Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Misophonia Development From Onset To College Age, Hope Horsfall

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Misophonia is a newly recognized disorder, defined as the hatred of specific trigger sounds and characterized by extreme negative emotional responses upon hearing trigger sounds (Webber, Johnson, Storch 2013). Although some studies have suggested that misophonia worsens with age (Rouw & Erfanian, 2018), little is yet known about this progression. The purpose of the current study was to examine how misophonia develops from onset until college, what sounds specifically trigger college-aged students, and how misophonia relates to sound-related skills such as playing instruments, taking music lessons, and speaking multiple languages. An online survey was conducted through Butler’s SONA system and …

Hormonal Control Of Axillary Meristem Establishment And Cytoskeleton Restructuring In Mnium Cuspidatum, Donald Davis Opel

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

In many members of the plant kingdom, axillary meristem outgrowth occurs once the apical meristem is removed. These lateral outgrowths occur subapical to the stem tip and serve to reestablish stem growth. However, little is known about this process in Mnium cuspidatum and other mosses and bryophytes. This project aims to establish the normal events that occur post-apical meristem decapitation. The influential role of auxin and an auxin inhibitor on axillary meristem establishment were investigated in this thesis. Two-centimeter segments of M. cuspidatum were cut off a cultured specimen and the apical meristem was decapitated. Segments were replated on either …

Dnp Final Report: Resilience Training For Entry-Level Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Students: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Ashley N. Goar

DNP Final Reports

Nursing students have moderate to high levels of stress due to responsibilities, high expectations, course grades, and clinical requirements. The practice problem identified for this evidence-based practice project was that undergraduate nursing students had elevated levels of stress but did not know how to manage it. Multiple interventions have been used to address the problem, including positive thinking, mindfulness, resilience training, and distraction-focused therapies. The PICOT question “Will resilience training (I) for entry-level BSN students (P) affect stress (O) in less than three months (T)?” was developed to guide the systematic search for evidence. Based on the evidence, one hour …

Screening For Social Determinants Of Health Screening In The Primary Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Arifa Khan

DNP Projects

Significance and Background: Social determinants play a major role in the overall health of our nation. While screening for social determinants of health (SDOH) in the primary care setting is encouraged, there is no streamlined process in place. Studies have determined that improved SDOH screenings can result in better patient outcomes and a decrease in healthcare costs. A protocol to improve SDOH screenings was needed to guide patient outcomes at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Connecticut.

Purpose: Deliver education to providers and healthcare staff across the health system on significance of social determinants of health and PRAPARE screening …

Investigating The Modulation Of Metastasis By Dax-1 In Adrenal Carcinoma Cells, Aarya Mishra

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The nuclear hormone receptor (NHR), DAX-1 (dosage-sensitive sex reversal, adrenal hypoplasia critical region, on chromosome X, gene 1), is important in adrenal and gonadal development as well as steroidogenesis. It is encoded by the NR0B1 gene and functions mainly as a transcriptional repressor. Classified as an orphan receptor within the NHR superfamily, DAX-1 has been shown to inhibit other NHRs including estrogen receptor, androgen receptor and steroidogenic factor 1. DAX-1 is found to be underexpressed in breast and prostate cancers and, specifically in prostate cancer, is believed to be a transcriptional repressor of genes that are involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition …

Long-Term Healthcare Utilisation, Costs And Quality Of Life After Invasive Group B Streptococcus Disease: A Cohort Study In Five Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries, Farah Seedat, Simon Procter, Ziyaad Dangor, Shannon Leahy, Sridhar Santhanam, Hima John, Quique Bassat, Celine Aerts, Amina Abubakar, Carophine Nasambu

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Introduction There are no published data on the long-term impact of invasive group B Streptococcus disease (iGBS) on economic costs or health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in low-income and middle-income countries. We assessed the impact of iGBS on healthcare utilisation, costs and HRQoL in Argentina, India, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa.

