Digital Commons Network^™

A Two-Day Virtual Workshop On The Micronutrient-Directed Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam For Ghanaian Nutrition Professionals: Examining Perceived Self-Efficacy And Innovation, Leah Anne Qubty

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Micronutrients are key components of various physiological processes. Therefore, in the setting of deficiency, poor health outcomes ensue. In Ghana, micronutrient deficiencies are common and medical resources are limited. The Ghanaian dietetics profession is growing, and this growth is propitiously timed to address micronutrient deficiencies. Biochemical markers of nutrition status are considered the gold standard to detect micronutrient deficiencies, but are costly and require specialized medical equipment. In the absence of available biochemical markers of nutrition status, the micronutrient-directed nutrition-focused physical exam is a viable tool. Nutrition professionals such as Registered Dietitians are qualified to conduct this exam, but feel …

Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Of Us-Based Registered Dietitians Regarding Vitamin D As A Key Nutrient In Public Health, Karen S. Basedow

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and behavior influences of Registered Dietitians (RDNs) regarding Vitamin D (VD). An electronic questionnaire served as the data collection tool developed using previously validated questions and supplemented with behavior construct questions. Content and face validity was assessed by an expert panel; internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha. Scores were assessed for knowledge to determine dietitian awareness and competency about VD, attitudes of RDNs regarding importance and practices around VD, and influences on RDN behavior including by other healthcare providers (HCP). Relationships between scales for knowledge, attitude and …

Implementation Of A Transitions Of Care Nutrition Intervention For Malnourished Patients, Nina Rocca

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The topic of Transitions of Care (TOC) has been investigated by physician and nursing professions for years, while only more recently by nutrition professionals. Registered Dietitians are not always involved in TOC planning. RDs can play an important role in TOC by communicating patients’ nutrition information across health care settings, especially for patients with malnutrition. The primary aim was to use a CDC based process evaluation to evaluate if a case management, nursing focused care transitions framework, adapted for a TOC nutrition intervention, can result in a successful intervention implementation. The secondary aim was to use a CDC outcomes evaluation, …

The Efficacy Of A Service-Learning Experience In The New Orleans Area In Improving Intercultural Competence Of Nutrition And Dietetics Students, Michel D. Harris

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is a large gap between minority representation in the field of dietetics and the United States population, and nutrition students need advanced cultural competence training in preparation for future work with diverse populations. Universal recommendations for delivering and evaluating cultural competence training in nutrition programs are non-existent, and students tend to lack understanding of how to develop this skill. Service-learning in underserved communities with reflective assignments have been used to develop cultural competence skills, but most reported results are anecdotal. This non-randomized mixed methods study sought to find out if a service-learning experience improves intercultural competence of nutrition students …

Nutrition Perception, Dietary Intake, And Anthropometric Correlations Between Autism Spectrum Disorder And Typically Developing Adolescents., Kristin M. Berg

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The adolescent’s nutrition perception is reflected in dietary intake and body composition. Obesity is prevalent among adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Dietary habits of children with ASD are affected by sensory issues, gastrointestinal factors, and parental provision of diet. This cross-sectional study identifies the relationships among variables for dietary intake, nutrition perception of intake, and anthropometric measurements for adiposity for 19 adolescents, ages 11 to 17, with ASD. Twenty-four children who are typically developing (TD) were assessed to compare all variables for significant differences. Measurements of variables of interest were obtained from the adolescent subjects: a 24-hour recall of …

Interprofessional Education Activities And New Practitioner Competence: Implications For Practice In Nutrition And Dietetics Education, Stephanie N. Petrosky

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) are associated with improved perception, values, attitudes towards collaborative practice, and therefore benefits patients, practitioners, and health care systems. Notable organizations have long promoted standardized guidelines for best practices in interdisciplinary team-based learning to improve patient safety and health outcomes. The state of IPE in nutrition and dietetics practice was recently addressed by the Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors (NDEP) practice group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The authors generated a call to action to engage in IPCP while pushing the boundaries of leadership in teaching, research, and practice. …

Exploring Multicultural Competence Skills Of Lgbtq+ Counseling Trainees, Jacob Perez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While counselors develop multicultural competence through counselor education, training, and supervision, the practice and demonstration of multicultural competence remains nebulous and lacks thorough prescription of specific counseling skills. The present study was conducted to explore and concretize the skills used by LGBTQ+ counseling trainees to demonstrate multicultural competence for understanding the client worldview and the counseling relationship. Data was gathered with twelve LGBTQ+ counseling trainees from CACREP-accredited master’s-level clinical mental health counseling programs through semi-structured interviews using a relational-cultural theoretical framework. Seven domains encompassed the 37 skill categories that emerged from phenomenological data analysis. The domains included (a) counselor authenticity …

