Expanding Access To Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy: Integrating Clinical Application And Program Development, Deanna Rietveld

Capstone Projects

This capstone project explored the role of hippotherapy in occupational therapy through enhanced clinical practice skills as well as supporting program development through community education and funding accumulation for the capstone site organization. Guided by a needs assessment drawn from literature, site mentor input, and other local organizations providing similar services, it was determined that occupational therapy using equine movement provides more impactful results while simultaneously addressing deficits in a variety of areas, but lack of financial resources, community participation, and therapy scholarships threaten the opportunity to expand programs and provide access to individuals who would benefit from services. In …

Practical Exploration Of The Role Of Occupational Therapy In A Nature-Based School Setting, Emma Campbell

Capstone Projects

School-based occupational therapy (OT) plays a critical role in supporting children’s participation, development, and engagement in educational environments. However, non-traditional school settings often lack therapeutic supports, such as OT services. The purpose of this doctoral capstone experience (DCE) is to explore and expand the role of occupational therapy within a non-traditional academic setting, specifically a nature-based preschool program. Sunflower Farm’s preschool program provides a unique learning environment that supports children’s development through farm-based learning. While this setting offers rich opportunities for exploration and growth, additional supports are needed to facilitate students’ sensory processing, self-regulation, and participation.

The objectives of this …

Simple Guide To Using Generative Artificial Intelligence Writing Tools In Research & Scholarship At Unh, Julie Simpson, Patricia Condon, Bonnie Brown, William C. Clyde, James J. Connell, Ramonda Kindle, Jennifer Miksis-Olds, Christopher Neefus, Jennifer O’Brien, Theresa Oehmke, Shantel Palacio, Allyson Ryder, Nathan A. Schwadron, John E. Sparrow, Xueting Sun, Engin Taze, May-Win Thein, Anita R. Tucker, Karen T. Van Gundy, James Wible

Integrity in Research and Scholarship

While Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have existed for years, the recent arrival of widespread generative AI writing tools such as ChatGPT has provoked varied reactions in the scholarly community worldwide. Undoubtedly easy access to such tools may help to level the scholarly playing field for certain groups, particularly those with limited writing skills or proficiency with English as the primary language for written and oral communication of research and scholarship. There are, however, concerns about these tools, including, but not limited to, the accuracy, consistency, and bias of the information generated, appropriate acknowledgement of source material, and the tools’ lack …

Oral Health-Related Quality Of Life (Ohrqol) In People With Dentin Hypersensitivity: A Systematic Review Of Interventional Studies, Sumanth Kumbargere Nagraj, Georgios Kitsaras, K. Bekes, C.L. Randall, K. Asimakopoulou

Peninsula Dental School

ObjectiveThis systematic review, the first in this field, aimed to evaluate if interventions for dentin hypersensitivity (DH) affect patient-reported oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).MethodsA systematic search was conducted across seven electronic databases and gray literature sources, focusing on interventional studies published from 2010 onward. Eligible studies included adult participants with DH and assessed OHRQoL using validated measures. Data extraction followed the PRISMA guidelines. Risk of bias was appraised using the JBI tool.ResultsThirteen randomized controlled trials involving 616 participants were included. Interventions ranged from desensitizing agents, fluoride varnishes, and laser therapy to nonpharmacological approaches like behavioral techniques. QoL was measured …

Learning The Notes: Developing Absolute Pitch, Emma Joyce

Student Publications and Presentations

Absolute pitch (AP) is the ability to identify or name a musical pitch without the aid of a reference tone. Although the concept has been known for centuries, the processes of its development remain unclear. Researchers have proposed a variety of explanations, yet despite advances in neuroscience and cognitive psychology, there is still no agreement on whether AP results from natural ability or learned experience. By understanding neurological and developmental research, reviewing existing literature, analyzing case studies, and evaluating current theories, this paper aims to identify gaps in previous research and suggests a new approach for developing AP in young …

The Role Of Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence In Crewed Mars Missions, Jordan Neuman

Student Publications and Presentations

The suggestion of implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in crewed missions to the Martian surface can revolutionize mission operations, psychological support, and ethical decision‑making under challenging conditions. This study is a structured, qualitative literature review of current AI research for the future of human space exploration. It uses publicly available peer‑reviewed journal articles and NASA/ESA technical reports on AI for Mars missions. Using Perplexity, the researcher first prompted the AI tool to identify recurring topics across these sources and generate themes. The researcher independently reviewed all sources to confirm and refine those themes. Three themes—mission autonomy, local resource utilization and life‑support, …

Moving On Stage, Moving The Audience: The Overlooked Impacts Of Body Language On Performance Reception Of Classical Music, Julia Jacobsen

