 21.9 years) and 11 in the hearing loss group (mean age of 22.2 years). The participants with normal hearing (0-20 dB HL) had a high frequency pure tone average (HFPTA) of 5 dB HL in both ears, while the participants in the hearing loss group had an HFPTA of 13 dB HL in the right ear and 25 dB HL in the left …

Virtual Three-Dimensional Analysis Of Dimensional Accuracy Of Dental Master Die Models Created By The Iterotm Electronic Impression Device And Those Made From A Polyvinyl Siloxane Impression Material, Polina P. Shcherbatov

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Corticision On The Rate Of Orthodontic Tooth Movement In Rats, Hamed Vaziri

Master's Theses

Minimal treatment time is a primary goal for orthodontic therapy. Reducing treatment time decreases risk of caries, periodontal disease, root resorption, and increases patient satisfaction. Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is a result of bone resorption and apposition; factors influencing the rate at which these processes take place may affect OTM. Various attempts have been made to shorten treatment time. The regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP) has been used to modify the balance between resorption and apposition of bone through selectively injuring the cortical plate of the alveolus to accelerate tooth movement. This approach is limited due to the need of flap …

Analysis Of Periapical Biopsies Submitted For Histopathological Evaluation: A Retrospective Study, Abdullah I. Alqaied

Master's Theses

Apical periodontitis is the most common pathological process in the periapical region. Disciplined clinical and radiographic evaluations and appropriate diagnostic tests can detect lesions related to apical periodontitis. Aside from this, lesions mimicking pulp-related pathology but unrelated to pulpal infection and necrosis are occasionally discovered in the periapical region. The objective of this study was two-fold: (1) to determine the prevalence of diverse periapically located pathological entities, and (2) to apply that information to evaluate the rationale for routine submission of surgically obtained tissue for histological examination and diagnosis. Methods: A 5-year retrospective analysis of pathology reports from the UCONN …

Hip Abductor Strength And Hip External Rotator Strength Effects On Medial Knee Displacement In Post Pubescent Females, Megan A. Barry

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Hip Abductor Strength and Hip External Rotator Strength Effects on Medial Knee Displacement in Post-Pubescent Females

Megan A. Barry, University of Connecticut

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between hip abductor (ABD) and hip external rotator (ER) strength with medial knee displacement (MKD) when in post-pubescent high school female athletes.

Methods: Twenty-five post-pubescent high school female athletes (age= 16 ±1, mass= 58.6 kg ± 7.4 kg, height= 166 cm ± 8 cm) volunteered to participate in this study. Maximal isometric hip ABD and ER strength were measured using hand-held dynamometry, and MKD …

Cholesterol Lowering Effects Of Milk With Added Phytosterols, Laura Kells Cusack

Master's Theses

Foods incorporating plant sterols (PS) reduce Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) on average approximately 10%. PS with a higher lipid solubility may promote greater reductions. We examined the cholesterol lowering effect of a novel triglyceride recrystallized phystosterol (TRP). Twenty subjects (mean ± SD; age, 56 ± 10 years; BMI, 27 ± 5) with elevated LDL (>100 mg/dL) participated in three 4-week phases; Phase I, 2% milk; Phase II, milk with 2.0 grams (g) free PS; Phase III, milk with 2.0 g TRP. Before and after each phase two fasting blood draws were obtained for determination of serum cholesterol. Between the 2% …

Violence During Pregnancy Among Young Married Women In Nepal, Prakrity Silwal

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Oral Health Needs Assessment Of An Inner-City Homeless Population And Follow-Up Of Dental Referrals, Jennifer R. Jaskolka

Master's Theses

Background: The University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Dental Medicine (SODM) routinely recruits dental students and faculty volunteers to conduct no-cost dental health screenings for transient residents at South Park Inn Homeless Shelter in Hartford, CT. Once screened, patients are referred to UConn or another hospital-based dental clinic in the area for treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the demographics and oral health needs of the homeless population at South Park Inn and referrals to UConn SODM were followed to verify patient presentation at UCONN SODM. Dental students’ attitudes towards working with the underserved were also assessed. …

The Effects Of Phytosterols On Lipoprotein Particle Size, Laura J. Kunces

Master's Theses

Phytosterols (PS) have become a recent popular medication alternative for treatment of hypercholesterolemia and have proven effective. Whether PS decrease risk of cardiovascular disease through other mechanisms, such as lipoprotein particle size and inflammatory markers, remains unclear. PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of two forms of PS in milk on lipoprotein particle size, inflammatory markers and fat-soluble vitamins. METHODS: Twenty subjects (13 males, 7 females; age; 55±6.1 years, height; 169±10 cm, weight; 77.9±16.9 kg, BMI; 27.3) consumed 16oz of cow’s milk daily for 12 weeks. The three sequential four-week phases consisted of 2% …

The Effect Of Different Set-Repetition Protocols On Squat Technique In Resistance Trained Individuals, Ashley Pandit

Master's Theses

The effect of different set-repetition protocols on squat technique in resistance trained individuals.

