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Exploring Occupational Therapists' Approach To Treating Children With Autism In The School Setting, Melissa Brauner Mar 2018

Exploring Occupational Therapists' Approach To Treating Children With Autism In The School Setting, Melissa Brauner

Honors Theses

Autism spectrum disorder is one of the fastest growing developmental disabilities, affecting more than 3.5 million Americans. In order to ensure that the autism population receives the highest quality of care, it is extremely important that health professionals be equipped with the knowledge to care for individuals with the disorder in an effective manner. Occupational therapists play an important role in assisting people on the autism spectrum. For many children with autism, occupational therapy services are primarily received in the school setting. This study explores occupational therapists’ approach to managing the treatment of children on the autism spectrum in the …


Ethical Issues Of Parental Vaccine Hesitancy And Resistance To The Mmr Vaccine, Harlie Silver Jun 2017

Ethical Issues Of Parental Vaccine Hesitancy And Resistance To The Mmr Vaccine, Harlie Silver

Honors Theses

In this thesis I present a brief history of vaccination, the anti-­vaccine movement, the measles virus, and the associated risks to children and adults. I then discuss the factors contributing to parental vaccine hesitancy and resistance, consider issues of under-vaccination, herd immunity, and the underlying ethical issues. Finally, I address exemptions to school-­required immunizations and argue for the elimination of both philosophical and religious exemptions, while examining parental moral responsibility when it comes to the health and safety of one’s own children and those with whom they may come in contact.


What Can My Body Do For Me? Seeking To Improve Body-Satisfaction With A Guided Functionality Mirror Exposure, Julia Brooks Jun 2017

What Can My Body Do For Me? Seeking To Improve Body-Satisfaction With A Guided Functionality Mirror Exposure, Julia Brooks

Honors Theses

Research has identified negative body image as a growing concern among college-aged women. In turn, significant research has been devoted to exploring various treatments for body- dissatisfaction. Prior research has found mirror exposure (ME) interventions to be effective in improving body-satisfaction. However, few studies to date have incorporated aspects of positive body image within an ME treatment. The current study incorporates concepts of body- functionality within a guided ME task with the intent of facilitating participants appreciation of the functional capabilities of the body as opposed to mere physical appearance. All participants completed a set of measures assessing levels of …


The Linkage Between Hpa Axis Dysregulation And Metabolic Syndrome, Brianna Godlewski Jun 2017

The Linkage Between Hpa Axis Dysregulation And Metabolic Syndrome, Brianna Godlewski

Honors Theses

A diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome (MSX) requires patients to present with three or more of the following symptoms: elevated fasting blood glucose levels, elevated serum triglyceride levels, low serum HDL levels, elevated blood pressure, and truncal obesity. This pathology shares many similarities with Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) but a diagnosis of CS requires hypercortisolemia. This similarity has led our lab and others to hypothesize that MSX may be a Cushingoid-like state caused by hypersensitivity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a nuclear hormone receptor that is activated when cortisol binds, and or hyperactivity of the enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11?- HSD) type 1, …


Interactive Physical And Cognitive Exercise System (Ipaces™): The Neuropsychological Effects For Youth On The Autism Spectrum, Michaela Haller Jun 2017

Interactive Physical And Cognitive Exercise System (Ipaces™): The Neuropsychological Effects For Youth On The Autism Spectrum, Michaela Haller

Honors Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 1 in 68 children in the United States (Center for Disease Control, 2016). The disorder is characterized by deficits in social interaction, verbal communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors (DSM- V, 2013). While the apparent cause of ASD is biological, the diagnosis remains based on social deficits (Hapé & Frith, 1996). Exercise has been found to improve executive function for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, but motivation is an issue and exergames hold promise. This pilot study evaluated an interactive Physical and Cognitive Exercise System (iPACES™), wherein children pedal …


Les Motivations Pour La Privatisation Du Système De Santé Au Québec / The Motives For Healthcare Privatization In Québec, Briadna Almazo Jun 2017

Les Motivations Pour La Privatisation Du Système De Santé Au Québec / The Motives For Healthcare Privatization In Québec, Briadna Almazo

Honors Theses

During the presidential campaign of Barack Obama his platform pushed for the creation of a health care system that would provide affordable health insurance options to all Americans. While U.S. Congress voted for the legislation the media began to speculate that the Affordable Care Act would be similar to the contemporary health system in Canada ratified under in the Canada Health Act of 1985. The Canada Health Act (1985) instated the universal public healthcare system which guarantees access for all Canadian citizens. Recently many Quebecers have demanded federal government intervention in the healthcare system due to possible introduction of extra-fee …