Student Publications and Presentations

A large focus in productions of classical music is put towards executing the music at the highest level to achieve both the composer’s and interpreter’s visions. However, modern-day musicians often overlook the importance of visually conveying their music through their emotional expressions and movements. In this paper, I will examine existing research on audience perceptions of classical music performances, utilizing highly successful musicians as examples to determine their impact on audience reception of classical music. In so doing, I hope to develop strategies for greater audience engagement that will help music students and performers increase their connection to their auditors. …

Digital Marketplaces As Conditional Economic Infrastructure In Conflict-Affected Economies, Diana Umerova

Student Publications and Presentations

Armed conflict disrupts trade, logistics, and financial institutions, constraining firms’ ability to participate in domestic and international markets. While prior research documents macroeconomic losses and supply-chain shocks, there is limited explanatory analysis of how digital marketplaces operate as conditional economic infrastructure under active conflict. Using the Russia–Ukraine war as a contextual case, this thesis extends a qualitative, secondary-data analysis to explain how digital marketplaces function through the economic mechanisms of alternative market access, organizational reconfiguration, and digital payment facilitation, while acknowledging structural constraints, elevated transaction costs, and platform governance risks. Building on existing research, the study argues that digital marketplaces …

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation And Visual Recognition Recovery After Stroke, Ivy Westfall, Brandy Whitford

Student Publications and Presentations

Every year, many stroke survivors experience challenges that go beyond movement. In addition to physical weakness, changes in thinking and vision can last long after the stroke. Most rehabilitation programs focus first on balance and motor skills. As a result, problems with visual recognition and interpretation can go unnoticed. When the temporal lobe is damaged, a person may not be able to recognize familiar faces, everyday objects, or even well-known places, even when they can see. Virtual reality (VR) has become a growing tool in stroke recovery. By immersing patients in interactive, goal-directed visual environments, VR may engage neuroplastic mechanisms …

Modeling Early Human Heart Development Using An Ipsc-Based 3d Bioprinted Model Of Embryonic Heart Tube, Linqi Jin, Christian Park, Sunder Neelakantan, Shweta Karnik, Arnab Dey, Sarah Fineman, Roshni Nandwani, Carmen J Gil, Boeun Hwang, Melissa A Cadena, Vani Sridhar, Jing Wang, Yuxiao Wu, Connor J Evans, Lan Li, Sarah Rezapourdamanab, Mehdi Salar Amoli, Martin L Tomov, Ryan K Roeder, Reza Avazmohammadi, Lakshmi Prasad Dasi, Hanjoong Jo, Eric Weeks, Holly D Bauser-Heaton, Sean M Wu, Vahid Serpooshan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Human heart development depends on tightly coordinated genetic programs and biomechanical cues, yet the underlying cell-microenvironment interactions remain poorly understood because the developing heart is difficult to study in utero and accurate experimental models are lacking. Recent advances in stem cell biology and three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting now allow the construction of human tissue analogues with defined structure and function. Here we show a perfusable 3D bioprinted model of the human embryonic heart tube composed of layered myocardium, cardiac jelly, and endocardium. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells are cultured under controlled flow conditions, producing constructs with high …

Engineering Function In Lung Biology: Integrating Imaging, Regenerative Constructs, And Functional Biodesign, Rene A Girard, Jamie Tran, Yuqing Cai, Mary C Farach-Carson, Hadi T Nia, Allison M Greaney, Laura E Niklason, Killian Hurley, Elvin Blanco, Sinem Koc-Günel, Harry Karmouty-Quintana

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The lung is a uniquely demanding target for regeneration because function depends on the coordinated integration of cellular diversity, three-dimensional architecture, cyclic mechanical forces, vascular perfusion, immune surveillance, and extracellular matrix remodeling. While single-cell and spatial profiling, lineage tracing, and iPSC-derived models have transformed our understanding of lung cell states and developmental potential, these descriptive approaches have also highlighted a central bottleneck: the field still lacks broadly adopted platforms to test whether engineered tissues and regenerative interventions restore function under physiologic load. In this review, we focus on emerging technologies that enable functional biodesign in lung biology by coupling engineered …

29th Annual Women's, Gender, And Sexuality Studies Symposium Program, 2026, Illinois State University, Women's, Gender, And Sexuality Studies Program

WGSS Student Research Symposium

Program from the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Symposium

A Continuous Viral Vaccine Biomanufacturing Platform Utilizing Multiple Bioreactor Configurations, Justin Sargunas, Bradley Priem, Dylan Carman, Taravat Sarvari, Natalie Nold, Vaishali Sharma, Andrew Pekosz, Caryn Heldt, Michael Betenbaugh