Methods Inpatient and outpatient visits, out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare payments in the 12 months before study enrolment, and health-state utility of children and caregivers (using the EuroQol 5-Dimensions-3-Level) were collected from iGBS survivors and an unexposed cohort matched on site, age at recruitment and sex. We used logistic or Poisson …

Comparable Cigarette Consumption Data Collected Using Timeline Follow-Back And Digital Diary Among Treatment-Seeking Smokers, Yong Cui, Jason D Robinson, George Kypriotakis, Jennifer A Minnix, Charles E Green, Seokhun Kim, Maher Karam-Hage, Paul M Cinciripini

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: The timeline follow-back interview is a common method of collecting daily cigarette consumption (cigarettes per day [CPD]) in smoking research. However, it may be subject to recall bias due to its reliance on retrospective reports. The increasing ownership of smartphones allows researchers to administer app-based digital diaries (DD) to collect CPD, which is expected to have less recall bias. Several studies have compared these two methods and found a noticeable discrepancy between them. However, these studies have mainly focused on the time window when smokers were smoking ad libitum. In this study, we wanted to determine the comparability of …

Ectopic Pregnancy Located At Pelvic Wall And Liver: Two Uncommon Case Reports From Vietnam And Mini-Review Literature, Thanh Hai Pham, Van Hoang Bui, Van Hung Nguyen, Phuc Nhon Nguyen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Abdominal ectopic pregnancy (AEP) located at hepatic region and pelvic-wall ectopic pregnancy (EP) are rare entities, that provoking a potentially life-threatening condition. Due to insufficient data, a proper management of non-specific types remains a challenge for all gynecologists worldwide.

CASE PRESENTATION: Two child-bearing age women were hospitalized due to delayed menstruation and a urine pregnancy test was positive without a determination of intrauterine pregnancy. The first EP case was located at the pelvic wall which identified incidentally during laparoscopy for a presumed tubal ectopic pregnancy on ultrasonography throughout. The second EP case was found at the hepatic …

Magnetic Three-Dimensional Graphene: A Superior Absorbent For Selective And Sensitive Determination Of Nitrite In Water Samples By Ion-Pair Based-Surfactant-Assisted Solid-Phase Extraction Combined With Spectrophotometry, Mina Vasheghani Farahani, Sajad Karami, Hassan Sereshti, Shokouh Mahpishanian, Somayeh Koupaei Malek, Shahabaldin Rezania

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science Student Research

A straightforward, fast and efficient analytical method was developed which utilizes a magnetic composite called three-dimensional graphene (3D-G@Fe₃O₄) as an adsorbent to recover nitrite ions (NO₂^–) from environmental water samples. The investigation into the synthesized adsorbent contained an examination of its morphology, chemical composition, structural attributes, and magnetic properties. This comprehensive analysis was conducted using various instrumental techniques, including Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The adsorbent surface was activated by adding cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to the …

Examining The Effects Of Acute And Chronic Stress On The Interrogative Suggestibility Of Young Adults, Claudia Cota

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

High-stress situations, like police interrogations, can hinder an individual's decision-making and critical-thinking ability (Liston et al., 2009), making them more susceptible to suggestive or leading messages during questioning. While research on suggestibility mainly focuses on children and adolescents, young adults may also be vulnerable to suggestion because of their sensitivity to social feedback (Blakemore & Mills, 2014; Redlich & Goodman, 2003). Since the legal consequences of suggestibility for young adults are more severe than for children or adolescents, it is essential to examine the role of stress in young adults' suggestibility. The present study used objective and subjective methods to …

Understanding The Importance Of Peak Bone Mass, Timothy Hereford, Alec Kellish, Julie Balch Samora, Louise Reid Nichols

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Bone mass attained early in life is one of the most important determinants of lifelong skeletal health. Bone mineral content increases exponentially during childhood. In fact, 40%-60% of the total adult bone mass is accrued during puberty. By the end of the first 2 decades of life, peak bone mass has been reached. Between ages 20-50, bone mass has plateaued, but it continues to remodel. This is regulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D3, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). After the age of 50, bone mass begins to decrease. The purpose of this paper is to review the importance …

