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Outcomes Associated With Absent Blood Product Utilization In Jehovah’S Witness Patients Compared To The Standard Of Care In Cardiac Surgery, Nathan Fields, Ayesha Ather, Dan Davenport, Sadiq Ahmed, Michael Sekela

Surgery Faculty Publications

Introduction: For Jehovah’s Witness (JW) patients requiring cardiac surgery, various strategies such as preoperative use of erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs), intravenous iron (IVI), and non-pharmacologic interventions have emerged to prevent complications from blood loss given transfusion is not acceptable in this population. Methods: Retrospective case-control of cardiac surgeries performed by the same surgeon between 1/1/2011 and 8/30/2021. JW patients were matched to non-JW who received blood products and non-JW who did not receive blood products on a 1:2:2 basis. Patients were matched on procedure, age, gender, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons morbidity score. Eligible patients were aged >18 years and …

Shared Roles Of Immune And Stromal Cells In The Pathogenesis Of Human Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome, Patrick W. Mellors, Ana N. Lange, Bruno Casino Remondo, Maksim Shestov, Joseph D. Planer, Andrew R. Peterson, Yun Ying, Su Zhou, Jason D. Christie, Joshua M. Diamond, Edward Cantu, Maria C. Basil, Saar Gill

Surgery Faculty Publications

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is a progressive, fatal obstructive lung disease that occurs following lung transplant, where it is termed chronic lung allograft dysfunction BOS (CLAD-BOS), or as the primary manifestation of pulmonary chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD-BOS) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Disease pathogenesis is poorly understood; however, chronic alloreactivity is common to both conditions, suggesting a shared pathophysiology. We performed single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) on explanted human lungs from 4 patients with CLAD-BOS, 3 patients with cGVHD-BOS, and 3 deceased controls to identify cell types, genes, and pathways enriched in BOS to better understand disease mechanisms. In …

Bridging Theory And Practice: Aquatic Occupational Therapy For Functional Rehabilitation In Parkinson’S Disease, Chelsea L. Tate

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Experience and Project is to develop a theoretical framework and supporting program to guide the application of aquatic interventions specific to Parkinson’s disease treatment, while highlighting the therapeutic benefits that can be integrated into occupational therapy practice. The framework and program focus on improving overall physicality, cognitive, and functional performance for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Care For The Carer: A Program For Caregivers & Their Loved One, Luke Allen

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Project is to reduce the burden experienced by dementia caregivers due to unmet physical, mental, and social needs. To meet this objective, CAREpackages with resources pertinent to dementia caregiving, with accompanying Dementia Difficulty educational videos will be delivered to families from low socio-economic backgrounds in the Northeast Arkansas community.

Bridging The Gap Between Occupational Therapy & Animal-Assisted Therapy (Aat), Aspen Campbell Smith

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project involves developing advocacy resources to support occupational therapy practitioners in the ethical, safe, and effective integration of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) into clinical practice. The tools aim to increase practitioner awareness, support ethical decision-making, and promote client-centered, evidence-based animal-assisted therapy services.

Roadwell: An Occupational Therapy-Based Telehealth Platform To Improve Wellness Among Over-The-Road Truck Drivers, Phylecia G. Mason

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This doctoral capstone project aimed to design and implement RoadWell, a mobile wellness platform usingthe Person–Environment–Occupation–Performance (PEOP) model, to improve occupational performance and well-being. RoadWell addresses the interaction between the person, environment, and occupation by delivering real-time, evidence-informed strategies that meet drivers where they are—in their real work environments, doing real work.

Rooted In Play: Empowering Development Through Nature-Based Occupational Therapy, Nicole Roper

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The doctoral capstone project included advocating for the use of outdoor play by identifying and emphasizing the benefits of occupational therapy (OT) involvement within nature-based therapy for pediatric patients and creating nature-based therapy recourses for caregivers and occupational therapists.

Impaired Mental Health In Adolescents: Socioeconomically Challenged Geographic Locations, Brittany E. Kunkel

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This capstone project aligns occupational therapy strategies with the environmental, social, and institutional contexts that shape adolescent mental health, enabling holistic and culturally responsive interventions that address not only individual needs but also broader systemic influences.

