Clark Honors College Theses
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The thesis is the capstone of a student's academic program at the Clark Honors College. It is an opportunity for each CHC student to build on the education received in both CHC and the academic major to design an independent and original research project. It is the product of the student's original research or creative endeavor and, like graduate theses, must place the research or creative work in the context of prior research or artistic traditions, explain the techniques used to perform the research or develop the creative work, and present and elaborate on the results. Like graduate students, CHC students work closely with faculty members to develop and write their theses and, like graduate students, defend their theses in oral presentations to their thesis committees. There is a fundamental difference between graduate theses and CHC theses; the CHC thesis must be readable by a lay audience, while graduate theses may be written in technical or discipline-specific language.
Beginning in Winter 2005, Clark Honors College students have been notified of the option of submitting their theses to Scholars' Bank and many have done so. Some older theses are also available.
Paper copies of all theses are available in the Robert D. Clark Library on the third floor of Chapman Hall, on the University of Oregon campus. Contact the College for more information: https://honors.uoregon.edu/.
Paper copies of all theses are also available in the University Archives operated by the University of Oregon Libraries. To search the Libraries' catalog, visit the web site at: https://library.uoregon.edu/.
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Item Open Access School District and Community Factors and the Impact of COVID-19 School Closures on Chronic Absenteeism(University of Oregon, 2024-11) Espinoza, Juan; Harbaugh, William; McWhorter, BrianThis study uses school district level variation in COVID closures and census data to quantify the effects that virtual and hybrid instruction had on the increases in post-pandemic chronic absenteeism. We find statistically significant evidence of a positive relationship with our best model estimating that each 1% increase in the proportion of the 2020/2021 school year spent away from fully in-person instruction increased chronic absenteeism by 0.20%, after controlling for race, income, education, school expenditures, and family structure. This thesis includes collaboratively produced work.Item Open Access Robux IRL: How Games Can Create a Positive Impact on Children's Development of Financial Literacy(University of Oregon, 2024-11) Rodriguez Baquero, Sofia; Foxman, Maxwell; Hinkle, LindsayThis paper explores the relationship between using Roblox and learned financial habits in children. Even as required personal finance courses become common in high schools across the U.S., we need to do more to support the development of financial literacy in the next generation. Video games provide the opportunity to make this education engaging and immersive, which gives kids the chance to learn by doing. Roblox is a free online gaming and game creation platform that currently has around 80 million daily users. This research studies broadly how games and personal finance are being factored into education before looking specifically at the role parents can play in these relationships. It also analyzes Roblox as a platform to understand how different features and aspects of the platform influence consumer behavior in children. Through active parent involvement and honest conversations about the value of money, Roblox can go from being purely for entertainment and socialization to being a tool for building healthy financial habits in young people. The final chapter of this research is a new guide for parents on how to treat Roblox with their child and understand the economic and social implications of using it.Item Open Access Menstrual Tracking Applications and PMDD(University of Oregon, 2024-11) Grunwald, Hannah; Raisanen, Elizabeth; Spitzley, KatePremenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a psychiatric and gynecological condition marked by affective, cognitive, and physical symptoms that predominantly manifest during the luteal phase, occurring in the week before menstruation and resolving after the onset of menstruation, affecting 1.2-6.4% of individuals who menstruate (Naik et al. 2023). Symptoms of PMDD heavily overlap with those of other psychiatric disorders but the condition is distinguished by the cyclical timing of symptoms occurring in the week before menstruation and resolving after the onset of menstruation. The Carolina Premenstrual Assessment Scoring System (C-PASS) is a standardized computer algorithm that uses the basis of the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) to help distinguish clinical presentations of PMDD and other menstrual