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Education Of The Effects Of Obesity Medications And A Stepwise Approach To Mitigate Prevalence And Encourage Lifestyle Medicine For Primary Care Physicians, Kiely M. Curran

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

My Capstone project is an Educational Manual that emphasizes a healthcare team approach to the treatment and management of obesity. The Educational Manual consists of a standardized protocol in management of obesity in patients and a document with summarized references for primary care providers; and a simplified document for patient education. There is a growing interest in the usage of obesity medications. The purpose of my Capstone project is to provide a simplified manual for the primary care provider to reference to make knowledgeable and patient-centered decisions in the prescription of obesity medications and decisions in weight-management. My methodology included …

Estimating The Carbon Flux Contributions Of Three Common Myctophids In The Gulf Of Mexico, Mary S. Gad

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Carbon flux, the transport of carbon from the epipelagic zone (0 m – 200 m) to the mesopelagic zone (200 m -1000 m), can be facilitated by migratory fauna. Myctophids, likely comprising the highest biomass of migratory mesopelagic fishes across all oceans, play an important role in carbon flux. Myctophids undergo diel vertical migration (DVM) from the mesopelagic zone to the epipelagic zone. The amount of carbon transported by myctophids, through DVM, can be estimated by modeling all the bioenergetic pathways that release carbon. This study will use an individual adult myctophid model, with a series of bioenergetics calculations, to …

Frequent Disease Intervention On The Largest Corals Prolongs Colony Life During Coral Disease Outbreaks, Allie Kozachuk

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is a highly contagious coral disease, causing rapid colony mortality and local extinctions. Conducting disease interventions on all corals in a region during an outbreak is virtually impossible therefore, prioritizing corals must be considered. In 2015, we identified and monitored 78 of southeast Florida's largest (>2m in diameter) living Orbicella faveolata colonies. In 2018, all corals were revisited, and those with the greatest living tissue area and largest colony size were grouped as priority corals (n=42) and the remainder were grouped as non-priority corals (n=36). Priority corals received additional monthly monitoring with disease …

Proposal: How Does The Total Sugar Intake Impact Cognitive Function In Children 10 Years Of Age?, Andrew O. Laidlaw, Camila Arrieta, Shoshana Yachnes

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

The effects that high sugar intake has on cognitive function is an ongoing topic in research today. Although most studies point to a negative relationship between the variables, the evidence is not conclusive enough to be able to confirm its true effect. While evidence finds an association between high sugar intake and chronic diseases, its impact on cognitive function is yet to be determined. The purpose of this proposed research study is to examine how total sugar intake impacts the cognitive function in children. Fifty children, age 10, will be randomly chosen from schools in South Florida for a cross-sectional …

The Trophic Ecology And Vertical Distribution Of The Deep-Pelagic Fish Scombrolabrax Heterolepis (Scombriformes: Scombrolabracidae), An ‘Advanced’ Fish In A World Of ‘Primitive’ Fishes, Kathryn Lim

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The trophic ecology and vertical distribution of a deep-pelagic predatory fish, the longfin escolar (Scombriformes: Scombrolabrax heterolepis), from the Gulf of Mexico were examined. Deep-pelagic predators remain understudied because their larger size and higher mobility allow them to evade traditional, research-sized (i.e., relatively small) sampling nets. With the use of large midwater trawls, however, a substantial sample set was obtained. Quantitative gut content analysis revealed a wide range of prey types including teleost fishes and crustaceans, as well as a strong selective preference for cephalopods. This species appears to be a true “see it, eat it” generalist, a rarity …

One-Time Broadscale Sctld Intervention Effectiveness On Montastraea Cavernosa In An Endemic Zone, Amanda Zummo

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Disease intervention using CoralCure with amoxicillin is effective at stopping stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) lesion progression, however, it does not provide protection against reinfection. Prolonging colony survival may require regular visits to treat new lesions should they appear. Intervention activities in southeast Florida were allocated between regular treatment and monitoring of selected priority colonies and broadscale disease interventions. The latter involved strike team divers, who worked in small groups to cover large areas of reef treating all SCTLD lesions observed, tagging the colonies, and recording their locations via a floating GPS. Broadscale disease intervention efforts aimed to maximize …

