Digital Commons Network^™

Gerontoludic Character Design: Creating Engaging Player Characters For Older Adults, Robin Noelle Koman

Theses

In this thesis, findings of research in gerontoludic character design, in other words the design of game player characters focused upon the needs, wants, and expectations of older adults, are delivered. To support these findings, there is a review of qualitative and quantitative literature on ageism, including the impact of aging stereotypes and assumptions upon technology driven industries such as the game industry. This exploration of the roots of ageism includes an examination of how ageism affects the frequency and nature of older adult characters, both playable and non-playable, found in video games. Part of the justification of this topic …

Web For All – An Accessibility Website, Kirsten Hawkes

Theses

This project focuses on how to improve awareness and implementation of web accessibility. The primary focus of the webforall.tech website is to provide a guide of best practices for web accessibility and a list of resources. The aim of the project is to create a website that provides UX designers and developers with the tools to design with accessibility in mind. Furthermore, the project involves testing the website with a survey and usability testing sessions to inform the updates and improvements implemented.

Art Curriculum Lesson Plan: Horace Pippin’S World War I Journal, Tracie Dana Sykes

Theses

This report contains a detailed curriculum plan for a ninety-minute, eleventh grade Art class. The purpose is to provide the students with a thorough study of Horace Pippin’s World War I journal, while implementing two assignments to test their understanding of the areas which will be emphasized in the lesson. The students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of Pippin’s War journal by presenting a detailed slideshow about the artist and his journal. The students' foundational knowledge of Naive art will be recognized through the creation of his/her unique piece of art which will implement the mannerisms of Naive …

The Effects Of Therapeutic Arts On Black Mental Health, Alicia Newsome

Theses

This project focuses on black mental health that encompasses mental wellness education through social media and builds community connection by sharing stories. It reduces social exclusion and creates positive change in black communities. The final deliverable will be a short video poem compilation via YouTube that gives insight into what it is like living with depression and anxiety. It will include motion graphics, photo manipulation, and graphic art covers titled Misconceptions, Beautiful Temptations, Relentless, and Old Abuse. It is about implementing healthy coping mechanisms and bringing together a community that is often overlooked and/or stigmatized regarding mental health. It enhances …

Pretreatment Optimization For Ceramic Microfiltration With Ozonation And Coagulation For The Reuse Of Wastewater Effluent, Nicola Elardo

Master's Theses and Capstones

Ceramic microfiltration (CMF) is a promising alternative to traditional polymeric microfiltration and its chemical resistance makes it particularly attractive for sustainable water reuse applications. This research investigated the ability of ozonation and coagulation as pretreatments to improve the performance of ceramic microfiltration using HHNK’s WWTP in Wervershoof, The Netherlands. With a CMF pilot plant design flow of 200 L/h, critical flux tests were completed using ozonation individually and with coagulation sequentially to evaluate the ceramic membrane filtration performance. Results showed that with an ozone residual before the ceramic membrane, the performance increased significantly compared to no pretreatment and without an …

The Effect Of Harvest Maturity On 'Geneva 3' Kiwiberry Storability, Ripening Dynamics, And Fruit Quality, Aislinn Mumford

Master's Theses and Capstones

Maturity at harvest is an important determinant of fruit quality in kiwiberry [Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq.,], a climacteric fruit that is harvested after reaching physiological maturity but not yet ready-to-eat ripeness. Although the recommended cultivar for commercial kiwiberry producers in the northeast United States is ‘Geneva 3’, no published research exists regarding recommended harvest and postharvest practices for that variety. In this study, conducted across two seasons, ‘Geneva 3’ kiwiberries were harvested at a range of mean maturities (6.5, 8.0, and 10.0 °Brix), held in cold storage (CS, 0-1 °C, >90% relative humidity) for various durations …

