Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Assessing Sleep Quality In A Preclinical Model Of Low Back Pain Through Novel Noninvasive Methods, Lydia C. Saltz

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Chronic low back pain (LBP) has widespread negative impacts on quality of life. Current treatments for chronic LBP fail to provide long-term efficacy and motivate the need to understand key drivers of poor patient outcomes. Mounting evidence indicates that sleep disturbances and chronic LBP have a strong reciprocal relationship. Women may be particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of the sleep-pain axis, exhibiting greater prevalence in both conditions. However, the relationship between sleep, pain, and sex remains understudied. Preclinical models can be used to parse out characteristic sleep features that degrade with pain, which can be further broken out by …

Men’S Fertility Beliefs, Intentions, And Contraceptive Use, Meagan Kunitzer

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

Despite advancements in reproductive technology, gender-inclusive approaches remain limited, and research on men’s reproductive health is scarce. Specifically, little is known about how men conceptualize reproductive health and how perspectives vary by race and social class. As such, the purpose of this study is to further the field’s understanding of men’s reproductive health, including fertility beliefs, intentions, and behaviors. Guided by the theory of conjunctural action, this study uses survey-driven narrative construction to explore how 35 men think about their reproductive health and how this varies by race and class. The main benefit of using this method is that it …

The Overturning Of Roe V. Wade And People Capable Of Pregnancy: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Carrie Bohmer

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

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) overturned Roe v. Wade in their decision within Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, removing the constitutional right to abortion within the United States (US). Leading up to this anticipated and highly politicized case, 13 states passed preemptive legislation (i.e. “trigger bans”) that immediately made abortion illegal following the Dobbs decision. Limited research has explicitly explored the intersection of sexual health and reproductive health from a psychological perspective. Grounded in a reproductive justice framework, this interpretative phenomenological analysis sought to understand how people capable of pregnancy living …

Support, School Climate And Teacher Wellbeing In The Wake Of Covid-19: A National Study Using Ntsp Data, Annastashia M. Teepe

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

Research indicates a significant number of teachers planned to leave the profession following the COVID-19 pandemic, with national surveys in 2021 revealing about 25% considering departure. Stress, low pay, remote teaching demands, and lack of support contributed to attrition, impacting school climate, which influences productivity, collaboration, and job satisfaction, and is inversely related to turnover. The shift to remote learning also demanded new skills and exposed technological disparities. This quantitative study examined the pandemic's impact on teachers' perceptions of school climate, support, resources, job satisfaction, burnout, and intent to leave using the 2020–2021 National Teacher and Principal Survey. Factor analyses …

Exploring The Nexus Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Illicit Substance Misuse Among Midwestern Adults, Anika R. Eisenbraun

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The positive association between illicit substance misuse and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has been widely examined in prior literature. Yet, there is limited understanding of the varying factors, such as social support, depressive symptoms, or sexual victimization, that may impact the relationship between substance misuse and ACEs. As such, the purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between ACEs (i.e., physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect) with illicit substance misuse and to investigate indirect pathways of social support, depressive symptoms, and sexual victimization. Private, secondary data from the second cohort of a larger, longitudinal rural health …

Sodium And Potassium In Health And Cellular Function, Jordyn Branz

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Sodium (Na⁺) and potassium (K⁺) are essential electrolytes that regulate numerous physiological processes. These include cell function, nerve transmission, and muscle contraction. The Na+/K+-ATPase plays a critical role in maintaining the balance of these ions by actively transporting three sodium ions out of the cell and two potassium ions into the cell against their concentration gradients. This process is vital for maintaining the resting membrane potential and supporting the function of excitable cells. The Na+/K+-ATPase consists of two main subunits, with the alpha-subunit being primarily responsible for ion transport activity. Isoforms alpha1, alpha2, and alpha3 are tissue-specific and contribute to …

Eating Behavior Differences Across Dementia Diagnoses: The Roles Of Behavioral Symptoms And Anticipatory Physiological Responses, Charlie J. Lorkovic

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Objective: To determine how behavioral symptoms and impairment of the preparatory physiological response contribute to disordered eating behaviors in dementia, particularly frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods: This secondary analysis utilizes data from 242 patients (191 FTD, 51 AD) who took part in a collaborative study between the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, San Francisco. Preparatory physiological responses were measured as heart rate increases from a baseline to an instruction period, when participants were informed that they were about to watch an emotional film. Behavioral symptoms, including eating behaviors, were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Virtual Reality In Modern Healthcare Education, Adarsha Ganesan

