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Investigating Millennial Engagement at Cascadia Art Museum
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2025The National Endowment for the Arts has been tracking a steady decline in public arts since the turn of the 21st century. As Millennials step into the role of being the primary audience for cultural institutions, and museums prepare for the eventual passing of the baton from the Baby Boom generation, they need to understand the unique identities, priorities, and expectations of Millennials. Cascadia Art Museum identified that their institution is facing a problem attracting and retaining a younger demographic as visitors, volunteers, and donors. Conversations revealed an institution-wide perception that their audience base skews heavily towards the 65+ demographic, and the museum is interested in engaging with younger audiences, specifically Millennials and young families. The purpose of this study was to help CAM better understand the composition of their current audience and gain insight into the attitudes, motivations, and habits of the Millennial (25-44 years old) audience they seek to develop. Using a combination of a visitor survey, a non-visitor survey, and a focus group, this study collected data from 215 participants between January 28th and April 12th, 2025. This study found that Millennials are going to museums, and art museums were the most visited type of museum among this sample. Millennials are primarily motivated to visit art museums because of personal fulfillment (to learn, relax, pass time, for fun, etc.), and cost is by far the most common barrier to visiting for Millennials. It also found that Millennials who are aware of CAM had either never visited or were not visiting regularly. The study concludes by providing practical recommendations for how CAM can respond to the wants and needs of its potential Millennial audience, including cost-lowering initiatives, participatory, community-based approaches, and embedding interactivity in its galleries
Dispersal of Fry and Distribution of Redds Interact to Shape Density Dependence in Winter Steelhead of the Skagit River
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2025The spatial scale of dispersal during early life stages when mortality rates are high is essential for understanding the relationship of the distribution of spawners to population productivity. In this study, we quantified the fine-scale distribution of age-0+ (fry) steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) near redds across multiple sites in the Skagit River, WA. The estimated mean downstream displacement of fry was 145m with 95% of fry remained within 312m of their natal redd. Evidence of density-dependent dispersal was found at sites with multiple redds, where mean displacement increased to 270 m, though individual kernel tails could not be resolved. This limited dispersal resulted in strong spatial clustering of fry in areas with multiple redds. To evaluate effects of limited dispersal, we applied simulated dispersal kernels to ten years of spatially located redds to simulate fry distributions across a 31.5 km stream network, scaling each kernel to represent the same number of potential fry. The distance of stream channel accessed by fry increased linearly with increasing redd abundance, demonstrating spatial expansion and contraction of spawners in relation to abundance. Core spawning areas were consistently reused across years, with higher proportions in core areas in low abundance years. Increasing spawner abundance led to a shift in the proportion of fry from a majority in low density areas to a majority in high density areas. This provides strong evidence that density dependence was present across the range of observed spawner densities. Despite the change in average fry density, the number of fry in low density areas remained relatively constant due to spatial expansion of spawners. Expansion into heterogenous habitats would lead to habitat mediated effects on recruitment, where if habitat quality is spatially uniform then expansion would increase recruitment proportionally with spawner abundance. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating spatial structure and fry-scale dispersal into models of habitat capacity and recruitment, particularly when evaluating restoration or harvest strategies aimed at conserving the full range of life-history diversity
Comparing Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs in HFPEF patients using SGLT2-inhibitor Combination Treatments: A Retrospective Claims Analysis
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2025Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents an increasingly significant clinical burden. Recent treatment guidelines recommend sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) as foundational therapy, with the addition of either mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) as adjunctive therapy. However, real-world evidence comparing healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs between these combination therapies remains limited. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Merative™ MarketScan® commercial and Medicare databases from 2019 to 2023 to compare HCRU and costs in adult patients (≥18 years) with HFpEF initiating SGLT2i+MRA vs. SGLT2i+ARNI. Patients required SGLT2i usage and continuous enrollment for 12 months pre- and post-index. Those using both MRA and ARNI concurrently were excluded. Outcomes assessed over 12 months post-initiation included inpatient (IP), emergency department (ED), outpatient (OP) services, and pharmacy costs. Multivariable regression models adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates.
