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Repeated Allergen Exposure Induces Histaminergic Dysregulation And Depression-Like Behaviors In A Non-Anaphylactic Food Allergy Mouse Model, Danielle Germundson-Hermanson

Biomedical Sciences Posters and Presentations

▪ Food allergy is often comorbid with neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety1,2, depression1,2, OCD3, ADD/ADHD4, and autism5. ➢ The mechanism of how food allergy may impact brain function and behavior in certain allergic individuals has yet to be elucidated.

▪ Mast cells (MCs) are not only the effector cell of the hypersensitivity response but are also important in maintaining brain homeostasis6. ➢ MCs have been implicated in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis7,8.

▪ We have previously found in a mouse model of cow’s milk allergy (CMA) that intracranial MC numbers9 and histamine 3 receptor (H3R)10 increased after …

Cortical Demyelination And Depression-Like Behavior Are Associated With Histaminergic Dysregulation In A Mouse Model Of Peripheral Inflammation, Danielle Germundson-Hermanson

Biomedical Sciences Posters and Presentations

▪ Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system are increasing in prevalence world-wide1,2 and manifest as motor, behavioral, and/or cognitive defects3 . The etiology and pathophysiology of demyelinating diseases remain unclear.

▪ We have previously observed cortical demyelination in our mouse model of non-anaphylactic cow’s milk allergy4 . The demyelination was associated with depression-like behaviors and region-specific increases in brain histamine and H3 receptor (H3R) levels4,5 .

❖ The brain’s central histaminergic system is tightly controlled and regulates many behaviors. Additionally, signaling through H3R plays a crucial role in oligodendrocyte differentiation, and thus, demyelination and remyelination6 .

▪ We hypothesized …

Understanding Student Experiences Of Renewable And Traditional Assignments, Virginia Clinton-Lisell, Lindsey Gwozdz

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Renewable assignments are student created artifacts that have value outside of courses. However, more empirical inquiry in renewable assignments grounded in theoretical frameworks is necessary. In this study, students (N = 69) engaged in renewable assignments and were asked to report on their perceptions based on the self-determination theory of motivation and social justice principles. Overall, students reported higher levels of motivation as well as more opportunity to represent their identities for renewable assignments than traditional assignments. Students who opted to publicly share reported higher levels of competence and relatedness than did students who did not opt to publicly share.

Associations Between Social Media And Mood, Madison Connors

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

Since its emergence, social media has evolved quickly and to become more widespread year by year (Pew Research Center, 2021). Along with the steady increase of social media use, there has also been a steady increase in depression in the United States, especially in those aged 12-17 (Mental Health America, 2022). This purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social media and mental health by replicating a study conducted by Shensa and colleagues (2017) that investigated the relationship between social media use and depression in U.S. young adults, but also to include measures of fear of missing …

Winter 2023, University Of North Dakota Alumni Association

ALL: UND Alumni Review Master List

Winter 2023 issue of "The University of North Dakota Alumni Magazine." 52 pages

Volume 106, Number 4

Life Skills Training Resource For Individuals Aging Out Of The Foster System, Stephanie Coauette

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this project was to create a training resource for foster families regarding life skills for the population of individuals aging out of the foster care system. There is an identified need for resources for individuals who age out of the foster system for life skills training and basic activities of daily living (ADL) training (Paul-Ward & Lambdin- Pattavina, 2016). Aging out of the foster system means that an individual has turned 18 years old without a legal adoptive family taking responsibility for them (Scannapieco et al., 2007). There is a need for the individuals who are preparing …

The Missing Piece: A Sensory Toolkit For Parents, Educators, Healthcare Professionals, And Caregivers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) And Sensory Processing Disorder (Spd)., Jennavive Holm

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this project is to create educational material pertaining to sensory processing. The intended audience includes families, caregivers, teachers, and other healthcare professional who treat and/or care for individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). This sensory toolkit was developed to enhance parents and caregiver education on ASD and SPD diagnoses to increase both the child’s and the caregiver’s quality of life. It is hoped that this sensory toolkit will provide caregivers with invaluable resources and tools to use outside of the clinic. This product will incorporate the expertise of occupational therapy (OT) …