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) in healthcare education through multiple facets of evaluation: educational outcomes, accessibility considerations, and financial viability. Drawing from an extensive literature review on existing research and a case study of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Nursing's "Journey Through the Kidney" VR experience, this analysis examines how technology can transform modern medical education. While research shows mixed results regarding virtual reality’s impact on assessment outcomes, studies demonstrate increased student motivation and engagement, which can have lasting downstream effects on the quality of learning. Accessibility analysis reveals both opportunities and …

A Comparative Analysis Of Women’S Health In Latin America And The United States: Geographical Context And Preventative Actions, Holly J. Robinson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Cervical cancer, breast cancer, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy complications, and gender-based violence are dangers faced by women everywhere. However, the severity of these risks can increase significantly due to a country’s geography, government control, and level of development. This thesis expands upon information gained directly from on-site experiences with medical professionals and locals (including doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and patients) in Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, and further research to look at Latin America as a whole, in relation to the United States. Both the US and Latin America exhibit problems with their healthcare systems. The United States is more …

Addressing The Lack Of Patient Adherence To Exercise Within The Physical Therapy Clinic And Creating Infographics To Improve Patient Adherence, Gretchen Panovich

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The primary objective of this applied knowledge project is to develop educational materials to enhance patient adherence. The World Health Organization defines adherence as “the extent to which a person’s behavior…corresponds with agreed recommendations from a healthcare provider.” Within the physical therapy field, non-adherence to exercise is a significant problem linked with increased duration of treatment, more patient complaints, reduced positive clinical outcomes, and even surgical intervention.

Multiple factors affect patient adherence, making it hard to pinpoint a singular cause. Clinical observations and research suggest that belief in the rehabilitation process may suffer due to a prolonged recovery period, lack …

Rewriting The Rules: Impact Of Covid-19 On Norms In Science, The International Order, And China, Jacob Kissling '25

Honor Scholar Theses

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed both strengths and vulnerabilities in global responses, many of which were shaped by underlying norms and behavioral expectations within key institutions. Understanding how these norms influenced decision-making, collaboration, and communication—and how they were themselves challenged or reshaped by the crisis—can provide valuable insights for improving future responses. While some norms adapted in response to the evolving crisis, others remained stagnant or were inconsistently enforced, contributing to fragmented and, at times, ineffective responses. This paper investigates the role of norms in three critical sectors: the scientific community, the international order, and China. Within the scientific community, norms …

Teaching Bilingual Features To A Young Augmentative And Alternative Communication User With Autism, Paola Gallegos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study examines how a minimally verbal, young Spanish-English bilingual child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) uses translanguaging toggle features on an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device to produce multi-word picture descriptions. The study employed a Rapidly Alternating Treatments Design (RATD) to analyze AAC performance under language-controlled Spanish-only and English-only conditions. A quantitative analysis examined the frequency and patterns of bilingual AAC feature use during aided modeling and instruction, while qualitative methods explored the related challenges and benefits. This study highlights the potential for bilingual AAC systems to enhance communication effectiveness and underscores the importance of incorporating user and …

Testing A Benign Multi-Modal Bilingual Intervention To Increase Self-Efficacy, Intentions, And Willingness To Administer A Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test In A Predominately Hispanic Sample, Uchenna Gbugu

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Introduction. Testing is one of the most effective methods for reducing the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 antigen tests can detect proteins from the COVID-19 virus called antigens and produce results within minutes, making them suitable for at-home use. Several factors have been identified as barriers to self-administering a COVID-19 antigen test, including the language of the testing instructions, the cost of testing, and access to tests. Interventions to reduce barriers to self-administering COVID-19 rapid tests are warranted to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The purpose of the present study is to test the impact of a benign multi-modal bilingual intervention …

Racial And Ethnic Differences In Knowledge Of Gender-Affirming Care Among Community And Student Participants In The Bloom Transgender Health Education Program In The Paso Del Norte Region, 2022-2024, Tandra Ghosh

