Honors Theses
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/240481
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Item Open Access Unraveling the seizure spectrum: differentiating between psychogenic and epileptic seizures(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Jones, Kennedy, author; Jeckel, Kimberly, advisor; Maresh, Ryan, committee memberPsychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) present a unique clinical challenge, sitting at a crossroads of neurology and psychiatry. This thesis explores the potential pathophysiological and psychological framework of PNES, comparing it to epileptic seizures to outline the differences and similarities between these two distinct conditions. Through an in-depth literature review, this study will examine the physical manifestations of PNES, the diagnostic criteria, and factors contributing to these event misclassifications. Additionally, this work investigates the root causes of PNES, particularly the role of psychological stress, trauma, and mental health disorders in their onset. Key research questions focus on understanding the mechanism of PNES both physiologically and psychologically, identifying the criteria for precise diagnostic practices, and exploring the complex relationship between mental health and seizure manifestations. By analyzing current literature on both PNES and epilepsy, this research aims to clarify the boundaries between neurological and psychiatric diagnoses, while also addressing the stigma associated with PNES. The findings are expected to inform future research directions, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies, ultimately expanding the literature exploring the understanding and management of PNES in medical and psychological contexts.Item Open Access Teaching model for human eye movement: a multidisciplinary senior design project(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Zito, Michael, author; McGilvray, Kirk, advisor; Brennan-Pierce, Ellen, committee memberThis thesis documents the development of an anatomically accurate teaching model demonstrating human ocular movement. The year-long senior design project, sponsored by Colorado State University, was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Leslie Stone-Roy (Neuroscience) and Dr. Kirk McGilvray (Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering). The model effectively represents the human eyes, oculomotor musculature, and the associated neuronal pathways responsible for eye movement. The project allows for the demonstration of both functional and impaired neural pathways via LED sequencing as well as the respective motor functions for each respective path. Development of the project progressed through multiple design evaluations, prototyping iterations, and testing methods. The final project serves as an educational resource for undergraduate neuroscience curriculum at Colorado State University. This project helped to develop personal engineering skills and principles while also creating an impactful educational tool to enhance the comprehension of complex neuroanatomical concepts.Item Open Access Physiological and psychosocial solutions for improving maternal and fetal health outcomes in marginalized demographics in the United States(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) McNally, Kealan, author; Kent, Suzanne, advisor; Winger, Quint, committee memberThe United States continues to rank among the highest-income countries with the worst maternal and fetal health outcomes, reflecting deep-rooted failures in medical practice, policy, and social infrastructure. This paper explores the multifactorial contributors to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, including biological complications such as preeclampsia, Type II diabetes, and intrauterine growth restriction, as well as external determinants like environmental toxins, systemic racism, and insufficient access to healthcare. It further analyzes structural issues such as poor maternal leave policies, discriminatory treatment within medical settings, and the declining availability of reproductive autonomy following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. Drawing on recent clinical research, public health data, and social science findings, this study outlines practical interventions including expanded access to contraception, public health education, mental health resources, community outreach, and targeted policy reform. Emphasis is placed on dismantling structural racism, improving maternal support, and investing in new reproductive health technologies. The paper advocates for a holistic and justice-centered approach to maternal health—one that frames health equity not as a privilege, but as a fundamental human right essential to the wellbeing of future generations.Item Open Access Targeted education methods for the enhanced understanding of asthma(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Rauschenberg, Abigail, author; Maresh, Ryan., advisorAsthma is a chronic disease characterized by episodes of wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. This disease is highly prevalent in both adult and pediatric populations and can affect the day-to-day life of those afflicted. This paper serves to explore the pathophysiology of asthma, particularly the roles of bronchoconstriction, airway inflammation, and the immune response associated with it. Diagnostic techniques and classification of asthma are also discussed, particularly related to different phenotypic presentations of the disease. Treatment options and plans are also identified. Beyond the physical, the psychosocial elements of having a chronic disease are discussed, emphasizing the emotional challenges faced by adolescents. Taking the physical and psychosocial elements into consideration, the need for targeted education techniques is highlighted and explored. By combining the biological and psychosocial perspectives regarding adolescent chronic asthma, this paper advocates for a change to the patient-care approach for asthmatics.Item Open Access Analysis of tyrosine kinase inhibitor responses in mixed murine EML4-ALK-driven lung tumors to define dominance of their tumor immune microenvironments(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Prosceno, Isabella, authorLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. In recent studies, successes in precision oncology with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have yielded marked and durable tumor responses in tumor subsets defined by oncogenic mutations in the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) EGFR, ALK, ROS1, and RET. Despite this progress, most patients show a partial response and these therapies fail to completely eliminate "drug tolerant persisters" also known as "residual disease". Thus, new therapeutic strategies are needed as presently there are no approved therapies after EGFR mutant lung cancer progression on the 3rd generation TKI, Osimertinib. This desperate need for additional precision therapies is crucial for 2nd and 3rd line therapies in oncogene-driven lung cancer patients. Anti-PD1/PD-L1 agents are approved treatments in lung cancers that disrupt tumor-mediated immune suppression. However, these drugs are ineffective in patients whose tumors bear oncogenic RTK genes despite evidence that adaptive immune cells contribute to the anti-cancer activity of TKIs in these cancers. In other words, immune checkpoint inhibitors are not able to be utilized. The Nemenoff and Heasley labs of University of Colorado Anschutz have generated a panel of murine EML4-ALK cell lines (EA1, EA2) that can be orthotopically implanted in immune competent mice. In order to address the question of immune dominance within a mixed EML4-ALK tumor, a project will deploy mixtures of EA1 and EA2 cell lines to intentionally establish heterogeneous tumors and assess the resulting immune microenvironment and the Alectinib response. The lab has generated EA1 and EA2 cells that incorporate specific fluorescent tags, allowing the assessment of each population in mice. In studying heterogeneous lung tumors composed of clones that avidly recruit anti-tumorigenic T cells and clones that recruit immune suppressive cells (neutrophils), we imagine that three different possibilities may be observed. Complete results are not available due to the experiment being ongoing, but it is hypothesized that the microenvironment of EA1 will suppress that of EA2's. This result will show only a partial response to Alectinib.Item Open Access Investigating the impact of undergraduate laboratory courses, research experiences, and CUREs courses on lecture-based course material(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Dirks, Kaitlyn, authorUndergraduate STEM degrees are composed of lecture and laboratory classes. Additionally, undergraduate research experiences and core-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) are becoming more encouraged throughout a bachelor's degree. However, what is the impact of these courses and experiences on undergraduate education? This study aims to understand the benefit or lack thereof, of laboratory courses, CUREs courses, and undergraduate research experience, on that of lecture courses within STEM degrees. The results were collected by a survey and analyzed for statistical significance using the chi-squared test. Results found that both laboratory courses and undergraduate research experiences had an impact on the lecture courses. This correlation could occur from the re-iteration of the lecture course material within the lab course setting. Further the autonomy in a research experience challenges students to engage in critical thinking, application and analysis of the lecture course material. The results pertaining to the CUREs courses are currently incomplete. There were significantly few respondents who had engaged in a CUREs lab. This could have resulted from the lack of knowledge or awareness of the course. With the continuation of lab courses and a required entry level course focused on entering STEM students into undergraduate research experiences, STEM students' academic output could continue to rise. With a better spread of the CUREs course, the data could be recollected and reassessed.