Results: The study included 2,128 patients (1,418 MRA, 710 ARNI). Adjusted analyses showed that the ARNI group experienced significantly lower HCRU, including 9% fewer IP admissions (IRR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.98; p=0.015), 20% shorter IP length of stay (IRR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.72-0.89; p<0.001), 12% fewer ED visits (IRR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79-0.98; p=0.0164), and 11% fewer OP service days (IRR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.95; p<0.001). Unadjusted mean total healthcare costs were modestly lower in the ARNI group compared to the MRA group, driven by reduced IP, ED, OP, and total costs, despite slightly higher pharmacy costs largely attributable to differences in drug prices. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in adjusted total healthcare costs across settings.
Conclusions: In this real-world analysis, adjunctive ARNI therapy was associated with reduced HCRU but did not translate into lower overall healthcare costs compared to MRA-based combination therapy. These findings highlight the importance of considering both utilization patterns and drug costs when selecting combination treatments for HFpEF, supporting the need for individualized treatment strategies, particularly in patients with multiple comorbidities
Actionable Inspiration: Visitor Experiences of Creative Impulse in Art Museums
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2025The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an art museum experience on an adults' creative impulse through an analysis of two key questions: 1) To what extent and in what ways do people feel an art museum exhibit inspires them in general? And 2) To what extent and in what ways do people feel an art museum exhibit inspires them to create specifically? Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 182 participants at Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), Detroit, MI; The Walters Art Museum (The Walters), Baltimore, MD; and the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), Cleveland, OH. Results show that participants did feel a sense of general inspiration, as well as inspiration/motivation to create or make something specifically. Explanations of participants' feelings of inspiration fell into several categories including a) their interest in creating something themselves, b) their interest in the artistic process, c) inspiration that was unrelated to creativity, and in some cases, d) their barriers to transforming inspiration into creative outputs. We believe that this study could benefit other researchers who are trying to solidify the link between inspiration, creativity, and self-actualization in museum settings
The Impact of Blood Quantum Enrollment Requirements on Perceived Tribal Belonging
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2025Blood quantum laws, which define Native American identity by an individual's “degree of Indian blood,” are widespread in Native American tribes, yet little is known of their psychological effects. This project investigates the psychological and community impacts of Indian blood quantum enrollment requirements on Native Peoples' perceived tribal belonging, identity, and well-being. When defining tribal membership, blood quantum can determine access to land, cultural knowledge, education, and employment opportunities. Blood quantum requirements can also shape how people understand themselves and their tribal community. Despite its significance, research on the psychological effects of blood quantum enrollment requirements remains scarce; no work on blood quantum has been featured in major social psychology journals. In this study, we are testing the hypotheses that (1) blood quantum enrollment criteria predicts feelings of tribal belonging and (2) enculturation, the extent to which one participates in Native culture, can moderate that relationship by producing feelings of belonging through community engagement. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a survey containing qualitative and quantitative questions relating to enculturation, tribal enrollment status/blood quantum, and feelings of belonging. We recruited 304 Native American participants through the online platform Prolific and by advertising the study through listservs and recruitment flyers. Most participants were enrolled members of their tribe (n = 201), which made analyses difficult due to the unequal group sizes. However, we found significant effects of tribal enrollment on feelings of tribal belonging moderated by enculturation. The qualitative data we collected will begin to help us understand how Native people feel about blood quantum. Future studies will explore this further in focus groups and interviews
Hydrometeorological Drivers of Western US Summertime Temperature Variability in Global Climate Models
