Digital Commons Network^™

Men’S Fertility Beliefs, Intentions, And Contraceptive Use, Meagan Kunitzer

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Despite advancements in reproductive technology, gender-inclusive approaches remain limited, and research on men’s reproductive health is scarce. Specifically, little is known about how men conceptualize reproductive health and how perspectives vary by race and social class. As such, the purpose of this study is to further the field’s understanding of men’s reproductive health, including fertility beliefs, intentions, and behaviors. Guided by the theory of conjunctural action, this study uses survey-driven narrative construction to explore how 35 men think about their reproductive health and how this varies by race and class. The main benefit of using this method is that it …

Sodium And Potassium In Health And Cellular Function, Jordyn Branz

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Sodium (Na⁺) and potassium (K⁺) are essential electrolytes that regulate numerous physiological processes. These include cell function, nerve transmission, and muscle contraction. The Na+/K+-ATPase plays a critical role in maintaining the balance of these ions by actively transporting three sodium ions out of the cell and two potassium ions into the cell against their concentration gradients. This process is vital for maintaining the resting membrane potential and supporting the function of excitable cells. The Na+/K+-ATPase consists of two main subunits, with the alpha-subunit being primarily responsible for ion transport activity. Isoforms alpha1, alpha2, and alpha3 are tissue-specific and contribute to …

Eating Behavior Differences Across Dementia Diagnoses: The Roles Of Behavioral Symptoms And Anticipatory Physiological Responses, Charlie J. Lorkovic

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Objective: To determine how behavioral symptoms and impairment of the preparatory physiological response contribute to disordered eating behaviors in dementia, particularly frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods: This secondary analysis utilizes data from 242 patients (191 FTD, 51 AD) who took part in a collaborative study between the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, San Francisco. Preparatory physiological responses were measured as heart rate increases from a baseline to an instruction period, when participants were informed that they were about to watch an emotional film. Behavioral symptoms, including eating behaviors, were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Virtual Reality In Modern Healthcare Education, Adarsha Ganesan

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) in healthcare education through multiple facets of evaluation: educational outcomes, accessibility considerations, and financial viability. Drawing from an extensive literature review on existing research and a case study of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Nursing's "Journey Through the Kidney" VR experience, this analysis examines how technology can transform modern medical education. While research shows mixed results regarding virtual reality’s impact on assessment outcomes, studies demonstrate increased student motivation and engagement, which can have lasting downstream effects on the quality of learning. Accessibility analysis reveals both opportunities and …

A Comparative Analysis Of Women’S Health In Latin America And The United States: Geographical Context And Preventative Actions, Holly J. Robinson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Cervical cancer, breast cancer, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy complications, and gender-based violence are dangers faced by women everywhere. However, the severity of these risks can increase significantly due to a country’s geography, government control, and level of development. This thesis expands upon information gained directly from on-site experiences with medical professionals and locals (including doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and patients) in Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, and further research to look at Latin America as a whole, in relation to the United States. Both the US and Latin America exhibit problems with their healthcare systems. The United States is more …

Addressing The Lack Of Patient Adherence To Exercise Within The Physical Therapy Clinic And Creating Infographics To Improve Patient Adherence, Gretchen Panovich

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The primary objective of this applied knowledge project is to develop educational materials to enhance patient adherence. The World Health Organization defines adherence as “the extent to which a person’s behavior…corresponds with agreed recommendations from a healthcare provider.” Within the physical therapy field, non-adherence to exercise is a significant problem linked with increased duration of treatment, more patient complaints, reduced positive clinical outcomes, and even surgical intervention.

Multiple factors affect patient adherence, making it hard to pinpoint a singular cause. Clinical observations and research suggest that belief in the rehabilitation process may suffer due to a prolonged recovery period, lack …

Evaluation Of Fecal Egg Counts (Fec) As A Viable Means To Estimate Ascaridia Galli, Heterakis Gallinarum And Capillaria Obsignata Burdens In Laying Hens, Alexander H. Moss

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The control of gastrointestinal helminths, specifically Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum, and Capillaria obsignata, is a critical component of poultry health management, particularly in free-range and organic farming systems. Methods of estimating parasite burdens, such as post-mortem examinations, are not feasible for large-scale commercial operations due to their invasiveness and time requirements. This study aimed to evaluate the use of fecal egg counts (FEC) as a non-invasive and efficient method for estimating the worm burdens of these parasites in laying hens. A flock of 12 brown egg laying, spent, hens were individually penned on concrete. Fecal samples (both cecal and intestinal) …

