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Perceptions Of Risk Of Health Disparities Amid Previously Identified Political Corruption And Ageism In Slovakia, Marta N. Lukacovic, Deborah D. Sellnow-Richmond, Monika Durechova

International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference

This study examines the role of traditional versus new media’s impact on citizens’ perceptions of risk within elder care. We analyzed survey data from 112 Slovak citizens regarding their social network activity and perceptions of corruption, ageism, and health disparities in the Slovak elder care system. Previous research (Lukacovic, Sellnow-Richmond, & Durechova, under contract) identified three prominent sociopolitical issues present in the Slovak medical system among Slovak UGC discourse regarding Slovak healthcare inequity: corruption, threats to dignity, and discrimination. Here, we examined the extent to which social media users perceive the prevalence and subsequent risk of experiencing health disparities within …

Investigation Of The Cell-Cycle Dependent Activity Of The Brca1-Rbbp8 Complex For Homologous Recombination, Jil Shah

Honors Undergraduate Theses

When cells undergo mitosis, they must replicate all six billion base pairs of DNA within the nucleus. With the sheer volume of information, it is impossible to replicate with 100% accuracy each time. Homologous recombination (HR) is one of many mechanisms the body has developed to correct and repair replication errors to DNA. HR is specific to double-stranded breaks to DNA, and it requires a sister chromatid to preserve the genetic code. BRCA1 and Rbbp8 interact to form a complex that is heavily involved in this process. Although there is a strong consensus about the involvement of these proteins in …

Tumor-Targeted Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles With Encapsulated Iron And Its Biomedical Application For In Vitro Killing Of Melanoma Cell Lines Through Ferroptosis Assisted Chemodynamic Therapy (Cdt), Khalaf Jasim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Melanoma represents one of the most aggressive and lethal forms of skin cancer, with annually rising incidences throughout the world. Although chemotherapy modalities remain the mainstay of treatment, the therapeutic potential of chemotherapy typically is hampered by multidrug resistance (MDR) and nonspecific drug distribution that causes side-effects. To surmount such limitations, novel nanoformulations of low band-gap poly ({4,8-bis [(2-ethylhexyl) oxy] benzo [1,2-b:4,5-b?] dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl) carbonyl] thieno [3,4-b] thiophenediyl}) (PTB7) and poly [2,1,3-benzothiadiazole- 4,7- diyl [4,4-bis (2-ethylhexyl)- 4H-cyclopenta [2,1-b:3,4-b'] dithiophene-2,6-diyl]] (PCPDTBT) were fabricated by a reprecipitation method. These conjugated polymer nanoparticles were functionalized with the polypeptide endothelin-3 (EDN3-CPNPs) to target melanoma. The …

Fear And Loathing In The Super Organism: Foraging Strategy Doesn't Change Forager Response In A Landscape Of Fear., Philip Schadegg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding how predators impact keystone species, like ants, is very important for our understanding of ecology because of ants' importance in shaping community dynamics and ecosystem functions. In this thesis I present research investigating the role of the ant-specialized spider Anasaitis canosa in influencing the foraging behavior of four ant species (Formica pallidefulva, Odontomachus ruginodis, Pheidole obscurithorax & Solenopsis invicta). Collectively, these four species use foraging strategies exhibited by most ants. I conducted two experiments to quantify the impacts of spider predation on ant prey. The first used forty colonies of four ant species to investigate how A. canosa changed …

Variation In Prospecting Behavior And Drivers Of Post-Fire Habitat Preference Among Juvenile Florida Scrub-Jays, David Sherer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens, FLSJ; federally Threatened) are cooperatively breeding birds endemic to Florida and dependent on fire-maintained xeric oak scrub. FLSJs are year-round residents, highly territorial, and rarely disperse far from their natal territory. Lifetime reproductive success is highest among individuals breeding in early-successional habitat, usually less than 9 to 10 years post-fire. However, because scrub burns infrequently such early-successional, high-quality habitat is extremely limited and competition for it as breeding space is likely intense. Because some birds live long enough to experience habitat succession, FLSJs also occupy later-successional overgrown scrub, even though both survival and fecundity decline. Although …