Michigan Tech Publications

Scalable, continuous biomanufacturing processes have grown in importance to meet demand for smaller bioreactor sizes, lowered production costs, and improved quality attribute consistency. The Sf9/recombinant baculovirus (rBV) expression system demonstrates promise for virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine and gene therapy production. Here, we present a continuous rBV platform integrating an infection plug flow reactor (PFR) between stirred tank growth (gCSTR) and production (pCSTR) bioreactors. Cell expansion in the gCSTR included a ramp-up stage followed by continuous growth, reaching a steady state of 5×10 cells/mL and >90% viability. Péclet number-fit tracer studies confirmed near-ideal plug flow in the PFR, yielding a 10 …

Implementing Population Health Management (Phm) Across An Integrated Care System In England, Using Action Learning Sets And An Embedded, Formative Process Evaluation., Julian Elston, Sheena Asthana, Felix Gradinger

Peninsula Medical School

AbstractIntroduction: Population Health Management (PHM) is a UK priority for Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), aiming to deliver proactive, preventative, person-centred care using integrated health and care datasets. However, evidence on implementation in primary care remains limited.Methods: This comparative case study used embedded researchers, ethnography, interviews, and observations to formatively evaluate a 24-month PHM programme across 31 Primary Care Networks in one ICS. Data were thematically analysed using Excel and NVivo, with findings fed back to participants to guide programme delivery.Results: Around 200 stakeholders participated in Action Learning Sets, fostering cross-sector collaboration within four localities. Few innovations, developed using integrated datasets, …

Trump's Job Approval Ratings Continue To Slide In Nh, Majority Support Changes For Federal Elections 4/24/2026, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Six in ten New Hampshire residents disapprove of President Donald Trump’s overall job performance and ratings of his handling of foreign affairs are even lower. Majorities in New Hampshire support several proposed changes to federal election laws, including requiring photo ID, requiring physical evidence of citizenship to register to vote, requiring states to set up programs to remove noncitizens from voter rolls, and requiring registration in person. Less than one-third of state residents believe the country is headed in the right direction.

Approval Of Trump's Handling Of Foreign Policy & Economy Falls In Rhode Island 4/24/2026, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Two-thirds of Rhode Island residents disapprove of President Donald Trump's overall job performance. Assessments of his handling of foreign affairs and the economy have also slumped since February, particularly among Independents. Majorities of Rhode Islanders support several proposed changes to federal election laws. Just over two-thirds of Rhode Islanders believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.

An Exploration Of Attention And Breathing In Functional Voice Disorders, Kiley Hazelton Herr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

In functional voice disorders (FVD), voice dysfunction exists in excess or the absence of organic voice pathology. Modern etiologic frameworks emphasize cognitive, emotional, and autonomic processes in the onset and maintenance of symptoms, encapsulating FVD as a subtype of functional neurologic movement disorders (mFND). Despite extensive investigation into emotional aspects of FVD, cognitive aspects, notably attention, remain underexplored. Consequently, the mechanisms which catalyze predisposing factors into physical symptoms are incompletely understood. This multimodal study investigated whether individuals with FVD demonstrated differences in attentional processing and related physiological processes (i.e., breathing and autonomic regulation) compared to individuals with social anxiety (SA) …

Impact Of Optimized Afos On Functional Outcomes In Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy., Teresa Pierce, Alyssa Laforme Fiss, Mark Geil, Karl Barner

PCOM Scholarly Works

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the immediate functional impact of wearing ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) designed using the Optimal Segment Kinematics and Alignment approach to Rehabilitation (OSKAR method) versus wearing standard ankle foot orthosis (AFO)-footwear in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Methods

Ten participants, ages seven to 13 years, from local pediatric clinics in a large suburban area participated in the study. Each participant wore both types of orthoses in a randomized order. This was determined by participants choosing a sealed envelope containing a sticker indicating which orthosis to be worn for the first data collection. Participants were …

Interview No. 1818, Julianna Esparza

Combined Interviews

Julianna Esparza reflects on growing up in Segundo Barrio and how those experiences shaped her identity, activism and nonprofit work. This interview preserves personal memories and reflections about community transformation, education, and activism.

Investigating The Synergistic Effects Of Mental And Physical Exhaustion On Learning And Attention In Emergency First Responders: An Eye-Tracking Study, Kayla Page

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Exhaustion is known to impair cognitive functioning and performance, yet its effects on learning during video-based instruction among first responders and military service members remain underexplored. This study examined how mental, physical, and combined exhaustion independently influence learning outcomes and visual attention in a physically active sample drawn from military, public safety, and emergency service roles. Visual attention was measured utilizing eye tracking, focusing on fixation duration (FD) and fixation rate (FR). Participants completed instructional tasks under each exhaustion condition, allowing comparison of learning and gaze behavior across fatigue states. Results indicated that mental and physical exhaustion were associated …

