Digital Commons Network^™

Stress And Social Media: Can Using Facebook Impact The Anticipatory Stress Response In Athletes?, Quinn Johnshoy

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The proportion of young adults on social media sites has grown in recent years. While some young adults find enjoyment in these sites, they cause stress and anxiety in others. Additionally, although many athletes experience stress prior to competition, it is unclear if social media use could modulate this stress. The aim of the present study is to determine if Facebook use influences the anticipatory stress response demonstrated in athletes before the start of a competition. In this study, undergraduate students competing in club sports spent time before each of two competitions either engaging in their normal pre-game routine or …

Phantom Limb Pain: Implications For Treatment When The Mechanisms Are Unknown, Trinity Neve

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

During the Civil War, American physician Silas Weir Mitchell was the first to coin the “phantom” to the sensations individuals experienced in their nonintact limb following limb amputation. Even though physicians have been aware of phantom sensations, and similarly phantom limb pain, for over a century, the mechanism for the pain is not well understood. Because the mechanisms are not well understood, my thesis provides a bioethical framework for clinicians in order to treat phantom limb pain. The thesis begins with an introduction to the history of phantom limb pain and the current theories available to explain the phenomenon. It …

Truth, Knowledge & Storytelling: Postcolonial Aspects Of Epistemological Problems In The Works Of Gabriel García Márquez, Anne Carrica

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The purpose of this thesis is to explore epistemological problems in various works of Gabriel García Márquez. Understanding and questioning who tells the story and who has the right to tell the story is an important question that guides this project. Through understanding important historical events of Colombia like the Banana Massacre and key events within One Hundred Years of Solitude different epistemological issues become apparent.

The question of representation and who tells the story matters because it greatly affects the story that is told. Countries and people who have been stripped or denied a voice often face challenges in …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Jenna M. Slabe

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

MS Environmental Biology Capstone Project

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Natalie Moreno

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

MS Environmental Biology Capstone Project

Accio Empathy: Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire Through The Lens Of Cognitive Literary Studies, Elise Horning

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

In this thesis, I examined the literariness of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (GF), calling upon research from the field of cognitive literary studies. Cognitive literary studies is a field in academia that merges scholarship from literary studies and psychology, and one of the main goals of this field is to investigate the impact that literature has on the cognitive and emotional development of the reader. A large portion of my thesis project included a close-reading analysis of the chapter “Flesh, Blood, and Bone,” as my goal was to hypothesize whether GF can be classified as …

An Infinite Capacity For Co-Consulting: Gender Constructions And Mentorship On Cbs's Elementary, Heather Hufford

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The author argues that the mentorships portrayed on Elementary are a continuation of recent crime dramas’ project to portray gender equality; however, the small victory of Kitty Winter’s empowerment is overshadowed by the show’s unsuccessful bid at overturning sexist mentorship tropes in detective narratives.

Unintended Consequences: The Potential Impact Of Expectations On Members Of The Armed Forces, Katherine Skowronski

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Roughly 70% of adults face a traumatic event once in their lives, and of these individuals, around 20% develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One of the challenging components of diagnosing and treating PTSD is that it does not affect everyone who faces a traumatic experience. This thesis argues that the determining factor between trauma and PTSD acquisition is moral injury, which is a violation of expectation. Current military training is inadequate in preparing members of the armed forces for the realities of military life due to a lack of simulations and transparency. As a result, combat, war, and even …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Ryan Lee

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

MS Environmental Biology Capstone Project

“It’S A Wrap”, Susan Wood

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

For decades, medical providers have recognized the importance of temperature regulation in the delivery room, especially for the preterm infant (Fawcett, 2014). The goal of this quality improvement initiative was to improve neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission temperatures of preterm infants delivered at a hospital in Denver, Colorado, ranging in gestational age of 23-33 6/7 weeks by placing the infants in a polyethylene wrap (NeoWrap) immediately after birth.