The Design Of A Patient-Centric Healthcare Facility Rating Website: Consumer Choice As A Tool For Reform, Christopher August Dicapua Jun 2017

The Design Of A Patient-Centric Healthcare Facility Rating Website: Consumer Choice As A Tool For Reform, Christopher August Dicapua

Honors Theses

The U.S. healthcare system consistently underperforms on crucial international comparisons, thereby highlighting the need for reform. Simultaneously, there exists bipartisan and strong cultural support for patient choice; i.e. the ability of patients to assess the quality of healthcare facilities and choose amongst competing options. However, prior literature suggests that patients struggle to choose amongst competing facilities due to perceived competency barriers and insufficient information. In this two-phased thesis project, I abstracted a model for mobilizing patient choice as a tool for healthcare reform by designing a website which presents government data on healthcare facility performance. First, three types of focus …


The Connection Between Gasoline Prices And Physical Activity: Potential Ways To Combat The Rise In Obesity, John Perrotti Jun 2017

The Connection Between Gasoline Prices And Physical Activity: Potential Ways To Combat The Rise In Obesity, John Perrotti

Honors Theses

It is widely understood that one of the most significant public health challenges in the United States is obesity which could rightly be considered an epidemic. Accompanied by billions of dollars in both explicit and implicit costs obesity places great strain on the health care system and economy as a whole. Years of scientific research has linked obesity to three main determinants: genetics over-eating and lack of physical activity. Recent research has introduced the study of the connection between the macro-economy and rates of physical activity thus linking economic variables to obesity. This paper investigates the connection between gasoline prices …


Theory Of Mind In Children And Adolescents On The Autism Spectrum: Comparison With Normative Individuals, Courtney Cross Jun 2017

Theory Of Mind In Children And Adolescents On The Autism Spectrum: Comparison With Normative Individuals, Courtney Cross

Honors Theses

Theory of Mind (ToM) is the ability to recognize mental states of oneself and that of other individuals (Parsons & Mitchell, 2002), which typically evolves with age in normative individuals (Hutchins et al., 2011). Research has shown that autistic (ASD) individuals lack a developed ToM and that this triggers social impairments (Rajendran, 2013; Mathersul et al., 2013). The developmental progress of ToM in children on the spectrum is unknown; therefore, this study analyzed normative individuals and those on the spectrum to discover how the development of ToM in these two groups may differ with age. This study hypothesized that normative …


The Application Of Telemedicine To College Health At A Four-Year University And Community College, Matthew S. Wu Jun 2017

The Application Of Telemedicine To College Health At A Four-Year University And Community College, Matthew S. Wu

Honors Theses

Telemedicine has been proposed as a mechanism to provide health care over a distance through telecommunication technologies. Through this platform, providers can deliver preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic services, in addition to patient education and assistance with self-treatment. The most prevalent model in the industry is using telemedicine as a first-contact emergency medical service for acute illness. This study investigates the potential application of telemedicine in providing emergency medicine for college student populations in higher-level education settings. Based on prior review of the body of literature, college students are found to be generally healthy but face disparities in accessing health care …


Product Bundling In Fast Food Advertisements And The Relationship With Consumers' Willingness To Pay, Madison Shapiro Jun 2017

Product Bundling In Fast Food Advertisements And The Relationship With Consumers' Willingness To Pay, Madison Shapiro

Honors Theses

Obesity rates have been rapidly increasing in recent years. This is a problem especially for low-income families and for households without access to quality food. Consequently fast food restaurants are a solution for those who cannot afford healthy food. The large number and variety of fast food restaurants coupled with their aggressive advertisements cheap prices and large portions may have an effect on consumption and obesity rates. This study explored the relationship between types of advertisements utilized by fast food restaurants and consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) to see if bundled advertisements have a significant impact on WTP. Bundles also …


Expressive Writing As A Coping Mechanism For Caregivers Of People With Parkinson's Disease, Sarah Beck Jun 2016

Expressive Writing As A Coping Mechanism For Caregivers Of People With Parkinson's Disease, Sarah Beck

Honors Theses

Caregivers face challenges that take a tremendous toll both mentally and physically, while also having to experience their changing relationship with a loved one who continuously deteriorates. (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 loved ones with Parkinson’s disease. I hypothesized that EW would help alleviate caregiver burden, and decrease negative mood and healthier coping means, while caregivers who write within a positive framework will experience the greatest alleviation of burden, better reported mood, and coping means. In this study the …