Euhaplorchis Sp. A Effect On Social Behavior And Familiarity Of Gulf Killifish (Fundulus Grandis), Hannah Bauman

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Trophically transmitted parasites may manipulate their hosts’ phenotype (e.g., behavior, physiology, morphology) to increase the likelihood of transmission to the definitive host. In fishes, stable social groups develop familiarity over time through repeated interactions among individuals, and social preferences are often developed due to familiarity. Consequently, fishes often shoal with familiar fishes, a behavior that is likely to be protective against predation. Parasites may alter fish social dynamics in two ways: by decreasing association with familiar individuals, thereby isolating infected fish and making them more susceptible to predation by definitive hosts; and/or by incentivizing uninfected individuals to avoid infected fish …

Nutritional Deuterium Depletion And Health: A Scoping Review, Nicole Korchinsky

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Background: Deuterium depletion is an untapped area of energy metabolism and health.

Objectives: The purpose of this scoping review is to examine the health effects through deuterium depletion via deuterium-depleted water and a deuterium-depleted diet (ketogenic).

Methods: A protocol process approach was used to retrieve current research in deuterium depletion.

Results: 15 research articles were used. Deuterium depletion was found to have beneficial health effects in the following conditions: cancer prevention, cancer treatment, depression, diabetes, long-term memory, anti-aging, and sports performance.

Conclusion: Even with limited data, consistent deuterium depletion was seen across all conditions reviewed. …

Research Proposal: The Effects Of Dietary Zinc On Adhd Signs And Symptoms In Teenage Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Sarai Logan, Andrea Villalba Torres, Amanda Miller

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. ADHD presents difficulties for adolescents, affecting numerous areas of life. Recent research suggests a relationship between zinc deficiency and ADHD symptoms, encouraging interest in dietary interventions utilizing zinc. However, there is missing research regarding effects of zinc use for ADHD symptoms in young girls as the generalized research is geared toward boys who express ADHD characteristics differently. The objective of this study is to explore if zinc-rich diets may improve signs/symptoms in girls 13 to 17-years-old with ADHD. An intervention design will be adopted with …

Trophic Ecology Of Black Swallowers (Scombriformes: Chiasmodontidae: Chiasmodon) In The Deep-Pelagic Gulf Of Mexico, Travis J. Kirk

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The ecology of deep-pelagic predatory fishes remains poorly understood despite their importance as ecosystem regulators and energy transfer vectors. This study investigated the trophic ecology of three species of the predatory fish genus Chiasmodon (“black swallowers”) in the Gulf of Mexico, a region that serves as an analog for the global low-latitude deep pelagial, the world’s largest cumulative ecosystem. Foraging habits (e.g., selectivity, chronology, daily ration) of an “advanced” evolutionary fish in a system that is otherwise dominated by basal fish taxa, were quantitatively estimated via high-resolution stomach content analysis. A quantitative dataset of both predator and prey abundance, the …

Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Parrotfish (Scaridae) Population Structure Across Florida’S Coral Reef, Zachary T. Graff

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

This study conducted a population assessment of parrotfish density, biomass, occurrence, and size class frequencies in south Florida utilizing a decade of previously collected National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) Reef Visual Census (RVC) fish count data from 2012-2022. Larger parrotfish have the ability to remove large amounts of macroalgae during feeding which may clear habitat for assisting with reef repair via benthic settlement of beneficial organisms such as coral and CCA. Therefore, the parrotfish population over 30 cm in total length were also examined separately. Results illustrated size classes heavily skewed towards smaller individuals with 46.76% parrotfish below 11 …

Microplastic Quantification On The Effect Of Endoparasite Communities In Florida Seabirds, Sarah N. Prieto