More Than A Crown: Creating Leaders And Connecting Communities, Grace Addison Ross

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

More than a Crown is a doctoral capstone experience (DCE) that promotes community integration for girls with intellectual disabilities by enhancing their leadership skills. Participants engage in a six-week leadership program that focuses on developing the following skills: confidence, poise, creativity, self-exploration, conversation, and active listening.

Utilizing Animal-Assisted Therapy To Address Pyschosocial Implications Of The Geriatric Population In A Residential Facility, Blaire Kennon Bassham

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Older adults in residential care frequently experience psychosocial challenges such as isolation, depression, and reduced engagement in meaningful activity. Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), when integrated into occupational therapy, offers a powerful, evidence-based means to address these concerns by promoting emotional well-being, social connection, and purposeful interaction. This capstone project leveraged AAT as a therapeutic intervention specifically designed to meet psychosocial needs.

Review Of Killing Over Land: Murder And Diplomacy On The Early American Frontier, Bryan C. Rindfleisch

History Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Women’S Evolving Roles: Gender, Authority, And The History Of Latter-Day Saint Patriarchy, Zachary Brady

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This project aims to further understand contemporary women’s issues within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by answering three questions. 1) What social and doctrinal factors have influenced the development of patriarchal structures within the LDS Church, and how have these factors evolved? 2) What are the current leadership and decision-making roles available to LDS women, and how does church membership feel about them? 3) What ideas exist for progress in gender equality and women’s leadership? This discussion provides relevant historical context, outlines current issues regarding LDS women’s authority challenges and theological interpretations, and numerous proposed solutions from …

Impacts Of Reef Fish Length On Foraging Radius: Exploring Behavioral Patterns Within A Patch Reef Ecosystem, Kilia Brawand

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Reef fish exhibit various behaviors upon the Great Barrier Reef. One of these behaviors includes that of limiting their grazing distances from a patch reef refuge to a certain maximum distance in order to avoid predators. This is defined as a ‘foraging radius’ or ‘margin of safety’. This ‘foraging radius’ varies among fish due to many factors- including species, morphology, ontogenesis, habitat complexity, and importantly: speed. Quicker fish can outswim predators to safety more efficiently than slower fish, and can therefore afford to travel farther distances to forage. Speed varies among fish for a number of reasons, including fish size …

Phylogeny And Historical Biogeography Of Uroleucon Aphids, Audrey Michelle Mullen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The aphid genus Uroleucon (Aphididae: Aphidinae: Macrosiphini) is a diverse group of about 230 species found globally in most temperate regions, principally in the northern hemisphere. Only 23 species are described from the southern hemisphere, in South American temperate regions such as Chile, Argentina, and Peru. However, the origins of the South American species are unknown, as are the relationships of these taxa to northern hemisphere Uroleucon species. This study seeks to establish the relationships between Uroleucon aphids native to South America and their North American and Eurasian counterparts using genetic data. We use phylogenetic analysis of cytochrome c oxidase …

On The Challenges Posed By Non-Machian Solutions To Relationalism In General Relativity, Zachary Matthew Zito

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The relationship between Mach’s Principle and solutions to Einstein’s field equations is examined, with special attention to Friedmann-Lematre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) cosmology. Mach’s Principle is outlined, and the extent to which general relativity fulfills Machs vision is assessed. It is argued that several important solutions to Einsteins equations, particularly the FLRW cosmological models, embody key Machian features. In order to elucidate the FLRW cosmological model, the associated energy-momentum tensor for a perfect fluid under the assumptions of large-scale homogeneity and isotropy is derived and used to obtain the Friedmann equations that govern cosmic expansion. It is shown that FLRW cosmology can be …

Establishing Methods For In Vitro Static Culture Of Gut Microbiomes For Nutritional Intervention Studies, Jeremy Mathew Case

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Lipid oxidation products (LOPs), which form during high-heat processing of oils common in Western diets, are known to cause inflammation and cellular damage. While LOPs have been implicated in exacerbating colitis and promoting colon tumorigenesis in mouse models, their direct impact on the gut microbiome remains poorly understood. This capstone project aimed to develop a low-cost in vitro protocol to culture the mouse gut microbiome under anaerobic conditions, enabling future investigations into the direct effects of bioactive dietary compounds such as LOPs. The study also assessed whether viable microbial communities could be recovered from fecal samples stored at -80°C. Fecal …

Stock Pitch: Robinhood Markets (Hood), Morgan Cole

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This capstone project presents an in-depth analysis and valuation of Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD). Robinhood Markets is a revolutionary fintech platform aiming to democratize finance and investing.