disorders with data being derived from a self-reported record of symptoms over a two-cycle span (Eisenlohr-Moul et al. 2017). During a clinical study, the C-PASS showed that its conclusion agreed with physicians’ diagnoses with face-to-face clinical evaluation 94.5% of the time (Epperson and Hantsoo 2017). With over 200 million downloads of menstrual tracking apps, the potential for a diagnostic tool like C-PASS to be incorporated into an app should be considered to facilitate accurate clinical diagnoses of PMDD (Levy & Romo-Avilés, 2019; Naik et al., 2023).Item Open Access Best Practices in Education: A Look Into the Educational Delivery Models That Produce the Best Outcomes for Children with Disabilities(University of Oregon, 2024-12) Bullard, Hailey; Durany, Karen; Rovak, Angela; Zinser, JarrodEducation is a fundamental right for all individuals. Yet, students with disabilities often face significant barriers to achieving their full potential. Various methodologies and modalities of educating this diverse population exist; thus, it is difficult to select one that produces successful outcomes consistently. This research aims to understand which model of education elicits the best outcomes for students with disabilities. By reviewing existing literature, this study seeks to highlight evidence-based practices that not only enhance academic achievement but also promote social and emotional development in the child. As such, the findings of this research will strengthen efforts to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for those with disabilities. This research seeks to answer the question: What educational delivery model produces the best outcomes for students with disabilities and how can we implement these methods into the classroom?Item Open Access Molding Understanding: A Discourse on Forensic Anthropology Techniques and Artistic Process(University of Oregon, 2024-11) Winsett, Emily; Ulibarri, Lawrence; Michlig, Christopher; Gillis, BrianLife and death are among the most confounding topics of discourse today. While many perceive life as a beginning and death as an end, I believe they are inherently linked. Death is a byproduct of life, but it does not signify its conclusion. After death, we carry on our narrative through our bones; the human skeleton embodies the history of our existence. This thesis explores the story of life as it is read through the bones. Through a research-based analysis of forensic anthropology strategies and a discussion of the technical methodologies involved in crafting ceramics, this project explores how the process of creating a ceramic skeleton offers a unique means of visualizing the scientific study of human remains. By merging the conceptual framework of forensic anthropology with the hands-on process of ceramic making, the work deepens our understanding of life and death. The act of sculpting each bone not only reflects the technical aspects of forensic analysis—such as the estimation of age, sex, and stature—but also serves as a meditation on the human condition. Through this approach, the ceramic skeleton becomes a powerful tool for exploring the intersections of life, death, and memory, allowing for an intimate and tangible engagement with the processes that define and preserve human existence.Item Open Access A Landslide Inventory for Prince of Wales Island, Alaska from 2009 to 2023 Using Planet Imagery(University of Oregon, 2024-11) Lawrence, Eliza; Roering, Josh; Shoop, Casey; Patton, AnnetteThe combination of extreme rainfall brought on by atmospheric rivers and steep topography has made landslides a frequent and hazardous occurrence on Prince of Wales Island (PoW) in Southeast Alaska. Detecting and monitoring landslides on the ground can be costly and time-consuming, especially in remote and inaccessible locations. By using high-resolution (3-5 m) Earth observation imagery from Planet Labs, we can pinpoint the location and constrain the timing of past landslides through visual change detection of multiple images acquired every 2-3 days. We have mapped over 750 landslides across PoW (6670 km²) and the surrounding islands from 2009 to 2023. By comparing pre- and post-landslide failure images, we determined landslide timing with temporal constraints ranging from one year to less than one week. This study expands upon the USFS Tongass National Forest Landslide Inventory, which utilizes a combination of decadal aerial photos and high-resolution satellite imagery, providing multi-year constraints on landslide timing. The inventory presented in this study includes landslide polygons, corresponding initiation points, and an attribute table containing the last pre-failure date, first post-failure date, slope, elevation, forest stand age, geology, distance to the nearest road, and area. The distribution of landslides across PoW over the past decade demonstrates a strong seasonality, with most landslides occurring between August and