Pandit, AL, Kraemer, WJ, Hooper, DR.

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether or not the increase in repetitions within a set will change the technique of the exercise, and how repetition number in a set affects exercise technique in resistance trained individuals in three different set-repetition protocols equated by total volume.

Methods: 10 men (24.3 ± 2.8 yrs; 179.7 ± 5.7 cm; 85.5 ± 12.5 kg) and 10 women (23.9 ± 2.4 yrs; 166.2 ± 9.1 cm; 66.8 ± 8.4 kg) were the …

Sudden Death In Sport At The Secondary School Level: A Perspective Of The Head Football Coach, Benjamin Mcgrath

Master's Theses

Context: Prior research has examined the first aid knowledge and decision making among high school coaches, but little is known about their knowledge of sudden death in sport or their relationship with an athletic trainer. Objective: Evaluate the knowledge of the secondary school football coach regarding sudden death in sport and their relationship with their athletic trainer. Results: There were four themes from the data: level of preparedness, misconceptions about sudden death in sport, activity modification strategies, and positive coach/athletic trainer relationships. Conclusion: The secondary coach is unaware of the potential causes of sudden death in sport …

Impact Of Adiposity Status On The Association Of Regular Statin Use And Increased Number Of Aberrant Crypt Foci, Homaira Rasool

Master's Theses

INTRODUCTION: While animal studies consistently show a preventive role of statin use in colon cancer development, evidence from human studies is conflicting with recent reports suggesting an increased risk of aberrant crypt foci and adenoma. We hypothesize that insufficient control of confounding due to indication bias for prescribing of statins, particularly obesity-induced physiologic dysregulation, might partly explain discrepant results. METHODS: We analyzed data from patients receiving standard colonoscopy at the Colon Cancer Prevention Program of the University of Connecticut Health Center, which was followed by chromoendoscopy for ACF detection. ACF number was categorized at low (RESULTS: Participants who reported regular …

Clinician Approaches To The Diagnosis Of The Patient With Suspected Lyme Disease, Tyler W. Hudon

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Addressing Congenital Syphilis In Rural Haiti: Beyond Maternal Screening And Treatment, Cheryl Bayart

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Raccoon Acclimation Towards Traps And Its Effect On Surveillance And Monitoring Of Zoonotic Diseases, Lindsay Rollend

Master's Theses

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) serve as a source of infection with various pathogens for people, most notably, rabies. Raccoons are specifically targeted for the control of rabies in the United States, primarily due to the 100% fatality rate in humans and animals. There is no cure or treatment for rabies and vaccines may be administered to people if it is administered promptly. In order to evaluate how successful trapping of raccoons is by using conventional methods, motion sensing cameras were placed on traps in order to captured raccoon behaviors. Pictures were coded based on these behaviors (around the trap but not …

Examination Of Preseason Hydration Strategy Of Ncaa Division I Men's Soccer Athletes, Lesley Willis

Master's Theses

Context: Dehydration can have negative effects on performance and mood during intense exercise.

Objective: To examine a soccer program to determine the effectiveness of their hydration protocol during preseason training.

Design: 9-day mixed methods study of preseason training sessions (97.3±21.3 min) and scrimmages (123±14.1 min) for men’s soccer athletes on an NCAA division I soccer team with post-hoc interviews of staff members.

Setting: Outdoor soccer field and indoor training facility.

Participants:21 male NCAA division I soccer athletes (age 20±1 years, height 187.5±2 cm).

Main Outcome Measures: Hydration (BML ,U_col­, USG, U_osmo), Mood (thirst, thermal, ESQ, POMS), …

Performance Changes During A Weeklong High Altitude Training Camp In Lowlander Youth Athletes, Jay R. Hydren

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Antecedents, Process, And Consequences Of Female Sterilization For Low-Income Women In Mumbai, Marie A. Brault

Master's Theses

Surgical sterilization is the primary method of family planning among low-income women in India; the result of limited knowledge and poor access to family planning alternatives. To understand the dynamics of sterilization, 37 in-depth interviews were conducted with sterilized women from the study community, as well as key informant interviews with community men, providers and government officials. The results indicate that sterilization decisions are made after exceeding ideal family size, that the procedures for sterilization frequently do not follow official protocol, but that for the most part women are highly positive about being free of the risk of unwanted conception.