Ribbeting Results: Emergent Infectious Diseases In Wetland Systems, Ariel Horner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

North American amphibians have recently been impacted by two major emerging pathogens, the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and iridoviruses in the genus Ranavirus (Rv). Environmental, seasonal and host factors may play important roles in disease dynamics, but few studies incorporate these components into their analyses. Here, we investigated the role of environmental, seasonal, genetic and location effects on driving Bd and Rv infection prevalence and severity in a biodiversity hot spot, the southeastern United States. We used quantitative PCR to characterize Bd and Rv dynamics in natural populations of three amphibian species: Notophthalmus perstriatus, Hyla squirella and Pseudacris ornata and …

Filling The Gaps: Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) Population Dynamics, Structure, And Connectivity Within Florida Panhandle Bays, Sounds, And Estuaries, Christina Toms

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

At the time of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, very little was known about the inshore bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations hit hardest by the spill. Without previous population demographic data impacts were challenging to assess. My dissertation was designed to build research capacity moving forward by helping to fill data gaps in the western Florida Panhandle. The first study presented here resulted in the first system-wide assessment of seasonal abundance, survival, and site fidelity patterns of bottlenose dolphins that inhabit the Pensacola Bay system. In contrast to a previous study that reported only 33 dolphins, results from …

Development Of A Functional Testing Platform For The Sensory Segment Of The Neuromuscular Reflex Arc, Alisha Colon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Investigations of human biology and disease have been hindered by the use of animal models. The information obtained from such studies often results in clinically irrelevant results and drug trial failures. Additionally, several governing bodies have been formulating legislation to move away from animal models and toward more ethical and efficient testing platforms for drug discovery and cosmetic research. As an answer to these issues, "body-on-a-chip" systems have been a rapidly developing field which easily recapitulates in vivo functionality, providing a more relevant, repeatable, and ethical testing platform to better predict biology. These systems can be used as human-based testing …

Short Term Examination Of Physical Activity And Sleep Quality With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Demani Barak Barnes

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may not be meeting the recommended amounts of physical activity (PA) or obtain a sufficient amount of sleep, however, few studies have objectively compared PA, sedentary behavior, and sleep quality between typically developing (TD) youth, and youth with ASD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare levels of PA, sedentary behavior, and sleep quality between youth with ASD and TD youth. Twenty-three children with ASD and 12 TD children wore the Actigraph GT9X accelerometer over seven days and nights to assess activity and sleep. Youth with ASD had significantly greater levels …

Assessing The Impact Of Oyster Reef And Living Shoreline Restoration On Macroinvertebrate Community Assemblages In Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, Adam Searles

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As the world continues to experience substantial rates of habitat loss, habitat restoration has become of prime interest to ecologists worldwide. Restoration has shown to be successful in recovering targeted components of certain ecosystems but it is important to achieve a holistic understanding of the resulting ecological impacts it has on communities. To address this, four oyster reefs and three living shorelines were restored during the summer of 2017. These sites, along with four dead oyster reefs, four living oyster reefs, and three undisturbed (control) living shorelines, were sampled before restoration and regularly post-restoration for one year using lift nets. …

Evaluating Lactobacillus Acidophilus As A Model Organism For Co-Culture Cancer Studies, Samuel A. Mikhail

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The causality dilemma between dysbiosis and cancer has given rise to numerous studies both exploring the mechanisms behind cancer progression and the associative shifts in the microbiota upon carcinogenesis. Aside from the hallmark study of Dr. Barry Marshall in establishing the true causal relationship between Helicobacter pylori and gastric adenocarcinoma, studies have only been successful in adding associative links of carcinogenesis mediated by bacteria to the literature. The current field is limited in its ability to establish causative relationships, and further work is needed to construct a reference community whose physiological responses reflect global community responses. In this thesis, the …

Proposed Biomedical Applications Of Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks As Drug Delivery Systems, Ariel Margaret Perry-Mills

