Digital Commons Network^™

Social Media And Terrorist Organizations: Observing Success Of Recruitment Through Social Media, Vincenzo Cibra

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The Internet is an instrument that has revolutionized the world and the society since its introduction. Today, over 4 billion people around the world have access to it. While this technology comes with several positive innovations, it can also be used negatively by terrorist organizations to more efficiently spread propaganda messages. More so, the development of social media has fostered new methods of recruitment that allows to reach a broader audience anonymously and outside of the geographical area of operation of a terrorist organization.

The purpose of this research is to analyze the relationship between social media development and changes …

Predictors Of Academic Achievement Of Non-Traditional College Students: Opportunities To Catch-Up And Succeed, Angela Bardwell-Owens

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Non-traditional students make up approximately 20% of the undergraduate student population nationwide and are one of few segments of the student population that are not provided with targeted programs and services. To help this cohort achieve their goals whilst universities can increase their retention rates, this research begins a review of the non-traditional student literature to gain an understanding of what this population faces as far as barriers to their education. The literature also provides recommendations and further information in retention efforts to support the student during their academic years. Next, an analysis of non-traditional student support services at 4-year …

To Evaluate The Function Of The Oxytocin Receptor In The Context Of Ovarian Cancer Cell Microenvironment To Determine If Oxytocin Can Induce An Anti-Inflammatory Response, Benjamin I. Schachner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The treatment of most cancers can still be considered inadequate despite the steady progress being made. A prime example of this issue is with epithelial ovarian cancers; this disease presents a significant issue, with a 5-year survival rate of 46% and a survival rate of 28% in patients that develop metastatic disease. Since ovarian cancer has such a high mortality rate, effective treatment modalities are necessary to prolong the quality of life after diagnosis. Psychosocial stress is related to the progression, proliferation, and migration in cancer patients, but the mechanisms of this relationship are not fully understood. The present in …

The Effect Of K562-Il21-2 Plasma Membrane Particles On The Proliferation Of Natural Killer Cells To Fight Cancer, Michelle Prophete

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Immunotherapy has emerged as a current and future paradigm of cancer treatment, which utilizes the body’s immune system to eradicate cancer. Natural Killer (NK) cells as part of the innate immune system have immense potential in their anti-tumor cytotoxic activities and host cell surveillance properties. NK cells comprise approximately five to fifteen percent of peripheral blood lymphocytes and can be proliferated in vitro using recently developed methods with co-cultures with feeder cells (derived from engineered tumor cells) or plasma membrane (PM) particles, produced from the fore mentioned feeder cells, in combination with soluble cytokines. For efficient growth and maintenance of …

Atmospheric Entry, Dillon A. Martin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The development of atmospheric entry guidance methods is crucial to achieving the requirements for future missions to Mars; however, many missions implement a unique controller which are spacecraft specific. Here we look at the implementation of neural networks as a baseline controller that will work for a variety of different spacecraft. To accomplish this, a simulation is developed and validated with the Apollo controller. A feedforward neural network controller is then analyzed and compared to the Apollo case.

Enhancing Imagination And Creativity In The Elementary Classroom Through 11 Impossible Children's Books And Related Lesson Plans, Karlee L. Rankine

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Not too long ago we believed that it was impossible to send men outside our planets gravitational force, let alone send them to the moon. As adults, we live in a world that believes in two possibilities, those goals that are possible as long as they believe in themselves and find new ways to accomplish each goal they are given. Slowly this thought process is leaving the students minds to make room for the latest information for best practices in formal test taking. There has been a huge decline in our imaginative and creative thinkers due to this overwhelming need …

Nurse Practitioner Student Knowledge And Attitudes Towards Skin Cancer Assessments, Ryan Woodmansee

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer each year in the United States. With skin cancer and the demand for nurse practitioners (NPs) in primary care both on the rise, an accurate assessment of how well NP students are being prepared to perform skin cancer assessments is needed. Patient outcomes are directly linked to early detection and treatment which is essential for all types of skin cancer, especially melanoma. Nurse Practitioners need to be able to recognize the early stages of malignancy versus benign skin lesions and perform accurate skin examinations. The ability to assess practitioners’ knowledge while …

Oral Hygiene Practices In Non-Ventilated Intensive Care Unit Patients, Kimberly P. Emery

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Oral hygiene is a significant aspect of nursing care. Endocarditis, stroke, lung cancer, and hypertension have been associated with poor oral hygiene. Research exploring oral care practices for mechanically ventilated patients is well documented. In contrast, oral hygiene for the non-mechanically ventilated acute care population remains underestimated. The purpose of this study was to establish a baseline of the type, frequency, and consistency of oral hygiene being performed on non-mechanically ventilated ICU patients and explore how the oral care provided was documented.