Acetylcholine Release In The Dorsal Lateral Straitum During Social Approach Task, Taylor Good, Oyku Dinckol, Noah Wenger, Jake Caselli, Munir Gunes Kutlu

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Nicotine Decreases ACh Release in the DS leading to a Serenic Effect during Social Approach Task

Acetylcholine (ACh) regulates attention, learning, and stress responses (Benarroch E. E., 2012). The dorsal striatum (DS), essential for stimulus-response learning, is also linked to anxiety and compulsivity (Casado-Sainz et al., 2021). We used behavioral pharmacology and in vivo fiber photometry to study ACh responses during social approach tasks in the dorsal striatum. Male and female C57BL/6J mice underwent stereotaxic surgeries to inject a fluorescent ACh sensor (ACh.Sn.Fr) and implant fiber optic cannulas in the DS. Using in vivo fiber photometry, we tracked ACh release …

Hypoxia Induced Ribosomal Rna Fragmentation Mediated By Rnase L, Vanessa Kristina Pizutelli, Dimitri G Pestov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Ischemic injury contributes to a range of global pathologies. Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury (IRI) is a paradoxical phenomenon that involves an initial restriction of blood flow followed by a sudden restoration of perfusion. This type of injury takes place in conditions such as myocardial infarction, acute kidney disease, and ischemic stroke and often leads to cellular death. Additionally, IRI exacerbates post-surgical outcomes and plays a role in graft dysfunction and transplant rejection. Despite efforts to develop therapies targeting known IRI pathways, clinical trials have largely been unsuccessful, underscoring the need for alternative mechanisms and biomarkers associated with IRI-induced apoptosis. Reactive oxygen species …

Sex Differences In Insulin Resistance And Triglyceride/Hdl-Cholesterol Ratio In Human Subjects, Jiyoon Jung, James W. Bailey, Ashley Coleman, George J. Scott, Lakshman Segar

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) plays a major role in dyslipidemia and the associated cardiovascular disease risk. To date, it remains unclear as to how IR alters plasma lipid profile in males versus females. The present study is an initial step to determine sex-specific differences in IR and plasma lipid profile using 40 μL of capillary blood. Methods: 12 adults aged 30-64 were recruited from Rowan Medicine-Sewell clinics, with 7 participants (3 males, 4 females) consenting to the study. After collecting 40 μL of capillary blood via finger prick, the samples were analyzed for glucose, triglyceride (TG), and HDL-cholesterol …

Modulation Of Opioid Receptor Expression In The Ventral Tegmental Area Following Stress Exposure In Rats, Maya Patel, John Tkaczynski, Jordan Riser, Nicole Shellenbarger, Jin Park, Daniel Manvich, Daniel J. Chandler

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The ventral tegmental area (VTA) contains dopamine-producing neurons projecting to various brain regions. VTA dysfunction is linked to addiction and depression. Delta opioid receptor upregulation relates to chronic pain, inflammation, cancer, and early adversity. Kappa receptors in the VTA influence stress, drug-seeking, mood, and reward. Notably, chronic substance abuse upregulates the κ-receptor/dynorphin system, and the opioid system regulates social interaction needs.

Hypothesis: Stress will upregulate opioid receptors.

Methods: We compared group-housed and individually-housed rats using stress tests, analyzing behavior and quantifying VTA opioid receptor expression.

Results: Social isolation upregulated delta and kappa opioid receptors in …

The Use Of Biomarker-Based Models In Clinical Settings To Support Early Detection Of And Treatment For Alzheimer's Disease., Steven A. Gonzales

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Traditional detection of and treatment methods for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) undermine the critical period of preclinical AD, a pathogenic process that appears decades before clinical symptoms arise. In the preclinical stage, biomarkers stipulate the advent of pathogenic processes, providing a crucial framework to integrate early detection and intervention well before clinical symptoms become evident. I hypothesize that the presence of biomarkers is a crucial early indicator of changes in memory function in the preclinical stage of AD. To test this hypothesis, a systematic literature review will be applied to gauge biomarker detection in order to consider it as a potential …