Living A Trustful Life: A Trauma-Focused Mentorship Program For Foster Youth, Michelle Ann Mcnamee

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Foster youth can experience many challenges as they transition into adulthood which can threaten their success in achieving whom they wish to become. Often, foster youth are exposed to physical, mental, and sexual trauma leading to their removal from their biological home (Engler et al., 2020). Adverse experiences at a young age can be multi-dimensional and long-lasting, leading to negative consequences in occupational performance including self-isolation and hesitation to trust others (Häggman-Laitila et al., 2019; Paul-Ward & Lambdin-Pattavina, 2016).

Assisting Mothers In The Transition Into Motherhood, Abbey Mckenna Marinucci

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The perinatal period ranges from 22 weeks gestation to 2 years postpartum (Hoekzema et al., 2017; Seth et al., 2016; World Health Organization, n.d.). During the perinatal period, intervention is primarily provided by an obstetrician and gynecologist (OBGYN) during pregnancy. Typically, mothers are discharged on average 2.1 days after a natural birth (Podulka et al., 2011). Women are seen at 6 weeks postpartum where mothers’ physical health is the focus of the visit, leaving mothers' mental health concerns unaddressed and questions typically unanswered (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012 & American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2012 as cited in Corrigan …

A Guide For Occupational Therapists: Utilizing Equine-Assisted Therapy For Children In The Foster Care System Dealing With Trauma, Alexis Skogen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

In 2015, over three million children who were affected by trauma or abuse were reported to Child Protective Services (Papovich, 2019). “Children in the foster care system have often been exposed to traumatic experiences such as violence, illicit substances, and neglect” (Crabill & Hanson, 2018, p.8). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can be similar to experiencing trauma; children, prior to entering the foster care system, often experience ACEs (Craig, 2020). Children in the foster care system face hardships such as being taken out of their homes, passing through multiple homes, in addition to other childhood traumas they experience prior to their …

Diversity, Phylogenetics And Life Cycles Of Diplostomoidean (Digenea: Diplostomoidea) Of The Upper Midwest, Jakson Martens

Theses and Dissertations

The superfamily Diplostomoidea Poirier, 1886 consists of a diverse, globally distributed group of parasitic flatworms parasitic as adults in reptiles, birds, mammals, and very rarely, fish. The superfamily Diplostomoidea has a tumultuous history full of genus synonymizations and resurrections. Currently, the superfamily consists of 39 genera parasitizing primarily piscivorous animals as adults to include birds, reptiles, and mammals. This group of parasitic worms remains a highly active area of research and has recently undergone several major systematic changes including the abandonment of a subfamily-based system. Additionally, the influx of data entries in GenBank has lead to confusing nomenclature and misidentifications …

Assessing Options For Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Increasing Energy Production From Municipal Solid Waste Utilizing Epa Models, Marcus Richburg

Theses and Dissertations

The population of the planet surpassed the 8-billion-person mark in 2022, and the increase in population has brought about an increase in waste, both household and commercial. The municipal solid waste that is created is primarily stored in landfills, particularly in the United States. These landfills release methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, creating what is known as anthropogenic emissions, due to their being caused by man-made issues. These two primary gases, along with others, make up greenhouse gases, and their reduction is key to potentially reducing or even reversing the greenhouse effect. Total municipal solid waste generation in …

Spectral Classification Of Eight Stars In Open Cluster Ngc 457, Anthony Braden

Theses and Dissertations

This project aimed to perform spectral analysis and classification on eight target stars in the open star cluster NGC 457 with the University of North Dakota Space Studies Observatory. Selected targets came from a search in the SIMBAD database with a radius of two arcseconds around the cluster's center. The eight brightest stars in the visual spectrum were chosen, which did not have luminosity classifications. Six observing sessions were performed over two years to maximize data quality, given the unpredictability of terrestrial observations. Spectral data were acquired in both high- and low-resolution mode. The spectral data were calibrated and analyzed …