How Livelihood Change Affects Food Choice Behaviors In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review, Emma Kenney Mph-Pa, Krystal K. Rampalli, Sharraf Samin, Edward A. Frongillo Ph.D., Ligia I. Reyes, Shiva Bhandari, Morgan Boncyk, Stella Nordhagen, Helen Walls, Sigrid Wertheim-Heck, Amy Ickowitz, Solveig A. Cunningham, Ramya Ambikapathi, Beatrice Ekesa, Mirriam Matita, Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd

Faculty Publications

Livelihoods have changed dramatically over the past decade in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). These shifts are happening in tandem with shifts in individual and household food choice behaviors. This scoping review aimed to identify and characterize mechanisms through which livelihood changes could affect food choice behaviors in LMIC, including behaviors relating to food production, acquisition, preparation, distribution, and consumption. A literature search was conducted using 4 databases: PubMed, PsycInfo, AGRICOLA, and Embase. The search was further enhanced by expert solicitations. Studies were included if they measured or focused on a livelihood change, described or assessed a change in ≥1 …

Internationally Educated Nurse Onboarding Program Evaluation Toolkit, Kolton Jacobson

Nursing Capstones

A large rural healthcare system has onboarded over 200 internationally educated nurses (IENs) and needed to develop an evaluation method to determine longitudinal program outcomes. This project’s purpose was to develop an evaluation toolkit to be utilized by this health system to evaluate and support overall program outcomes. The Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey was identified through a literature review to be utilized within the toolkit to evaluate program outcomes. Utilizing a descriptive evaluation research design with post-survey, expert opinions were collected from 20 IEN clinical educators at this health system about their expected use and effectiveness of the toolkit …

Improving Diabetic Patient’S Self-Management Knowledge Through Educational Sessions On Blood Glucose Monitoring, Chelsea Weightman, Alexandra Marapao, Matthew Doherty

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

North Dakota Physical Therapy Workforce And Telehealth Utilization Between 2018-2022, Nicole A. Thomas, Elise J. Bartel, Logan Thomas, Senior, Brendan E. Kalous, Hunter T. Sylte

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Physical Therapists (PT’s) are important healthcare providers for individuals of all ages, ailments, and provide both prevention and care of disease and injury. Traditionally, physical therapists work in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, sports/outpatient clinics, and privately-owned clinics, to name a few. There are approximately 7.2 physical therapists for every 10,000 people nationwide. However, the geographical distribution and practice settings of PT’s can greatly vary throughout each state, county, and region. This varying distribution of PT’s creates one of the biggest limitations surrounding the field of PT which is decreased access to physical therapy services …

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty And The Effects Of Physical Therapy In The Outpatient Setting: A Case Report, Troy L. Huff

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA)is gaining popularity globally for treatment of traumatic and degenerative glenohumeral diseases, as well as for irreparable rotator cuff total shoulder arthroplasty surgeries. The number of these surgeries in 2011 were 22,820 and have jumped to a staggering increase of more than 60,000 a year in 2023. The goal of this case study is to determine the role and effectiveness of physical therapy in a status post RTSA.

Case Description: The patient was a 70-year-old year male who had a right RTSA. The patient had comorbidities of Osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, a failed …

Screening For Potential Swine-Origin Probiotics With Antimicrobial Activities, Christina Lim

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a leading issue worldwide. Recently, there was a new law banning the use of antibiotics within the swine industry. For decades swine producers have mixed subtherapeutic amounts of antibiotics in swine feed to prevent potential infections and to increase growth rate. However, due to the constant exposure of antibiotics to these ever-evolving pathogens, the population of antibiotic resistant bacteria has increased exponentially. Currently, the swine industry is scrambling to find a suitable alternative to antibiotics that possesses antimicrobial activity and potentially promotes growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability …

Exploring The Neuroprotective Effects Of Cannabinoids On Oxygen Glucose Deprived Neurons In An In-Vitro Model Of Stroke, Bhavya Chatragadda, Emily Potts, Hang Ma, Navindra Seeram, Claudia Fallini

Senior Honors Projects

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability and decreased mobility worldwide. During stroke, neuronal damage results from both the initial oxygen-glucose deprivation and the increase in excitotoxicity and oxidative stress after restoration of blood flow, a phase called Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (IRI). Reducing the impact of these processes could result in better outcomes for post-stroke patients by preventing excessive neuronal death. Many natural compounds derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant have been tested for neuroprotective effects due to their potential antioxidant properties. We hypothesized that neurons treated with cannabinoids immediately after experiencing an acute ischemic event will have an overall …

Nurses' Use Of Humor In Healthcare, Elizabeth Bloss

Senior Honors Projects

We often turn to humor when we’re feeling sad or want to be distracted. Things that make us laugh can be a great escape from a hard moment and enhance the joy in a great moment. In the life of a young patient in the hospital, humor is one of the few things they can use to cope. In this project, I reviewed the literature to explore how laughing can impact health and if it could benefit a patient in the long-term. It turns out that laughter can positively impact a person’s health in several ways. Using humor in patient-to-provider …

Funding Mechanisms For School Aged Children Who Qualify For Augmentative And Alternative Communication Devices, Hailey Johnson

Senior Honors Projects

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are used by individuals of all developmental ages who have difficulties with speech. Those who qualify to use an AAC device are able to practice independence, communicate their needs, and are able to engage in more opportunities where conversation with spoken communication is necessary. This comprehensive review of AAC within the school-aged population provides a detailed look at their overall use within the public school setting, and the funding mechanisms available to users and their families for these expensive devices. Interviews with a Speech and Language Pathologist, and a parent of a child with …

The Importance Of Statewide Policy, Comprehensive Sex Ed, And Adolescent Sexual Health: A Conversation, Cecilia Calise, Serena Russell

Senior Honors Projects

Though the importance of comprehensive sexual health education cannot be overstated, it is currently lacking in much of the United States. Teens and young adults experience significant negative health effects as the result of systems that fail them when it comes to preparing them to make informed decisions, build healthy relationships, and navigate the complexities of sexuality in a safe and supportive environment. This project builds on our past collaborative and original research from the URI course, Sexuality: Health, Wellbeing and Policy, which discusses the significant role that sex education programs play in supplementing non-comprehensive or non-medically accurate curricula, particularly …

Functional Stereotyping Of Women’S Self-Objectification As A Function Of Life History And Body Fat, Vienne Howay

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Individuals prioritize different goals as a function of stability in their environment, oftentimes leading people to prioritize reproduction in hostile ecologies. From this shift in priorities, perceivers could develop heuristics about how women may attempt to attract mates. Previous research suggests that higher levels of body fat are more attractive to men with a fast life history. With this awareness of men’s preferences in body fat, high-fat women from hostile ecologies could be expected to engage in more self-objectifying behavior in the service of mate attraction or attempting present themselves as objects of affection to men. This study tasked participants …

The Psychological And Physical Effects Of Childhood Obesity Into Adulthood, Ashley Urbom

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this review is to assess how adults who were obese as children are affected psychologically and physically. Understanding childhood obesity has become an important topic in the last few decades, especially in the United States. This research seeks to examine the previous literature and its gaps in making conclusions about how the diagnosis of childhood obesity affects children not only at the time of diagnosis but into adulthood as well. Articles for review sourced from PubMed and PsychInfo and were available via the University of Northern Colorado libraries. Numerous sources were found, and several had varying results. …

Gene Expression Of Cellular Respiration Enzymes In Breast Cancer, Madison Turner

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the United States, approximately 2.0 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024 (Siegel et al., 2024). 15% of those diagnoses will be breast cancer with 2% resulting in death (Siegel et al., 2024). Using normal breast tissue, metastatic breast cancer, and relapsed breast cancer to compare the gene expression of enzymes involved in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle could help with diagnosis and targeted treatment of altered metabolism. Cellular respiration is a set of metabolic processes; glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Normal cells use cellular respiration to convert nutrients into ATP (Chandel, 2021). Cancer …

