Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Patient-Derived Ipsc Model To Study Glutamate Deficiency By Shank-3 Mutation In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tiffany Berry, Courtney Caccia

Biology Student Scholarship

Tiffany Berry ’22, Majors: Biology and Psychology

Courtney Caccia ’22, Majors: Biology and Psychology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Charles Toth, Biology

The use of human stem cell lines derived from persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) provides a unique opportunity to model brain growth and potential to regain brain activity for treatment. Our lab has previously used stem cells to derive 3D cardiomyocytes to examine cardiovascular disease as well as kidney organoids and macrophages to study kidney disease. Using techniques our lab has learned using these stem cell models have prepared us to examine cell communication in mutated neurons. We will …

Psychological Safety In Pre-Licensure Nursing Simulation, Lauren Rickman

DNP Projects

Background

Simulation-based experiences (SBEs) allow learners to use clinical decision-making, clinical judgment, and hands-on skills to analyze and respond to realistic clinical situations in a controlled, interactive environment. Psychological safety (PS) is essential for increasing a learner's engagement in an SBE. Psychologically safe learning environments allow students to feel valued and comfortable speaking up and taking risks without consequences to themselves or others, promoting learning and innovation. Measuring PS may help simulation faculty improve their learning environment by supporting learning-oriented behavior and boosting students' clinical competency.

Purpose

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) scholarly project was to …

Associations Between State Regulations And Midwifery Workforce Access, Acacia Herndon

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Background: U.S is worst in maternal care; Credible support for CNMs as a solution; Independent licensing has been ineffective; Other factors may influence access

The State Of Mental Health In The Mountain West, Olivia K. Cheche, Kristian Thymianos, Katie M. Gilbertson

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

How do the Mountain West states (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) perform in the quality of mental health care services? How prevalent are mental health issues in the Mountain West? How accessible is the mental health workforce to adults and youth?

Identification Of Lipid Species: Potential Biomarkers For Early Detection Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Kit Yee Leung, Kaylee Freitas

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. HCC is associated with cirrhosis. Poor survival rate of HCC is due to diagnosis of HCC at late stage.

The Relationship Between Misophonia Sensitivity And Musicality, Mae Ling Catayong, Sarah Uganiza, William Smithers, Aileen Corral, Sivan Barashy, Solena Mednicoff, Destiny Gonzales

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Misophonia is a condition characterized by negative emotional reactions to certain everyday sounds. Musicality involves Active Musical Engagement (AE), Self-reported Perceptual Abilities (PA), Musical Training (MT), Self-reported Singing Abilities (SA), Sophisticated Emotional Engagement with Music (EM), and General musical sophistication (GM). Numerous active musicians have self-reported having misophonia, while anecdotal reports have shown that music can help treat misophonia symptoms.

You Never Walk Alone: How Bts Supports Army Mental Health And Well-Being, Melissa Le

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

BTS is a seven-membered South Korean boyband with a fandom named "ARMY." Music is generally associated with increased mental health, but not all types of music genres have been studied yet. With the current rise of Korean popular music (K-pop), it is important to understand what makes this genre popular and why fans claim it has improved their mental health. As BTS is currently the most popular K-pop group globally, they provide a unique look at how their music can help fans with depression and anxiety.

The Discovery And Analysis Of Mycobacteriophage “Rita”, Anna Fakhri

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Anna Fakhri ’24
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mycobacteriophage “Rita” was isolated on Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 from an enriched soil sample from North Easton, Massachusetts. As Rita infects Mycobacterium smegmatis, further study of the phage was completed in order to determine its ability to be utilized in phage therapy for infections caused by pathogenic Mycobacterium, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium abscessus. Once isolated, the phage DNA was analyzed through PCR to determine the phage belonged to cluster F and subcluster F1. The phage DNA was sequenced, and a genome annotation was completed. The annotation …

Validation Of Rotoscoping Method For Two-Marker Bones In The Alligator Forearm, Nina Pitre

Biology Student Scholarship

Nina Pitre ’22
Majors: Biology and Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Baier, Biology

XROMM methods "re-animate" 3D skeletal motion of living animals by aligning digital bone models to X-ray videos. Surgically implanted markers permit automatic alignment of bone models if three or more markers are used. However, one of our specimens only had two markers implanted. These bones could be automatically positioned and partially oriented using the two markers, but then required manual alignment to the X-ray images to orient about the axis passing between the two markers. Here, we validated the method by digitally removing a marker from a …

The Impact Of Socioeconomic Status, Race, And Food Security On Mental And Physical Health, Andrea Delgado

Sociology & Anthropology Student Scholarship

Andrea Delgado ’22
Major: Sociology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brandon Martinez, Sociology

The purpose of this study is to examine how an individual‚ race, socioeconomic status, and their household food security are correlated with physical and mental health outcomes. We propose that those with lower socioeconomic status and food security, as well as Non-Whites, are negatively correlated with better physical and mental health outcomes.