Mitigating Global Temperature Change Through Industrial Sector Improvements: A Case Study In Automotive Manufacturing, Alec Joseph Ernst

Theses and Dissertations

Manufacturing is an integral part of our country’s flow of products and people and a top contributor to carbon emissions, promoting global temperature rise. During processing, toxic substances are emitted across the value chain. These emissions account for nearly 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and the World. Until 2023, an accessible pathway for manufacturing companies to transition to net-zero emissions hasn’t been made readily available. The current research was conducted to determine if reducing carbon emissions in manufacturing facilities through efficiency improvements, process optimization, and technology advancements can mitigate global temperature change.This quantitative, mixed-method approach …

Remote Sensing Of Chlorophyll-A In Small And Medium Lakes In The Minnesota Northern Forest Ecoregion, Jacob Alan Moll

Theses and Dissertations

Algae blooms have become increasingly common in many bodies of water and are occurring in more and more new locations. Past methods have relied on in-situ sampling to determine Chl-a concentrations and can be time and cost intensive. With the use of NASA’s Harmonized Landsat imagery existing methods of index calculation can be implemented, with the added benefit of an increase in temporal resolution. This increase in temporal resolution allows for more detailed spatial and temporal analysis such as hot spot analysis. Harmonized Landsat imagery was proven sufficient in spatial and temporal resolution for detection of Chl-a in small and …

When The Verdict Is Not So Black And White: Juror Perceptions And Judgments Of Biracial Defendants, Mariah Sorby

Theses and Dissertations

Racial disparities are a persistent issue within the United States criminal justice system. Past research has investigated how defendant characteristics (e.g., race and phenotype) and juror attitudes and beliefs (e.g., stereotypes and prejudice) influence mock juror case judgments and perceptions. This literature has primarily investigated outcomes for monoracial defendants. However, there is a significant need for research investigating outcomes of multiracial defendants. The purpose of this project was to investigate the influence of phenotype, crime stereotypes, and juror attitudes on case judgments and perceptions of Black-White Biracial defendants compared to White and Black defendants. Participants were randomly assigned to view …

Neuromodulatory Mechanisms Of Neuropeptides In The Amygdala, Cody Adam Boyle

Theses and Dissertations

The amygdala is a limbic structure critical for emotional processing as well as roles in learning and memory. Disruption of the normal activity of the amygdala has been implicated in several disorders including phobia disorders, anxiety-like disorders, and substance abuse. The function of the amygdala and its role in various disorders is directly related to its underlying cellular activity. The amygdala is both a cortical- and striatal-like structure containing mainly glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, respectively. This dissertation has three aims related to the neuropeptide modulation of these cell types in the basolateral (BLA) and central amygdala (CeA). The first aim …

Environmental Toxicity Of Isoxazoline Drugs On Non-Target Species, Haley M. Cooper

Theses and Dissertations

Lyme disease affects tens of thousands of people every year in the United States, causing serious illness and even death. It is caused by the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, through infected black-legged tick bites. The range of these ticks is expanding, causing Lyme disease cases to increase. Considerable effort has been put toward research and eradication of Lyme disease, with limited success. Isoxazoline drugs, commonly used to prevent flea and tick infestations in dogs, could be dispatched in the field to keep black-legged ticks off the reservoir host of Lyme disease, the White-footed mouse. Little research has been done on …

The Mind Matters: Interprofessional Mental And Emotional Health Guide For Cancer Survivors, Jaecy Giegerich

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Cancer is the second-highest leading cause of death in the United States with approximately 1.9 million new cancer cases and over 600,000 deaths in 2022 alone (Department of Health and Human Services et al., 2022). Cancer-related mental health is a primary barrier for engagement in treatment-related care; negatively impacting survivors’ perceived quality of life (Islam et al., 2022). Comprised mental health is one of the contributing factors to suicide. Patients undergoing a cancer diagnosis are at an ever-high suicide risk with incidences higher than other diagnoses (Saad et al., 2019).

