Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Pulse Pressure, White Matter Hyperintensities, And Cognition: Mediating Effects Across The Adult Lifespan, Jade Hannan, Sarah Newman-Norlund, Natalie Busby, Sarah C. Wilson, Roger Newman-Norlund, Chris Rorden, Julius Fridriksson Ph.D., Leonardo Bonilha

Faculty Publications

Objectives: To investigate whether pulse pressure or mean arterial pressure mediates the relationship between age and white matter hyperintensity load and to examine the mediating effect of white matter hyperintensities on cognition.

Methods: Demographic information, blood pressure, current medication lists, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores for231 stroke- and dementia-free adults were retrospectively obtained from the Aging Brain Cohort study. Total WMH load was determined from T2-FLAIR magnetic resonance scans using the TrUE-Net deep learning tool for white matter segmentation. In separate models, we used mediation analysis to assess whether pulse pressure or MAP mediates the relationship between age and total …

Covid-19 And Related Adverse Neurological Complications, Hannah A. Wasson

Honors Thesis

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world drastically, and its impact was monumental. COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, was the virus responsible for causing such mayhem. This contagious virus can enter the body via different routes, live on surfaces for hours, and be transmitted through the air, increasing infection risk. Once it enters the body, it can trick the body into replicating the virus. From this reaction within the body, signs and symptoms follow. While the name indicates a respiratory illness, the virus can inflict injury on other parts of the body. Due to the organ systems …

Evaluation Of An External Urinary Device Protocol And Practices In Hospitalized Female Patients: A Quality Improvement Project At A Rural Midwestern Hospital, Melissa Leibnitz, Ashley Causa, Susana Lopez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Aims and Objectives- 1: Describe and measure current implementation and management practices of the PureWick™. 2: Describe and measure current outcomes in the use of the PureWick™ device including mobility scores, skin breakdown, Braden scores, moisture-associated dermatitis, CAUTIs, PAUTIs, hospital LOS, HAIs and HPIs. 3: Measure the survey results from staff regarding the current PureWick™ practices. 4: Propose recommendations for an improved EB protocol for the PureWick^TM.

Background: Currently, the PureWick^TM device has been utilized by facilities as an alternative to indwelling urinary catheters in an effort to reduce the incidence of CAUTI. Since the introduction …

Pterygopalatine Ganglion Blocks In Medicine: Bridging Neuromodulation And Pain Relief, Tori B. Ostrand

Honors Thesis

Chronic pain affects millions of individuals worldwide, presenting as a multifactorial condition that impacts physical, emotional, and socioeconomic well-being. Despite the availability of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, significant side effects, limited efficacy, and addiction risks drive the need for new, innovative treatments. The pterygopalatine ganglion block (PPGB) is emerging as a promising interventional approach that targets autonomic and neurogenic pathways that may be implicated in chronic pain mechanisms. This thesis reviews the neuroanatomy of the pterygopalatine ganglion, its potential role in autonomic regulation and pain mediation, and its clinical applications in treating headache syndromes such as cluster headaches and …

Empowering Families: Enhancing Early Intervention Through Caregiver Coaching, Kylie G. Wersal

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The early years of life are critical for shaping developmental outcomes, especially for children with disabilities, developmental delays, or challenges. This 14-week capstone project aimed to strengthen caregiver coaching strategies within the early intervention (EI) setting using Minnesota’s Evidence-Based Quality Intervention Practices (EQIP) approach, the Primary Service Provider (PSP) model, and the Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) model. Emphasis was placed on developing in-depth clinical skills, fostering transdisciplinary collaboration, and advocating for improved awareness of the EI referral process. Caregiver coaching promoted routine-based, family-centered strategies that supported both child development and enhanced caregivers’ confidence. Self-reflection and mentor observation indicated measurable …

Rays Of Resilience:Tbri® Nurture Group© Intervention For Improved Social-Emotional Development In Head Start, Madison Carlson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Children exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) face challenges that impact their developmental trajectory, family dynamics, and occupational engagement (CDC, 2021a). Rays of Resilience is a trauma-informed occupational therapy capstone project designed to enhance social-emotional skills in preschoolers at a rural Head Start program guided by the TBRI® framework and the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model. Using Nurture Group© small group intervention, collaboration with staff, and engagement with caregivers, this project targeted social-emotional development and relationship building in children with a higher risk of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Fifteen students participated in weekly lessons focused on self-regulation, identifying emotions, and communicating wants …