It's A Small World After All: Insights, Interferences, And Implications Of In Situ Chlorophyll Fluorescence Monitoring In Estuaries, James Silas Tanner

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Concentrations of the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll a are used as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass by estuarine scientists to study eutrophication, food web dynamics, and harmful algal blooms. Coastal managers use chlorophyll as an indicator of nutrient pollution and for assessments to meet Clean Water Act standards. Chlorophyll a, as measured in the laboratory by extraction from monthly discrete water samples, is a core component of the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP). Field-deployable sensors based on the excitation and emission spectra of in situ chlorophyll have not been incorporated into SWMP to date because past …

Where Are My People? A Historical Analysis On Nasa’S Equal Opportunity Initiatives, Heather D. Smith

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses historical analysis to review how the NASA Communication Office published information about its equal opportunity efforts from the 1970s through the 2010s. NASA press materials were examined using various keywords to search for programs and initiatives to recruit and maintain women and minorities in the space agency. The idea to create internal programs to increase women and ­­minorities within NASA appeared in the mid-1970s, but the agency did not report initiatives until the late 1980s and 2010s, when the keywords women, minorities, and equal opportunity ­were mentioned most often. NASA continues to develop and implement …

Prolonged Exposure To Microgravity Increases Susceptibility To Traumatic Brain Injury, Ryan Baskerville

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the prospect of semi-permanent and permanent habitable fixtures on the moon and Mars, the complications associated with long-term exposure to microgravity should be investigated exhaustively. Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS), a group of neurological and ocular effects resulting from prolonged exposure to microgravity, is characterized by significant fluid shifts into the cranium, namely cerebrospinal fluid and blood, and an upward shift of the brain relative to the skull. This syndrome, along with its immediate effects on visual acuity, cognitive ability, and motor function are recognized by NASA, but its effects on susceptibility to traumatic brain injury have yet to …

Emotion Regulation And Coping As Mediators Of The Association Between Perfectionism And Self-Esteem In Athletes Compared To Non-Athletes And Honors Students, Hollie Minichiello

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Increased levels of perfectionism have been shown to be associated with increased levels of burnout, feelings of depression, heightened levels of anxiety, decreased self-esteem, and hindered overall performance. The current study aimed to investigate whether coping mechanisms and emotion regulation mediate the association between perfectionism and self-esteem in athletes compared to non-athletes and honors students. Four hundred ninety-three primarily white (n = 60.0 %), female (n = 83.0 %), psychology major, participants aged 18-49, completed a series of questionnaires including: the Self-Esteem Implicit Association Test (Greenwald et al., 2002), the Self-liking and Self-Competence Scale (Tafarodi & Swann Jr, …

Measuring Vegetation Density In Marsh Grass Photographs Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Lucas W. Welch

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A marsh is a wetland dominated by various species of grasses rather than trees. It supports an important ecosystem, providing habitats for many kinds of animals and posing a crucial impact on coastal climates. Marshes are rapidly changing, and it is vital for scientists to track these changes to understand the health of them. To do so, biologists perform vegetation monitoring to estimate the coverage of vegetation in an area of marsh. This task often calls for extensive human labor carefully examining pixels in photos of marsh sites to calculate vegetation density for a variety of marsh grass species. This …

In Sickness And In Health: Interactions Between Romantic Dyads, Power, And Health, Madisen Taylor Reasonover

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The current study applied the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (Cook & Kenny, 2005) to assess influence in romantic dyads regarding health attitudes and behaviors (exercise, eating), and the moderating effects of gendered power. Associations between dyad similarity scores on health attitudes, health behaviors, and gendered relationship quality was also explored. Forty-five heterosexual romantic couples who were exclusively dating (72% White/Caucasian; age M = 22.3 years; relationship length M = 28.7 months) completed several questionnaires including: the Relationship Power Inventory – Overall (Farrell et al., 2015), the Perceived Relationship Quality Components Inventory (Fletcher et al., 2000), a modified Exercise Identity Scale (Anderson …

Our Thoughts Matter: The Mental Health Of College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Caitlin Zarzeczny

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the mental health of undergraduate college students within the context of COVID-19 pandemic, as well as cognitions about health threat and engagement in protective health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were (N = 276) undergraduate students attending the University of North Florida. Students completed a SONA systems survey between March 2021 and December 2021. Participants received course credit for completing the survey. Survey questions were taken from the Perceived Effectiveness of COVID-19 Prevention Effectiveness Protocols scale (Prasetyo et al., 2020). Three types of variables were assessed: demographics, perceived threat, and planned action. Correlational …

A Predictive Modeling Approach To Counter Failures In Heat Seal Process Verification Methods, Charles Albanese