Food Insecurity Among Students In Alabama's Black Belt, Brandon Craig Renfroe

College of Education

Food insecurity is a multifaceted problem. Though it involves lack of access to sufficient nutrition for an active, healthy life, it frequently portends more. Food insecurity negatively impacts academic performance, mental and physical health, and social/emotional well-being. It is particularly detrimental for rural adolescent students, who experience food insecurity at higher rates than their urban and suburban peers. Especially is this true for minority students, whose food insecurity rates are more than twice the national average. In the Black Belt region of Alabama, levels of food insecurity among high school adolescents, as perceived by those adolescents ( as opposed to …

Black Female Higher Education Administrators: A Perspective On The Influence Of Microaggression On Work Engagement, Renee Ojo-Ohikuare

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of gender and racial microaggressions and how those experiences impact work engagement from the perspective of the Black woman higher education administrator. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 Black women with current professional mid- or senior-level administrative positions in higher education institutions who had personal experiences of microaggression in the workplace and its impact on work engagement. A phenomenological methodology was used to reveal the lived experiences of these women. The results of the analysis uncovered six themes that described the experiences of microaggressions, the stereotypes of Black women, impacts …

Implementation Of A Self-Management Program For Hispanic Patients With Chronic Non-Cancer Pain, Genesis M. Ladinez Velez

DNP Projects

Background: Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a major public health issue that affects over 100 million Americans. From January 2019 to September 2021, the number patients seen at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) was 41, 974 of these 40.12% were Hispanic. Of the total patient population at this FQHC, 904 patients had preexisting opioids prescriptions for CNCP. The Hispanic population represents 41.15% of the preexisting prescriptions. Nonopioid alternatives to manage CNCP have been shown to decrease pain and improve functioning similarly to opioids.

Purpose: To implement a CNCP SMP at a FQHC in the Northeast. This quality improvement …

The Effect Of Object Contact On Pre-Reaching Infants' Causal Perception., Mallory L. Thompson

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

The Sticky Mittens (SM) paradigm is an object manipulation task that provides infants the opportunity to explore objects through active experience before they have the necessary motor skills to do so on their own. Positive cognitive outcomes like increased attention to objects, object engagement, object exploration, and causal perception have been shown to result from active SM experience (Libertus & Needham, 2010; Rakison & Krogh, 2012). Researchers are interested in understanding which aspects of SM training are important for infant learning. Although there have been many SM studies looking at different variables, such as active vs. passive experience and parent …

Examining Body Trust And Body Listening In Sexual And Gender Minorities., Emma G. Roberts

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Introduction: Minority stress theory posits that sexual and gender minority individuals (SGM) may be at higher risk for poor mental health outcomes due to unique social experiences of stigma and discrimination. Interoception (i.e., awareness of one’s body and bodily sensations; Mehling et al., 2012) is a factor that has been linked to mental health broadly, however, SGM individuals may experience interoceptive awareness differently than cisgender and heterosexual individuals given experiences of stigma. In this paper, we aim to examine how two specific facets of interoceptive awareness (body listening and body trusting) relate to differences in mental health outcomes among SGM …

Exercise Dependence, Affect, And Eating Disorder Symptoms After Treatment Discharge., Samantha M. Minrath

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Eating disorders (EDs) have been proven to be life-threatening, yet these disorders are still prominent in Western society. The current study focuses on exercise dependence, negative affect, positive affect, and ED symptoms in individuals discharged from ED treatment. While ED recovery varies at the individual level, exercise dependence and affect are particularly important to analyze due to the complex and interconnected relationships with each other and ED symptoms. For example, routine exercise can be used to lessen negative affect, but exercise dependence can lead to an increase in negative affect. As patients in recovery begin to add exercise back into …

Linguistic And Cultural Training For Immigration Attorneys Representing Undocumented Oaxacan Immigrants In The United States., Alexis Faith Ecarma