Emerging Viral Diseases: Generation Z'S Outlook, Ian Mcwhorter

Honors Projects

Generation Z differs notably from previous generations like Baby Boomers or Generation X. In recent years, young adults have been persisting through the COVID-19 pandemic, though not unscathed. This paper seeks to answer the following question: How does Generation Z differ in its outlook on Viral diseases compared to previous generations? Using a series of three surveys conducted on three seperate Viral diseases (HIV, Zika, and COVID 19), it was found that while Generation Z has improved in its ability to combat Viral outbreaks due to factors like high digital literacy, other factors such as poorer mental health show that …

Powering A Sustainable Electric Vehicle Future, Harmony Ruth, Jordan Brickman

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Electric vehicle sales account for roughly 20% of total sales world wide and are projected to be 80% by 2050. China's electric vehicle market holds a 13.3% market share. China exported 550,000 electric vehicles in 2021. China represents a 54% share of the world's coal consumption as of 2020. Why study China on this issue? China is a major player in the World Economy.

Evaluating Healthcare Leaders: A Competency Assessment Of Rural Healthcare Management Within The Midwest, Heather Winkler

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Rural healthcare facilities, which include critical access hospitals, are vulnerable to closure due to workforce shortages, low patient volumes, challenging payer and patient populations, and geographic isolation. Additionally, many rural communities entered the COVID-19 pandemic understaffed, under-serviced, facing inadequate healthcare infrastructures, and with limited clinical resources and equipment. This exploratory research aimed to measure the leadership competencies identified by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) of healthcare leaders working in rural hospitals and clinics within the Midwest. Having expert leadership skills and competencies can significantly impact how an organization succeeds, both for the patients, staff, and community. In contrast, …

The Relationship Between Pro-Stress And Anti-Stress Receptors In The Stress-Learning Brain Regions Of Female Mice, Nathan Popp

Honors Thesis

Human men and women react to stress in different ways, both biologically and psychologically (Verma et al., 2011). Orexins (or hypocretins) are neuropeptides involved in eliciting a stress response and have been shown to have opposing actions via two different receptors. Activation of the Orx1 receptor promotes stress, while activation of the Orx2 receptor relieves stress (Staton et al., 2018). Using the Stress Alternatives Model (a four-day paradigm in which small female mice are in an open arena with a larger aggressor mouse), distinct phenotypic behaviors can be observed after the second day: anxiety-prone and stress-resilient. After the second day, …

Exploring The Relationship Between Healthcare Access And Cancer Diagnosis, Kara Mccurdy

Health Sciences Student Scholarship

Kara McCurdy ’22
Major: Health Policy and Management
Minors: Mathematics and French
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Candidus Nwakasi, Health Policy and Management

Cancer affects millions of Americans each year and is one of the leading causes of death; social determinants of health play an important role in not only the prevention of cancer, but the prevalence of cancer among certain groups in our population. As one of the most prominent public health concerns, examining why cancer affects some more than others is an important part of prevention. Many people in the US lack access to healthcare due to costs and other …

The Effectiveness Of Using Motor Imagery As An Alternative To Exercise For Improving Mental Health, Madelyn Colbert

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Exercise shown to improve mental health in variety of health histories. MIT shown to improve physical health in a variety of conditions when tested alone. Mental health problems and SUD have high comorbidity rates. Exercise shown to be effective recovery therapy for SUD.

Determining The Effects Of A Commonly Used Cystic Fibrosis Antibiotic On Nonmucoid Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Reversion, Vanessa Meza-Perez

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Summary: 1. CF lung environment selects for mutations in Pa --> Mucoid 2. Mucoid can revert to nonmucoid 3. Reversion rate w/ antibiotic vs. Reversion rate w/o antibiotic 4. Induced reversion as a potential CF therapeutic strategy

The Meta-Mood Experience: Exploring The One-, Three-, And Four-Factor Models Of The Trait Meta-Mood Scale, Zain N. Raja, Jerald J. Novero, Susan E. Gutierrez, Orei Z. Odents, Fitsum A. Ayele

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The meta-mood experience involves "thinking about mood, examining the relation between mood and thoughts, maintaining good moods, and altering bad moods" (Mayer & Gaschke, 1988). Meta-mood can help individuals have a better grasp of what they are feeling at different times.

