Digital Commons Network^™

The Efficacy Of Exercise Interventions On Cancer-Related Fatigue And Depression Among Adult Cancer Survivors: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Control Trials, Justin C. Brown

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Emergency Medical Technicians Practice And Beliefs Regarding The Recognition And Treatment Of Exertional Heat Stroke, Kristin Applegate

Master's Theses

Context: Current Evidence Based Practice (EBP) supports the use of rectal thermometry (T_re) for an accurate diagnosis and cold water-immersion (CWI) for the treatment of Exertional Heat Stroke (EHS) for an optimal outcome. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) play a critical role for the diagnosis and treatment of EHS as they may be the first to arrive on scene, however there is limited data regarding their implementation of EBP.  Objective: Investigate current practice regarding EHS by EMS professionals and explore the relationship that exists between EMS and Athletic Trainers (ATs).  Design: A basic qualitative design using in-person focus groups. …

A Comparative Study Of Total Hemoglobin Measurement Technology: Noninvasive Pulse Co-Oximetry And Conventional Methods, Jared S. Ruckman

Master's Theses

Hemoglobin can be measured on a variety of devices using different principles of operation. Noninvasive pulse CO-oximetry represents the latest development in hemoglobin measuring technology. The technology uses principles similar to pulse oximetry to measure total hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, reduced oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin. Similar to the introduction of pulse oximetry to the medical field, pulse CO-oximetry has been met with skepticism. Since the technology is noninvasive and provides continuous monitoring in comparison to invasive and discrete techniques used in other methods, CO-oximetry purportedly provides an advantage in patient care. The purpose of this research is threefold: (a) to review the …

Distance Judgments For Joint Action: The Perceptual Consequences Of Anticipated Coordination, Benjamin R. Meagher

Master's Theses

Recent perception research has revealed that judgments of distance are influenced by the energetic cost required to perform particular actions, such as walking, across these distances (Proffitt, 2006b). However, this prior research has focused almost exclusively on the perceptual consequences of solo action, despite the fact that individuals regularly become embedded within social units for the purpose of joint action (Richardson, Marsh, & Schmidt, 2005). In two experiments, the current work sought to test the hypothesis that forming a social unit creates a new perception-action system with distinct perceptual attunement of the environment scaled to the unit’s action-potential. Participants, accompanied …

Prevalence Risk For Engaging In Unhealthy Behaviors In Connecticut Adolescents Experiencing Inadequate Sleep Or Low Parental Support, Celeste F. Jorge

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Healthcare Needs Of Patients In Rural Kaduna, Nigeria, Jaime Stevens

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Motion Analysis Technology As An Alternative Means Of Assessing Spinal Deformity In Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Matthew J. Solomito

Master's Theses

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a three dimensional deformity of the spine that causes abnormal curvatures in the coronal and sagittal planes and abnormal vertebral rotations. The gold standard for diagnosing and tracking the progression of the deformity is through the use of repeated radiography and a patient can receive upwards of fifteen radiographic series over the course of treatment, which exposes this population to an increased risk of radiation-dependent complications.

This thesis presents the necessary calculations and the marker set required to make the motion capture technology a viable alternative to radiographs, in an effort to reduce the patient’s …

The Effect Of Test Revision: Comparing The Performance Of Preschool Children With Sli And Typical Controls On The Ppvt-Iii And The Ppvt-Iv, Sabrina E. Jara

Master's Theses

Purpose: This study compared the performance of preschool children with SLI and controls on the PPVT-III and PPVT-IV to determine the effect of test revision on identification of language impairment.

Method: Twenty preschool children with SLI and 20 typically developing controls served as the exploratory group. The confirmatory group consisted of 5 children with SLI and 20 controls. Children were administered both test versions in counterbalanced order.