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

The roles of second language acquisition and cultural competence in the training of attorneys have been explored by legal scholars and law professors. Some suggest that such training ought to be administered to law students as a component of their law school curricula. Others argue that, in an increasingly globalized legal field, “experiential learning” is essential for developing linguistically-proficient and culturally-competent lawyers. Despite the growing presence of undocumented Oaxacan immigrants in the U.S., scholars have yet to investigate the linguistic and cultural training of U.S. immigration attorneys who represent these immigrants in legal contexts. The following research fills this gap …

Eco-Friendly Yet Unsustainable: The Impact Of Eco-Tourism On The Sustainable Development Of Martha's Vineyard., Delaney Henson

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

This thesis examines the ecotourism industry on Martha’s Vineyard to determine its impact on the sustainable development of the Massachusetts island. As the tourism industry continues to grow, so to will tourism’s carbon footprint. With increasing awareness of current and future carbon emission problems, tourism businesses are increasingly shifting to a more environmentally conscious approach known as ecotourism. The island of Martha’s Vineyard has championed ecotourism efforts to boost its economy while combatting environmental issues. Yet tourism can also have a negative impact on local communities and the environment. This case analysis of Martha’s Vineyard reveals that the industry has …

Resilient Or Vulnerable? The Geography Of Crime And Its Impact On Mental Health In Urban Communities, Qian He

Public Affairs Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation examines the relationship between neighborhood characteristics, crime, and mental health, with an emphasis on the role of social disadvantage. Using 5-year panel data from Dallas- Fort Worth metroplex, Texas, and a Spatial Econometric research approach, the findings of this study provide suggestions for building safe and healthy communities. Building upon the interdisciplinary literature on urban planning, environmental criminology, and public health, this study first identifies the impact of environmental factors on property crime, then detects the moderating effects of neighborhood environment upon crime’s impact on mental health status. This study finds that commercial and mixed land-use development, number …

The Nutritional Management And Glycemic Control In Adolescents With Diabetes, Jennifer Durham

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this literature review is to explore the relationship of nutritional management on glycemic control amongst adolescents who have diabetes. The adolescent population has significant negative or positive peer influence on the management of their diabetes (Yang, 2018, p.104). These peer perceptions can include empathy, curiosity, knowledge seeking, enthusiasm, fearfulness, and bullying (Yang, 2018, p.104). These influences directly affect nutritional management, blood glucose levels, and insulin management. When the peer influence is negative the individual is less inclined to acknowledge their medical condition (Yang, 2018, p.105). Other influences on the management of diabetes include technology, physical exercise, and …

Tiny Tusks Internship: Barriers To Breastfeeding Surrounding Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Brianna Purser, Quinn Owen

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

It is known that breastfeeding is beneficial to mothers and their children, and it is recommended that mothers exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of their infant's life. Despite this, in the United States only 1 in 4 infants is exclusively breastfed for the first six months. After being an intern for Tiny Tusks Breastfeeding and Infant Support, a program designed to facilitate and educate about breastfeeding, we have seen firsthand the barriers to breastfeeding. The goal of this literature review was to investigate barriers to breastfeeding specifically surrounding neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and how to address those …

Fate And Transport Of Toxoplasma Gondii Oocysts In Saturated Porous Media: Effects Of Electrolytes And Natural Organic Matter, Christian Pullano

All Theses

Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogenic microorganism that is currently a threat to public health. Understanding the fate and transport of T. gondii through the soil and groundwater is vital in determining the risk it poses to water resources and human health. The physico-chemical interactions between the groundwater and the bio colloid within an aquifer will dictate its mobility and its ability to infect humans. This research examines how various naturally occurring groundwater chemistries containing organic compounds and monovalent and divalent salt solutions will alter the fate and transport of T. gondii. Solutions containing various concentrations of humic acid, fulvic …

Toward Sustainable Urban Food Production: Integrating Hydroponic Cultivation With Wastewater Reuse, Amanda Tan

All Theses

The growing crisis of freshwater scarcity together with the increasing global food demand directs attention to the need for alternative water sources for agriculture. The research presented here engages this need by carrying out indoor cultivation of food crops in Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic systems using residential wastewater. Randomized single factor experimental designs were used to investigate the physiochemical and microbiological makeup of the hydroponic nutrient solution throughout the cultivation cycle and their relationship with different plant development parameters.