December. We find a strong relationship between landslide location and aspect, with landslides predominantly occurring on southern slopes. Our methods also capture small landslides, revealing that most are located within 10 km of the nearest road. We find that cumulative precipitation, both monthly and annually, does not fully explain the relationship with landslide frequency and requires further exploration. Future research will use gridded precipitation data, coupled with well-characterized timing of landslides, to determine precipitation intensity thresholds for landslide triggering. By quantifying the temporal and spatial distribution of landslide occurrences, we can provide valuable information to support the development of landslide early-warning systems.Item Open Access A Scoping Review of Greenwashing(University of Oregon, 2024-11) Csaszar, Avery; Segre-Cohen, Alex; Dahmen, Nicole; Smith, HollieThere has been evidence of climate change for over a century, and the impacts are becoming more intense as time goes on. There is no doubt that our Earth is suffering due to human-induced impacts, and the consequences will only become more severe if we do not begin to make drastic changes soon. Many products are made to appear environmentally friendly through aesthetic green packaging and environmental labels that indeed are only a front to the damaging effects of the lifecycle of the product. This may lead consumers who are environmentally conscious to feel urged to purchase these products because of these visible “environmental” traits, while the consumers are left unknowingly supporting a cycle of unsustainable products and behaviors. We must shift from this cycle of false claims to those of truth so that consumers may make decisions based on facts and not fear that what they see or read is simply a facade. With this, the image of being “green” is increasingly more important to society. Companies and organizations are attempting to uphold this green image to appeal to consumers with growing environmental awareness. This, however, leads to greenwashing, or when individuals or companies mislead the public into believing that a company or product is more environmentally friendly than it truly is. Greenwashing ultimately leads to a setback in the fight against the climate crisis and reinforces harmful behavior and practices toward the environment, for the sake of companies’ and individual’s green image. Through a scoping review, this research sought to define greenwashing and explore the tactics most used as well as the solutions the literature provides to combat greenwashing. It sought to be a comprehensive scoping review of greenwashing that yields a tool for researchers, policymakers, and the public to use to better understand and be educated on the topic of greenwashing as well as how to move forward in curbing the practice of greenwashing. This research answered the following research questions: 1. What criteria is used to identify greenwashing in literature found in select databases? What themes are most prevalent in the definitions of greenwashing? 2. What tactics of greenwashing have been most explored in academic literature? 3. What solutions does the literature provide to combat the practice of greenwashing?Item Open Access Masking to Succeed: Exploring Identity Barriers to Competitive Drive in Online Gaming(University of Oregon, 2024-10) Crew, Toby; Foxman, Maxwell; Dudukovic, NicoleThe toxic social environment of online competitive video games is well known, but despite negative experiences, gamers from all walks of life are continually motivated to improve and engage with others in the name of competition, including those often targeted by bigotry, such as women and transgender players. While research on how identity affects competitive drive exists within the esports space, there is no standard inclusion of other marginalized genders, few papers standardize identity and competitive drive variables, such as personality and competitive indexes, and papers covering individual motivations and experiences within online social environments have only been published within the last 4 years. I surveyed and interviewed 10 undergraduate gamers who played at least 5 hours of competitive ranked modes in video games a week. I used the HEXACO personality index specifically because of its reliability in describing personality, and the Competitive Index because of its multifaceted approach to defining competitive drive. After statistical analysis, and after coding each 25-45 minute long interview manually using the Competitive Index as a coding scheme, I found associations between gender identity and Enjoyment of Competition, both quantitatively and qualitatively. I also found a negative association between Desire to Win and Honesty-Humility, and a weaker positive association between Personal Development Competitiveness, and Emotionality. Additionally, I found that while perceptions