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of highly crystalline nanoporous materials that self-assemble from inorganic metal oxide clusters and multitopic organic linkers. MOFs can be altered in terms of the types of metals and structures of organic linkers used, allowing for a high degree of customization and manipulation of the synergistic chemical or physical properties that arise from the precise coordination of their molecular components, including exceptionally large surface area and pore size. Zirconium-based MOFs, called UiOs in honor of their conception at the University of Oslo, also show remarkable chemical stability in both acidic and basic environments, making them …

Urinalysis Screening Of Drugs In Adulterated Samples Via Direct Analysis In Real Time -- High Resolution/ Mass Spectrometry (Dart-Hr/Ms), Bianca E. Olivieri

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Current screening methods for drug analysis with urine samples includes examination of the sample with an immunoassay. These methods are used to determine the concentration of drug metabolites contained within the sample prior to further confirmatory testing. Drug testing plays a crucial role in maintaining safe workplace environments and safety of individuals. However, a positive result can lead to heavy consequences for the employee including suspension or removal from the workplace. Therefore, a majority of individuals add commonly known products into the sample to evade detection by developing a false negative result. Although specimen integrity examinations are performed to identify …

Application And Comparison Of Active Learning Implementation Methods In Biochemistry Education, Dylan Thibaut

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Biochemistry has continued to be one of the most complex and important subjects in science education. The purpose of this research is to investigate active learning implementation methods in a Biochemistry I context to determine the most effective means of preparing current science undergraduates. Two Biochemistry I classes over two semesters were analyzed in this study, with class A using a variable active learning schedule and class B using a consistent active learning schedule. Four aspects were analyzed to determine active learning validity: perception of different active learning properties, standardized final exam grades, class grade, and teaching implementation. The consistent …

Identification And Functional Characterization Of A Long Non-Coding Rna Associated With Prostate Cancer, Md Faqrul Hasan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the western world. Although early stage prostate cancer is treatable late stage, more specifically, metastatic and drug resistant prostate cancers are mostly incurable. The failure of current treatments obligates the research community to explore novel areas in prostate cancer biology and find better therapeutic targets. Emerging evidences show that non-coding RNAs specifically long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play regulatory roles in various cellular processes and are frequently dysregulated in cancer including prostate cancer. These aberrantly expressed lncRNAs mostly with unexplored genetic information may drive cancer progression. Previous studies done in our …

Unraveling The Role Of Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase (Pnmt+) Cells In-Vivo, Sanjana Manja

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (Pnmt) is the enzyme that N-methylates norepinephrine to produce the stress hormone/neurotransmitter, epinephrine, which is abundantly expressed in adrenal glands. Developmental studies have also identified Pnmt expression in the embryonic heart and several areas of the brain, including brainstem, cerebellum, and hypothalamus. Thus, we hypothesize that selective ablation of Pnmt+ cells will have detrimental effects on cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and metabolic processes. To uncover the importance of Pnmt+ cells in vivo, we generated a novel Diphtheria Toxin A (DTA) suicide model (Pnmt+/Cre; R26+/DTA) to selectively ablate Pnmt-expressing (Pnmt+) cells in mice. Appearing normal at birth, Pnmt-Cre/DTA mice began to …

The Hyperaccumulation Of Zinc In Sunflowers And Its Effect On Disease Resistance, Rayner J. Seavey

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Sunflowers are considered to be a part of a group of plants known as hyperaccumulators that share the ability to accumulate high amounts of heavy metals in the above ground organs, far in excess of the levels found in other species, often without suffering any phytotoxic effects. Quantifying the effects of zinc accumulation through the lens of the elemental defense hypothesis is essential for uncovering if there is a means to increase herbivore resistance in agricultural settings without the use of external interventions such as pesticides. A greenhouse study was conducted on four widely grown commercial cultivars of sunflower. Each …

Micromanipulation And Genetic Analysis Of Individual Sperm Cells For Sexual Assault Investigations, Amanda Penn