Organics: Exploring The Parallels Between Botany And Human Anatomy Through Sculpture And Watercolor Painting, Allison Borek Jun 2016

Organics: Exploring The Parallels Between Botany And Human Anatomy Through Sculpture And Watercolor Painting, Allison Borek

Honors Theses

Integrating my two passions of the visual arts and science for my senior thesis, I created a collection of paintings that represent human organs and the parallels between plant biology and animal biology. Genetically, plants are just as complex – if not more – than many animals. They have intricate sensory and regulatory systems highly comparable to humans, and on a cellular level, we share many analogous features. In addition, every single carbon atom that makes up the human body was at one time fixed in a plant during photosynthesis. We also rely on photosynthesis to give us the oxygen …


The Effect Of Posture On Classroom Participation, Janine Cerutti Jun 2016

The Effect Of Posture On Classroom Participation, Janine Cerutti

Honors Theses

Past research suggested that students with low self-esteem participate less in class than students with high self-esteem. Separately, prior research investigated the effects of nonverbal behavior on different variables such as confidence and performance. In the current research, we explored the effect of posture on the level of class participation (i.e. the number of times participants raised their hand to participate during a question-answer session). First, participants were asked to take a self-esteem questionnaire before participating in a simulated lecture. Next, participants were randomly assigned to either a slumped or upright posture condition. During the lecture, participants watched a short …


Bulking Up Or Bulging Over: Motivating Physical Activity Through Framing, Lauren Crupnick Jun 2016

Bulking Up Or Bulging Over: Motivating Physical Activity Through Framing, Lauren Crupnick

Honors Theses

Motivating people to perform physical activities can be a challenging task. One possible avenue is through the use of framing of exercise-related imagery and messages. Gain-frame imagery demonstrates the benefits of performing an activity, whereas loss-frame demonstrates the risks of not taking action on something (Tversky & Kahneman, 1981). With social media as a prevalent platform for exercise tips and tricks, it is possible that the way in which such imagery is framed in advertisements, blogs, and apps could be hindering or helping followers get closer to their physical activity goals. I hypothesized that gain-framed imagery motivates participants to have …


The Medicalization Of Childbirth Within The United States, Alexandria Gesing Jun 2016

The Medicalization Of Childbirth Within The United States, Alexandria Gesing

Honors Theses

The World Bank rates the United States last amongst developed countries for maternal mortality, with 14 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to Canada and the Netherlands with 7 deaths per 100,000 live births, and the UK with 9 per 100,000 live births. This paper argues that these deaths are strongly linked to excessive use of Cesarean sections, resulting from increased access to technology, and explores the attendant medicalization of childbirth in the United States. Drawing on interviews with patients, midwives, and physicians, in addition to participant observation of hospitals and private practices within the Tristate area; I compare the …


Control System For 3d Printable Robotic Hand, Htoo Wai Htet Jun 2016

Control System For 3d Printable Robotic Hand, Htoo Wai Htet

Honors Theses

Humanoid robotics is a growing area of research due to its potential applications in orthosis and prosthesis for human beings. With the currently available technologies, the most advanced robotic hands used in prosthetics or robotics can cost from $11,000 to $90,000, making it inaccessible to the general population of amputees and robotics hobbyists. Most of the features provided by these expensive technologies are superfluous to many users, creating a great gap in cost and services between users and technology. Using the emerging 3D printing technology, my project is to construct a 3D printed robotic hand that can reproduce as many …


Sugar Consumption Alters Perception Of And Response To Stress In Undergraduate Students: Understanding The "Freshmen Fifteen", Katherine M Keever Jun 2016

Sugar Consumption Alters Perception Of And Response To Stress In Undergraduate Students: Understanding The "Freshmen Fifteen", Katherine M Keever

Honors Theses

Psychological stress is a common part in everyday life that directly affects the body through the nervous system and neuroendocrine hormones. A perceived stressor leads to the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and the synthesis and release of the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol from the adrenal cortex. Studies have linked the release of cortisol during high-stress periods to an increased intake of sugary and fatty foods, consistent with a suspected glucocorticoid-metabolic-brain- negative pathway, with high sugar consumption leading to lower stress and subsequently cortisol levels. In this study, undergraduate students’ diets were supplemented with either a high sugar drink or …


Love Shouldn't Hurt: Akrasia As An Explanation For The Perpetration Of Domestic Violence, Elizabeth Murad Jun 2016