of online social environment interactions were generally negative, many found solace and enjoyment in competing with strangers, and others found ways around negative interactions to not sacrifice their competitive drive, such as playing in closed communities. While the methodology was flawed, and no significant conclusions could be derived from the quantitative analysis, these findings imply a complex relationship between individual differences in competitive drive and self-identity, and future research into personality as a factor of competitiveness, controlled for social environment, should be looked into.Item Embargo Engineering Circular Guide RNAs for Enhanced CRISPR-Cas9 Efficiency(University of Oregon, 2024-11) Keller, Abigail; Plesa, Calin; Raisanen, ElizabethThe CRISPR-Cas9 system has revolutionized genome editing, offering remarkable precision and versatility in targeted genetic modifications. This study presents an approach to improve CRISPR-Cas9 efficiency through the design and validation of circular guide RNA (cgRNA) constructs. Circular RNAs are more stable than their linear counterparts which are susceptible to degradation by extracellular RNases that are abundant in the environment and act on their ends. Prior studies suggest that effective cgRNAs can be produced from self-splicing Group I introns, but the optimal linker lengths for efficient circularization remain unknown. The linker, essential for connecting the ends of the cgRNA, is an added sequence that prevents tight folding, allowing stable circularization without interfering with the RNA's editing efficiency. Our goal enables the production of stable cgRNAs using a Golden Gate Assembly (GGA) plasmid incorporating a gRNA template and self-splicing group I introns. Following successful validation of our GGA constructs in Escherichia coli cells, numerous cgRNA linkers can be tested to find the optimal linker for cgRNA stability and improved CRISPR efficiency. Circular guide RNAs exhibit enhanced efficiency and stability compared to linear counterparts, thereby providing valuable insights for advancing CRISPR-Cas9 technology and its applications in genome editing.Item Open Access AN ETHICAL EVALUATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF FOREIGN AID(University of Oregon, 2024-05) Dhamdhere, Aarushi; Weaver, Lesley Jo; Fitzpatrick, Ellen;This thesis will aim to address ethical challenges that foreign aid poses to aid-receiving countries and investigate the frameworks of international non-governmental organizations (INGO). To do so, I worked closely with an INGO, that I will refer to as GlobalMed, and assessed their duties and obligations as international actors. I accompanied GlobalMed on a week-long service-learning trip (SLT) in Cusco, Peru where I conducted an ethnographic study through participant-observation. My research took place in mobile clinics, patient follow-up care programs, and development projects. The goal, by the end of this project, was to develop insights to the framework of GlobalMed, determine whether my experience aligned with the tenets of medical ethics, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential implications of foreign aid.Item Open Access Assessing Infant Speech Discrimination Using Pupillary Dilation Response(University of Oregon, 2024-08) Heilenbach, Sam; Baldwin, Dare; Bala, AvinashPerceptual narrowing is central to the ability of infants in acquiring language competency. The broad sensitivity seen in younger infants to even the smallest units of speech – phonemes – becomes fine-tuned toward the end of their first year of life to the specific phonemes of their native language(s), enabling them to partition continuous speech into discrete words, essential for acquiring language proficiency. Perceptual narrowing refers to the gradual reduction in sensitivity to phonetic contrasts that are not relevant in the native language, along with an enhanced ability to recognize and distinguish phonetic contrasts that are meaningful in the native language. Understanding the timing and mechanisms of this process is key to understanding speech and language development more broadly. Current methods for studying perceptual narrowing rely on behavioral methods that require lengthy training periods, which result in high rates of attrition and may resultingly limit the generalizability of these findings. This study investigated the potential of sound-induced pupil response (SIPR) to measure infant speech-sound discrimination. We hypothesized that SIPR will accurately index auditory discrimination changes as perceptual narrowing unfolds. Using a mixed factorial-design, infants aged 10-12 months were exposed to native and non-native phonetic contrasts while their pupil responses were measured. Our sample of pilot data provides clear evidence validating SIPR as a sensitive measure of infant response to language. However, the sample is as yet too small to offer conclusive