Dietary Whey Protein Increases Brain Leukocytes In Mice Regardless Of Their Hypersensitivity Status, Dilini Ekanayake

Biomedical Sciences Posters and Presentations

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) often manifests as milder reactions and may be linked to neurological problems. Previously, we demonstrated that C57BL/6J mice sensitized to a bovine whey allergen, β-lactoglobulin (BLG, Bos d 5), moderately increased BLG-specific IgE levels and exhibited behavioral changes without severe allergic reactions. When these non-anaphylactic CMA mice were placed on a whey-protein (WP)-containing diet for 2 weeks to simulate continuous dairy consumption, we found neuropathology indicative of neuroinflammation and cortical demyelination. Since immune cells migrate to the central nervous system (CNS) and promote neuroinflammation in demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis, we hypothesized that the number …

Investigating The Potential Role Of Akkermansia Muciniphila Supplementation In Neuroinflammation: A Progress Report, Geetika Verma

Biomedical Sciences Posters and Presentations

Gut bacteria are important for proper development and function of the host immune system (1). Recent studies have provided association of altered microbiome in both food allergy and neuropsychiatric disorders (2, 3) indicating potential role of microbiome in regulating Gut-Brain-Axis. Akkermansia muciniphila belongs to the phylum Verrucomicrobia, is a commensal mucin degrading bacterial species (4). A. muciniphila protects the gut barrier by facilitating host mucus production. Since patients with food allergy have increased gut permeability, protection of intestinal barrier by increased mucus production may be beneficial in preventing allergen and pathogen infiltrations, hence, minimizing inflammation. A. muciniphila is well known …

Ccl2 Suppression In Lewis Lung Carcinoma Model Enhances Host Survival And Immune Response In The Tumor Microenvironment, Nivedita Biswas

Theses and Dissertations

CCL2, a chemokine also referred to as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and small inducible cytokine A, is chemotactic for monocytes. CCL2-induced recruitment of CCR2+Ly6C(hi) monocytes increases vascular permeability CCR2+ endothelium aiding the escape and migration of tumor cells. CCL2 is produced by cancers of varied immunogenicity and augments tumor proliferation and metastasis. Elevated CCL2 expression by tumor cells is linked to poor prognosis.We have previously shown that two bacterially derived superantigens, Staphylococcal enterotoxin G and I (SEG/SEI) stimulate large numbers of T cells in an antigen-independent fashion and promote enhanced survival in the poorly immunogenic B16-F10 melanoma model. Conversely, …

Dyslexia And The Need For General Education Teacher Training, Sheeresa S. Begay

Theses and Dissertations

General education teachers are expected to provide instruction to and promote learning in all students within a general education classroom per state and federal mandates. These mandates ensure students with disabilities like dyslexia are given access to a general education classroom, curriculum, and materials, and provided with support through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan. However, general education teacher training and professional development programs have often been ineffectual in preparing general education teachers for delivering instruction to and promoting learning in individuals with dyslexia. As a result, many general education teachers are unprepared for supporting students with dyslexia …

Tribo-Mechanical Behavior Of Cold Rolled And Directed Energy Deposited Niti Alloy For Space Applications, Hyunsuk Choi

Theses and Dissertations

The manufacturing industry is constantly looking for ways to improve processes and reduce costs while maintaining or enhancing material properties. Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) alloy, also known as Nitinol, has unique properties such as shape memory and superelasticity, which make it a valuable material for various applications in the medical and aerospace industries. However, due to its high toughness, strength, and ductility, NiTi is difficult to form and machine, leading to severe tool wear and high cutting energy. Conventional manufacturing processes have limitations in producing complex or porous designs, restricting NiTi's potential applications. Additive manufacturing techniques have been explored as a way …