Barriers Faced By Members Of Marginalized Communities When It Comes To Eating Healthy And Cultural Adaptations To Nutrition Education Materials, Kennedy Larsen

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: In the United States, major health disparities exist among low socioeconomic status (SES) and other marginalized communities. Many of these health disparities are nutrition-related and include diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Many individuals in this population lack education regarding nutrition, increasing risk of disease and the detrimental impacts that these diseases can have.

Objective: The aim of this project was to identify barriers that members of low SES and marginalized communities face and adapt nutrition education materials to be culturally appropriate for the immigrant and refugee population in the Northern Colorado area.

Methods: I conducted a needs assessment with …

Exploration Of Resources Women Use To Seek Food And Nutrition Information During Pregnancy, Sydni Hebert

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Nutrition is a common concern during pregnancy, yet women often do not meet the recommended nutrient intakes for a healthy pregnancy. Obtaining reliable food and nutrition information is challenging during pregnancy, and women do not know where to find credible information. AIMS: This study aims to investigate the food and nutrition information-seeking behaviors among low-income pregnant women experiencing their first pregnancy and compare these behaviors with pregnant women who are classified as middle and higher-income status. METHODS: A qualitative survey was developed to identify the type of information women seek, satisfaction with information, application of information to their diet choices, …

Synergistic Interactions And Emulsion Preparation Of Antioxidant Potential Of Cannabidiol And Cold Brew Coffee, Karina Rosa

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Antioxidants play an important role in mitigating the damage caused by oxidative stress in the human body. Over time, the oxidative stress can lead to diseases such cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders and even cancer. Notably, both cannabidiol and coffee antioxidants. Purpose: To investigate the interaction between the antioxidant potential observed from the combination of CBD and cold brew coffee and compare it to their individual effects. Additionally, develop a methodology for emulsion preparation for analysis of antioxidant potential of a beverage made of cold brew coffee infused with CBD. Materials and Methods: Two cold brew coffee and two CBD oil …

Intersectionality And The Experience Of Stuttering For Latinos In The U.S., Carolina Beita-Ell

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In research, intersectionality seeks to explore, reflect on, and validate variations in human experience. This study adopted an intersectional approach when contemplating the experience of stuttering for individuals living in the U.S. who identified as Latinx (Latino/Latina/Hispanic). Nine Latinx people who stutter (PWS) - six reported their gender as ‘male’ and three reported their gender as ‘female’, with a mean age of 41, from five U.S. states and Washington, D.C. - participated in the study. A mixed methods design, which consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted online using videoconferencing technology and an online survey that contained three quantitative measures as well …

Who Gets It Right? A Critical Policy Analysis Of United States' And Finland's Maternity Leave Policies, Carlee Denholtz

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of Finland’s Family Leave Act, the United States’ Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and New Jersey’s Family Leave Act (NJFLA), guided by Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s policy analytical framework. The dissertation begins by contextualizing the history of women and work to provide context for how societal perceptions of women’s roles in work and family evolved over time, as well as the gender inequality issues women faced and the evolution of policies that tried to address gender inequality. The dissertation employs the CDC's policy analytical …

Nurturing Black Girls: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Black Girls' Mental Health And Their Lived Experiences With Racial Discrimination In Schools, Marline Francois

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This research explored the lived experiences of Black girls in schools with a focus on racial discrimination and the impact it has on their mental health. Grounded in Black feminist thought and phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory (PVEST), this study used qualitative research to understand the lived experiences of Black girls. Twenty participants engaged in this study through semi-structured interviews to examine their lived experiences in school spaces. The findings of this study acknowledge the profound impact of racial discrimination on the mental health of Black girls. At the intersection of race and gender, this study contributes to the …