Methodology: A literature search was conducted and reported as a literature review. The databases CINAHL Plus with …

The Role Of Frabin (Fgd4) In Aggressive Prostate Cancer, Alexia M. Bossan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

A major problem in prostate cancer (PCa) management is the development of drug resistance. It is known that there are changes in PCa biology upon prolonged treatment with drugs, including anti-androgen drugs that alter cellular signaling processes leading to the development of castration resistant PCa. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulatory molecules that modulate gene expression through inhibition of protein translation and modulate cellular functions. Altered expression of miRNAs is often noted in drug resistant cancer including PCa. Studies from our laboratory have identified a number of down-regulated miRNAs in PCa, including miR-l 7-92a miRNAs. Frabin (FGD4) is a target of the …

The Future Of Narcoterrorism: A Comparative Analysis Between Traditional And Contemporary Terrorism And Its Implications On Narcoterrorism, Lucy Clement La Rosa

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The nexus between terrorism and narcotics is historically well documented. However, its contemporary development is rarely brought to light. Rather, narcoterrorism is often considered to be an outdated phenomenon and characteristic of only Latin America. Nevertheless, narcoterrorism continues to be a global security concern. As terrorism has evolved over the recent decade, terrorist relations to the narcotic industry have also evolved. Understanding the unique characteristics of contemporary narcoterrorism is important to effectively combating both terrorism and narcotics globally.

The intent of this thesis is to comparatively analyze the differences between traditional and contemporary terrorist organizations, and how these differences will …

To Gender Identity And Beyond: Does Femininity Lead To A Higher Risk Of Depression?, Dana L. Arnold

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The current study explored the possible links between gender identity, personality, and the experience of depression in a male and female sample. 260 University of Central Florida (UCF) Psychology students completed assessments of depression, “Big Five” personality traits, and gender identity. Correlational analyses revealed significant, positive associations between “Big Five” neuroticism scores and depression scores. Additionally, significant, negative correlations were found between masculinity scores and depression, as well as between femininity scores and depression. Although these correlations were significant, their general effect was small. Overall, additional research must be completed to further examine and validate these findings.

The Effect Of Biofeedback On Coping For Patients With Depression, Amber L. Atkinson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Individuals with depression have a higher incidence of comorbidity which significantly decreases their ability to function and increases their utilization of health care. Due to the severity of the economic burden resulting with depression, research is needed to further examine the most effective treatments for depression. Biofeedback is a therapy that teaches patients how to control the physical affects that manifest during depression.

Aim: The purpose of this review of literature is to discover the benefits of biofeedback for patients diagnosed with depression.

Method: An electronic literature search was conducted using various databases to retrieve articles examining biofeedback as …

The Integration Of Music In An Ela Classroom: Creating Pedagogical Parodies For Elementary Education, Doranna Smith

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to capitalize the effects of using music as a tool in tandem with English language arts in order for students to improve their ELA skills. Songs are already flooding the Internet and social media; such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Vine, echoing in the background of television broadcasts and commercials, and blasting across radio stations and in public areas like restaurants and malls, classroom lessons tied to current songs, are more apt to resonate with students in this era. In lieu of subconsciously humming a song by popular artist such as Beyoncé, Kanye West, …

The Response Of Satellite Glial Cells To P2x7 Receptor Activation, Christina D. Kursewicz

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Satellite glial cells (SGCs) surround the cell bodies of neurons of the peripheral nervous system, including those of the sensory ganglia. Their close apposition to the neuronal soma allows for bi-directional communication between neurons and SGCs, which are thought to regulate neuronal activity. After nerve injury, SGCs in the dorsal root ganglia contribute to neuropathic pain. Although the mechanisms are not fully understood, SGCs show increased coupling via gap junctions, and communicate with the neuron via bi-directional purinergic signaling after nerve injury. The increased coupling between SGCs and neurons may have implications for chronic pain following peripheral nerve injury. In …

Faith In A Galaxy Far, Far Away: Star Wars As Religion, Darryl B. Hunter Ii

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Within the past three decades, Star Wars has become nothing short of a household name. The millions of dollars gained from the films and various products, as well as the enjoyment and enthusiasm generated among fans, shows that Star Wars' value and significance in the realm of entertainment is substantial.