A retrospective medical record review was performed to collect data on NICU admission temperatures for the historical control group. During the prospective phase, infants were placed in a NeoWrap from the …

Are Women Bad At Math Or Is It Just An Illusion? How False Memories And Gender Stereotypes Can Influence Women’S Perception Of Stem, Alexa Nicole Jayne

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

False memories and gender stereotypes were used to investigate if inducing a false memory of having a negative experience in a STEM field would influence participant’s preferences pertaining to the field. Women were recruited or volunteered to participate in the study. In the first session, participants completed a series of questionnaires to gauge their pre-existing experiences and attitudes towards STEM and non-STEM related subjects (n = 268). In the second session, participants whose responses from the first survey qualified, were randomly assigned to either the control (n = 74) or experimental condition (n = 71). Participants received …

Step Model For Managing Chronic, Non-Malignant Pain In Primary Care, Melissa J. Smith

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Oftentimes, primary care providers lack the knowledge, confidence, and time to monitor chronic pain patients closely resulting in possible inappropriate prescribing of opioids. Purpose: The project aim was to improve primary care provider knowledge and confidence in managing chronic pain patients in the primary care setting using a step model that was developed based on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines as well as online education modules produced by the CDC. Methods: The project design was a quantitative pretest-posttest design. The primary outcome was to provide training on the CDC guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain as well …

The Impact Of High-Fidelity Simulation Practice On The Perceived Confidence Of Experienced Icu Nurses, Tracey Robilotto

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

the pre-evaluations however, not all scores improved between the three scenarios. In fact, four of the nine total scores collected remained the same. In a paired sample T-test the data indicated a positive correlation (p=.05) between pre and post scores for level of comfort with role and level of competence. No statistical significance was noted between the pre and post scores for level of confidence. Because the scores were improved between all the pre to post evaluations this lack of statistical significance is probably due to the small sample size. In the pilot study with six participants the data displayed …

Madness Or Mysticism: An Analysis Of The Interpretation Of Hearing Voices As Auditory Hallucination Or Religious Experience, Brianna Barkocy

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The author explores the possibility of “hearing voices” from both a medical model, adhering closely to the psychological and neurological roots of auditory hallucination, and from a spiritual/religious model, accounting for those voices that cannot be explained or interpreted by science.

Name Changes In Search Of A New Identity: Southern And Eastern European Immigrants And The Fashioning Of White Identity In The United States, Kathryn A. Penick

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

This thesis examines the reasons, methods, and implications of the process by which immigrant individuals and families changed ethnic/heritage surnames to anglicized/Americanized surnames. Eastern and Southern immigrant groups are the focus of this work. Names have implications for group membership and personal identity; as a broad trend, the changing of family names was a significant way in which immigrant groups acculturated to mainstream American culture. In American history, immigration has been inextricably linked to issues of race and racial identity. These themes are explored in depth as they relate to personal and group identification and belonging.

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Jessica Ann Policarpio Aquino

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

MS Environmental Biology Capstone Project

Encountering Eastern Catholicism, Alicia Meehan

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The author reflects on their interfaith education in the Religious Studies department at Regis University and their lifelong experience as an American Roman Catholic.

Photographing Bioluminescence, Ethics, And Lessons From A Misguided Ethnographer, Josephine N. Gruber

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The author explores the role of the photograph in science, as well as the implicit and explicit biases associated with each use. Analysis of the various forms of manipulation present in Edward Curtis’ photographs serve to illustrate what ramifications implicit and explicit bias can have on both scientific photography and the way in which science is disseminated through photographs. This historical example highlights existing ambiguity within the scientific community regarding the use of the photograph and the pitfalls such ambiguity may generate.

The Mountains Are Calling, But Who's Picking Up? Exploring Diversity In Rocky Mountain National Park, John Shoemaker

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The author explores racial diversity in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Enhancing Environmental Staff Cleaning Process And Adenosine Triphosphate (Atp), Rochelle D. Bello

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) has become the most common microbial cause of healthcareassociated infections (HAI) in U.S. hospitals and costs billions of dollars each year in excess of health care costs for acute care facilities alone (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015, para. 2). Inadequate cleaning of contaminated surfaces in the hospital environment may lead to an HAI. Potential barriers related to environmental cleaning of C. difficile infected rooms were identified at a small safety net hospital. The investigator used a convenience sample of 12 environmental staff (EVS) and a quasi-experimental pre-posttest design, to explore whether or not …

Experiences Of Providers In Caring For The Obese Hispanic Population, Emma Gladson

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The national obesity rate continues to rise along with numerous correlating health disparities in Colorado. According to Andolf and Fisichella (2018), obesity currently affects 78.6 million people in the United States. Obesity is without a doubt a major health concern. Obesity in children and adolescents is a growing concern in the United States, where one fifth of the entire population from age two to nineteen in 2011-2014 was obese (Obesity, Diet and Mortality Trends, 2016). The objective of this project was to examine experiences of healthcare providers caring for the obese Hispanic population. Determining the experiences in providing care for …

Molecular Homology & The Ancient Genetic Toolkit: How Evolutionary Development Could Shape Your Next Doctor's Appointment, Elizabeth G. Plender