Results: As expected, children with SLI performed significantly worse than their TD peers on both test versions. The discriminate analyses identified an optimal cut-off of 103 for both tests. Using this cut-off, sensitivity …

Augmented Verbal Feedback And Its Effect On Power Output During A Counter-Movement Vertical Jump Protocol With Division 1 Collegiate Athletes, Joseph Staub

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Design Of A Pragmatic Test Lab For Evaluating And Testing Wireless Medical Devices For Deployment On An Integrated It Wireless Network, Allie Paquette

Master's Theses

In today’s healthcare environment, networking of medical devices is becoming more and more prevalent. There is an increasing need for mobile technology to meet clinical needs. Wireless communication is essential for allowing medical devices to be able to move with the patient, while continuing to record and communicate patient data. A traditional example is telemetry monitoring, but other examples of wireless utilization include sending ECG test results to the EMR or remotely updating the drug library on numerous IV pumps. Each wireless application has varying demands on the connectivity infrastructure and will share radio frequency (RF) spectrum resources with a …

Characterization And Implementation Of Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound As A Tool To Apply Physical Load To Scaffolds And Bone Cells For Fracture Repair, Scott Frazee

Master's Theses

One current challenge in treating bone fractures is the effective treatment of non-unions and delayed unions. Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) has been approved by the FDA to treat fresh fractures since 1994 and non-unions since 2000 and is an attractive treatment option because it is non-invasive. The mechanism by which it works, however, is not well understood; what is known is largely confined to the resultant changes in chemical output of cells. In this thesis several concepts and techniques were brought together to investigate the following hypothesis: LIPUS produces a measurable physical load that results in measurable deformation and …

Bitewing Radiographic Evaluation Of Interproximal Carious Lesions On Permanent First Molars In 6 And 12 Year-Olds In The Public Health System Of Chile, Rodrigo Alejandro Haristoy Dr.

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Examining Influences On Undergraduate Athletic Training Students Career Decisions Post Graduation, Kerri E. Gavin

Master's Theses

Context: Career opportunities for athletic training students (ATSs) have significantly increased over the past few years. However, it commonly appears that ATSs are opting for a more diversified professional experience after graduation. With the diversity in available options, an understanding of career decision is imperative. Objective: The purpose of our study was to investigate, using the theoretical framework of socialization, the influential factors behind the post graduation decisions of the senior ATS. Design: Qualitative design using internet-based, structured interviews and follow-up semi-structured phone interviews. Setting: Web-based management system. Patients or Other Participants: 22 ATSs (16 females; 6 males), who graduated …

Comparison Of An Ultrasonic And A Non-Ultrasonic Endodontic Irrigation Protocol: A Clinical Study, Christopher M. Beus

Master's Theses

The use of irrigation as a method of rendering canals bacteria free continues to be a source of investigation. Recent data suggests that an activated irrigation protocol such as passive ultrasonic irrigation can result in decreased intracanal bacteria. In addition, studies have shown that the activation of various irrigants such as NaOCl and Chlorhexidine can increase the sum antimicrobial effect. The purpose of this randomized, double blinded, prospective in-vivo clinical study was to compare the results of a non-activated irrigation protocol (NAI) using only NaOCl 1.5% to a passive ultrasonic irrigation protocol (PUI) using NaOCl 1.5%, EDTA 17% and Chlorhexidine …

Individual & Combined Effects Of Hyperthermia, Dehydration & Fatigue Balance, Megan M. Vansumeren

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Individual and Combined Effects of Hyperthermia, Dehydration and Fatigue on Balance. Megan M. VanSumeren, University of Connecticut

Purpose: The purpose of this controlled, randomized laboratory study was to determine the effect of hyperthermia, dehydration and fatigue as both combined and individual factors on balance performance as tested with three separate balance assessment tools.

Methods: 12 healthy male subjects (20±2 yrs old, 181.83±7.53cm , 74.09±8.43kg) completed four trials in a randomized order. The four trials were Normothermic, Hydrated (HyN), Normothermic Dehydrated (DehyN), Hyperthermic, Hydrated (HyHot), and Hyperthermic, Dehydrated (DehyHot). Balance was assessed using three tests; static stance, clinical tool Balance …

The Effect Of Betaine Supplementation On Performance And Muscle Mechanisms, Jenna M. Apicella

Master's Theses

Background: Recent research has shown that betaine supplementation can increase strength and power performance. To further investigate the ergogenic effects of betaine supplementation a balanced, randomized, double-blind, repeated measures crossover study was designed to examine select hormonal and muscle signaling responses during supplementation.