In addition to this value, there are also many religious and mythological elements that are embedded within each of the movies. However, these elements do not carry the same prominence or interest that the plotline has with the audience. In an interview, Lucas stated that it was not his intent …

Structural Transition During Fibrillogenesis Of Amyloid Β Peptide, George Sidrak

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease marked by progressive neuronal cell death, leading to dementia. AD is the most common disease that results in dementia and largely affects the elderly, with five million people in the United States diagnosed with the disease as of 2015 and approximately 35 million people worldwide. Diseases resulting in dementia cost the US healthcare system an estimated $172 billion in 2010 and that cost is expected to increase as the population ages and as diagnostic techniques improve so that more people are treated (Holtzman, 2011). The disease was first reported by psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer …

Real Loneliness And Artificial Companionship: Looking For Social Connections In Technology, Fernando L. Montalvo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Loneliness among older adults is a problem with severe consequences to individual health, quality of life, cognitive capacity, and life-expectancy. Although approaches towards improving the quality and quantity of social relationships are the prevailing model of therapy, older adults may not always be able to form these relationships due to either personality factors, decreased mobility, or isolation. Intelligent personal assistants (IPAs), virtual agents, and social robotics offer an opportunity for the development of technology that could potentially serve as social companions to older adults. The present study explored whether an IPA could potentially be used as a social companion to …

An Rnai Screen To Identify Components Of A Polyamine Transport System, Adam J. Foley

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Polyamines, specifically putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are small cationic molecules found in all organisms. Cells can biosynthetically make these molecules, or alternatively, they can be transported from the extracellular environment. Malignant cells have been shown to require relatively high amounts of polyamines. There is a chemotherapeutic agent, DFMO, used to block the biosynthesis of polyamines. Many malignant cells can circumvent DFMO therapy by activating their transport system. A potential solution is to simultaneously block biosynthesis and transport of polyamines. However, little is known about the polyamine transport system in higher eukaryotes.

This thesis aims to add to the basic biological …

Alpha-Synuclein: Insight Into The Hallmark Of Parkinson's Disease As A Target For Quantitative Molecular Diagnostics And Therapeutics, Baggio A. Evangelista

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. With 500,000 individuals currently living with Parkinson’s and nearly 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year, this disease causes significant financial burden on the healthcare system - amassing to annual expenditures totaling 200 billion dollars; predicted to increase through 2050. The disease phenotype is characterized by a combination of a resting tremor, bradykinesia, muscular rigidity, and depression due to dopaminergic neuronal death in the midbrain. The cause of the neurotoxicity has been largely discussed, with strong evidence suggesting that the protein, alpha-Synuclein, is a key factor. Under native conditions, …

Validating Drug Targets Through Inhibition Of Protein-Protein Interactions In Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Erin C. Driscoll

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death by single infectious disease worldwide; novel antibiotics are needed to continue to treat this disease. To goal of this project is to provide proof-of-principle support for the idea that targeting protein-protein interactions (PPI) is an appropriate course for the discovery of new drugs. This study optimized the M-PFC assay, which allows detection of PPI in Mycobacteria, through the use of stronger promoters and inducible expression of a peptide blocker by riboswitch. To accomplish this, promoter induction studies were used to find stronger promoters for the M-PFC, optimization of the riboswitch as a …

A Contemporary Analysis And Comparison Of Kurdish National Movements: Syria, Iraq, And Turkey, Grayson Lanza

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As commonly understood, and particularly espoused by Kurdish nationalists, the Kurds are by far the largest ethnic group in the world without their own nation-state. An estimated 2 to 2.5 million ethnically Kurdish people inhabit portions of Syria. There are approximately 6.5 million ethnically Kurdish people in Iraq, 7.6 million in Iran, and 16 million in Turkey. Overall, there are about 30 million Kurds in the world. In the broader context of the Kurdish nationalist struggle, this paper suggests that there is a growing bipolar hegemony for power over the control of Kurdish land and politics. Research was predicated around …

Third Grade Science Teachers' Perspectives On Implementing Sentence Frames And Word Banks During Science Lectures To Increase The Writing Levels Of English Language Learners, Mary-Margaret M. Shimada

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Each year, there is an increase of English Language Learners (ELLS) entering today's classrooms. A third grade teacher can be faced with having multiple ELLs in the classroom and still be required to teach them alongside native English speakers. Furthermore, third grade science teachers are also responsible for preparing all students in the classroom to comprehend and utilize scientific academic language based upon the Florida State Standards. Additionally, students are required on the FSA Florida Assessment to write about science content. Therefore, scaffolded instruction for ELLs, which will prepare them to write about science content is critical. This research study …

Do Different Personality Types Differ In Level Of Confirmation Bias?, Allison J. Long