Investigating The Effects Of Prenatal E-Cigarette Exposure On Postnatal Liver Histology, Emma Mcclellan

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

The electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) entered the American market in the mid-2000s and quickly became popular. This product poses a significant threat to youth with 1.63 million students reporting use in 2024. Adverse health effects to different organs are well known. The liver is less studied, and despite its role in detoxification of e-cigarette chemicals, is a target of injury. Unlike the known effects of cigarettes and nicotine on the liver from adult or prenatal exposure, effects of prenatal exposure to e-cigarettes on liver remain to be defined. The current study investigated the effects of prenatal exposure of e-cigarettes on liver …

Effects Of Cadmium And Diet On Metal Accumulation And Kidney Cell Death Pathways., Justin Xu

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-biodegradable environmental toxin and accumulates in the body with an estimated half-life of 30-45 years. Humans can be exposed to Cd through diet, drinking water, tobacco smoking, and industrial pollution. Cd can especially accumulate in the kidney due to the release of Cd from protein-metal complexes when filtering blood in the tubules causing oxidative stress and inducing kidney injury. Obesity is another risk factor for kidney disease therefore we examined the dual effects of Cd and obesity on the accumulation of essential metals in mouse kidneys. Starting in utero and continuing until 24 weeks postweaning, male/female …

Investigation Of Anhedonia: A Literature Review, Austin G. Littlejohn

Honors Capstones

"Investigation of Anhedonia" serves as an independent study where a Literature Review was conducted to research different aspects and elements of the psychological phenomenon known as Anhedonia. With the support of psychology mentors and utilization of the library's resources, the research investigated what Anhedonia is and how it is connected to stress and trauma, the trajectory or progression of Anhedonia and its symptoms, the connection to more well known psychological disorders like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, and Anhedonia's status of a stress response and whether or not it could be considered a separate disorder. The significance of the literature in …

Health Professional Perspectives On Sudden Unexpected Infant Death In Arkansas, Laura Hansen, Bart Hammig

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Arkansas has one of the highest Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) rates in the nation, with 173.6 deaths for every 100,000 live births (CDC, 2024). This is much higher than the national rate, indicating a significant need for prevention education. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death is an umbrella term used to categorize Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), unknown death causes, and accidental suffocation in bed. SUID rate reduction can be achieved by following infant-safe sleeping guidelines, which include crib use, flat and firm mattresses, no blankets, and putting babies on their backs. In this proposed study, health care professionals across Arkansas …

Trajectories Of Attention Problems In Preschoolers Born Very Preterm., Marie Camerota, Francisco Xavier Castellanos, Brian S. Carter, Jennifer Check, Jennifer Helderman, Julie A. Hofheimer, Elisabeth C. Mcgowan, Charles R. Neal, Steven L. Pastyrnak, Lynne M. Smith, Thomas Michael O'Shea, Carmen J. Marsit, Barry M. Lester

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Children born preterm are at heightened risk for neurodevelopmental impairment, including specific deficits in attention. Few studies have investigated change over time in attention problems prior to school entry. The current study aims to describe trajectories of attention problems from age 2 through 5 years in a cohort of children born(GA), identify sociodemographic, medical, and neurobehavioral characteristics associated with attention trajectories, and test whether attention problem trajectories predict the risk of a reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis.

METHODS: We studied 608 infants from the Neonatal Neurobehavior and Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants (NOVI) Study, a prospective, multisite study of …

Natural Killer T Cell-Mediated Control Of Francisella Tularensis-Induced Cytokine Storm Syndrome, Cameron M. Torres

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Inflammation is critical for the effective clearance of viral and bacterial challenges, while simultaneously a mechanism utilized by many highly infectious pathogens to cause disease. The bacterium Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of human tularemia, elicits a cytokine storm, wherein the immune system over-responds to the presence of the bacterium causing a dysregulated release of proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines. Without treatment, tularemia mortality can be as high as 30%, with inhalation of as few as 10 CFUs inducing respiratory tularemia. Natural Killer T (NKT) cells are innate-like T lymphocytes with a diverse array of regulatory functions. Unlike conventional T cells, …

