Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Financial Sector Development On Fdi Led Growth In China, John Costigan

Master's Theses

Abstract: Over the past several decades developing countries have attracted and relied on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to supply their economies with the investment needed to maintain high economic growth and development. In their pursuit of FDI, many developing countries have passed policies and regulations aimed at attracting inward FDI. Because of the high growth rates and high returns on investment in many of these economies they have experience a large increase in FDI inflow over the past few decades. As these economies have grown and investment has increased, the financial services sector in the developing world has grown to …

Educational Opportunities For Adolescent Girls' Empowerment In Developing Countries, Mary J. Kober

Master's Theses

Adolescent girls’ in developing countries coming from impoverished backgrounds face the added challenge of societies that marginalize the value of education for girls. Complex economic, social and cultural barriers to access secondary education pose challenges and obstacles to their human rights to education, equality and dignity. This study provides an analysis of the relationship between education and empowerment by looking at five innovative non-governmental formal and non-formal educational programs in Guatemala, sub-Saharan Africa, and Bangladesh. The theoretical framework focuses on the empowerment process, transformative agency, intrinsic empowerment, and the conditions and competencies that support education and leadership. The purpose of …

Air Pollution, Temperature And Cognitive Performance In The Short Run: Evidence From Women’S Ability To Recall Dates, Ke Yang

Master's Theses

Abstract: Cognitive performance is important to productivity across many fields and potentially correlated to air pollution and extreme temperatures. We study the effects of daily ambient air pollution and monthly temperature on women’s ability of recalling dates across 42 developing countries from 1997 to 2009. We use an estimated natural air pollution data, and calculate the AQI to get an aggregate effect of air pollution. We find that one standard deviation increase in the AQI leads to a statistical decrease in women’s probability to recall dates such as birthdays, marriage date or children’s birthdays by 0.44 percentage point. Furthermore, there …

Behavioral Determinants Of Biofortified Food Acceptance: The Case Of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato In Ghana, Chinonso E. Etumnu

Master's Theses

Biofortified foods are being introduced in sub-Saharan Africa as an important strategy to help address micronutrient malnutrition. However, there has been little research on factors that could play decisive roles in their successful introduction. This paper investigates the determinants of consumer acceptance of biofortified orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) using data from a choice experiment conducted in Ghana. I find that OFSP is preferred to traditional white-fleshed and yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes as indicated by consumers' marginal willingness to pay for the three varieties. I also find that respondents' socio-economic characteristics do not have a significant effect on consumer acceptance of OFSP. …

Climate Variability Influences Women’S Attitudes Towards Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv), Jean Lee

Master's Theses

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 1 in 3 women worldwide has experienced violence against women. Our study examines the effects of climate conditions on women’s attitudes towards wife beating. The demographic health surveys (DHS) dataset includes over 550,000 women in 38 countries, asked a series of wife beating justification questions in the domestic violence module. Using a linear probability model, we find prior year growing degree days (GDD), prior and current year rainfall variability have statistically significant effects. Most interestingly, we find that a one standard deviation (SD) rise in prior year annual rainfall decreases the likelihood of justifying …

Does Infant Formula Availability Reduce Breastfeeding?, Ingvild Madsen Lampe

Master's Theses

Abstract: Several key studies highlight the importance of breastfeeding and there is a broad consensus that it plays a crucial role for a child's health and cognitive development. This is especially true for the poor in developing countries, where vulnerable infants' access to proper nutrition is vital. We investigate the effect of introducing infant formula into a market on changes in breastfeeding patterns. Using the Demographic Health Surveys and annual reports from the baby food industry between 1981 and 2002 in 11 tropical countries, we find evidence that import of infant formula significantly reduces breastfeeding duration. The effects are stronger …

Savings Groups And Banks: Complements Or Substitutes? Financial Inclusion In Rural Tanzania, Shirleen Rubangura Teta

Master's Theses

Abstract: The substantial increase in the number savings and credit groups as well as microfinance institutions over the past years suggests that individuals in the developing world have progressively become aware of the importance of access to financial services. This study adds to the existing literature on the function of savings and credit groups in places with lower use of formal financial services and inform us whether these groups are a possible substitute or complement for formal financial services (banks) within low-income communities. Based on household data collected in Tanzania in 2013, this paper attempts, using two different estimations, a …

Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles For Sensitive And Selective Detection Of Palladium (Pd2+), Sichen Zhang