The 30-item Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS; Salovey et al., 1995) measures the extent to which people attend to, distinguish among, and regulate their mood and emotions.

Salovey et al. (1995) found three factors (Emotional Attention, Clarity, and Repair), while Palmer et al. (2003) found evidence for a fourth but left it unnamed.

We named the fourth factor in our …

Is There An App For That? Social Support, Depression, And Anxiety Among Users Of A Digital Mental Health App, Bryce V. Brown, Teresa J. Walker, Christine Guardian, Matthew Schurr

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Perceived social support has been associated with mental health. Social distancing guidelines due to COVID-19 heavily shifted social engagement to digital formats. It is important to understand the role of digital mental health interventions in mental health outcomes.

Who Is Gonna See The Shrink? Anxiety And Depression's Relationship To Openness And Willingness To Engage In Weekly Psychotherapy, Bryce V. Brown, Teresa J. Walker, Christine Guardian, Matthew Schurr

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Digital mental health interventions may offer an alternative to in-person psychotherapy. It is important to understand attitudes about traditional in-person psychotherapy among app users to contextualize treatment seeking and better understand treatment options.

Misophonia Sensitivity Is Related To Enhanced Responsiveness To Misophonia, Asmr And Musical Frisson, Alexis Rice, Kiara O'Keefe, Kacey Chang, Sivan Barashy, Solena Mednicoff, Destiny Gonzales

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Misophonia: a condition in which specific everyday sounds (e.g., chewing, breathing) trigger an atypical, negative emotional response.

ASMR: a sensory phenomenon triggered by stimuli that induce a state of relaxation, positive feelings, and tinging sensations that spread from the head to the rest of the body.

Musical frisson: typically characterized by positive affect and strong physiological reactions, such as shivering, goosebumps, and teary-eyes in response to highly pleasurable music.

Climate Change Hope Scale: Factor Analysis In An Adult Sample, Gemma Ortega, Steven J. Glover, Jesse Tabaczynksi, Orei Z. Odents

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Willpower - how much individuals believe that set goals can be met. Waypower - the extent to which individuals can think of strategies for accomplishing those goals.

The Climate Change Hope Scale (CCHS; Li & Monroe, 2017) was designed to measure three aspects of hope: 1. Personal sphere willpower and waypower (WP) 2. Collective sphere willpower and waypower (CW) 3. Lack of willpower and waypower (LW).

A three-factor model fits the CCHS among adolescents. The purpose of our study was to determine if the three-factor model fits the CCHS in adults.

Met Inhibition Sensitizes Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells To Notch Signaling Suppression, Clara Perrone, Silvia Pomella, Matteo Cassandri, Michele Pezzella, Giuseppe Maria Milano, Marta Colletti, Cristina Cossetti, Giulia Pericoli, Angela Di Giannatale, Emmanuel De Billy, Maria Vinci, Stefania Petrini, Francesco Marampon, Concetta Quintarelli, Riccardo Taulli, Josep Roma, Soledad Gallego, Simona Camero, Paolo Mariottini, Manuela Cervelli, Roberta Maestro, Lucio Miele, Biagio De Angelis, Franco Locatelli, Rossella Rota

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric myogenic soft tissue sarcoma. The Fusion-Positive (FP) subtype expresses the chimeric protein PAX3-FOXO1 (P3F) while the Fusion-Negative (FN) is devoid of any gene translocation. FP-RMS and metastatic FN-RMS are often unresponsive to conventional therapy. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are needed to halt tumor progression. NOTCH signaling has oncogenic functions in RMS and its pharmacologic inhibition through γ-secretase inhibitors blocks tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Here, we show that NOTCH signaling blockade resulted in the up-regulation and phosphorylation of the MET oncogene in both RH30 (FP-RMS) and RD (FN-RMS) cell lines. Pharmacologic inhibition of …

Exercise In The Heat: Perceptual Measures In Hydrated And Dehydrated Conditions, John Kromer

Honors Scholar Theses

Introduction: Athletes, warfighters, and laborers are often exposed to extreme environmental conditions that can result in heat-related illnesses negatively impacting performance and productivity.