Exploring The Landscape Of Animal Advocacy In Egypt: Insights Into Stray, Wildlife, And Farmed Animal Rights, Yara Moussa, Wasseem Emam

General - Animal Protection

This article examines the landscape of animal advocacy in Egypt, a nascent and growing field in one of Africa’s largest economies and most densely populated countries. It focuses on three types of animal advocacy: 1) stray animal welfare, 2) wildlife conservation, and 3) farmed animal welfare. The paper critically analyses current practices and trends in each of these areas, highlighting the main challenges and opportunities facing the growth of the movement. Our research draws on insights from interviews with active animal welfare organizations, situating their practical experiences, daily operational struggles, as well as instances of success, within Egypt’s wider socio-economic …

Functional Electrical Stimulation For Foot Drop: A Narrative Review, Garrett R. Watson

Honors Thesis

Foot drop (FD) is a neuromuscular impairment that limits ankle dorsiflexion during walking. It often leads to unsafe gait patterns, increases the risk of falls, and reduces independence. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has emerged as a promising rehabilitation tool that activates muscles or nerves to improve foot clearance and support motor recovery. Unlike passive devices such as ankle-foot orthoses, FES promotes active neuromuscular engagement and may foster long-term improvements through neuroplastic adaptation. This narrative review examines the causes and clinical consequences of FD and evaluates the role of FES in restoring functional mobility. Key topics include FES technologies, stimulation parameters, …

Universal Adolescent Depression Screening And Implications For Identification Of Adolescent Depression And Mental Health Referrals, Cherry Cooper, Juan Zhou Powell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Background: Throughout the United States, mental health concerns have been steadily increasing, which has created a significant impact for caregivers, overburdened healthcare facilities, and patients. In fact, a large number of those experiencing mental health issues are unidentified and thus more likely to experience mental health crises, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts. Rural adolescents are significantly more vulnerable than their urban counterparts related to disparities in both mental health services and preventative screening. Coordination with a critical access hospital (CAH) emergency department revealed that there was no universal adolescent depression screening in place, and patients were potentially going undiagnosed and …

Relationships Between Health Behaviors And Markers Of Oxidative Stress And Inflammation On Blood Pressure, Alison M. Godfrey

Honors Scholar Theses

Background. Young adulthood is a period when cardiometabolic risk factors begin to emerge. Developing cardiometabolic risk early can increase the risk and severity of chronic illness across the lifespan. Despite this, young adults are often understudied particularly as it relates to major cardiometabolic risk factors such as blood pressure (BP) and risk of hypertension. Hypertension is a public health crisis and early indicators of hypertension risk should be more thoroughly researched. Therefore, the purpose of the presented thesis is to examine BP in young adults and two potential pathways by which risk may emerge in young adults; inflammation (C-Reactive …

Program Evaluation Of The Behavioral Interventions Monitoring Assessment System-2 For High School Students In Rural Nebraska, Laura Burnett, Lakin Braman

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Behavioral and mental health issues among adolescents in rural areas often go unrecognized due to limited access to screening and intervention. This study evaluated the efficacy of the BIMAS- 2 tool in identifying at-risk high school students in a rural Nebraska high school. Methods: A retrospective cohort program evaluation was conducted over two years with 263 students in grades 9-12. The BIMAS-2 assessment was administered electronically each semester, followed by in-person mental health interviews. Descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square tests assessed the tool’s sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value. Results: The BIMAS-2 demonstrated high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (96.15%), with a …

Enhancing Nurse Confidence In Labor Pain Management And Respectful Maternity Care Through Implementation Of The Coping With Labor Algorithm, Diane Johnson, Amy Murlowski

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Objective: The objective of this project was to implement the Coping with Labor Algorithm in the labor and delivery setting and study its impact on nurse self-efficacy and on birthing persons’ experiences.

Design: A quasi-experimental pre- and post-design was used for this project.

Setting: The project was conducted in a maternity unit with six labor beds located in the Midwest.

