Digital Commons Network^™

Cost-Effectiveness Of Psychotherapy And Dementia: A Comparison By Treatment Modality And Healthcare Provider, Megan Ruth Story

Theses and Dissertations

Dementia is a chronic disorder that affects approximately 40 million individuals throughout the globe. This study provides a preliminary description of psychotherapeutic treatment for the management of dementia. This study compares treatment outcomes by both modality (individual, family, and mixed) and provider type. Results found that therapy is a low-cost treatment, however, it is not being often used for people with dementia, or their family members. Participants (n=327) include individuals with ages ranging from 46-95(M=70.52, SD=12.16). Females made up 57.5% (n=188), while males made up 42.5% (n=139) of the sample. Descriptive statistics found that the number of sessions ranged from …

Utah Mental Health Professionals' Recommendations For Working With Youth At Risk For Suicide, Amy Paskett Stillman

Theses and Dissertations

Suicide has immediate and long-term negative effects on surviving family members and adverse effects in the school and community. Suicide rates for children and adolescents have increased in the United States since 2009. As part of suicide prevention efforts, information about risk factors and warning signs are typically addressed in schools, private organizations, and communities. In addition to academic literature for professional audiences, various therapeutic resources are available to assist those who grieve the suicide of a loved one. In particular, practical and easy-to-implement interventions are needed by those who offer support to suicidal individuals and survivors of suicide. Practical …

Gender Threat, Male Dominance, And Masculinity: A Perfect Storm For Workplace Aggression, Brooke Elise Dresden

Theses and Dissertations

Higher prevalence of gender harassment has previously been identified in male dominated workforces, but not in academia. Factors such as implicit bias, male dominance, perceived gender threat, and heightened masculinity may increase the likelihood of gender harassment occurring in an academic setting. Two studies investigated this. In Study 1, one hundred seventy-one (92 male, 79 female) participants from male dominated and gender equivalent majors completed an online survey in which their explicit attitudes regarding gender and authority (GAM; see Rudman & Kilianski, 2000), and implicit associations regarding gender and careers (IAT; see Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998) were measured. Additionally, …

Does Sleep Disturbance Among Parents Of Infants Predict Increased Depressive Symptoms?, Zachary Joseph Blackhurst

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that sleep disturbance (e.g., sleep latency, wakefulness after sleep onset [WASO]) negatively affects physical, emotional, and mental health. For many adults, the postpartum period is one that is particularly highlighted by sleep disturbance and fatigue. Postpartum mothers are also more vulnerable to psychiatric disorders such as depression. We sought to investigate whether the number of children and presence of an infant predicted clinically significant sleep disturbance, and subsequently, depressive symptoms, for both mothers and fathers. We found that having an infant was significantly associated with increased wife WASO, which in turn was associated with increased depressive symptoms …

A Semi-Automated Algorithm For Segmenting The Hippocampus In Patient And Control Populations, Nathan Mckay Muncy

Theses and Dissertations

Calculating hippocampal volume from Magnetic Resonance (MR) images is an essential task in many studies of neurocognition in healthy and diseased populations. The `gold standard' method involves hand tracing, which is accurate but laborious, requiring expertly trained researchers and significant amounts of time. As such, segmenting large datasets with the standard method is impractical. Current automated pipelines are inaccurate at hippocampal demarcation and volumetry. We developed a semi-automated hippocampal segmentation pipeline based on the Advanced Normalization Tools (ANTs) suite of programs to segment the hippocampus. We applied the semi-automated segmentation pipeline to 70 participant scans (26 female) from groups that …

Functional Brain Imaging In Survivors Of Critical Illness: A Prospective Feasibility Study And Exploration Of The Association Between Delirium And Brain Activation Patterns☆, James C. Jackson, Alessandro Morandi, Timothy D. Girard, Kristen Mirkle, Amy J. Graves, Jennifer L. Thompson, Ayumi K. Shintani, Max L. Gunther, Christopher J. Cannistraci, Baxter P. Rogers, John C. Gore, Hillary J. Warrington, Wesley Ely, Ramona O. Hopkins

Faculty Publications

Purpose

We undertook this pilot prospective cohort investigation to examine the feasibility of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) assessments in survivors of critical illness and to analyze potential associations between delirium and brain activation patterns observed during a working memory task (N-back) at hospital discharge and 3-month follow-up.