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Sexual assault investigations utilize both physical and biological evidence to aid in the investigation. Physical evidence may include fingerprints, hair, fibers, stains, soil, and glass. Biological evidence may include semen, saliva, vaginal secretions, menstrual blood, and skin. Semen, often found in small or trace quantities, is of great importance when trying to identify the perpetrator. From the semen sample, DNA profiles using autosomal short tandem repeats (aSTRs) (gold standard in forensic science) or Y-chromosome short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) can be obtained and can be used to identify a perpetrator through comparison to suspect reference samples or by searching the profile …

The Effects Of Zinc Nanofertilizers On Tomato Plants, Ketsira Pierre

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Farmers around the world aim to use soil with adequate nutrients to produce sufficient and quality crops to the world's ever-growing population. Unbalanced use of nutrients in the soil will lead to soil deficiency, which is usually seen in South and Southeast Asian countries. This soil deficiency is often due to loss of micronutrient(s) within the soil from farming practices. Micronutrient deficiency affects not only plant growth but human health. Plants grown in nutrient deficient soil produce food with nutrient deficiencies, which affect people dependent on these foods for nutrients (Kathmandu, 2004). Nutrient deficient diseases and disorders like malnutrition are …

Effect Of Propionic Acid-Derivative Ibuprofen On Neural Stem Call Differentiation; A Potential Link To Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aseelia Samsam

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Propionic acid (PPA) is a short chain fatty acid that is produced by the human gut microbiome. Propionate, butyrate and acetates are the end products of the fermentation of the complex carbohydrates by human gut friendly microbiome and are being used as sources of energy in our body. PPA is used as a food preservative against molds in various daily products and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autism. In a recent study we showed that PPA in human neuronal stem cell (NSC) culture increases the astrocyte population and decreases the neuronal number and increases the inflammatory cytokines. In …

Investigation Of Microplastic Accumulation In The Gastrointestinal Tract In Birds Of Prey, Julia Carlin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Plastic pollution is unavoidable in the natural environment. Consequences of plastic ingestion include exposure to environmental pollutants and toxin accumulation, causing endocrine disruption, inflammatory and physiological stress in organisms. Microplastics have been shown to transfer across food webs, however, limited studies have examined microplastic accumulation across terrestrial food webs. Furthermore, few studies have examined plastic pollution in apex predatory animals. A study was conducted to quantify the abundance of plastic pollution in the gastrointestinal tract in birds of prey. Two species were investigated, one which forages in terrestrial habitats and one which forages in aquatic environments including Buteo lineatus (red-shouldered …

Defense Trade-Offs In The Evolution Of The Fruits And Flowers Of Genus Cornus, Danielle R. De La Pascua

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The optimal defense hypothesis predicts that the allocation of plant defenses across plant organs is proportional to the importance of a given organ to plant fitness. Despite this, much less work has been devoted to the study of reproductive defenses in plants relative to vegetative structures like leaves. This study examines the apparancy hypothesis and the resource availability hypothesis using a phylogenetic comparative approach within the genus Cornus . During the 2016 growing season, plants of 25 species of Cornus were tracked for flower and fruit phenology as well as sampled for floral and fruit tissue in a common garden …

Split Probe Detection Of The Influenza A Virus For Improved Diagnostics In A Point Of Care System, Tamar Yishay

Honors Undergraduate Theses

A group of Influenza viruses, RNA containing viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family, consists of Influenza virus types A-D and has been known to cause the Flu, a respiratory illness associated with numerous detrimental symptoms that can lead to death. Influenza A virus (IAV) is constantly changing and is capable of causing pandemics. Currently used diagnostic methods include virus culturing, immunoassays including rapid influenza detection tests (RIDTs), and molecular assays including those based on RT-PCR. Most of the methods can be only performed in the certified diagnostic laboratories equipped with sophisticated instrumentation and/or special biosafety facilities. The results using these methods …

Efficacy And Tolerability Of Atomoxetine Use For Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorders And Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) Symptoms: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Angie El-Said