The company was founded in 2013 in Menlo Park, California by Vladimir Tenev and Baiju Bhatt. The co-founders created an intuitive mobile trading platform and were the first to offer commission-free trading. Robinhood has opened the door to investing to a new demographic through the easy-to-use mobile app, the ability to buy and sell fractional shares (this makes purchasing shares of companies with high share prices accessible to more individuals), in-app financial …

Reevaluating The Drumian Carbon Isotope Excursion (Dice) In Western-Central Utah, Michelle M. Norman

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The Drumian Stage of the Cambrian Period is defined by the First Appearance Datum (FAD) of the cosmopolitan trilobite Ptychagnostus atavus in 504.5 Ma strata deposited on the slope and shelf of the Laurentia margin. The Drumian Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), showing the best preserved example of P. atavus compared to global outcrops, is defined in the Drum Mountains of west-central Utah. Due to the inconsistent nature of fossil preservation, researchers have sought secondary proxies to identify Drumian-aged strata in the absence of age-diagnostic fauna. One key proxy is the Drumian Carbon Isotope Excursion (DICE), an ~-2.5‰ carbon …

Training Lander For Rover Arm Testing, James Peck

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The purpose of this honors capstone project is to design and fabricate a training lander to support the Utah State University (USU) rover team in preparation for the University Rover Challenge (URC). The URC is an international collegiate competition featuring four missions, one of which—the Equipment Servicing Mission—demands a high level of robotic arm functionality and operator skill. Historically, USU's rover teams have struggled to qualify for the URC finals, in part due to limited hands-on training opportunities with the robotic arm.

To address this gap, the training lander replicates the tasks found in the URC Equipment Servicing Mission, such …

To Bee Or Not To Bee: Investigating Pesticide Behavior Inside And Outside Of Semi-Field Cages, Mallory Bingham

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Bees play an important role in ecosystems and food production through pollination. One such bee, the alfalfa leaf cutting bee (ALCB) is a very efficient pollinator and is essential in alfalfa seed production. However, bees face increasing harm, most notably due to the deleterious effect of pesticides used in agriculture, and much research is dedicated to investigating the extent of effects that pesticides have on different bee populations. One common tool used to study the effects of pesticide exposure on bees is semi-field cages. These cages have some key advantages, such as restricting bee foraging to plots sprayed with pesticides …

State Legislature Demographics And Anti-Transgender Legislation, Sophie Christensen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Starting in 2015, anti-transgender bills have been introduced in state legislatures in exponentially increasing numbers, with a sharp uptick in 2020 and numbers that nearly doubled every year since then. These bills concern a wide variety of issues, from sports participation for transgender adolescents to drag bans to restrictions on bathroom usage. This paper finds that only a small percentage of the bills are passed into law, indicating that passing laws is less important to legislators than introducing bills. Given these intentions, this paper seeks to analyze the demographic makeup of chambers that introduce and pass these bills to understand …

Untapped Potential: Many Intelligent Female Accountants Are Not In The Workforce, Heidi Sundberg

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As the shortage of accountants in the U.S. continues to increase, it is crucial to examine what barriers are keeping women from remaining in the workforce. This research project focuses on women in accounting, especially mothers, and what changes can be made so that they are more likely to continue pursuing career growth, instead of becoming stay-at-home moms. This report focuses on what barriers women in Utah’s accounting profession face when trying to get promotions while fulfilling family commitments and how their perspectives differ from those of their management.