For agricultural wastewater reuse to be of low risk to human health there must be some advancement in pathogen monitoring …

Cladding By Another Name: A Comparative Analysis Of The Environmental And Economic Costs Of Traditional Wood Clapboards, Composite Fiber-Cement Siding, And Vinyl Siding, Nicole Larochelle

All Theses

Using the tools provides by the scientific community, namely the products of lifecycle cost assessments (LCA) – which are synthesized in environmental product declarations (EPD) – and life cycle cost assessments (LCCA), the overall environmental and economic impacts of historic, traditional, and simulated materials are established and compared. This informs the historic preservation community of the quantifiable sustainability of historic materials in relation to alternatives. Through these two different methods of environmental and economic life cycle costing, this research demonstrates that retaining in-situ siding incurs the least impact on the environment and is the second most economic option. While the …

Annexation For Good: An Equity Approach For Social And Environmental Justice With Municipal Annexation, Russell H. Stall

All Theses

Municipal annexation is a powerful tool for improving communities. United States cities historically use municipal annexation to increase tax revenues, grow populations, and increase land areas. However, attitudes about annexation are changing, and there is emerging interest in broadening annexation practices to advance a broader range of social and environmental benefits. For example, annexation can be used to improve blighted areas, control overdevelopment, protect environmentally sensitive areas and open spaces, and improve the lives of residents. It is not clear if cities support using annexation in this way, and if so, when those uses are possible.

Despite restrictive laws and …

Innovations In Supervision Reducing Violence And Recidivism Through Vrp Aftercare And Cbi Open Groups, Jennifer Miller, Ryan E. Spohn, Michael Campagna

Reports

Nebraska Division of Parole Supervision has created a violence-reduction (VRP) aftercare program and a CBI intervention which maintains an open group structure to effectively reduce the recidivism rate of high-risk parole clients, particularly those who have been identified as likely to reoffend violently and those who have previously failed on community supervision. Long-term goals are to ensure 1) the highest risk parole clients receive a higher dosage of evidence-based interventions, 2) the reduced use of parole sanctions and revocations and 3) a reduced overall recidivism rate for parole clients. The ‘open’ nature of the programs (i.e., clients can begin at …

Erythrocyte Deformability In Response To Glucose Using Liquid Crystals, Jayden Goff

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The worldwide prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing with about 9.3% of the adult population living with the disease. People with diabetes have trouble regulating their blood glucose levels which typically leads to hyperglycemia. Under normal physiological conditions, erythrocytes can undergo deformations in response to shear stress when passing through capillaries with a smaller diameter. Poorly managed hyperglycemia can lead to the glycosylation of erythrocyte membrane proteins and hemoglobin. This glycosylation leads to increased rigidity of the cells along with decreased deformability in response to mechanical stress; therefore, these cells have a higher susceptibility of getting stuck in the …

Increasing Patient Satisfaction Of Post-Cesarean Mothers: An Evidence-Based Practice Quality Improvement Project, Amanda Jones

DNP Projects

Introduction: The first hour after delivery, referred to as the “Golden Hour” or “Sacred Hour,” is when the mom, baby, and the support person get 1-hour of uninterrupted bonding time together. This time is critical because it promotes neonatal thermoregulation, decreases newborn stress levels, improves mother–newborn attachment, and encourages breastfeeding. Unfortunately, most cesarean births do not receive the Golden Hour and instead experience delayed bonding time.