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show more symptoms of ADHD. Since there are more adverse events caused by psychostimulants compared to non-psychostimulants, the use of a non-psychostimulant such as atomoxetine might prove more beneficial for younger patients and/or those with comorbid ADHD. Objective: The aim of this thesis is to determine the efficacy and tolerability of atomoxetine in ASD patients presenting with ADHD, by examining (a) differences in ADHD symptoms for participants receiving atomoxetine versus those receiving placebos, and (b) risk differences in adverse events between these participants. Methods: An electronic search of both …

Role Of T-Bet In Production Of Immunoglobulin Isotypes In An Influenza Setting, David Sidhom

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Influenza is one of the most common diseases worldwide, yet the vaccines against influenza are only 35% effective at protecting against infection. Creating a more effective vaccine requires an understanding of the foundation and the factors that contribute to a strong and protective adaptive immune response. T-bet [TBX21] is a transcription factor that plays an instrumental role in the orchestration of the type 1 immune response, which is the specialized response used by the immune system for a cell-mediated response against intracellular pathogens, such as influenza. It has yet to be explored in an influenza setting on the role T-bet …

Investigating The Role Of Neuronal Aging In Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome, Katlin Marie Hencak

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is an X-linked late-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by a noncoding trinucleotide repeat expansion in the FMR1 gene. This gene produces fragile x mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA binding protein whose targets are involved in brain development and synaptic plasticity. One of the proposed mechanisms of FXTAS pathogenesis is an RNA gain-of-function in which the repeat expansion causes toxic mRNA that sequesters important proteins in the cell, interfering with their functions. Another suggested method of pathogenesis is through a mutant protein called FMRpolyG. This protein results from repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation, in which the expanded …

Effects Of A Plant-Based Vegan Diet On The Risk Of Cancer: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Chelsie M. Silavent

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cancer, an aggressive chronic disease, impacts the lives of millions of people every day. There are numerous proposed triggers related to the diagnosis and much remains to be learned about the causes. Associated with this disease's variability is the challenge to identify a single causative agent that lead to its prevention. Specific topics that need additional evidence relate to environmental factors and lifestyle behaviors in the development, treatment and, in some instances, even suppression of disease progression. Specifically, a diet that excludes animal-based products but consists of a variety of fruits and vegetables (i.e., plant-based vegan diet) is reported to …

Nutritional Intake And Weight Gain In Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Literature Review, Kailey A. Kubisch

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in infants presents unique challenges in feeding and weight gain. The unpredictable clinical manifestations associated with the newborns withdrawal from exposure to drugs in utero can lead to costly delays in transition of the infant out of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).The purpose of this review of literature was to explore feeding positions and nutritional intake with the greatest impact on weight gain in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) following delivery. The secondary purpose was to compare the clinical manifestations of infants with NAS that influence nutritional intake and their relationship to length of …

The Influence Of Mental Imagery On Myofascial Restriction, Juan P. Rodriguez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Mental imagery (MI) has been shown to influence flexibility when used with treatments such as stretching. Currently, little evidence supports the efficacy of MI as an independent tool to increase flexibility. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to test if a guided mental imagery protocol could positively influence subject physical measures, including myofascial length, muscle tone and range of motion measures.

Methods: Individuals with no history of lower limb injuries that would affect hamstring flexibility underwent initial measures, random assignment to a mental imagery or control group, and post-intervention measures. The imagery group followed a guided visualization of …

Elucidating The Role Of Oxygen And Biotype In The Environmental Persistence Of Vibrio Cholerae, Amy M. Freiberg

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Vibrio cholerae is a natural inhabitant of aquatic environments and serves as the etiological agent for the severe diarrheal disease, cholera. Cholera epidemics follow a regular seasonal pattern, which account for tens to hundreds of thousands of deaths in a given year. V. choleraenaturally persist between epidemics through entry into a dormant state known as viable but nonculturable (VBNC). Research has shown that V. choleraein this VBNC state experience drastic morphological and metabolic changes, which serve as survival mechanisms until environmental conditions become suitable again. The natural marine ecosystem that V. cholerae inhabitis comprised of a complex …