Materials and methods

At hospital discharge and 3 months later, fMRI assessed subjects' functional activity during an N-back task. Multiple linear regression was used to examine associations between duration of delirium and brain activity, and elastic net regression was used to assess the relationship between brain activation patterns at 3 months and …

Revisiting Financial Issues And Marriage, Jeffrey P. Dew

Faculty Publications

This chapter examines research pertaining to the association between financial issues and marriage. The majority of the research reviewed was published after 2008. These studies show that financial issues relate to marriage formation, marital quality, and marital stability (i.e., divorce). Specifically, financial stability is associated with a greater likelihood of marriage. Further, behaviors that financial practitioners would label “sound financial management” are positively associated with marital quality and stability. For example, longitudinal studies found that consumer debt was positively associated with divorce whereas financial assets were negatively associated with divorce. Studies have also found that financial arguments create worse relationship …

High Density 3d Printed Microfluidic Valves, Pumps, And Multiplexers, Hua Gong, Adam T. Woolley, Gregory P. Nordin

Faculty Publications

In this paper we demonstrate that 3D printing with a Digital Light Processor stereolithographic (DLP-SLA) 3D printer can be used to create high density microfluidic devices with active components such as valves and pumps. Leveraging our previous work on optical formulation of inexpensive resins (RSC Adv. 5, 106621, 2015), we demonstrate valves with only 10% of the volume of our original 3D printed valves (Biomicrofluidics 9, 016501, 2015), which were already the smallest that have been reported. Moreover, we show that inclusion of a thermal initiator in the resin formulation along with a post-print bake can dramatically improve the durability …

Front Matter, Vol. 9

Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Vol. 9

Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Withdrawing To A Virtual World: Associations Between Subtypes Of Withdrawal, Media Use, And Maladjustment In Emerging Adults, Larry J. Nelson, Sarah M. Coyne, Emily Howard, Brandon N. Clifford

Faculty Publications

An approach-avoidance model of social withdrawal (Asendorpf, 1990) identifies 3 types of social withdrawal including shyness, unsociability, and avoidance. Each appears to be uniquely associated with varying indicators of maladjustment in emerging adulthood (Nelson, 2013) but little, if any, work has been done to see how they might be linked to media use in the third decade of life. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine longitudinally the links between subtypes of social withdrawal, connective media (e.g., e-mail, social networking) and problematic (forms of media such as violent video games that, when used in high amounts, have been …

Role For Reactive Oxygen Species In Methamphetamine Modulation Of Dopamine Release In The Striatum, David Matthew Hedges

Theses and Dissertations

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive substance that is highly prevalent in today’s society, with over 1 in 20 adults over 26 having taken it at least once. While it is known that METH, a common psychostimulant, acts on both the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) and nigrostriatal DA systems by affecting proteins involved in DA reuptake and vesicular packaging, the specific mechanism of what is known as METH neurotoxicity remains obscure, but has been shown to involve oxidative stress. Studies have shown that reactive oxygen species act on the same proteins that METH affects. Oxidative species have also been known to …

Placental ‘€˜Omics’€™ Study To Understand The Pathogenesis Of Preeclampsia, Komal Kedia

Theses and Dissertations

Preeclampsia (PE) is a potentially fatal complication of pregnancy characterized by an increase in blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg) and proteinuria (>300 mg/24 hrs), often accompanied by edema. Symptoms of PE start after 20 weeks of gestation. If PE remains untreated, it can lead to eclampsia, grand-mal seizures responsible for most fatalities. PE is believed to affect 2-10% of pregnancies worldwide, and claims the lives of over 75,000 mothers and 500,000 newborns yearly. No therapeutic agents have been developed to prevent or cure PE. Part of the reason for this is the absence of a complete understanding of the …