The basis of this research was done through a survey that …

Data Science For Engineers, Heidi Moulton

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Undergraduate research is a core pillar of Utah State University’s College of Engineering. Many students become involved with research during their Junior and Senior years and begin to generate various forms of data. Most students, however, have received little formal education on how to process data, and there are currently no readily available resources within the College of Engineering. As a Mechanical Engineering and Data Science double major, I found the data processing techniques I learned in my Data Science courses invaluable as an undergraduate researcher, and now as a Mechanical Engineer at Apogee Instruments, I frequently draw upon these …

Evaluating The Self-Healing Capabilities Of Engineered Cementitious Composite Mixtures, Emma W. Baggett

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) is a class of ductile fiber-reinforced concrete designed to exhibit strain-hardening and multiple fine microcracking, instead of large brittle cracks, under tensile loading. The presence of high volume of non-hydrated cement particles in ECC have demonstrated self-healing potential of cracks in ECC. This study evaluates the influence of two ECC additives, limestone powder and crumb rubber, on the self-healing performance of ECC. Three ECC mixture designs were developed: a control mixture, a limestone powder-modified mixture and a crumb rubber modified mixture. Self-healing was monitored over a period of 90 days under alternating wet and dry conditions …

Domestic Challenges, Cultural Factors Driving Ecuador's Authoritarianism Acceleration, Benjamin F. Berlin

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Using the Cultural Topography (CTops) methodology, this paper provides insight to US policymakers into the cultural factors, combined with current domestic challenges, that are driving Ecuadorians toward authoritarianism. The CTops methodology requires practitioners to conduct primary research on a specific group, which is the population of Ecuador in this paper. To conduct this research, cultural texts and artifacts such as newspaper articles, monuments honoring national heroes, websites and blog posts, and many others were analyzed. Secondary research and an evaluation of current operational realities were also used to inform this paper. Once considered an “Island of Peace,” Ecuador is in …

Death In A Small Town, Christine Cooper

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Today, those who experience the loss of a loved one are far removed from the process of nursing the dying and watching over the dead. These tasks are relegated to professionals with specific education, certifications, and licensing. With advances in medical technology and hospitals in most communities staffed with well-trained doctors and nurses, the process of dying is more prolonged than that of the late-19th and early-20th centuries in rural small towns. Additionally, with the rise of the death care industry family involvement is often limited to choosing a casket and organizing services. In some ways death has become an …

President's Commission On The Status Of Women: 2024-2025 Annual Report, University Of Dayton. Women's Center

Women's Center Reports, Commentaries and Other Resources

No abstract provided.

Transcription Factor Y- Box Binding Protein 1 (Ybx1) Enhances Sorafenib Resistance And Tumorigenic Capacities In Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Hcc), Dennis Kwabiah

Theses and Dissertations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer, with early-stage cases potentially benefiting from surgical treatments like liver transplantation and hepatectomy. However, advanced HCC stages have poor prognosis due to resistance to therapies, especially sorafenib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for late-stage HCC. Despite its clinical use, sorafenib has limited efficacy in prolonging survival, and the mechanisms of resistance remain unclear. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HCC dataset shows elevated Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) expression in HCC tumors compared to normal liver tissues. Previous studies have indicated that YBX1 is involved in drug resistance in various …

Investigation Into The Effectiveness Of G-C3n4 For The Degradation Of Indigo Dye In Aqueous Solution Via Electrocatalysis, Rolando R. Barron Jr

Theses and Dissertations

Indigo dye (IUPAC 2-(3-hydroxy-1H-indol-2-yl)indol-3-one) is one of the most used dyes in the textile industry worldwide with more than 40,000 tons produced each year. It can elicit adverse physiological responses in humans including vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal conditions, and it is toxic in large amounts. There is also evidence to suggest that indigo is a teratogen and genotoxic in aquatic life. Environmentally, the enormous amount of indigo used in the textile industry has caused rivers and waterways to run blue as well as severely impacting aquatic and plant ecosystems. The chemicals used in its synthesis are also …

#Helpplz: Mental Health Representation In Theatre For Young Audiences, Kate Elizabeth Dirrigl

Theses and Dissertations

#HELPPLZ is a play for young theater audiences that depicts four teenagers with various mental health challenges. It’s target audience is for children ages ten to fifteen and should be performed by actors of similar ages. #HELPPLZ is an immersive theatre experience, as a audience members watch four actors perform from four different lifestyles and point of views, all while broadcast on screens behind the actors. Every seat is a good seat in the house. This play follows a shift in trends of mental health depiction in contemporary theatre. No longer demonized and much more accessible, plays such as Dear …