findings regarding perceptual narrowing. In any case, the SIPR holds great promise as a new, highly sensitive tool for investigating language development in early infancy. Thus, the significance of this research lies in its potential to enhance our understanding of developmental change in early auditory discrimination abilities.Item Embargo AN ARCHAEOBOTANICAL GUIDE TO THE NORTHERN GREAT BASIN(University of Oregon, 2024-09) Di Fiore, Sofia; Kennedy, Jaime; Gallagher, DaphneArchaeobotany—the study of plants recovered from archaeological sites—is a discipline that offers one the opportunity to peer into the past and look at what the lives of humans looked like in times we will never experience. Archaeobotanical investigations are particularly important to the understanding of how human populations adapt to changing environments, as changes in botanical resources due to climactic shifts necessitate changes in traditional lifeways, shaping human cultures. This thesis reviews the archaeobotanical research history of the Northern Great Basin, a unique and isolated part of the intermountain west with an extensive history of human occupation that makes it an important locus of archaeological study, providing the opportunity for researchers to gain a deep time view of how humans interact with their environment. This project details ten of likely hundreds of plant species represented in the area’s archaeological record, drawing inspiration from traditional plant guides to create a proof-of concept look into the human-environmental connection in this region.Item Open Access REDESIGNING CAMPUS DINING TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON(University of Oregon, 2024-09) Merrill, Maya; Selek, Hale; McWhorter, BrianUniversities across the United States, including the University of Oregon, have shifted to promote sustainable thinking and living. However, these large institutions also produce an incredible amount of food and packaging waste every day—two of the largest categories contributing to municipal solid waste in the United States. As universities shape future generations of leaders, it is important that they implement systems and products which uphold sustainable living practices and reduce their environmental impact. My research and design aims to provide strategies, system and product redesigns that will reduce the significant amount of food and packaging waste produced by thousands of consumers at UO Dining halls every day. I provide a multi-pronged approach which includes reusable and biodegradable products, educational campaigns, peer support, food waste diversion strategies and additional key steps, informed by research, observations and case studies. In addition to a dining system redesign plan, I propose three food container design solutions: a reusable lid for existing dining hall receptacles, an organic and biodegradable single use container and a complete reusable container design.Item Open Access TO DESTROY A PEOPLE: CONCEPTUALIZING MASS SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS A PRINCIPAL MODALITY OF GENOCIDE IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY(University of Oregon, 2024-06) Howard, Emma Marie; Saavedra, Yvette; Raisanen, Elizabeth; Herrera, AndreaThroughout the twentieth century, mass sexual violence has been integral to genocidal campaigns, indicating that mass sexual violence is both a hallmark and weapon/means of genocide. This paper engages with eleven case studies from the twentieth century using both primary documentation of the occurrence and impact of mass sexual violence and secondary sources that analyze and discuss how gender and sexuality operate within war and genocide more broadly. Whereas previous scholarship and international law have included modalities of genocide that could, by interpretation, include mass sexual violence, this paper argues that weaponized mass sexual violence is an effective means of destroying identity both individually (at the micro level) but also collectively (at the meso and macro levels) and therefore must be included as a principal modality of genocide by definition in order to more accurately and effectively articulate genocide.Item Open Access THE RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS THAT COMPLETED THE VASCULAR REHABILITATION PROGRAM FROM 2020-2023(University of Oregon, 2024-07) Wriglesworth, Calvin J.; Halliwill, John; Hansen, Tobin; Harding, AaronPeripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a chronic and progressive cardiovascular condition that is characterized as occlusion or blockage of arteries that supply blood to the extremities, particularly the legs. A substantial amount of evidence supports exercise as a leading intervention of treating PAD. The search for the most ideal conditions of exercise to have the most significant reduction of PAD has long been explored. Purpose: The study aims to retrospectively review the outcomes of the