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Microplastics are being studied in a variety of different projects to better understand their impact and threat to wildlife species. Although there is an understanding that microplastics are affecting our wildlife, there are still questions about how coastal seabirds come to ingest them and how the ingestion is altering critical biological processes, such as that for endoparasite communities. This project aims to determine a better understanding of two main objectives: assessment of the presence of secondary ingestion of microplastics in coastal seabirds due to the fish species they prey on and relationship between microplastics and endoparasite communities' structure and state …

“The Effects Of Magnesium Supplementation For Adolescent Female Athletes With Pms Or Dysmenorrhea: An Intervention, Reilly Richardson, Hannah Baumer, Aquisha Powell

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

A multitude of women experience the monthly challenge of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea characterized by symptoms such as irritability, depression, anxiety, mood swings, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, and bloating. Commonly treated by the overuse of over-the-counter pain medications which often do not fully alleviate the physical signs and fail to address affective symptoms. Consequently, a notable portion of female athlete’s report being unable to participate in athletic events of any kind during the menstrual phase. Moreover, the chronic use of medications like acetaminophen poses potential risks such as nausea, vomiting, and liver damage. Thus, the proposed study seeks to …

Exploration Of Enterococcus Faecalis Bacteriophages Diversity: Comprehensive Phylogenetic Analysis And Discovery Isolation Of Enterococcus Faecalis Phage From A Soil Sample In South Florida, Hailey N. Jauernick

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Enterococcus faecalis is a commensal bacterium found in the gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity, and vagina of humans, which can transition to pathogenic states, leading to diverse infections. Many E. faecalis infections are becoming progressively challenging to treat, stemming from the lack of effective antibiotic therapies against its virulence factors, including biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Phage therapy emerges as a promising alternative, targeting bacteria with minimal impact on host flora. However, despite phages' ubiquitous presence and potential applications in medicine and biotechnology, their diversity and ecological niches are vastly understudied. Here, we investigated the diversity of sequenced E. faecalis phages …

Effect Of The Mediterranean Diet On Type 2 Diabetes In Teens/Young Adults, Megan Herrera, Taylor Folwark, Christine Marti-Milward, Madison Benjamin

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a chronic condition affecting roughly 422 million people worldwide. Diabetes is a metabolic condition that occurs when there are elevated blood sugar levels for long periods of time which could lead to damage within the heart, kidneys, blood vessels, eyes, and nervous system. T2D occurs due to the body’s resistance to insulin or insufficient production of insulin. T2D is prevalent among adults, but as time continues, a larger number of teens/young adults are being diagnosed with this condition. As research advances, there is evidence that indicates pharmacological treatments can be used to positively affect T2D. …

Prescribing Flavor: Proposal For A Longitudinal Culinary Medicine Curriculum In A Family Medicine Residency Program, Mario F. Jacome Jr

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Culinary medicine is gaining recognition as an essential component of healthcare, aiming to integrate food and nutrition into medical practice for managing chronic diseases. However, there is a significant gap in nutrition education within medical schools and residency programs, leaving healthcare professionals ill-equipped to address patients' dietary concerns. This proposal presents a comprehensive longitudinal curriculum blueprint for culinary medicine tailored to family medicine residents. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, collaborative cooking opportunities, and practical counseling techniques to empower residents in addressing nutrition-related diseases effectively. Through a structured approach and innovative educational strategies, this initiative aims to enhance resident proficiency and …

Home-Based Virtual Culinary Nutrition Education Sessions For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: Quantitative Experimental Pilot Study, Ciara N. Reistad, Mauricio Lobo

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) impairs voluntary muscular activity and often results in malnutrition. The need for specialized dietary therapy for ALS-related illnesses is highlighted by recent research, but it also draws attention to the lack of targeted care and ongoing nutritional status monitoring. Technological developments like telehealth and chatbots hold potential for ALS patients’ nutritional monitoring. The pilot study examined the feasibility and impact of home-based virtual culinary nutrition education sessions on nutritional knowledge, dietary intake of energy (CHO), protein (PRO) and FAT, body mass index (BMI), and functional status assessed by ALSFRS-R scores in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis …

"We Are Bad Feminists!": Understanding Genre And Rhetoric In (Post)Feminist Dramedy Television, Cailin Rolph