Love Shouldn't Hurt: Akrasia As An Explanation For The Perpetration Of Domestic Violence, Elizabeth Murad

Honors Theses

Domestic Violence (DV) is a prominent issue that affects people of all demographics, and can be defined as the perpetration of psychological, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse against (typically) an inferior other. A dear friend, Alex, lost her life at the hands of her boyfriend of almost two years, and I still struggle to understand how one could do such an atrocious thing to a loved one? The Perpetrator, Clayton, claimed that he “just snapped” when he “killed [his] girlfriend.” It is from this case, and more specifically the statement: “I just snapped,” that I have based my research; I …


The Effect Of Color In Advertising Among Low And High Self-Monitors, Anne Reardon Jun 2016

The Effect Of Color In Advertising Among Low And High Self-Monitors, Anne Reardon

Honors Theses

Prior research on self-monitoring has indicated high self-monitors will moderate their behavior based upon their environment, whereas low self-monitors listen to internal cues to make behavioral decisions. Within the consumer research, there appears to be individual differences in product evaluation. Self-monitoring orientation has emerged as one explanation for variance in product assessment. High self-monitors have indicated to be more receptive to image-based advertising. Conversely low-monitors have shown to be drawn to quality-based advertisements. Thus, other attributes such as product design, specifically color, appear to be moderators in product assessment among high and low self-monitors. The current research examined the possible …


Union College Smokers: Hurting Themselves But Helping Others? Mixed Research On The Relationship Between Smoking And Volunteering, Cameron Robertson Jun 2016

Union College Smokers: Hurting Themselves But Helping Others? Mixed Research On The Relationship Between Smoking And Volunteering, Cameron Robertson

Honors Theses

This mixed methodology research project analyzes the relationship between smoking cigarettes and volunteer participation rates utilizing an empirical analysis of 2006 and 2010 Current Population Surveys (CPS), as well as a qualitative analysis on the perception and behaviors of Union College student smokers. Existing studies have indicated a negative association between smoking cigarettes and social participation, yet little research has been done on the specific relationship between smoking status and volunteer participation. Utilizing CPS supplements on tobacco use and volunteering, this empirical analysis finds that smoking cigarettes has a significant association with decreased volunteer participation rates. This research also includes …


The Psychology Of Romantic Relationships, Darby Dietrich Jun 2016

The Psychology Of Romantic Relationships, Darby Dietrich

Honors Theses

Prior research on self-monitoring suggests that high self-monitors are more likely to choose a romantic partner based on status and appearance. Conversely, low self-monitors put a greater emphasis on shared values and interests. In the current research, we examined the self-monitoring differences in both dating relationships and marriages. Participants were given a survey in which they answered personal questions, questions about their past relationships, qualities that are important in potential dating and marriage partners, and the Snyder and Gangestad (1986) 18-item Self-Monitoring scale. Trends were consistent with previous research, such that high self-monitors were more likely to divorce than low …


Children's Perceptions Of Bullying Situations: Factors Influencing Peer Interventions, Allison Minchoff Jun 2016

Children's Perceptions Of Bullying Situations: Factors Influencing Peer Interventions, Allison Minchoff

Honors Theses

Previous research is inconclusive as to whether racial biases are prominent in elementary school children and whether gender influences the children’s perceptions of a bullying situation. Since both bullying and racial discrimination are of increased concern, I investigated how children perceive ambiguous situations that could be considered deliberate bullying or an accident, as a function of the gender, race, and reputation of the potential bully. Participants were asked to read three brief scenarios, each accompanied by a picture of the potential bully, and completed a questionnaire regarding how positive they would rate the actor, how negative they would rate the …


Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Care Choices A Home-Based Palliative Care Program, Katherine Pouliot Jun 2016

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Care Choices A Home-Based Palliative Care Program, Katherine Pouliot

Honors Theses

Background: There is a growing need for home-based palliative care services, especially for seriously ill individuals who want to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and remain with their regular outside care providers. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Care Choices, a new in-home palliative care program provided by the Visiting Nurse Services of Northeastern New York and Ellis Medicine, a community healthcare system serving New York’s Capital District. Design: A prospective cohort study tracking patient outcomes over the course of one year. Subjects and setting: One hundred twenty-three patients (49 men, 74 women) with serious illnesses who were new enrollees in Care …


The Expression Of Pain In Children: An Autism Spectrum Disorder Perspective, Aileen Shaughnessy Jun 2016