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Modeling Site Suitability Of Living Shoreline Design Options In Connecticut, Jason M. Zylberman

Master's Theses

Erosion is both a natural and anthropogenic phenomenon that threatens many properties along the coast. Installing hard structures has been the status quo method to protect waterfront property. However, structural barriers such as seawalls and groins have adverse environmental impacts on coastal processes and ecosystem services, such as food, recreation, and storm protection. Living shorelines are viable alternatives to shoreline armoring in low to moderate wave energy climates. Living shorelines are nature-based shoreline protection strategies which also enhance natural habitat and promote ecosystem services. In an attempt to improve coastal resilience in Connecticut, this study developed an automated geospatial model …

Effective Establishment Of Native Plant Communities Along New England Roadsides, John M. Campanelli

Master's Theses

The New England Transportation Consortium commissioned research to find the most effective methods for establishing native plant communities along New England roadsides and document these findings in a manual that would guide state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) efforts to transform their roadside revegetation management practices. These installations would replace the introduced cool-season turf grasses commonly used along highways, which require greater resource inputs and frequent mowing. State DOTs hope that, by transitioning to these more sustainable management practices, they can save on fuel costs, decrease machinery emissions, increase pollinator populations, adapt to changing climates, reduce erosion, and improve storm water …

Use Of The Heat Stress Score To Predict Preparedness To Run In An Outdoor, Warm Weather Race, Rachel K. Katch

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Environmentally Sustainable Practices At Small Community Sport Facilities, John Schumacher

Master's Theses

Despite the “greening” trend of professional/university sport organizations adopting more environmentally friendly approaches to the management of their sport facilities, a significant “greening gap” has grown between those organizations and the thousands of small community sport facilities (SCSFs) across the country that have yet been able to integrate environmentally sustainable (ES) policies into their operations and management.

As limited research existed in this area, I conducted a qualitative research investigation utilizing the framework of the diffusion of innovation theory to explore SCSF managers’ perceptions concerning the implementation of ES in the maintenance and operation of their facilities. I conducted interviews …

Reducing The Stem Gender Achievement Gap: Investigating Factors Influencing Female Students’ Major Choices, Shiyu Song

Master's Theses

Taking the first step to unveil female’s underrepresentation in STEM, this study adopts a mixed method design to explores possible factors that influence female college students’ choices to stay in or leave STEM. Undergraduates at University of Connecticut (N=386) completed an online questionnaire and female students who had either left (N=5) or were staying in STEM fields (N=7) were further selected to participate in the interview.

Results from the quantitative analysis showed that female students’ level of stigma consciousness is a significant predictor of their choice to stay in or leave STEM. Specifically, females who are more vulnerable to gender …

The Examination Of Medical Coverage, Emergency Policies And Procedures, And The Implementation Of Prevention Strategies Before And After Sudden Death In The Secondary School Setting, Joseph M. Olivadoti

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Time Loss, Injury Rates, And Factors Associated With Injury In Ncaa Division I Men’S Soccer, Andrea Fortuntati

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Internalized Stigma Among Hiv-Positive Men On Antiretroviral Therapy In Urban India, Mitchell L. Irving

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Differential Gene Expression In Trap-Positive Cells During Mouse Embryonic Skeletal Development, Melissa Carr-Reynolds

Master's Theses

The skeleton is formed via intramembranous ossification and endochondral ossification. Endochondral ossification, which is the focus of this research, is the process by which the long bones of the skeleton undergo chondrogenesis followed by osteogenesis. The objective of this project is to define the genetic profiles of two types of clastic cells in endochondral ossification: osteoclasts and chondroclasts, which are responsible for breaking down bone and calcified cartilage, respectively. The goal of this project is to validate the hypothesis that these two very similar cells types, which arise from a common precursor, are distinguished by a pattern of differentially expressed …

Prediction Of Internal Body Temperature Using Machine Learning Models, Luke N. Belval

Master's Theses

Context: The only validated methods for assessment of deep body temperature during exercise in the heat are invasive or logistically difficult to implement. Non-invasive prediction of deep body temperature has the potential to provide critical information to individuals who exercise in environmental extremes. Objective: To examine the use of machine learning methods for the prediction of deep body temperature using non-invasive measures. Setting: Research laboratory. Participants: Twenty-five recreationally active participants (mean±SD; male, n=19; female, n=6, age, 24±4 y; height, 177±10 cm; body mass, 75.94±12.45 kg; body fat, 15.31±6.55%). Interventions: We pooled data from two studies wherein participants walked and ran …