Methods: Twelve recreationally active men (age, 19.7 ± 1.23 years; height, 172.6 ± 5.61 cm; weight, 84.27 ± 15.3 kg; body fat, 18.7 ± 7.0%; BMI, 28.2 ± 4.0) with a minimum of 3 months of resistance training including back squat and bench press participated in the study. A within crossover design was utilized and subjects were …

Correlations Between Body Composition Components And Bone Mineral Content In Untrained Young Men And Women, Erin L. Burtner

Master's Theses

PURPOSE: Low bone mineral content has been linked to the development of osteoporosis in humans. Research is divided as to whether fat or lean mass plays a more significant role in the development of bone mass. Physical activity has also been shown to increase bone mineral content in adolescents and combat the loss of bone density with aging. The purpose of this study was to examine correlations that exist between bone mineral content and anthropometric and performance measurements in untrained young men and women. METHODS: 78 untrained males (age 22.3±3.7) and 56 females (age 22.8±3.7) completed a battery of baseline …

Frequency Of Injuries With Periodized Resistance Training In Young Untrained Men And Women, Sarah A. Neuschwander

Master's Theses

64 men and women completed a 32 week periodized training program designed to improve lean body mass, muscle size and strength. 37 men, average age 23.6 years (SD ±3.2), height 176.68 cm (SD±6.2), weight 78.9 kg (SD±15.1) and 27 women, average age 22.7 years (SD ±3.4), height 163.9 cm (SD±6.7) weight 64.8 kg (SD±12.4) resistance trained 3 times a week with NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist, performing a series of planned total body workouts. Injuries were documented in the subjects personalized workout log by the trainers. The injury definition included any complaint of perceived pain in which the subject …

Modulation Of Hypoglossal Motoneurons By Nitric Oxide, Justin Philip Benoit

Master's Theses

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)- the occurrence of repetitive episodes of airway obstruction during sleep- is considered a major health problem affecting up to 9% of adults in the United States (Parish & Somers, 2004). The hypoglossal motor nucleus (HMN) controls genioglossus muscle tone and is critically important for maintaining airway patency; loss of excitatory input to the HMN during sleep results in disfacilitation of hypoglossal motoneurons, increased airway resistance and contributes to the development of OSA (Horner R. L., 2007). However, a fundamental question of sleep medicine that remains unresolved is what mechanisms help maintain airway patency during sleep? A …

Towards The Synthesis Of Alpha-Aminogalactosylceramides, Shaun C. Christian

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Predictors In Strength Gains In Untrained Men Over 9 Months Of Training, William B. Haug

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Energy Harvesting From Elliptical Machines Using Four-Switch Buck-Boost Topology, Alvin Jay Hilario

Master's Theses

This thesis presents the topic of using the Four-Switch Buck-Boost topology as a DC-DC converter for the Energy Harvesting from Elliptical Machines Project. The project works toward providing a modular synchronous power generation system. Due to the dynamic and sporadic output voltage and power characteristics of the Precor elliptical machine, the system requires a DC-DC converter as a voltage preregulator. The inherent wide input range, high efficiency, and low parts cost of this converter well suit the application. This paper further discusses other topologies and their shortcomings, as well as characterizes the Precor elliptical machine and Enphase Microinverter for interfacing. …

Sustainability And The Future: A Case Study On Environmental Perspectives Of The Future Generation Of Scientists, Abby Jane Davidson

Master's Theses

In the natural sciences, countless studies have sought to quantify the environmental impacts of varying anthropogenic activities and have predicted and modeled future scenarios for the natural world under the siege of human forces. Faith for the study of and action to ameliorate environmental impacts is often put in the hands of scientists. However, little research has been conducted to look at the attitudes and perceptions future scientists have towards the environment with regard to anthropogenic environmental impacts, sustainability, and the future. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to take an intensive look at one such group …

Parental Struggles With Obtaining Services For Children With Special Needs, Regina Lynn Carr

Master's Theses

This thesis is an in-depth review of the literature addressing parental struggles, attitudes, and perceptions of barriers in obtaining services for young children with special needs. Researchers, policy makers, and educators need to be aware of how families identify and report their experiences with obtaining services for their young children. Service providers for young children and families with special needs must understand the perspective of the family in order to better serve the children and families. Implementations for future research, practice, and policy changes are discussed.