Methods: This project was conducted over twelve weeks. Twenty-five registered nurses were provided in-person education, access to educational materials, and training on how to use the Coping with Labor Algorithm. A pre-test was administered before the unit implementation of the …

Relationship Between Maternal Plasma Retinol And Provitamin A Carotenoids With Fetal And Infant Kidney Development, Anum Akbar

Theses & Dissertations

Vitamin A plays a critical role in fetal organ development. Studies suggest that maternal vitamin A deficiency affects fetal nephron numbers, potentially leading to smaller kidney sizes and an increased risk of chronic kidney disease later in life. However, human studies exploring maternal vitamin A's impact on fetal kidney development lack longitudinal data and within-cohort comparisons. Furthermore, the influence of provitamin A carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin) on kidney size remains unexplored. This dissertation addresses these gaps by analyzing relationships between maternal and cord plasma retinol and provitamin A carotenoid concentrations with fetal and infant kidney sizes. Our prospective cohort …

Coordinating Connections: A Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Relational Coordination And Interprofessional Team Development With Health Professions Students And Survivors Of Stroke, Teresa Marie Cochran

Theses & Dissertations

The need for effective healthcare teams is widely recognized, yet strategies for team education and evaluation remain areas of ongoing investigation. This study presents a longitudinal, interprofessional tele-team learning initiative designed to enhance health professions students’ collaborative skills through Salas’ “Big Five” of Teamwork and Gittell’s Relational Coordination Theory. Additionally, the project aimed to mitigate social isolation among stroke survivors by forming nine interprofessional tele-teams composed of students from medical nutrition therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology. Over six virtual meetings, these teams engaged with stroke survivors, assisting them in progressing toward self-selected goals.

Using an explanatory …

A Literature Review: Understanding Gestalt Language Processing In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jordynn L. Urwiler

Honors Thesis

Gestalt language processing (GLP) is not a new idea in the field of speech-language pathology. However, the topic has recently become more popular among practicing speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and the neurodiversity movement may be partially responsible. Advocates for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have shifted away from using behavioral approaches that try to “fix” autistic1 cognition and communication patterns. Although Analytical Language Processing (ALP) is the typical path for language development, it is now understood that GLP may be a valid form of language acquisition used by both neurotypical and neurodivergent people. The purpose of this literature review is to provide …

Identification And Preclinical Assessment Of Novel Therapeutic Modalities In Environmental Exposure-Induced Lung Disease, Aaron D. Schwab

Theses & Dissertations

Environmental lung diseases are preventable respiratory conditions either caused or made worse by inhaled environmental exposures. Contemporarily, environmental lung diseases are most associated with workplace exposures given specific occupational processes aerosolize inflammatory agents that can be inhaled at high concentrations. Although a considerable amount is known regarding immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated responses to environmental exposures, little is known about non-IgE mediated respiratory conditions resulting from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-enriched organic dust exposure(s). Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis have all been identified as environmental lung diseases caused or exacerbated by such environmental dusts. Therapeutic …

Prevalence Of Well Water Contaminants In Georgia From 2010-2022, Angelique B. Willis, Suhasini Ramisetty-Mikler, Christine E. Stauber, Uttam Kumar Saha

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Safe, reliable, and clean drinking water sources are a basic necessity. More than 1.7 million individuals rely on private wells for drinking water in Georgia and are confronted with water quality challenges stemming from chemical contamination as private wells are not under mandated regulations as public water supplies. In Georgia, previous studies suggested that the variation of soil and rock in a physiographic province (region) plays an essential role in the quality of private well water. There is a need to understand the distribution of these chemical contaminants above the federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and how different geologies …

Pulse Pressure, White Matter Hyperintensities, Andcognition: Mediating Effects Across The Adult Lifespan, Jade Hannan, Sarah Newman-Norlund, Natalie Busby, Sarah C. Wilson, Roger Newman-Norlund, Chris Rorden, Julius Fridriksson, Leonardo Bon, Nicholas Riccardi

Faculty Publications

Objectives: To investigate whether pulse pressure or mean arterial pressure mediates the relationship between age and white matter hyperintensity load and to examine the mediating effect of white matter hyperintensities on cognition.