Purpose: To evaluate Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) from pre-trial to post-trial surrounding exercise in the heat. The secondary purpose was to compare post-trial measures between hydration status as well as environmental conditions.

Methods: Twenty-six male and female subjects performed four trials. Two trials were conducted in temperate conditions (24 ℃, 55% relative humidity) and two in extreme heat conditions (35 ℃, 55% relative humidity), in both hydrated and dehydrated conditions. The Profile of Moods States survey was …

Evaluating The Use Of Long-Acting Injectables As A Method To Improve Treatment Adherence In Patients With Schizophrenia: A Scoping Review, Britney Michelle Holton Msn, Fnp-Bc, Patricia Rena Jones-Purdy Msn, Cnrn, Margaret Harvey Phd, Aprn, Acnp-Bc, Chfn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Medication adherence is a major issue for patients suffering from schizophrenia and medication non-adherence can lead to psychiatric morbidity. Although long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics have been shown to improve treatment adherence, most clinicians continue to rely on oral therapies to manage schizophrenia. This scoping review will assess evidence-based literature to determine the relationship between the use of LAIs and medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods A literature review was conducted between August 2020 and January 2021 to find studies that have evaluated medication adherence with the use of long-acting injectables in patients with schizophrenia. Relevant literature initially selected …

Prevention Of Diabetes-Related Hospital Readmission Following Initial Diagnosis Of Diabetes In Patients Over The Age Of Fifty: A Scoping Review, Nathan Miller Dnp, Agacnp, Fnp, Jasmine Harris Dnp, Fnp, Michael Clardy Dnp, Agacnp, Diana Dedmon Dnp, Acnp, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background: By reviewing multiple studies related to the treatment of patients with new diagnoses of diabetes, this scoping review will endeavor to determine which interventions, when implemented for patients over 50 years old which are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, can decrease the likelihood of hospital readmission related to diabetes within 90 days when compared with those patients who did not receive or participate in follow-up.

Methods: For resources to be eligible to review they had to be from 2015 or after. Studies selected included patients over the age of 50 newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes subject to …

Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Adherence: A Scoping Review, Megan E. Billingsley Bsn, Rn, Tiameria T. Ford Bsn, Rn, Mikayla E. Vican Bsn, Rn, Diana Dedmon Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Rates have steadily increased in recent years due to high rates of obesity, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles. Screening for the disease can lead to early detection and reduced morbidity/mortality, yet screening rates remain low. Existing literature is extensive in discussing methods to increase CRCS adherence; therefore, a scoping review allows for increased understanding of barriers to CRCS and how to address those barriers to increase screening compliance.

Methods A literature search was completed from September 2020 to October 2021. Multiple databases were used, including …

Lvad Outflow Graft Compression Presenting As Pump Thrombosis, Kelsey Barrett, Barbara A. Ebert Crnp, Nael Hawwa, Sima Y. Hodavance Md, Nauman Islam Md, James Burke Md, Ahmed Nassar, Timothy S. Misselbeck

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Markers Of Kidney Function, Genetic Variation Related To Cognitive Function, And Cognitive Performance In The Uk Biobank, Steven Y Cao, Andrea Z Lacroix, Jan Bressler, Rany M Salem

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease has been linked to worse cognition. However, this association may be dependent on the marker of kidney function used, and studies assessing modification by genetics are lacking. This study examined associations between multiple measures of kidney function and assessed effect modification by a polygenic score for general cognitive function.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study of up to 341,208 European ancestry participants from the UK Biobank study, we examined associations between albuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate based on creatinine (eGFRcre) or cystatin C (eGFRcys) with cognitive performance on tests of verbal-numeric reasoning, reaction time and visual …

Animal Activities! : A Children's Book For Vocabulary Intervention, Chloey Dibartolo

Honors Projects

This Honors Project was created as a culmination of research conducted in the fields of Speech-Language Pathology and English. It is a written and illustrated children’s book intended to be used during shared book reading between an adult and a child of preschool age who presents with a language delay or language disorder. Cloze structures are used throughout the book to elicit strategically selected vocabulary words from the child and aid in their vocabulary development. Elements and techniques used in children’s literature were also implemented throughout this book. This book is overall designed a therapy tool that can be used …