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Most products sold today are packaged in a protective shell that involves the design of a box or wrapper. A subset of such products also adds a second layer of protection via sterilization. For both sterilized and non-sterilized products, a procedure referred to as the heat seal process creates the protective barrier from outside influence. For sterilized products, the American Society for Testing and Materials provides standards to test or verify seal strength, and this verification is normally accomplished by using a process called a Design of Experiments (DOE). The DOE method makes systematic use of powerful data collection and …

Incorporating Recess Into The Ecosystem Of The School, Ellen Wheeler

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Unstructured outdoor play is critical to a child’s healthy development. Often the only outdoor unstructured play opportunities occur during recess. Unstructured play and recess are supported as childhood necessities and human rights by the American Pediatric Association and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child. These pronouncements and grass roots support have fueled the creation of legislation that requires recess during the elementary school day. As of 2022, Florida was one of 10 states enacting legislation requiring recess. However, the maximization of the recess experience is largely dependent on the quality of the space and facilities that …

An Analysis Of The Spatial Genetic Structure Of A Hybrid Zone Between Two Species Of Killifish, Fundulus Heteroclitus And F. Grandis, Andrew Lee Hardy

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hybridization offers unique insight into the evolutionary process of speciation and the forces that maintain barriers to reproduction. In northeast Florida, a hybrid zone between two species of killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus and F. grandis, has been identified near Flagler Beach, FL, although the exact boundaries of the hybrid zone remain unknown (Gonzalez et al. 2009). This study aims to determine the fine-scale spatial genetic patterns of the hybrid zone and test the hypothesis that species ranges are influenced by changes in dominant vegetation. Results from an ADMIXTURE analysis and F_ST data indicated the boundary of the area of …

The Potential Mediating Effects Of Social Support Network Size And Physical Activity On Cognitive Function And Mortality Risk, Madeline Zipperer

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Low cognitive function has been shown to be an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality. Social support network size and total physical activity volume (TPAV) are two modifiable factors which have been shown to be independently associated with cognitive function and mortality risk. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the potential mediating effects of social support network size and TPAV on cognitive function and all-cause and CVD-related mortality risk in a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.

METHODS: Study sample (N =2,550) included older adult (≥ 60 years of age) participants …

Revitalizing Conservation And Management Of The American Crocodile (Crocodylus Acutus) In The Dominican Republic, Robert Greco

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Crocodilian populations declined globally during the 20^th century because of overhunting and habitat loss. Some crocodilian populations have recovered recently through legal protections and habitat restoration, but the status of many crocodilian populations are still unknown because of a lack of recent data. The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) population in the Dominican Republic (DR) is one of these data-deficient populations, with country-wide surveys not carried out since the 1980s. From May through July 2021 we surveyed areas within DR where C. acutus is still likely residing. Our surveys yielded no crocodile sightings in Monte Cristi, suggesting that …

Estimation Of 24-Hour Urinary Creatinine Excretion Through The Development Of A Model And Its Relationship To Outcomes In Hospitalized Critically Ill Veterans, Lynn Diane Hiller

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Muscle mass is highly correlated with patient outcomes. Techniques to identify patients with low muscularity include computed tomography (CT) and bioelectrical impendence analysis (BIA) however disadvantages of cost, exposure to radiation and access make these measurements unavailable to the average dietitian. Urinary creatinine excretion (UCE) and estimation of creatinine height index (CHI) are strongly associated with muscularity and outcomes, however, require a 24-hour urine collection. The postulation that UCE may be predicted from patient variables, through mathematical modeling, would avoid the need for a 24-hour urine collection and may be clinically useful.

Methods: Input variables of age, …

Childhood Food Insecurity: A Program Impact And Evaluation Study Of The Meals On Wheels For Kids Program, Claudia Rivero

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In America, millions of families and children face hunger and food insecurity every day. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, more than thirty-eight million people experienced hunger in 2020. As many as 13 million children in the United States live in food-insecure homes. Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs. While valuable, barriers to these programs can block food-insecure households with children and prevent access to healthy food. The impact of adverse health and nutritional consequences, of a food-insecure household, will continue to plague our communities until efficient programming connects to those …

Are High Levels Of Educator Bias Associated With The Disproportionate Discipline Of Black Students?, Melissa Ann Ramos

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Data on school discipline inequities have shown disproportionate numbers of Black students suspended and expelled compared to their non-Black counterparts. Despite the implementation of evidence-based solutions such as positive behavior supports and intervention, educator professional development, and restorative practices aimed at closing the racial discipline gap, little to no change has occurred. Critical Race Theory is used as a lens for viewing racial hierarchies as a socially constructed tool to oppress people of color. This oppression can be seen in various aspects of society and in education, especially in school discipline. It is fueled by biases, both implicit and explicit. …