Methods: Demographic information, blood pressure, current medication lists, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores for231 stroke- and dementia-free adults were retrospectively obtained from the Aging Brain Cohort study. Total WMH load was determined from T2-FLAIR magnetic resonance scans using the TrUE-Net deep learning tool for white matter segmentation. In separate models, we used mediation analysis to assess whether pulse pressure or MAP mediates the relationship between age and total …

The Endocannabinoid System's Influence And Modulation Of Nociception, Doreen M. Flannery

Honors Thesis

The anatomy and physiology of pain is a well-defined pathway where noxious stimuli is processed by different systems in the brain. The central research question of this review is how can we better understand the neurobiological effects pain has, and assess if there is therapeutic potential in using endocannabinoids to modulate these effects. Endocannabinoids are signaling molecules that play a key role at both the cellular and molecular level in modulating both acute and chronic pain by influencing different processes within each level that affect how the body responds to both internal and external stimuli. The endocannabinoid system is a …

Menthalactone From Mentha Piperita L., A Monocot-Selective Bioherbicide, Adam Soltani

Honors Theses

The challenge of managing invasive weed species continues to affect the agricultural industry, presenting ecological, economic, and agronomic hurdles that lead to over 100 billion USD in annual crop losses globally. One such concern is the management of Agrostis stolonifera L., commonly known as creeping bentgrass, particularly due to its ability to form hybrids. This scenario underscores the urgent need for innovative, effective, and environmentally sustainable herbicides, steering the focus toward natural substances as potential candidates. We report here a promising natural lactone, commonly known as menthalactone, which is derived from Mentha piperita L. Its phytotoxic activity was assessed against …

Cardiovascular Disparities In Mississippi: A Sociological Study Of Heart Health Literacy Among University Students, Laney Etheridge

Honors Theses

Mississippi ranks among the worst states in the United States for cardiovascular health, with high rates of heart disease, obesity, and hypertension. This thesis examines how race and gender influence heart health literacy and behavioral practices among University of Mississippi students. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this study combines quantitative survey data from a stratified random sample of 1,000 students with qualitative interviews from a public health professional specializing in cardiovascular health and a student heavily involved with on-campus heart health programs. The findings suggest that disparities in heart health literacy both align and differ with broader social stratification patterns observed …

The Impact Of The Mediterranean Diet On Depression: A Narrative Review, Emma Kate Schaaf

Honors Theses

Background. The Western diet has extensive negative ramifications on physical health and emotional well-being. The Mediterranean diet, widely regarded as one of the healthiest eating patterns in the world, may have the ability to improve psychological conditions. This study aims to examine existing research from randomized control trials (RCTs) on the association between depression prevalence and the Mediterranean diet.

Methods. The following review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines and the Google Scholar and PsycInfo databases. The criteria for inclusion were that studies: 1) were randomized control trials (RCTs) examining the Mediterranean diet; 2) included samples of adults (i.e., > 18 years …

Investigating The Cytotoxic Effects Of Amino Acid-Based Ionic Liquids And Peg-Pla Nanoparticles On Mcf10a Human Breast Epithelial Cells For Drug Delivery Applications, Ella C. Mertins

Honors Theses

This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid (PEG-PLA) nanoparticles (NPs) both bare and coated with choline-based ionic liquids (ILs) on MCF10A human breast epithelial cells. The goal was to evaluate how IL-modified NPs influence cell viability at varying concentrations and to assess their potential as drug delivery systems. Three choline-based ILs, Choline-L-Asparagine 1:1, Choline-DL-Isoleucinate 1:1, and Choline-L-Leucinate 1:1, were used as surface coatings for PEG-PLA NPs. Additionally, the ILs were tested independently to establish a baseline for their cytotoxicity. Using a luminescent ATP-based viability assay following the treatment of MCF10A cells, the ILs were found to be …

The Rural Cancer Paradox: When Poverty Outweighs Policy In Mississippi And Andalusia, 2010-2025, Elizabeth Hurst

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how regional economic histories and national healthcare policies interact to shape cancer care delivery in Mississippi (United States) and Andalusia (Spain)—two regions with parallel histories of agricultural dominance followed by economic decline, yet operating under fundamentally different healthcare systems. Through comparative policy analysis focused on the Affordable Care Act (2010) and Spain's Royal Decree Law 16/2012, this research challenges conventional fixation on healthcare system type as the primary determinant of patient outcomes. Instead, it reveals a “rural cancer paradox” where historically impoverished regions face similar barriers to effective cancer care despite their contrasting funding models. The research …