The Effect Of The Chemical Composition Of Low Salinity Water On The Growth, Development, And Survival Of Cultured Juvenile Blue Crabs, Dyan Patricia Gibson

Master's Theses

Cultured juvenile blue crabs ( Callinectes sapidus Rathbun) were held for up to 77 days and monitored for survival, growth and development in low salinity water containing various compositions of ions. ~rabs were isolated in separate containers and placed in thirty gallon aquaria containing 2ppt of ion solution. Temperature, ambient, humidity, and nitrite levels were monitored daily. Molts were measured to determine growth, and molt increments were recorded to determine rate of development. The first part of the study compared ratios of sodium chloride (NaCl) to commercial sea salt (SS) in five treatments: 100% NaCl, 100% SS, 25:75 NaCl/SS, 50:50 …

The Role Of Hardiness In Moderating Parenting Stress In Iraq And Afghanistan War Veterans, Victoria Jane Tomassetti-Long

Master's Theses

There is a link between parenting stress and negative child outcomes. Research has focused on a number of risk and protective factors that may influence parental practices and child behavior. Parental trauma has been identified as a risk factor for increased parental stress. Previous research has demonstrated a link between combat exposure and parenting stress in veterans of war. Hardiness, a personality variable that describes an individual's sense of commitment, control, and challenge in light of life stress, has been identified as a protective factor that buffers against the development of psychological symptoms in combat veterans. The current study assessed …

The New Frontier: An Analysis Of Effective New Media Political Communications And Campaigning, Kaitlin Ann Mueller

Master's Theses

Objectives: In the age of new media communication, politics has taken a swift turn as the Internet lends itself to quicker and less expensive contact. Politicians in all realms have adopted its communicative aspects in many forms as a means of promoting themselves and staying in contact with their constituents. What causes politicians to be more "connected" than others? And secondly, does that "connectivity" lead to successful elections? In this analysis, we will discuss what contributes to a United States Senator's connectivity, and if his or her heightened connectivity led to a higher probability of winning elections. Units of analysis: …

Investigating Mechanisms Of Co-Occurrence Between Two Similar Specis Of Predaceous Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) In Temporary Aquatic Habitats, Kristopher Alexander Pitcher

Master's Theses

Predaceous diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) are a model group of organisms for testing coexistence and exclusion mechanisms because numerous species of the family interact in isolated, aquatic habitats, and are ubiquitous throughout landscapes. Two morphologically similar species, laccophilus fasciatus rufus and Laccophilus proximus, co-occur in numerous habitats in South Mississippi, but are hypothesized to have strong interspecific interactions. I investigated several possible mechanisms that may promote such coexistence, including segregation in habitat domain, differences in behavior, and differences in dispersal that may allow co-occurrence between these two species of beetle. Habitat domain and behaviors such as activity and prey consumption …

Sex Role Egalitarianism And Relational Aggression In Intimate Partnerships, Emily Elizabeth Prather

Master's Theses

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious problem with vast medical, psychological, financial, and social costs. Research indicates that IPV is particularly common among college students, however, little is known about relational aggression in this population. This study aimed to improve our understanding of relational aggression in the context of romantic relationships in a college sample by focusing on the potential roles of gender, sex role egalitarianism, acceptance of couple violence, and trait anger. As expected, trait anger was positively correlated with relational aggression. Acceptance of couple violence predicted the perpetration of relational aggression above and beyond the effects of …

Discovery And Molecular Characterization Of Selenoprotein M In The Salivary Glands Of Amblyomma Maculatum, The Gulf Coast Tick, Parul Singh

Master's Theses

The Gulfcoast ticks transmit disease-causing pathogens to humans and animals. Rickettsia parkeri is notable among the pathogens transmitted by A. maculatum to humans. Heavy infestations of A. maculatum on animal ears cause them to become thickened and curled, a condition commonly called "gotch ear." The tick's multifunctional salivary glands are vital to their biological success and likely also play a critical role in transmission of disease; tick saliva contains a broad array of secretory products that facilitate prolonged tick attachment and feeding; disrupting tick blood feeding or inactivating key tick salivary proteins presents a novel strategy for tick-borne disease prevention. …