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: There is a noticeable lack of training and knowledge regarding gender-affirming care (GAC) among providers and within the general community. OBJECTIVE: Assess racial and ethnic disparities in knowledge of GAC among participants in BLOOM, a quasi-experimental transgender health education program in the Paso Del Norte region. HYPOTHESES: Among community and student participants at pre-survey, assess racial and ethnic differences in sociodemographic characteristics, preparedness, attitudes, and basic knowledge regarding LGBT clients/patients and GAC. METHODS: Secondary data among community (pre: 53; post: 14) and student (pre: 29; post: 17) BLOOM participants in 2022-2024 were used. Descriptive statistics …

Finding Strength In The Struggle: The Impact Of Resilience On Life Satisfaction Among Veterans With Mental Illness, Marissa Gonzalez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Veterans living with mental illness often face challenges that impact their overall life satisfaction and adjustment to civilian life. While resilience is widely considered a protective factor, limited research has examined its role in conjunction with personality traits, psychosocial factors, and demographic characteristics. Purpose: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between resilience and life satisfaction among U.S. veterans with mental illnesses, while accounting for personality dimensions, demographic variables, and psychosocial factors. Methods: Secondary data from 156 veterans diagnosed with mental illness were analyzed. Hierarchical linear regression was used to assess the relationship between resilience and life satisfaction, controlling for …

Intratumoral Fibrin As A Novel Immunomodulatory Factor In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Mazharul Karim

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In-situ coagulation is a common clinical feature of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) that presents a highly thrombotic and crosslinked insoluble fibrin (x-fibrin)-laden tumor stroma (FibTS). However, the specific impact of FibTS on immune cells behavior remains largely unexplored in this poorly infiltrated tumor. We aimed to elucidate how FibTS in PDAC regulates immune cell infiltration, polarization, and crosstalk that favors immunosuppressive microenvironment and tumor growth. We characterized human PDAC tissues by multiplex immunostaining and checked the spatial distribution of immune cells based on the presence of x-fibrin. We investigated how FibTS influences the infiltration of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) and T-cell …

Jak1 V658f Drives Oncogenic Transformation Via Transcriptional Reprogramming Independent Of Y598 Phosphorylation And Canonical Jak-Stat Signaling, Omar Javier Rodriguez Moncivais

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive and complex malignancy that accounts for 15% of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases in the United States. Tyrosine kinases control critical cellular processes, including the development, survival, and activation of T cells, and are established drivers of leukemia.Tyrosine kinases involved in hematological disorders include receptor tyrosine kinases and non-receptor tyrosine kinases family members such as SRC, ABL, FAK, and Janus kinases (JAKs). This study primarily focused on JAK1 gain-of-function (GoF) mutations. These mutations are recognized as hyperactivating mutations, maintaining kinase activity of JAKs on and essentially keeping downstream signaling effectors, like …

The Relationships Between Behavioral And Sociocultural Constructs And Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Ends) And Cannabis Patterns In Hispanic Young Adult University Students, Kevin Sandoval Medina

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The proliferation of both electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and cannabis has contributed to a concerning trend of dual usage, posing a greater public health risk, particularly pronounced among at-risk populations of increased substance use, such as Hispanic young adult college students. This study utilized the socioecological framework and social cognitive theory to observe behavioral and sociocultural constructs associated with dual use and identify potential risk and protective factors. Four hundred and twenty-one Hispanic young adult university students completed a cross-sectional survey assessing sociodemographics, depression, anxiety, stress, familism, acculturation, self-efficacy, and past month dual use and dual use recency of …

Natural Killer T Cell-Mediated Control Of Francisella Tularensis-Induced Cytokine Storm Syndrome, Cameron M. Torres

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Inflammation is critical for the effective clearance of viral and bacterial challenges, while simultaneously a mechanism utilized by many highly infectious pathogens to cause disease. The bacterium Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of human tularemia, elicits a cytokine storm, wherein the immune system over-responds to the presence of the bacterium causing a dysregulated release of proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines. Without treatment, tularemia mortality can be as high as 30%, with inhalation of as few as 10 CFUs inducing respiratory tularemia. Natural Killer T (NKT) cells are innate-like T lymphocytes with a diverse array of regulatory functions. Unlike conventional T cells, …