Physical Activity: Lack Of Mitigation Of Adverse Effect Of Pro-Inflammatory Diet, Aivi T. Doan

Master's Theses

BACKGROUND: To date, no studies have evaluated if moderate and/or vigorous PA physical activity (mv-PA) mitigates the adverse effect of a pro-inflammatory diet. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and constructed the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) score. Expenditure of mv-PA was obtained from two sources. Multivariate Logistic Regression was performed to calculate Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Participants with a DII score in the top quartile were 33% more likely to exhibit elevated CRP than persons with a DII score in the lowest quartile (referent). …

Physicians’ Perceived Roles In And Barriers To Identifying, Evaluating, And Managing Intimate Partner Violence, Adam F. Pennarola

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

A Retrospective Study Assessing The Predictive Performance Of A Lung Cancer Screening Risk Prediction Model In A Clinical Lung Cancer Screening Program, Andrea K. Borondy Kitts

Master's Theses

Background: United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recommendations for annual screening for lung cancer with low dose CT (LDCT) scans rely on age and smoking history to identify those at high risk for lung cancer. The Tammemagi et al. six year lung cancer risk prediction model, PLCOm2012, developed and validated in large lung cancer screening clinical trials, demonstrated good predictive performance in screening selection. However, the model has not been validated in clinical practice. Validating the model in clinical practice would increase confidence in its ability to provide information for shared …

Long-Term Feeding Ecology Of Early-Stage Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis) And American Shad (Alosa Sapidissima) In The Hudson River Estuary, Michael G. Smircich

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Hyperproliferation And Parathyroid Neoplasia Due To Genetic Variants, La Shondra A. Ellis

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Viewing Loneliness From An Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Perspective: Pilot Testing A New Loneliness Measure And Testing The Relation Of Loneliness To Adults' Remembrances Of Parental Acceptance And Rejection In Childhood, Alex D. Molaver

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

In Vitro Characterization Of Msh2-Msh6 And Mlh1-Pms2 Interactions, Nilse Lene G. Dos Santos

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Does The Shortened Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire Accurately Represent Physiological Adaptations Following A 10 Day Heat Acclimation Protocol And The Decay Thereafter?, Rachel Marie Vanscoy

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Modulating The Release Of Therapeutic Agents From Plga Coated Cancellous Allografts, Seth Malinowski

Master's Theses

Bone grafts are used in 2 million annual surgeries with that statistic expected to rise due to the increasing elderly population as well as sports related injuries. At a certain size bone fracture or defect, the body is unable to heal spontaneously, and a bone graft must be implanted into the defect site. Allografts are used as bone grafts due to their availability and elimination of donor site morbidity, however they show poor bioactivity and bone regeneration. This study utilizes a degradable poly(lactic-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer coating applied to cancellous allografts, loaded with a variety of therapeutic agents aimed to improve …

Increasing Sleep Duration In Collegiate Athletes: A Behavioral Intervention Involving Sleep Education, Self-Tracking, Goal Setting, And Self-Reinforcement, Leslie Greer

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a behavioral intervention on sleep duration in a group of Division I student athletes from a women's rowing team. This participant pool was specifically selected because they have early morning practice due to several scheduling constraints, which can make adequate sleep duration more difficult to obtain. Further, the participants in this pool were selected because they had the lowest previous nights sleep and perceived average sleep duration, and therefore in most need of this type of intervention. A multiple baseline design was used to determine if a functional relationship …

Changes In Power And Movement Strategy Over One Athletic Season, Alison C. O'Connor

Master's Theses

Context: Female collegiate soccer athletes sustain injuries at a concerning rate, often with severe short and long-term consequences. Identifying changes in movement control and power that inherently occur over an athletic season may improve our ability to predict and ultimately prevent injury. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate movement control and power over the course of an athletic season in female collegiate soccer athletes. Design: Repeated measures Setting: Field Study Participants: 25 female athletes (age: 20±1years, mass: 66.5 ±6.6kg, height: 1.7±0.1m) Intervention(s): None Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants performed jump-landing and vertical jump (VJ) tasks …

Assessing Factors Related To Clinicians’ Attitudes Towards Suicide Prevention, Amanda L. Johnson

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.