Soil Bacteria Composition In Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands Of The Great Plains, Lydia M. Kantonen

Theses and Dissertations

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a grassland restoration program that allows landowners to remove degraded land from crop production, seed it with a perennial seed mixture, and leave it fallow for the remainder of the contract, which usually ranges from 10-15 years. While some ecosystem functions quickly improve upon CRP enrollment, soil organic carbon is slow to return to pre-agricultural levels. One explanation is that particulate organic matter left by litter takes several years to degrade even with a full bacteria community. Alternatively, it is possible that different chemical components of organic matter require different bacteria communities for full …

Natural Fractals And Facial Emotion Recognition, Nathaniel Joseph Pagel

Theses and Dissertations

The psychological benefits that come from visually processing natural imagery have been widely studied. The components of natural imagery that provoke positive responses are not fully understood. This study uses a mixed design approach to identify if the acute exposure to statistical fractal imagery, of both a high-range or mid-range complexity, affects cognitive workload, physiological arousal, and gaze patterns in the recognition and identification of emotions through facial expressions. Participants were undergraduate students fulfilling a partial course requirement (N = 87). Eye-tracking metrics were used to compare exposure to fractal complexities. Participants were randomly assigned to either be exposed to …

Childhood Adversity And The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, Fourth Edition (Mcmi-Iv), Jenna Marie Wolff

Theses and Dissertations

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, 4th edition (MCMI-IV; Millon et al., 2015) is a reliable and valid personality assessment based on Theodore Millon’s biosocial learning theory of personality. Millon’s theory evolved to include 15 personality constructs that vary in adaptive and maladaptive response patterns. In his most recent book (Millon, 2011), he presented hypotheses about biological and environmental factors that contribute to development of each personality construct. Many of these hypotheses specify particular adversities in childhood that differentially contribute to each construct. This study is the first to evaluate Millon’s hypotheses about how childhood adversities may contribute to development of …

The Predictiveness Of Gendered Racism On The Well-Being Of Women Of Color, Mallika Chakrabarti

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests a reduced sense of well-being in women of color who have been experiencing discrimination based on gender or race. Surprisingly, the intersectional discrimination of both gender and race, termed as Gendered Racism, on women of color has received much less attention than the individual variables. The present study seeks to fill a void in literature by offering to examine some effects of gendered racism on aspects of well-being in this population. This study examines the predictiveness of intersectional discrimination based on race and gender – called Gendered Racism - on the well-being of women of color. Well-being was …

The Interplay Between Parp-1 And Histone Modifications In Transcriptional Regulation During Development And Heat Shock Response, Gbolahan Gbenga Bamgbose

Theses and Dissertations

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), a multifunctional nuclear enzyme, plays a crucial role in transcriptional regulation through its three functional domains: the N-terminal DNA-binding domain (DBD), the automodification domain (AD), and the C-terminal domain, which includes the WGR and the catalytic domains. Despite its importance, the mechanisms directing PARP-1 to chromatin remain unclear and PARP-1’s role in development is still poorly understood. In chapter II, we interrogated the role of PARP-1 domains in PARP-1 to chromatin. We used ChIP-seq of YFP-tagged deletional isoforms of PARP-1 and a construct that lacks only the first zinc finger domain (ΔZnI). Interestingly, our findings suggest …

Acaricidal Activity Of The Orally Administered Isoxazoline Drugs (Lotilaner, Fluralaner, And Afoxolaner) In White-Footed Mice Against Larval Ticks, Emily Marie Gisi

Theses and Dissertations

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is currently the most prevalent vector borne disease in North America. With the CDC estimating almost 500,000 new cases every year, methods are needed to control the vector, the black legged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Like other tick-borne diseases, Lyme disease is zoonotic and involves tick parasitism on rodent reservoirs in the wild. The main reservoir host of Lyme disease is the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus). This study aims to explore the effectiveness of a reservoir targeted control approach by the treatment of white-footed mice with oral isoxazoline class drugs. …