"Alone I Can't, But Together We Can": A Photovoice Study To Explore Insights Of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (Aot) From Providers Working With Individuals With Serious Mental Illness (Smi)., Monica G. Urquieta

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is a court-ordered mental health treatment program for individuals with SMI (bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia) who have a history of noncompliance with treatment and are at risk of deteriorating or causing harm to themselves or others. This dissertation examined the perceptions and experiences of thirteen providers (lawyers, judges, case managers, psychiatrists, housing navigators, treatment guardians, nurse practitioners, therapists and peer support specialists with lived experience) on the AOT program for clients with SMI; and the environments that shape these perceptions, taking into account a system and community-based approach focusing on how the unique …

Current Standards And Future Directions Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Respiratory Care: The Ppmd Italy Meeting Report, Jane Black, David J. Birnkrant

Faculty Scholarship

Objective: This report summarizes key discussions from the meeting “Current Standards and Future Directions of Respiratory Assessment and Management of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD),” organized by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) Italy and the United States to address current challenges and opportunities in DMD respiratory care. Methods: The meeting brought together researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates who shared experiences, discussed advancements in DMD respiratory management, and identified areas of debate that require further research. Results: The speakers emphasized routine assessment of pulmonary function and of breathing during sleep to achieve timely diagnosis of respiratory complications. Therapeutic discussions focused on airway …

Alphamissense Predictions And Clinvar Annotations: A Deep Learning Approach To Uveal Melanoma, David J. Taylor Gonzalez, Mak B. Djulbegovic, Meghan Sharma, Michael Antonietti, Colin K. Kim, Vladimir N. Uversky, Carol L. Karp, Carol L. Shields, Matthew W. Wilson

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

OBJECTIVE: Uveal melanoma (UM) poses significant diagnostic and prognostic challenges due to its variable genetic landscape. We explore the use of a novel deep learning tool to assess the functional impact of genetic mutations in UM.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional bioinformatics exploratory data analysis of genetic mutations from UM cases.

SUBJECTS: Genetic data from patients diagnosed with UM were analyzed, explicitly focusing on missense mutations sourced from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) database.

METHODS: We identified missense mutations frequently observed in UM using the COSMIC database, assessed their potential pathogenicity using AlphaMissense, and visualized mutations using AlphaFold. Clinical …

Euroqol Data For Assessment Of Population Health Needs And Instrument Evaluation (Eq-Daphnie): A Study For Enhancing Population Health Assessment, Jeffrey A. Johnson, Mathieu F. Janssen, Fatima Al Sayah, Henry Bailey, Mihir Gandhi, Dominik Golicki, Nils Gutacker, Erica I. Lubetkin, Brendan Mulhern, Fredrick Dermawan Purba, Juan M. Ramos‑Goñi, Desiree Scott, Hilary Short, Trudy Sullivan, Rosalie Viney, Zhihao Yang, Victor Zárate

Publications and Research

Background

Methods for collecting self-reported health status measures in population health surveys vary significantly across countries, presenting challenges to comparability. The EuroQol Data for Assessment of Population Health Needs and Instrument Evaluation (EQ-DAPHNIE) project aims to address this issue by developing infrastructure to generate representative datasets across multiple countries. This initiative aims to standardize data collection methodologies and to evaluate the performance of various health status measures, providing a foundation for reliable population health assessments. This paper describes the rationale, design and data collection methods for the EQ-DAPHNIE project.

Methods/design

EQ-DAPHNIE employs a cross-sectional online survey design targeting the general …

Memory Matters: Cognitive Screenings For Dementia Detection In Monterey County, Cintia Gonzalez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The rates of Alzheimer’s disease in Monterey County are increasing. The Healthy Aging program from the Monterey County Health Department strives to promote the well-being and health of older adults and caregivers in Monterey County by offering education on brain health, support in adopting healthy lifestyles, and connecting to community services. Memory Matters is an example of a training or educational intervention. The purpose of Memory Matters is to bridge the gap of insufficient access to early detection of dementia by bringing awareness to brain health, and facilitating the conversation of cognitive exams with older adults, their caregivers, and their …