The Relationship Between Dispositional Mindfulness Characteristics And Anxiety In High Functioning Adults Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Max Emanuel Maisel

Theses and Dissertations

Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience elevated levels of anxiety and worry compared to neurotypical people. However, there is a dearth of extant research on effective interventions for comorbid anxiety and worry in this population. Mindfulness, which is often defined as paying attention to the present moment in a nonjudgmental manner, has been shown to be a propitious treatment for anxiety, worry, and other psychological ailments in neurotypical people. However, in a relatively new area of study, evidence has been growing which suggests mindfulness can also be effective in helping people with ASD cope with anxiety and worry. The …

A Comparison Of Manual And Automated Grammatical Precoding On The Accuracy Of Automated Developmental Sentence Scoring, Sarah Elizabeth Janis

Theses and Dissertations

Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS) is a standardized language sample analysis procedure that evaluates and scores a child's use of standard American-English grammatical rules within complete sentences. Automated DSS programs have the potential to increase the efficiency and reduce the amount of time required for DSS analysis. The present study examines the accuracy of one automated DSS software program, DSSA 2.0, compared to manual DSS scoring on previously collected language samples from 30 children between the ages of 2-5 and 7-11. Additionally, this study seeks to determine the source of error in the automated score by comparing DSSA 2.0 analysis given …

Neural Activation In Blood-Flow-Restricted Versus Non-Blood-Flow-Restricted Exercise: An Fmri Study, Tiffany Dawn Devries

Theses and Dissertations

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to track neural activation in the brain during functional activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate brain neural responses to blood flow restricted (BFR) versus control handgrip exercise. Using a randomized crossover design, 25 subjects (12 males, 13 females) completed handgrip exercises during two conditions: BFR vs. control. To familiarize participants with the exercise conditions, one week prior to MRI scanning participants completed each exercise condition once on separate days, with 72 hours between days. The following week fMRI scans were performed at the same time of day, separated by …

Implementation Of Bim In The Municipal Plan Review Process, Liz Shantalle Ricardo Belliard

Theses and Dissertations

Obtaining a building permit is an important step for any construction project. Whether it is for a new construction or a remodel job, the process involves a plan review performed by building officials. The purpose of this research was to explore ways in which Building Information Modeling (BIM) could be used to aid code officials during the plan review process. The objectives of the study were to determine if the level of detail in BIM was complete enough to allow a plan review to be perform accurately, to identify the extent to which architects are comfortable with using their models …

Integrative Analysis Reveals Clinical Phenotypes And Oncogenic Potentials Of Long Non-Coding Rnas Across 15 Cancer Types, Ze-Lin Wang, Bin Li, Stephen R. Piccolo, Xiao-Qin Zhang, Jun-Hao Li, Hui Zhou, Jian-Hua Yang, Liang-Hu Qu

Faculty Publications

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to contribute to tumorigenesis. However, surprisingly little is known about the comprehensive clinical and genomic characterization of lncRNAs across human cancer. In this study, we conducted comprehensive analyses for the expression profile, clinical outcomes, somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) profile of lncRNAs in ~7000 clinical samples from 15 different cancer types. We identified significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs between tumor and normal tissues from each cancer. Notably, we characterized 47 lncRNAs which were extensively dysregulated in at least 10 cancer types, suggesting a conserved function in cancer development. We also analyzed the associations between …

End Matter

AWE (A Woman’s Experience)

No abstract provided.

Prime Of My Life, Roxanne Harmon

AWE (A Woman’s Experience)

A creative reflection on mathematics and body image.

God And Man, Nicole A. Ratliff

Student Works

An analysis of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath in regards to Samuel Johnson's "The Vanity of Human Wishes." The paper's argument is structured as the book progresses. In regards to Samuel Johnson's piece, both pieces of literature progress in the same way- starting off with very vain characters and ending with a change towards a more religious side. This paper tries to expand upon the religious aspects of The Grapes of Wrath, and come up with a theory that defies the socialist aspect.