An Occupation-Based Intervention Program To Address The Mental Health Needs Of Students In Rural School Systems, Caitlin A. Butterfield, Mackenzie Feldhacker Otd, Otr/L, Clt-Lana

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

In the United States, 20% of the population lives in rural areas, with many experiencing mental illness, including adolescents facing increased risks from unemployment, obesity, and limited mental health services (Berryhill et al., 2021; Morales et al., 2020). Rural youth also have a suicide rate twice as high as non-rural areas, highlighting the need for mental health interventions (Berryhill et al., 2021). This capstone project addressed the mental health needs of students in a rural school system through an occupation-based, multi-tiered intervention. Using a trauma-informed Occupational Therapy (OT) Public Health Approach aligned with the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, …

A Sensory Group Program For General And Special Education Elementary Students, Kamryn J. Olness

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this 14-week capstone was to develop and implement a sensory group program for general and special education students within an elementary school. It aimed to explore the impact related to meeting sensory needs within the classroom. The program followed a weekly theme centered on each of the eight sensory systems to increase knowledge and self-regulation skills about various sensory inputs. A total of around 80 students participated in the sensory group program, including both general and special education students. A pre- and post-program survey was administered to determine the frequency of sensory needs demonstrated by the students …

Anti-Cancer Activity Of Marine-Derived Fucosylated Chondroitin Sulfates In Ovarian Cancer Cell Spheroid Formation And Notch Signaling Inhibition, Daniella Beiner

Honors Theses

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological malignancy, with high recurrence rates driven by chemotherapy-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). Current therapeutics targeting Notch signaling to inhibit CSC formation have yet to demonstrate clinical benefit and pose risk of gastrointestinal toxicities. Here, we report that treatment with fucosylated chondroitin sulfates (FucCS) inhibited Notch signaling activation and spheroid formation in OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells. Sulfation and fucosylation were shown to be key structural requirements of this anti-cancer activity. Moreover, this inhibition was synergistic with suppression of Notch glycosylation by Radical Fringe knockout. Preliminary experiments to conjugate FucCS to a maleimide linker in preparation …

Opmed Seal: Engineering A Rapid-Response Biodegradable Device For Hemorrhage Control And Infection Prevention In Abdominal Trauma, Paula M. Cabrera, Wesley Stephen Murphy

Honors Theses

Abdominal gunshot wounds are amongst the deadliest injuries encountered in combat and remote emergency settings. For military medics and first responders, the challenge lies in controlling internal bleeding and preventing infection before patients can reach surgical care-often within a narrow window of time known as the “golden hour”. Currently available field treatments are either too slow, not designed for internal wounds, or fail to provide antimicrobial protection. To address this gap, our team developed OpMed Seal: a compact, dual-syringe delivery system that deploys a biodegradable, antibiotic-infused hydrogel directly into abdominal injuries. The system is designed for rapid hemorrhage control, localized …

Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanisms: Mitochondrial Impairment, Tau Aggregation, And Neuroinflammation As Central Drivers Of Disease Progression, Luis D. Estrella

Theses & Dissertations

The study of the intricate molecular mechanisms behind the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases has become a primary research area in the past decades. The major branches of these studies involve both disease progression and disease pathogenesis, in which neuroscientists have studied, and continue to study, the role that mitochondrial dysfunction, aberrant protein aggregation (like Tau), and immune cell reactions have on these. However, more recent studies have shined light to the fact that these three pathological features are not independent from one another and that their synchronous contributions may be the ultimate driver of neurodegeneration. This dissertation encompasses four different …

Assessing Functional Communication In Persons With Aphasia: A Scoping Review Of Formal And Informal Measures, Lauren Hammond, Thomas Christensen, Julius Fridriksson, Dirk B. Den Ouden

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Background

The communicative effectiveness of persons with aphasia (PWA) has been assessed through a range of functional communication measures. However, variability in interpretations of what is covered by the term “functional communication” may have resulted in challenges to the implementation of appropriate and consistent patient-centred evaluations, with different measures focusing on subsets of the components of functional communication.

Aims

This paper aims to examine the current literature on informal and formal evaluation of functional communication in PWA and to identify gaps in currently available assessment tools.

Methods

This scoping review included studies published between 1965 and 2024 that assessed functional …