Healthy Food, Healthy Future: Equitable Nutrition Access, Daisy Paredes

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

While homelessness is a major global health issue, those without a place to live should have easy access to nutritional foods and medical care; otherwise, they risk developing long-term physical and mental health effects caused by circumstances beyond their control. The Community Action Board of Santa Cruz builds bridges to ensure everyone has access to resources and opportunities, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, identity, immigration status, and other aspects of one’s identity. The capstone project enhances physical health by coordinating a weekly food distribution event for unhoused individuals in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. This allows us to reduce …

Community Voices, Climate Action Choices: Working Towards A Resilient Monterey County, Lesley A. Solano Alonso

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Vulnerable communities in Monterey County face disproportionate environmental and health impacts due to climate change, yet many residents remain unaware of the tools and resources available to support local action. This capstone project was implemented in partnership with Ecology Action (EA) and the Resilient Central Coast (RCC) campaign to increase awareness and engagement with the RCC platform. Serving diverse communities across Monterey County, the project included bilingual outreach efforts, community tabling, educational presentations, and a climate action survey. Over 650 residents were engaged directly, resulting in 99 new household sign-ups on the RCC website, a major milestone for the agency. …

Ai Model For Predicting Asthma Prognosis In Children, Elham Sagheb, Chung-Il Wi, Katherine S King, Bhavani Singh Agnikula Kshatriya, Euijung Ryu, Hongfang Liu, Miguel A Park, Hee Yun Seol, Shauna M Overgaard, Deepak K Sharma, Young J Juhn, Sunghwan Sohn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Childhood asthma often continues into adulthood, but some children experience remission. Utilizing electronic health records (EHRs) to predict asthma prognosis can aid health care providers and patients in developing effective prioritized care plans.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop artificial intelligence (AI) models using various clinical variables extracted from EHRs to predict childhood asthma prognosis (remission vs no remission) in different age groups.

METHODS: We developed AI models utilizing patients' EHRs during the first 6, 9, or 12 years of their lives to predict their asthma prognosis status at ages 6 to 9, 9 to 12, or 12 to 15 …

Association Of Delayed Asthma Diagnosis With Asthma Exacerbations In Children, Chung-Il Wi, Euijung Ryu, Katherine S King, Jung Hyun Kwon, Joshua T Bublitz, Miguel Park, Sergio E Chiarella, Jason D Greenwood, Thanai Pongdee, Lynnea Myers, Björn Nordlund, Sunghwan Sohn, Elham Sagheb, Bhavani Singh Agnikula Kshatriya, Dave Watson, Hongfang Liu, Beverley J Sheares, Carla M Davis, Wade Schulz, Young J Juhn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There is a significant delay between symptom onset and diagnosis of childhood asthma, but the impact of this delay on asthma outcomes has not been well understood.

Objectives: We sought to study the association of delayed diagnosis of asthma with asthma exacerbations (AEs) in children.

Methods: Using the Mayo Clinic birth cohort, we identified children with a diagnosis of asthma from electronic health records. We defined onset date as the date when subjects first met predetermined asthma criteria ascertained by an electronic health records-based natural language processing algorithm. Delay in diagnosis (DD) was defined as first diagnosis >30 days …

Preparing Young Learners: Using Occupational Therapy To Promote Kindergarten Readiness At The Ymca., Zoey Eastman

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project aimed to enhance kindergarten readiness skills in preschool-aged children through the implementation of a school-based occupational therapy program at a YMCA child care center. The primary objective was to support children's developmental progress across multiple domains critical for school success. Over a 14-week period, developmentally appropriate, play-based activities were integrated into the classroom routine, specifically targeting fine motor skills, emotional regulation, sensory processing, and executive functioning—key areas linked to kindergarten readiness. Standardized assessments, including the Denver II Developmental Screening Tool and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), were utilized to monitor each child’s growth and identify areas …

Exploring Occupational Therapy's Role In Seating And Mobility And Assistive Technology Services In Adults With Neurological Conditions, Kathryn R. Larsen

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Assistive technology has the potential to have a positive impact on quality of life in those living with neurological conditions (Arbesman & Sheard, 2014; Soofi et al., 2017). The purpose of this capstone project was to allow the student to gain advanced clinical practice skills the areas of assistive technology and seating and mobility, to serve adults with neurological conditions, and to address gaps in service provision. The project was completed at an inpatient rehabilitation facility where the student participated in wheelchair evaluations, assistive technology clinic, and muscular dystrophy association clinic. Corresponding objectives and deliverables were created for each area …