Harry Potter And The Analysis Of A Hogwarts Education, Kayla M. Nelson

Student Works

A Hogwarts education is one that is coveted by many young (and old) people. The idea of a magical school is tantalizing. However, the magic only goes so far. This article exposes the flaws of a Hogwarts education.

Women's Autonomy And Hypertension, Benjamin J. Fife

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Based on a nationally representative sample of women in the Dominican Republic, I examine how the amount of autonomy predicts the development of hypertension. Using logistic regression techniques for a sample of 4,869 women, I find that in the presence of demographic controls autonomy does not significantly predict the diagnosis of hypertension. In the case of women in the Dominican Republic, older age, higher weight, lower wealth, urban living and distance to a healthcare facility are better predictors of hypertension.

Robustness Of Multiple Indicators In Automated Screening Systems For Deception Detection, Ryan M. Schuetzler, Nathan W. Twyman, Jeffery Gainer Proudfoot, Aaron C. Elkins, Douglas C. Derrik

Faculty Publications

This study investigates the effectiveness of an automatic system for detection of deception by individuals with the use of multiple indicators of such potential deception. Deception detection research in the information systems discipline has postulated increased accuracy through a new class of screening systems that automatically conduct interviews and track multiple indicators of deception simultaneously. Understanding the robustness of this new class of systems and the limitations of its theoretical improved performance is important for refinement of the conceptual design. The design science proof-of-concept study presented here implemented and evaluated the robustness of these systems for automated screening for deception …

The Perception Of Children In Chile: Burden Or Joy?, Christine W. Black, Renata Forste

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Globally, family values and behaviors have been shifting. This can be seen through a decrease in the universality of marriage, increased individualism, higher prevalence of divorce, older age at marriage and low birthrates with an increase in planned and controlled fertility. In Latin America, and specifically in Chile, these types of changes have been the most drastic. Data come from the ISSP where about 1,500 Chilean participants were asked a series of questions regarding family and gender attitudes as well as multiple demographic questions. This study looked at how these attitudes contributed to the perceived burden or joy of children. …

Store-Bought Babies: Lds Adoption Stories, Mariah Bunting

Final Projects

I am adopted and a member of and LDS family. In starting this project, I was curious to collect my parents' experiences as a whole story as well as to see what other kinds of experiences people have had with adopting children in the LDS community.

Mother's Day At The Durrett House, Breanna Durrett

Final Projects

The explanation of how handmade presents got started for Mother's Day at the Durrett house, as well as examples of presents throughout the years.

Do All Blacks & African Americans Have The Same Outcome?, Amelia F. Belchior

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Do blacks and African Americans have the same outcome in terms of self-esteem, GPA, and SEC? Those who are aware of black history and understand the civil rights movement have higher self-esteem. Those blacks who accept their skin color and apply the self-fulling prophesy of what black is know to be, they have higher self-esteem as well. Black immigrants are more likely to accept their skin color and not associate blackness with living in the ghetto, being good at playing sports and dancing; they are more likely to have have self-esteem than native born African-Americans.

Anxiety In College Students: Implications From The Ccmh Database, Payton Jones, G. Tyler Lefevor

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

In 2013, an unprecedented 12.4% of college students were diagnosed or received treatment for an anxiety disorder. Using the Collegiate Center for Mental Health (CCMH) database, which includes data from over 140 university counseling centers, we analyzed covariates of anxiety concerns and the implications of these findings. We found that academic and financial concerns correlate highly with anxiety in college students, suggesting that the recent increase in college student anxiety may mirror the increases seen in the cost and importance of university education over the last few decades.

Explaining Demographic Differences In Marital Quality: The Role Of Mental And Physical Health, Kara Henderson, Jessica Harris, Spencer Young, Spencer James

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

A vast body of literature has measured the demographic differences in marital quality. According to literature on marriage, the poorly educated, females, racial ethnic minorities, and premarital cohabitors report less marital satisfaction. The main focus and goal of our study is to link the various demographic differences with poor marital quality. Much of the research on marital quality has found a link between physical health and marital outcomes. The current research neglects the other factors of mental and physical health are related to marital satisfaction and conflict. We want to observe how mental and physical health may serve as mediators …