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Centered on Lena Dunham’s Girls (2012) and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag (2016) this thesis examines the use of genre conventions in dramedy to facilitate feminist critiques of postfeminist ideals. In conducting a case study of feminist rhetoric present in the shows Girls and Fleabag, this thesis addresses a gap in genre studies concerning the social and political potency of the dramedy genre. The thesis utilizes rhetorical critique, through generic methods, to identify the specific techniques used by Dunham and Waller-Bridge. Through its analyses, this thesis argues that dramedy can uniquely operate as a work of social action and critique, using …

School Leaders’ Understanding And Implementation Of Their School District’S Mission And Vision Statements: A Qualitative Study, Venice P. Daley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the perspectives of school leaders in a single public school district regarding their purpose in leadership, understanding, and implementation of their school district’s mission and vision statements. Three research questions guided the study:

1. How do Florida’s public school leaders incorporate or implement the district’s mission

and vision statements in their daily practice?

2. How do Florida’s public school leaders incorporate the school district’s vision and

mission statements into their purpose as leaders or roles as educational leaders?

3. How and in what ways do Florida’s public school leaders …

Determining The More Effective Behavior Analytic Intervention For Children With Autism Who Exhibit Pica Behaviors, Jennifer J. Lanham

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Determining the More Effective Behavior Analytic Intervention for Children With Autism Who Exhibit Pica Behaviors. Jennifer J. Lanham, 2024: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: autism, pica, eating disorders, intervention, applied behavior analysis

This dissertation was designed to determine which behavior analytic intervention was more effective in the treatment and reduction of mouthing non-nutritive substances in children diagnosed with autism. This study included four participants in an A-B-A reversal design with a component analysis across four intervention phases. The study participants were enrolled in a center-based treatment environment …

Quantifying The Respiratory Plasticity Of Common Fishes Of The Indian River Lagoon, Logan Exton

Honors Theses

Increasing water temperatures resulting from global climate change introduce new energetic demands for marine organisms. Higher energy input will be required to cope with a subsequently higher metabolic rate, affecting all aspects of an individual’s life and therefore their survival. Because estuaries act as a link between rivers and oceans, they and their inhabitants are considered to be the most threatened by climate change. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how these organisms will respond to increased stressors due to climate change. Checkered pufferfish (Sphoeroides testudineus) are among the most common teleost fish in the Indian River Lagoon, …

Heed The Warning Signs: The Effectiveness Of Message Popup Warnings For Deterring The Spread Of Misinformation, Hollis Greenberg

CCE Theses and Dissertations

As false news can propagate to others rapidly, social media platforms employ multiple methods to combat misinformation. Debunking techniques are warning features embedded into a platform’s interface that alert readers of misinformation. These warnings have two goals: to “debunk” false information and to prevent the further spread of misinformation. Researchers have evaluated the effectiveness of debunking techniques to understand how users increase their awareness of misinformation, and what users do with the information given in warning messages. Message popup warnings are a newer and understudied type of debunking technique.

The overarching research question of this study was: Are message popup …

Student Attitudes And Intentions To Use Continuous Authentication Methods Applied To Mitigate Impersonation Attacks During E-Assessments, Andrea E. Green

CCE Theses and Dissertations

No solution can ultimately eliminate cheating in online courses. However, universities reserve funding for authentication systems to minimize the threat of cheating in online courses. Most higher education institutions use a combination of authentication methods to secure systems against impersonation attacks during online examinations. Authentication technologies ensure that an online course is protected from impersonation attacks. However, it is important that authentication methods secure systems against impersonation attacks with minimal disruption during an examination. Authentication methods applied to secure e-assessments against impersonation attacks may impact a student’s attitude and intentions to use the e-examination system.