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2025Interannual variations in summertime temperature have a large impact on drought, fire, and extreme heat across the Western United States. We investigate the influence of antecedent hydrological conditions on the leading pattern of Western US summertime temperature variability in global climate model (GCM) simulations and find that Western US summertime heating is associated with antecedent Southwest US springtime soil moisture deficit and wintertime precipitation deficits across all six of the CMIP6 models in our analysis. Furthermore, the relationship between Western US summertime temperature and Southwest US wintertime precipitation is disrupted in experiments where soil moisture variations were removed. Our results suggest that springtime soil moisture anomalies in the Southwest US drive variations in summertime temperature throughout the Western US and that land-atmosphere coupling in this region can impart predictability at seasonal time scales
Understanding the Presentation of PTSD in a Sample of Latina Immigrant Women
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2025Introduction: Latina immigrant women are exposed to potentially traumatic events (PTE) before, during, and after migration to the US. These experiences can contribute to the presence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, which include reliving difficult memories, avoiding situations reminiscent of past trauma, or feeling on edge. These symptoms often cooccur with depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and somatic symptoms. The association between somatic symptoms, like headaches, back pain, chest pain, or sleep disturbances, and PTSD symptoms is not well understood among Latina immigrant women. Objectives: The goal of this study was to describe PTSD symptom severity in a sample of Latina immigrant women from King County, Washington. Additionally, this study examines the association between PTSD symptoms and other mental health symptoms in this population with an emphasis on somatic symptoms. Methods: We used baseline survey data, including demographic and mental health symptom information for 223 participants recruited from community-based organizations. A trained, bilingual member of the research team collected data in person or over the phone. Validated mental health measures were used to assess symptom severity, including PTSD (PCL-6), somatic (PHQ-15), depression PHQ-9, and anxiety (GAD-7). Descriptive analysis, t-tests, ANOVA, and Tukey HSD test were used to conduct this secondary analysis of the data. Results: Almost all (84%) participants reported at least one potentially traumatic event and 42% endorsed PTSD symptom severity exceeding the 14-point cutoff. Mean PTSD severity was higher among those living alone and those with cooccurring symptoms of depression and anxiety. There was a weak linear correlation between PTSD symptom severity and somatic symptom severity (R2 = 0.21) and participants who endorsed back pain, chest pain, feeling tired or having low energy, or trouble sleeping were more likely to have high PTSD symptom severity. Conclusions: Exposure to PTEs was relatively common among his population of Latina immigrants living in King County. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms and their association with other mental health symptoms suggest the need for preventative mental health treatment addressing the full scope of Latina immigrants’ mental health needs in a comprehensive manner
Association of Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers with Survival Outcomes in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2025Background: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increasingly associated with humanpapillomavirus (HPV) infection and often presents at advanced stages, contributing to substantial morbidity and
mortality. Liquid biopsy offers a promising, non-invasive approach for cancer detection and monitoring; however,
the prognostic significance of many reported biomarkers remains unclear.
Objective: To systematically assess the prognostic relevance of liquid biopsy biomarkers in OPSCC using multi-
omic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and to evaluate their potential to complement established
molecular markers.
Methods: A systematic literature search identified diagnostic liquid-based biomarkers across molecular modalities,
including DNA mutations, DNA methylation, gene expression, and miRNA expression. Biomarkers were mapped to
TCGA OPSCC datasets, and their associations with overall survival were evaluated using univariate and
multivariate Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for HPV status, CDKN2A expression, and TP53/NOTCH1
mutations. Pathway enrichment analysis was conducted to explore biological relevance.
Results: From 1,544 curated gene symbols corresponding to liquid-based biomarkers, 524 were significantly
associated with worse overall survival in OPSCC (p < 0.05). DNA methylation markers near MIR21, VMP1, and
KCNC1 exhibited the strongest prognostic performance (C-index > 0.69). Pathway enrichment analysis revealed
that prognostic biomarkers were involved in key processes including extracellular matrix (ECM) organization,
epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and oncogenic signaling via MAPK, Notch, and PI3K pathways.