The Expression Of Pain In Children: An Autism Spectrum Disorder Perspective, Aileen Shaughnessy

Honors Theses

Pain sensitivity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have been shown to vary greatly in the literature. Previous work by Rattaz et al. used venepuncture to display slower recovery in ASD youth. Later, Duerden et al. used the Cold Pressor Test (CPT) to conclude that ASD youth demonstrate a profile of decreased thermal sensitivity. In the current study, four normative males and one ASD male participated in the Cold Pressor Test. The ASD youth was also given the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS-3) to verify ASD tendencies. Prior to the CPT, all participants were asked to place their dominant, …


Tubulin Post-Translational Modifications Are Altered By Changes In Actin-Myosin Contractility In Non-Muscle Cells, James Mcgee Jun 2016

Tubulin Post-Translational Modifications Are Altered By Changes In Actin-Myosin Contractility In Non-Muscle Cells, James Mcgee

Honors Theses

All cells regulate their contractility by the interaction of actin and myosin. In non-muscle cells, however, this interaction is regulated by rho, a GTPase, which is the upstream effector for multiple pathways. Cell contractility increases when rho is active, and prior research has shown the depolymerization of microtubules (MTs) activates rho. Microtubules play a role in many cellular functions and it is thought that either associations with MT-associated proteins and/or post-translational modifications to tubulin regulate MT functions. Numerous post-translational modifications (PTMs) to microtubules have been identified, but their roles are not well understood. A possible relationship between changes in cell …


Development And Validation Of A Direct Tibial Loading Device For Mice, Sylvie Kalikoff Jun 2016

Development And Validation Of A Direct Tibial Loading Device For Mice, Sylvie Kalikoff

Honors Theses

Of the six million bones fractured each year in the United States, 5 to 10% do not heal properly. Fractures range in severity and classification, and are therefore treated differently depending on the type of bone that was broken, the location of the break, and the way in which the specific bone regrows. It is crucial that the appropriate treatment be carried out in order to properly heal the broken bone.


The Privilege Paradox: The Effect Of Affluence On The Adolescent Experience, Darcy Berger Jun 2016

The Privilege Paradox: The Effect Of Affluence On The Adolescent Experience, Darcy Berger

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to identify and discuss the pressures of adolescents who come from affluent families in American society. This is an important group to study, because recent studies suggest there are misconceptions regarding how “privileged,” or isolated from psychosocial maladjustment, these adolescents may actually be. 21 qualitative, in-depth interviews with college students were conducted at a private institution in order to analyze possible areas of distress and mental health concerns. Findings suggest that upper class youth have a unique set of stressors that can potentially lead to mental health problems. High achievement pressures, excessive parental criticism, …


Habitat Light And Signal Color Evolution In 5 Species Of Anoles From The Dominican Republic And The Use Of A Feeding Assay To Test The Effects Of Visual Color Contrast On Stimulus Visibility In The Lizard Anolis Sagrei, Raymond Farmer Jun 2016

Habitat Light And Signal Color Evolution In 5 Species Of Anoles From The Dominican Republic And The Use Of A Feeding Assay To Test The Effects Of Visual Color Contrast On Stimulus Visibility In The Lizard Anolis Sagrei, Raymond Farmer

Honors Theses

Anolis lizards have excellent color vision and depend on their eyesight to detect visual signals made by other anoles. The dewlap, a colorful and expandable flap of skin, lies beneath the jaw in male anoles and is a primary signaling structure used for territorial and courtship displays. This paper focuses on dewlap color diversity and its evolutionary rudiments. With this in mind, the research team traveled to the Dominican Republic and collected natural habitat light data and dewlap and body color data from the local anoline inhabitants. We hypothesized that light environment would be the main driver behind dewlap color …


Evaluation Of An In-Home Palliative Care Program's Management Of Pain, Mackenzie Laporte Jun 2016

Evaluation Of An In-Home Palliative Care Program's Management Of Pain, Mackenzie Laporte

Honors Theses

With the growing population of chronically ill patients wishing to receive care at home, care providers face unique challenges managing the pain of patients with quickly changing illness trajectories. Treating patients outside of institutionalized settings, where regular monitoring is standard, requires careful symptom management. This project was a retrospective review examining nurses’ documentation of pain for patients enrolled in Care Choices, a new home-based palliative care program coordinated through a visiting nurse service and community hospital. The extent to which nurses documented patients' pain score, site, type and pain goal as well as nursing interventions and plan of care in …