In this regard, the research …

Stakeholder Participation And Perceptions In Professional Learning Communities: A Case Study In A Small, Rural School District, Rachel M. Kowalski

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation explored the interplay between collaboration within PLCs and classroom teacher perceptions of PLC implementation within a small, rural district. It examined how the involvement of different stakeholders in PLCs connects to overall perceptions of professional learning communities and how the participation of principals, administrators, and paraprofessionals shapes collaboration. The unique setting of a small and rural school district allowed the study to consider close interpersonal relationships that are common within these settings since these districts have limited human resources and individuals serve in various capacities within the organization. When stakeholders actively participate in PLCs, concerns arise about …

Exercise As A Natural Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonist To Treat Binge Drinking Withdrawal, Eleanor Wind

Honors Theses

Binge drinking is a major concern, especially among college students. Positive results have been demonstrated in clinical trials that utilized exercise to treat alcohol use disorder, but questions remain regarding the type of exercise and how it should be administered across ages and sexes. Studies using animal models have investigated the neurobiological mechanisms of this treatment to improve understanding of how to implement it. One of the mechanisms under investigation is the endogenous opioid system, specifically the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) subtype. Previous research has demonstrated that exercise treatment concurrent with ethanol exposure attenuated an ethanol-induced increase in KOR receptor …

Assessing Organizational Investments In Cybersecurity And Financial Performance Before And After Data Breach Incidents Of Cloud Saas Platforms, Munther B. Ghazawneh

CCE Theses and Dissertations

Prior research indicated that providing inappropriate investment in organizations for Information Technology (IT) security makes these organizations suffer from IT security issues that may cause data breach incidents. Data breaches in cloud Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms lead to the disclosure of sensitive information, which causes disruption of services, damage to the organizational image, or financial losses. Massive data breaches still exist in cloud SaaS platforms which result in data leaks and data theft of customers in organizations.

IT security risks and vulnerabilities cost organizations millions of dollars a year as organizations may face an increase in cybersecurity challenges. …

What Is Categorized As A War Crime Depends On Who Commits It: An Asymmetry In Moral Judgments Of Acts Of War, Alexis Lass

Honors Theses

Should all acts of aggression carried out in war be categorized as War Crimes? The Geneva Conventions and the International Criminal Court set specific parameters as to what does and does not constitute a war crime. Research in the domain of moral psychology shows that individuals are guided by the justness of cause when making moral judgements about combatant behavior. However, no prior research has examined whether justness of cause influences whether atrocities are categorized as war crimes or not. Across two studies, we investigated the role aggressor status plays in lay people’s categorization of war crimes. We predict that …

Relationship Between Amount Of Sleep And Academic Focus, Nikhila Paleati

Honors Theses

Many college students are regularly taking a full course load while simultaneously working a part-time job, studying for graduate school exams, and participating in school activities. With the growing demands inside and outside the classroom, students may find it difficult to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Generally, individuals with a sleep duration shorter than six hours report many negative effects such as depression, automobile accidents, and cardiovascular disease. The few existing studies that link sleep and academic focus do so by focusing on the effects of sleep deprivation. This study focused on investigating a potential relationship between various amounts of …

Strength In A Pinch: Sex Differences In Detection Of And Responses To Threats, Lorena Mesquita Ragonesi

Honors Theses

Handgrip strength is a sexually dimorphic marker of muscle activation and force production. Males consistently demonstrate greater baseline maximal handgrip strength than females. Various factors can influence an individual’s handgrip strength; interestingly, threat detection can increase handgrip strength. Recently, Kawakami et al. (2018) reported that mortality salience increases handgrip strength in men, but not in women. To explain this finding, they argued that physical strength is a more salient goal for men than women, whereas women should strive for beauty as a strategy to avoid harm. While they did find this interesting sex difference in their study, we had concerns …

Spouse Violence In Case Of Police Officers In Puerto Rico: Violence In Police Families, Jorge Ismael Suarez

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to explore the relationship between factors related to police work and whether these factors help predict domestic violence in a sample of officers of the Puerto Rico Police. The following factors were explored in this study: external burnout, alcohol abuse, department withdrawal, and authoritarian spillover. This study was based on a previous study by Johnson et al. (2005), which revealed that violence exposure and domestic violence among police officers are linked according to four mediation chains. The mediation chain was a model implemented by the authors to determine the influence of burnout, authoritarian spillover, alcohol …