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this research study was to determine if there is a correlation between personality type and level of confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is the idea that people are more likely to agree with opinions already similar to their own and they will actively seek out that opinion. The NEO Five Factor Inventory was administered to determine the subjects’ levels in openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. The Confirmation Inventory was administered to determine the level of confirmation bias. It was predicted that people high in openness will score low in confirmation bias; people who score high …

The European Immigration Crisis: An Analysis Of How Terror Attacks Have Affected Immigrant And Refugee Populations In Western Europe, Taylor M. Scimeca

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The 2015 European Immigration Crisis brought an unprecedented number of immigrants to parts of Western Europe as millions of people fled war-torn and politically unstable countries. Similar to the increase in immigrants, Western European countries have also been combatting the rise of terror attacks throughout Europe. The increase in immigration coupled with an increase in terror attacks has caused anti-refugee sentiments among some Europeans and demands for stricter immigration policies. This paper examines how terrorism has impacted refugee and immigrant populations throughout Western Europe with a focus on Germany, France, and Belgium following the 2015 European Immigration Crisis.

In order …

A Structural And Functional Analysis Of Human Brain Mri With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Arjun A. Watane

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 5-10% of children worldwide. Its effects are mainly behavioral, manifesting in symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. If not monitored and treated, ADHD may adversely affect a child's health, education, and social life. Furthermore, the neurological disorder is currently diagnosed through interviews and opinions of teachers, parents, and physicians. Because this is a subjective method of identifying ADHD, it is easily prone to error and misdiagnosis. Therefore, there is a clear need to develop an objective diagnostic method for ADHD.

The focus of this study is to explore the use of machine language …

The Role Of Breastfeeding In Mother-To-Child Transmission Of Hiv/Aids: A Comparative Case Study Of Three Countries, Anjali Cherukuri

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The HIV pandemic has affected millions of people around the world both medically and socially, since there is a stigma associated with this disease. Common methods of transmission include sexual intercourse and sharing needles, but there are other lesser known methods through which people can contract this disease. One such way is mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), in which a mother could transmit the virus to her child either during pregnancy, childbirth, or through breastfeeding. This paper focuses on the role of breastfeeding in the transmission of HIV from mother to child. Many studies have investigated how breastfeeding results in the transmission …

What Are The Most Commonly Used Tools To Screen Depression In Hiv-Infected Gay And Bisexual Men?, Michael Isner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Gay and bisexual men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comprise a sizable, medically vulnerable population. Depression is the most commonly experienced mental health disorder affecting this group of people, lending itself to a host of risks associated with depression. As screening of depression in this population can be challenging, it is vital that clinicians have the best available tools and guidelines to detect depressive symptomology. This focused, comprehensive review of the literature examined current data describing the clinical instruments used to detect depressive symptoms in HIV-infected gay and bisexual men. The aim of this analysis was to seek out …

Profit-Bearing Administrators: Exploring The Application Of Economics And Financial Concepts In Healthcare Management, Brandon K. Riddick

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Healthcare managers face an incredible challenge today; understanding and implementing financially and economically sound decisions in the complex healthcare environment of the United States. The pressure to be profitable managers is greater than ever. Considering current research, past studies, and articles focused on the demands of healthcare managers will illuminate the state of health care administration, and the importance of real world application of accounting and economics in healthcare.

This thesis will explore and examine research about industry standards, and the need for preparedness in healthcare finance management. It will also examine the important and complex role of accounting and …

Is Migrant Integration Policy Converging In Europe? A Comparison Of Eu-12 And Eu-15 States, Steven Zuardo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Immigration issues have dominated the political discourse of liberal democracies around the world in the 21^st century. Recent elections in the United States and the Netherlands focused extensively on migrant flows, illegal immigration and migrant integration. Upcoming elections in France seem to be operating within similar parameters. These occurrences underpin a larger critique about the perceived failure of liberal democratic institutions to contend with immigration trends and successfully integrate migrants within their societies. Nowhere has this critique been more prevalent than within the public and political discourse of the European Union, the institution of focus for this paper.

As …

Evaluating The Quality Of Physical Education Programs Provided By State Department Of Education Websites And The Relationships Between Adolescent Obesity And Sedentary Prevalence, Payton C. Mcwilliams

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This research seeks to determine the relationships between the quality of physical education (PE) programs provided by state departments of education (DOE), obesity rates, and sedentary behaviors described as physical inactivity in adolescents ages 10-17 years old. A modified rubric based on the “Let’s Move Active Schools Assessment” was created and used to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the PE programs and physical activity (PA) opportunities provided by websites of the state’s DOE. A total of fourteen states were chosen to be assessed due to having either the highest or lowest obesity or physical inactivity rates. It was believed that the …