Importantly, 1,180 biomarkers provided independent prognostic value beyond established markers.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a subset of liquid-based biomarkers holds strong prognostic value in
OPSCC, independent of established molecular indicators. Integrating multi-omic biomarkers into liquid biopsy
strategies may enhance risk stratification, support personalized treatment decisions, and improve monitoring of
disease progression in OPSCC. Prospective validation is warranted to translate these findings into clinical practice
Synthetic Polymers To Address Multiscale Drug Delivery Challenges For Cancer Immunotherapy
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2025Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, yet its clinical impact is limited by toxicity and/or low therapeutic response in many different tumor types. Eliciting optimal spatiotemporal antitumor immune responses is crucial to overcoming this hurdle, but is complicated by multiscale drug delivery challenges to immune activators. This work utilizes targeted, bioresponsive synthetic polymeric drug delivery platforms to address these challenges in engineering next-generation cancer immunotherapies. First, we adapted the Virus-Inspired Polymer for Endosomal Release (VIPER) platform to cytosolically deliver peptide antigens to lymphatic dendritic cells (DCs) for cancer vaccination. Co-polymerized mannose ligands confer lymph node targeting and DC internalization, while the VIPER design selectively lyses maturing endosome to release peptide antigens into the cytosol. This induces superior cytotoxic T-cell activation and tumor suppression compared to simple peptide vaccines and non-endosome releasing designs. Next, we engineered a targeted polymeric prodrug of Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) agonist for targeted immune activation in DCs in an intravenous immunotherapy application. A STING agonist is formulated into a monomer with an endosomal cathepsin-labile linker, and co-polymerized with mannose to form a STING ‘drugamer’ (polySTING) that selectively delivers agonist to DCs. Intravenous polySTING administration results in a DC-driven immune cascade that potently suppresses tumor growth in aggressive murine tumor models. Structural variants of STING drugamers were then co-formulated with VIPER to yield two distinct STING-adjuvanted polymeric vaccines that achieved partial remission through distinct antitumor immunity mechanisms. Finally, a T-cell-targeted cationic brush polymer platform is being developed for T-cell transfection for Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell production
PIXUL: Developing a High-Throughput Brain Single Nuclei Isolation Protocol for Gene Sequencing Applications
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2025Background For improved gene sequencing efficiency, in particular snRNA-seq, there’s a growing need to develop a protocol capable of isolating nuclei from multiple biological tissue samples at a high-throughput rate while maintaining cost efficiency. Traditional, manual single-nuclei isolation protocols require tissue samples to be individually homogenized using a Dounce homogenizer or a pestle, which limits the number of biological samples that can be processed in a single isolation run. The PIXUL multi-sample megasonicator offers a potential alternative approach to manual homogenization by using ultrasound sonication to automate the homogenization of up to 96 tissue samples in a single isolation cycle.
Methods
This project investigates the potential implementation of the PIXUL to homogenize multiple brain tissue samples and generate enough nuclei for gene sequencing applications at a cost-efficient, consistent, high-throughput rate. To test its capabilities of consistently homogenizing multiple brain tissue samples, a single-nuclei isolation protocol integrating the PIXUL was designed, tested, and refined based on preliminary experimental results. Tissue lysis and nuclei quality were assessed using trypan blue staining and microscope imaging. Resulting nuclei concentrations were calculated using a manual hemocytometer counting chamber. ResultsThe protocol yielded nuclei concentrations between 9.35 x 105 and 2.01 x 106 nuclei/mL, which is a comparable range achieved by other manual and automated single nuclei isolation protocols. However, a significant amount of cellular and nuclei debris was observed in all replicates after samples were homogenized. The presence of this debris is likely due to extended sample suspension in lysis buffer, as well as the presence of myelin. This debris may interfere with high-throughput gene sequencing applications. Conclusions Although this protocol was able to achieve nuclei concentration values that were comparable to other isolation methods for all of its replicates, further experiments focusing on optimizing the PIXUL’s setting, finding a method to removal myelin and extracellular DNA, and count nuclei at a high-throughput rate are necessary to improving the reproducibility and efficiency of this novel, high-throughput brain single nuclei isolation protocol