vascular rehabilitation program at PeaceHealth RiverBend. Methods: The study conducted included a retrospective review of a preexisting protocol that consisted of multiple parts. The study is designed around many years of research that surround cardiac rehabilitation, however there are many unique aspects to the protocol being described. The protocol being analyzed involves 31 subjects, all of which are enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation through PeaceHealth hospital from 2020-2023. All said patients are known to suffer from PAD. The protocol begins with a warmup on a treadmill at a slow increase in intensity. Once the patient has reached the threshold of which is considered their normal exercise pace, the patient enters the main phase of the protocol. This phase consists of the patients maintaining an exercise pace of which causes a moderate increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Results: There was no effect of time(p=0.5561) on systolic blood pressure, or time(p=0.1931) on diastolic blood pressure at PRE vs. POST vs. CHANGE. There was a significant difference on time(p<0.05) on Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) at PRE vs. POST vs. CHANGE. Conclusion: The data suggests that the protocol being reviewed had no significant difference on blood pressure but showed significance in increased functional capacity.Item Open Access GRASS ROOTS: A CASE STUDY OF JOHN SAYLES’ LONE STAR AND UTILIZING RURALITY IN CINEMA AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL CHANGE(University of Oregon, 2024-09) DiStasio, Anthony; Purnama, Ari; Rovak, AngelaThis thesis investigates the portrayals of American rural life in film, examining the historical context, commonly found themes and qualities, and cultural implications involved with them. Ultimately, the argument made is that films set in rural environments can influence social change by reshaping the image of American history and identity, pieces of the national fabric in which the image of rurality plays a large role. To argue this, the thesis will first track the relationship between rurality, film, and the United States through time, pointing out important shifts in each subject and the development of the genre and thematic associations now related to rurality in film. Next, the general image of the rural United States will be crafted through compiling the common themes and features found among rural-set films. From there, a case study of John Sayles’ 1996 film Lone Star will demonstrate how a film can utilize those features to provide commentary and reflect on the national image through a rural lens. Overall, the thesis aims to show rurality in film as more than a backdrop, but a lens through which films can address the cultural foundations of the United States in order to serve as a catalyst for redefining the way history, national identity, and rural traditional life is perceived.Item Open Access DATA AND DIALOGUE: STRATEGIES FOR ENGAGING UNIVERSITY COMMUNITIES IN CLIMATE ACTION(University of Oregon, 2024-08) Coskey, Andrew; Mital, Steve; Mauro, RobertThis thesis seeks to establish the best practices for environmental communication, data visualization, and stakeholder engagement. The first subject investigated is the theoretical foundation and practical applications of engagement strategies that involve a wide range of university stakeholders: students, teachers, and support staff. This section explores transparency, inclusiveness, and ongoing dialogues as some strategies to build support for sustainable development. The importance of data visualization is also discussed, showing a need for clear, accurate, and accessible visual tools that can simplify complicated information into actionable insights. Furthermore, an analysis is conducted on the effectiveness of analogies as a tool for explaining technical concepts to broad audiences. These techniques are then applied to the University of Oregon thermal system transition, wherein the university investigated options to update its current central heating plant into one that will use more sustainable technologies. The proposed options are dissected and evaluated based on the effectiveness of the task forces’ communication and engagement efforts. Then, a conceptual interactive dashboard that addresses critiques of the task force’s presentation strategy is introduced. The findings demonstrate how well-designed, comprehensive communication strategies can help build informed, supportive communities around sustainability initiatives. The conclusion is composed of recommendations for future enhancements to these strategies. It proposes improved methods of implementing sustainable practices in higher education institutions by combining interactive tools, continuous stakeholder engagement, and clear communication. This case study provides valuable insights into guiding other universities facing similar challenges in their