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Homology, i.e. the biological pattern of “sameness,” is a pervasive facet of evolution at both the organismic and molecular levels of organization. While traditionally interpreted at the anatomical scale, shared molecular phenotypes across vastly divergent species hint at the presence of a deeply conserved, ancient genetic “toolkit” characteristic of the animal kingdom. Through careful examination of the nuanced homologues implicated in comparative embryology, evolutionary developmental biologists provide a holistic approach to understanding how homologous patterns of gene regulation translate to anatomical similarities among animal species. My summer research project in the Division of Developmental Biology at Cincinnati Children’s hospital aimed …

From Witch Hunts To Autoantibodies: Overcoming Psychogenic Stigma To Uncover The Molecular Cause Of Autoimmunity, Emma Hainstock

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Due to the frequency of misdiagnosis of autoimmune diseases and their disproportionate incidence in women, my thesis explores historical misconceptions about autoimmune conditions which could have lingered in society to impede their diagnoses today. Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) and Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis (ANRE) are the conditions I focused on, as both diseases can cause complex neurologic symptoms such as hallucinations and memory loss, which in combination with the fact that they are disproportionately suffered by women, have caused physicians in the past to misdiagnose patients as either hysteric or demonically possessed. I explore antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis’s …

Navigating The Myths And Truths Behind Pharmacological Drug And Herbal Supplement Use: A Guide For Pregnant Women, Angela Vu

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The author comments on current Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines on the regulation of herbal supplements and compares them to international guidelines. They elucidate on how gaps in these regulations can be detrimental to the health of patients and uses this as a platform to introduce an extensive guide denoting the major biochemical changes occurring antepartum and postpartum as an explanation for symptoms often experienced during pregnancy. They then use this as a background to detail the mechanism of the active ingredients in these supplements and comment on the effectiveness of the relating FDA regulations. The author hopes …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Chris Scott

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

MS Environmental Biology Capstone Project

The Future Of Biomath: Growing Beyond Collaboration, Kyle Weishaar

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Biomathematics as a field has grown substantially over the last 50 years. It has found success in modeling biological phenomena in a variety of areas ranging from ecology to molecular biology [Mackey and Maini, 2015]. Furthermore, the continued development of biomath may be invaluable in understanding current challenges in biology, such as predicting the effects of climate change on different ecosystems. All successful interdisciplinary research depends different types of scientists having the ability to understand and collaborate well with each other. Traditionally, mathematicians are exclusively trained in theoretical systems, while biologists usually work in experimentally driven laboratory settings. As a …

Content-Based Music Recommendation Using Deep Learning, Ryan Whitell

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Music streaming services use recommendation systems to improve the customer experience by generating favorable playlists and by fostering the discovery of new music. State of the art recommendation systems use both collaborative filtering and content-based recommendation methods. Collaborative filtering suffers from the cold start problem; it can only make recommendations for music for which it has enough user data, so content-based methods are preferred. Most current content-based recommendation systems use convolutional neural networks on the spectrograms of track audio. The architectures are commonly borrowed directly from the field of computer vision. It is shown in this study that musically-motivated convolutional …

How The “Ploughman Poet” Jumpstarted Highlandism:, Allison Ward

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Begging the question of how the Scottish society has been reduced and commercialized to the romanticized, Scottish fantasy we see Scotland as today because of a process labeled ‘Highlandism’. The eighteenth-century poet Robert Burns became the focal point because of the impact of his major role in this creation and spread of this Sottish fantasy. Burns used his poetry as a method of delivery to sell nostalgia for a fictional, romantic, and exotic Scotland that had been created from symbols once associated with the Highlands to a now global audience.

Breaking down the historical, economic, and cultural shifts occurring around …

Finding Darkness: A Case Study On The Light Polluting Effects Of Regis University, Ryan Abo

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The author outlines techniques Regis University could employ to make lighting infrastructure safer, healthier, and more pleasing while still being dark sky friendly.

Implementing Educational Courses On Social Media Within Prisons To Decrease Unemployment Rates Among Ex-Prisoners And Reduce Recidivism In The United States, Shannon Hernandez

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

This paper focuses on whether or not it would be beneficial to implement educational courses on social media within prisons in order to prepare prisoners for release, improve post-release unemployment rates, and improve recidivism rates in the United States. Since the early 1990s, technology has grown to a point where it has become a part of everyone’s daily life, which includes social media platforms (Greenstein, 2012). While society has adapted to these advancements, prisoners who have been removed from society for many years are unable to achieve the same levels of social media comprehension, which can cause disparity between their …