I Am (Me)Dicine: An Analysis On The Influence Of Humanities Courses Within The Construction Of Internal And External Identities Within Pre-Med Students At Uno, Alix Barnes

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The purpose of this project is to investigate how arts and humanities coursework may enhance the development of internal and external identities for premedical students beyond their traditional scientific coursework. A literature review shows positive findings on identity development and the influence of arts and humanities coursework on medical education. This investigation will take place through a mixed-method survey distributed to UNO premedical students and will explore themes of self-reflection, personal and professional growth, and understanding of external perspectives. An optional question prompts respondents to reflect further on their work within arts and humanities courses and their impact on these …

Presentation: Accuracy Of Ecg Chest Electrode Placement In Prehospital And Hospital Settings, Edwin L. Clopton, Kristiina Hyrkas Phd, Licnsc, Mnsc, Rn

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2025

Recipient of the Peter W. Bates Award for Excellence in Health Professions Education Research at the 2025 Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat.

Venlafaxine Exposure In Pregnancy And Its Association With Pre-Eclampsia Development, Jhanvi Patel

Posters

Venlafaxine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), is widely used to manage depression and anxiety, including in pregnant women. However, its known hypertensive side effects raise concerns about a potential link to pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria. Pregnant women with psychiatric disorders already have an increased risk of hypertensive disorders, and while untreated depression can lead to adverse outcomes such as preterm birth and fetal cortisol elevation, the safety of venlafaxine remains uncertain. Current research lacks wellcontrolled studies assessing its association with hypertensive complications in pregnancy. This systematic review aims to evaluate whether venlafaxine use …

The Effect Of Antemortem Tooth Loss On Craniofacial Shape In Apes And Humans, Ashley R. Laster

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Antemortem tooth loss (AMTL) (i.e., defined as tooth loss occurring before death) is common among humans and many primates, and several studies have examined AMTL across various primate groups. Some research indicates that AMTL can influence masticatory function and diet; however, the effects of AMTL on craniofacial shape and biomechanics have not been extensively analyzed. We assessed craniofacial and mandibular shape in relation to AMTL, anticipating that individuals with at least one tooth lost antemortem would display significant differences in cranial and/or mandibular shape compared to those without AMTL. AMTL rates were evaluated in three primate species: wild-caught samples of …

Comparing Spatiotemporal Gait Measures And Hip Disability And Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores-12 Through Gait Analysis Of Individuals With Hip Osteoarthritis, Collin N. Thompson

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease that leads to degenerative damage surrounding the femoroacetabular joint, which can manifest as degraded cartilage and increased inflammation at the joint site. There are several methods physician’s use to measure a patient's condition, and our study looks at one called the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-12, or HOOS-12. This is a patient-reported outcome measure where patients can self-report their pain and level of dysfunction in relation to their hip osteoarthritis. This study investigates the association between the participants’ HOOS-12 scores and objective gait characteristics measured via a portable pressure sensing walkway. At …

A Nano-Scale Approach To Controlled Apoptosis In Brain Cancer Through Magneto-Mechanical Actuation, Sakura Rieck

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this study, we investigate the effects of cell therapy and magneto-mechanical actuation (MMA) to treat glioblastoma (U87). MMA approach employs super low-frequency alternating magnetic fields (AMF) to actuate intracellular PEGylated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (PEG-SPIONs). Magnetic forces are translated into mechanical agitation on PEG-SPIONs, which can disrupt key cellular components. We explored two ways in which the MMA approach can be used to combat cancer growth. First, we investigated MMA directly in U87 cells. Preliminary observations indicate that PEG-SPIONs are intracellularly taken up by the U87 cells via micropinocytosis. Cell-counting kit-8 toxicity assays revealed a cytotoxic effect of MMA …

The Relationship Of Peer Recovery Support Specialists And Recovery Of Perinatal Women With A Substance Use Disorder, Mary C. Talbot

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: Substance use in pregnant and postpartum women is a growing issue in the United States. Drug use while pregnant can lead to birth defects, stillbirths, and problems providing positive parenting to their children. Many women with substance use disorders (SUD) feel extreme shame and stigma related to their substance use and have trouble accessing recovery-related treatment and other services. Peer recovery support treatment uses the lived experiences of individuals in current recovery from SUD to facilitate and support recovery in others. Purpose: The purpose of this review was to evaluate the impact of peer recovery support specialists on the …

The Effect Of Maternal Anxiety On Breastfeeding Exclusivity And Duration, Zoe E. Treat

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: The postpartum period, especially during the first year, presents a heightened risk for maternal anxiety. Research suggests a potential negative relationship between maternal anxiety and breastfeeding duration, though there is currently a gap in the existing literature regarding how maternal mental health impacts breastfeeding outcomes.