Advancing Common Fixed Point Theorems In Bipolar Fuzzy-2 Metric Space And Applications In Nonlinear Analysis, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Mukesh Kushwaha

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study advances common fixed point theorems (CFPT) in bipolar fuzzy-2 metric space (BF2MS) and explores their applications in nonlinear analysis. BF2MS generalizes traditional metric and fuzzy metric spaces (FMS) by incorporating dualistic relationships, allowing the representation of both attraction and repulsion effects. We extend classical fixed point theorems (FPTs) to BF2MS, establishing conditions for the existence of common fixed points (CFPs). The study's applications span nonlinear analysis, stability analysis, control theory, and multi-criteria decision-making under uncertainty. Our findings refine existing results and provide practical real-world applications, supported by numerical examples, enhancing fuzzy mathematics and nonlinear systems modeling.

Design And Implementation Of A Monte Carlo Integrated Graphical User Interface For Rocketpy, An Open Source, Python-Based High-Power Rocketry Library, Elena Maria Dishman

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Comparative Phytochemical And Antioxidant Analysis Of Acalypha Wilkesiana Extracts Using Different Solvents, Tj Cataloni, Victor Chibuzor Johnson, Gabrielle Depowski

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

Medicinal plants are a rich source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. Antioxidants play a critical role in combating oxidative stress associated with chronic diseases. The extration of these compounds depends on solvent polarity, affecting yield and composition. Acalypha wilkesiana provides an excellent model for such studies. This work presents an evaluation of phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of A. wilkesiana extracts obtained using solvents of varying polarity.

Thiocoumarin As A Photocaging Scaffold: Synthesis And Light- Triggered Release, Angelina Gaffey, Gabrielle Depowski, Victor Johnson

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

Photocaging involves inhibiting a molecule’s function with a photolabile protecting group (PPG), allowing for precise spatiotemporal control and release of the molecule in vivo. Photocages which respond to UV light upon single photon irradiation have limited use in vivo due to cytotoxicity. Thiocoumarin is a promising photocage which absorbs in the visible light region and can cage multiple essential neurotransmitters, such as GABA and glutamate. In addition, thiocoumarin can be easily tracked through live cells due to its persistent fluorescence throughout the caging process. In this project, GABA was utilized to explore the properties of thiocoumarin as a light-triggered photocage.

Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes From Kraft Lignin, Savannah Madairy, Ayden Weil, Eric Huynh, Elliott Bischof

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

Adhesives from isocyanate polyurethanes have strong bonding properties yet pose serious health risks in both production and daily life. Kraft Lignin, a common organic waste, contains the functional groups that can make a renewable alternative and replace isocyanate’s role in adhesives. Our production plant will be placed in Rome, Georgia attached to an existing paper mill with competitive pricing of 26.47$/kg. Our three-step process proposes a sustainable approach to producing polyurethane adhesives without incorporating isocyanates.

Sustainable Ethanol Production From Agricultural Waste, Eva Shealy, Bre Venditti, Muath Alharbi, Jacob Dymock

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

This project presents a commercial-scale process which converts waste corn stover into fuel grade ethanol through syngas fermentation. By integrating thermochemical conversion with microbial processing, the design explores an innovative pathway for ethanol production, resulting in a lower-impact alternative to traditional processes.

Photoswitchable Metal Chelators, Rhea Sharma

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

Develop a light-responsive chelator that switches between OFF and ON metal-binding states, enabling spatiotemporal control of metal coordination.

Spacepnp, Khurram Valiyev, Sam Warner, Jabari Sterling, Samuel Kaguima

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

Our mission is to eliminate design-to-procurement using a unified ecosystem that users can discover, validate, and preview components with confidence.

Reconstructing Nebraska’S Late Quaternary Paleoenvironment, Landscape Change, And Human–Environment Dynamics Using Diatoms And Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dating, Gosia Mahoney

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

This dissertation examines Holocene environmental change and human–environment interactions in the Nebraska Sand Hills by integrating geomorphic, paleoenvironmental, and geochronological data. It presents three complementary studies that together explore how climatic variability, local landscape processes, and human activity influenced environmental systems.

The first study reconstructs the early Holocene evolution of a dune-dammed valley in the central Sand Hills. Stratigraphic, sedimentological, and diatom evidence indicate that eolian activity resulted in a blocked fluvial system, leading to elevated groundwater levels and the formation of a wetland that later developed into a lake. Notably, this transformation occurred under relatively dry conditions, demonstrating that …

Visualization For Formal Languages, Chris Pinto-Font, Andrew Bastien, Vincent Borrelli, Keegan Mcnear

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Student Publications

The primary goal is student comprehension of complex DFA concepts.

This project is important for students and professors because being able to visualize Deterministic Finite Automota (DFA) and how it is created and expressed can lead to better understanding of how parsing and computation works.