sustainability efforts.Item Open Access AN INTERNAL ANALYSIS ON ADVOCATING FOR LATINO/A ACHIEVEMENT IN SCHOOL (ALAS)(University of Oregon, 2024-05) Miki, Isabella; Doty, Jen; Mauro, RobertAdvocating for Latino Achievement in Schools (ALAS) is an afterschool program designed for Latino/a immigrant English Language Learners at Springfield High School. This program aims to prevent dropout, promote academic success, and promote college/career readiness through providing academic support and enhancing critical consciousness. After analyzing ALAS student survey responses and interviews with ALAS team members, I explore themes that are important to consider in the continuation of the ALAS program: language barriers, transportation barriers, community building, and commitments of higher priority. I suggest future goals for the ALAS program: continuing teacher coordination, and implementing formal critical consciousness lessons.Item Embargo SYSTEMIC IMMUNOMODULATION OF MYELOID-DERIVED SUPPRESSOR CELLS IN A MODEL OF MUSCULOSKELETAL TRAUMA USING ALL-TRANS RETINOIC ACID(University of Oregon, 2024-05) Gill, Dylan; Guldberg, Bob; Guyer, Tyler; Munger, LisaMusculoskeletal trauma remains a significant challenge clinically, often leading to complications such as bone nonunion, infection, prolonged hospitalization, high treatment costs, and potential disabilities. The current standard treatment, autologous bone grafting, has limitations including donor site morbidity and limited bone availability, necessitating exploration of alternative approaches. Immune responses play a critical role in musculoskeletal healing, with distinct phases of inflammation and regenerative/anti-inflammatory processes. The transition from M1 to M2 macrophages is crucial for soft and hard callus formation during bone healing. However, dysregulated immune responses, characterized by prolonged elevation of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, can hinder healing and tissue repair. Recent research has focused on systemic immune responses following trauma, highlighting the balance between circulating pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers to prevent tissue damage and promote healing. Immune suppressor cells like myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a pivotal role in immune dysregulation post-trauma and may be a factor in poor healing. Targeting MDSCs presents a complex challenge due partly to their heterogeneity, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. Here, we tested several treatment methods for MDSC depletion previously developed for use in cancer models to examine their effects on MDSCs in vitro in blood sourced from a trauma model. All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) in particular showed promise in modulating MDSCs initially in vitro and in subsequent in vivo experiments. ATRA is also known to have effects on bone growth and may alter osteoclastogenesis, giving it further potential as a novel therapeutic intervention in musculoskeletal trauma. Further research into the intricate interplay of immune responses following trauma and particularly therapeutic modulation of aberrant cells such as MDSCs is essential for advancing treatment strategies and improving outcomes in musculoskeletal trauma patients.Item Open Access Expanding the Synthetic Accessibility of Thiocarbamate (TCM) and Dithiocarbamate (DTCM) Donors for Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Carbon Disulfide (CS2) Delivery(University of Oregon, 2024) Lutz, Rachel E.; Pluth, Michael D.The goal of this thesis is to bridge the gap in the literature by developing a suite of thiocarbamate and dithiocarbamate donor synthesis with azide and tert-butyl ester triggers. Based on previous work with esterase-triggered TCM H2S donors, we have developed a library H2S donors both with and without the nitrogen of the payload methylated, and have installed various EWGs and EDGs on the payload. Furthermore, we have developed a new method for modular TCM synthesis that supports diversification of the alkyl group of the aniline. This method allows us to block an unproductive deprotonation-based side pathway to more clearly study the effect of changing the payload electron density on the self-immolation of this donor motif. Blocking deprotonation of the payload expands the synthetic utility of these donors, which make them less reactive under basic conditions and allowing for more harsh synthetic conditions. Due to the ease of synthetic variation of the TCM donors, it is natural to consider broadening their application beyond H2S release to another biologically relevant molecule, CS2. Our TCM donor motif can yield this small molecule by designing the compound to contain a dithiocarbamate. Rather than releasing COS upon self-immolation, the donor should release CS2. Thus, I synthesized N-methylated CS2 DTCM donors using the same synthetic scheme as with methylated S-alkyl TCM donors.