Purpose: This study seeks to investigate the influence of postpartum anxiety on both the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding, crucial knowledge required to support and implement targeted interventions. We expected that maternal anxiety would predict shorter exclusive and total breastfeeding durations.

Methodology: To explore the relationship between postpartum anxiety and breastfeeding behaviors, we distributed …

Alphamissense Predictions And Clinvar Annotations: A Deep Learning Approach To Uveal Melanoma, David J. Taylor Gonzalez, Mak B. Djulbegovic, Meghan Sharma, Michael Antonietti, Colin K. Kim, Vladimir N. Uversky, Carol L. Karp, Carol L. Shields, Matthew W. Wilson

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

OBJECTIVE: Uveal melanoma (UM) poses significant diagnostic and prognostic challenges due to its variable genetic landscape. We explore the use of a novel deep learning tool to assess the functional impact of genetic mutations in UM.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional bioinformatics exploratory data analysis of genetic mutations from UM cases.

SUBJECTS: Genetic data from patients diagnosed with UM were analyzed, explicitly focusing on missense mutations sourced from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) database.

METHODS: We identified missense mutations frequently observed in UM using the COSMIC database, assessed their potential pathogenicity using AlphaMissense, and visualized mutations using AlphaFold. Clinical …

Ai Model For Predicting Asthma Prognosis In Children, Elham Sagheb, Chung-Il Wi, Katherine S King, Bhavani Singh Agnikula Kshatriya, Euijung Ryu, Hongfang Liu, Miguel A Park, Hee Yun Seol, Shauna M Overgaard, Deepak K Sharma, Young J Juhn, Sunghwan Sohn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Childhood asthma often continues into adulthood, but some children experience remission. Utilizing electronic health records (EHRs) to predict asthma prognosis can aid health care providers and patients in developing effective prioritized care plans.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop artificial intelligence (AI) models using various clinical variables extracted from EHRs to predict childhood asthma prognosis (remission vs no remission) in different age groups.

METHODS: We developed AI models utilizing patients' EHRs during the first 6, 9, or 12 years of their lives to predict their asthma prognosis status at ages 6 to 9, 9 to 12, or 12 to 15 …

Association Of Delayed Asthma Diagnosis With Asthma Exacerbations In Children, Chung-Il Wi, Euijung Ryu, Katherine S King, Jung Hyun Kwon, Joshua T Bublitz, Miguel Park, Sergio E Chiarella, Jason D Greenwood, Thanai Pongdee, Lynnea Myers, Björn Nordlund, Sunghwan Sohn, Elham Sagheb, Bhavani Singh Agnikula Kshatriya, Dave Watson, Hongfang Liu, Beverley J Sheares, Carla M Davis, Wade Schulz, Young J Juhn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There is a significant delay between symptom onset and diagnosis of childhood asthma, but the impact of this delay on asthma outcomes has not been well understood.

Objectives: We sought to study the association of delayed diagnosis of asthma with asthma exacerbations (AEs) in children.

Methods: Using the Mayo Clinic birth cohort, we identified children with a diagnosis of asthma from electronic health records. We defined onset date as the date when subjects first met predetermined asthma criteria ascertained by an electronic health records-based natural language processing algorithm. Delay in diagnosis (DD) was defined as first diagnosis >30 days …

A Comparative Study Investigating Patient Experience At Corporate And Private Dental Practices., Abigail R. Logeman

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Oral healthcare is an essential aspect of an individual’s systemic health. However, many oral conditions are left untreated due to the inaccessibility to dental care. Many disparities limit access to dental care like low income and lack of insurance coverage. Untreated oral conditions are linked to systemic health problems like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pancreatic cancer. Patient experience is a driving factor in the continued involvement in dental care that would limit some of the diseases with oral health manifestations. I aim to compare patient experiences in private and corporate dental practices to provide a scope of the dental care …