Purpose: The purpose of this Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) project was to incorporate the Golden Hour for post-cesarean section mothers in a mid-sized community-based hospital in XXX, CT in order to increase patient satisfaction post-c-section; …

Implementation Of 3-Minute Diabetic Foot Exam For At Risk Diabetic Patients In Urban Primary Care Setting, Suzana Alvarez

DNP Projects

Background: Healthcare providers manage chronic health concerns by reducing the risk of diabetic complications among their patient population. In 2017, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and Connecticut. In Connecticut, there are 19,500 newly diagnosed diabetics and four Connecticut cities have higher occurrence of diabetes: Waterbury, New Britain, Hartford, and Bridgeport. Bridgeport Primary Care (BPC) had no policy or procedure in place to require the providers to complete a routine diabetic foot exam. The aim of this project was to promote and implement a tool to assist the BPC providers in evaluating adult …

Decreasing Time To Antibiotic Administration In Febrile Neutropenic Adult Oncology Patients In The Emergency Department: An Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Project, Kristin Murray

DNP Projects

Introduction—Significance and Background: Febrile Neutropenia (FN) is the most common and serious complication of hematopoietic cancers and in patients receiving chemotherapy. Patients in this immunocompromised state have weakened immunity to fight off infection and a mortality rate of almost 10%. Thus, Infectious Diseases Society of America has identified the single most important determining factor of outcomes is the timing of antibiotic (TTA) administration and has identified the gold standard to be 60 minutes. Current practice does not follow guidelines and the current policy does not address the urgency of antibiotic administration.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to improve …

Nosocomial Antibiotic-Associated Clostridium Difficile Infections: An Organizational Assessment, Allison Bruce, Paxton Schwaderer

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) are toxigenic, spore-forming bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of healthy individuals without harm to the host due to the protection offered by the natural intestinal flora. Antibiotics can disrupt the intestinal flora and create an environment within the GI tract that promotes the infectious growth of C. difficile. C. difficile infections (CDIs) are the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, are highly contagious, and can result in an increased risk of morbidities and mortality to individuals affected. Recent studies and literature reviews identified the use of probiotic therapy in patients receiving …

Sedation Assessment And Management In The Intensive Care Unit, Kimberly Dyer, Courtney Garvey

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Nursing management of sedation medications in critical care patients is a complex responsibility, and studies have shown that proper use of sedation protocols can lead to improved patient outcomes. A knowledge gap among critical care nurses in the performance of Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) assessments was identified within a critical care unit during the 2019 annual skills day. Inaccurate RASS assessments may lead to inaccurate sedation management according to the current unit protocol and evidence from the literature, and therefore may impact patient outcomes. This project aims to improve a clinical practice within an intensive care unit. The objective …

Nonlinear Optical Microscopy Assessment Of Tissue Structure And Chondrocyte Viability Of Articular Cartilage, Michael Le

All Theses

Articular cartilage functions to protect the ends of bones by providing a surface that can withstand compressive forces and minimize friction during movement. Collagen fibers form the organizational backbone of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cartilage. Proteoglycans within the ECM function to retain water and provide the tissue with the swelling pressure needed to withstand compressional forces. Chondrocytes, the only type of cell found in articular cartilage, produces these collagen fibers and proteoglycans to maintain the tissue structure and function. Significant injuries to articular cartilage can damage the chondrocytes and disrupt their ability to maintain homeostasis in the tissue. Therefore, …

Oh, The Place You’Ll Go: The Effects Of Commuting Time On Work, Family, And Health Related Outcomes, Lauren Kistler

All Theses

People spend a majority of their lives working and commuting is an essential part of most workers’ daily schedule. According to the 2017 American Community Survey distributed by the U.S. Census Bureau, the average commute for Americans is approximately 27 minutes. Time spent commuting has increased in recent decades (Denstadli et al., 2017; Gimenez-Nadal & Molina, 2019; Hoehner et al., 2012; Künn‐Nelen, 2016). Commuting to work is often a source of stress for workers, and its detrimental impacts are a rising public health issue as well as an area of concern for occupational health psychologists. Commuting is not considered a …