Principal Professional Learning: Exploring Personal And Contextual Barriers And Facilitators Of Change, Jennifer M. Shepard

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Principals are regularly expected to navigate and lead in contexts of complex change. While professional learning is often seen as a key lever for change, there is minimal research regarding principal professional learning in change contexts and even fewer studies making explicit connections between professional learning and change. This qualitative multi-case study of four principals actively engaged in a district designed and facilitated yearlong professional learning program explores the experiences of principals within the program and identifies critical connection points between professional learning and change. Through a series of semi-structured interviews and document analyses, findings emerged indicating that principals had …

Comparison Between Pervious Oyster Shell Habitat (Posh) Unit And Reef Ball Performance Along An Eroding Shoreline In Northeast Florida, Jacob Waggoner

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study compared two methods of shoreline protection – the common Reef Ball and the novel Pervious Oyster Shell Habitat (POSH). Both structures are meant to attenuate wave energy and subsequently reduce shoreline erosion. While Reef Balls have a long, documented history of effectively mitigating beach erosion, POSH units are new structures and their effectiveness had not yet been previously assessed. Clusters of POSH units and Reef Balls were deployed at the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve’s shoreline at Kingsley Plantation. Wave staffs were placed seaward and shoreward from these clusters and wave heights were measured over a holiday weekend …

The Knights Of The Round Table: The Mediating Role Of Parental Self-Efficacy And Parental Stress In Explaining Family Mealtime Predicting Child Behavior In Mturk Families, Dea Zgjani

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined how shared family meals influence low negative behavior in children via parental perceived stress and parental self-efficacy in children between the age three and six. Using a parallel mediation analysis, multiple regression analyses were conducted for 204 participants. Results indicated parental perceived stress to be a mediator in the relationship of the structure of shared family mealtimes and negative child affectivity, in contrast parental self-efficacy was not. Additionally, interesting results were conveyed from exploratory Hypothesis 1. First, there were a total of 94 mothers and 102 fathers who completed the study. Significant correlations were depicted between …

Dynamics Of Mutualism In A Two Prey, One Predator System With Variable Carrying Capacity, Randy Huy Lee

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We considered the livelihood of two prey species in the presence of a predator species. To understand this phenomenon, we developed and analyzed two mathematical models considering indirect and direct mutualism of two prey species and the influence of one predator species. Both types of mutualism are represented by an increase in the preys' carrying capacities based on direct and indirect interactions between the prey. Because of mutualism, as the death rate parameter of the predator species goes through some critical value, the model shows transcritical bifurcation. Additionally, in the direct mutualism model, as the death rate parameter decreases to …

Virtual Supervised Practice During The Covid-19 Pandemic. Does Virtual Learning Affect The Quality Of Preparation For The Rd Exam Or Beginning Dietetics Practice?, Shaynee M. Roper

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Covid-19 pandemic has seemingly altered the practice of Dietetics, and its essential supervised practice component of the Dietetic Internship programs. Telehealth, in particular telenutrition, became a necessity of practice for the entire United States and many parts of the world. Medicare and many private insurance companies amended policies for the expansion, inclusion, and provision of MNT via telephone.¹ In addition, numerous Dietetic Interns were forced to complete the supervised practice (SPE) components of ACEND (Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics) accredited programs virtually. The practice of telehealth is not a new concept. Indeed, this area of …

Bounded-Degree Plane Geometric Spanners: Connecting The Dots Between Theory And Practice, Matthew Alexander Graham

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The construction of bounded-degree plane geometric spanners has been a focus of interest since 2002 when Bose, Gudmundsson, and Smid proposed the first algorithm to construct such spanners. To date, eleven algorithms have been designed with various trade-offs in degree and stretch factor. We have implemented these sophisticated algorithms in C++ using the CGAL library and experimented with them using large synthetic and real-world pointsets. Our experiments have revealed their practical behavior and real-world efficacy. We share the implementations via GitHub for broader uses and future research.

We present a simple practical algorithm, named AppxStretchFactor, that can estimate stretch factors …

Adaptive Memory: Richness Of Encoding As A Possible Underlying Mechanism Of The Threat Effect, Anthony Hall

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, a growing body of research suggests that the human memory system has adapted to recall information that would have been vital to our ancestors’ survival. One area of importance is animacy, where animate objects are better remembered than inanimate ones. From the study of animacy a new area of interest came about; perceived threat of stimuli. It was suggested that some of the stimuli used in previous research could be perceived as more threatening than others which could be a potential confound. This research lead to a potentially new phenomenon, the threat effect, which suggests that threatening …

Investigating Changes In Trends Of Traffic Crashes Due To Covid-19 Pandemic In Florida’S Freeways, Ntagwanko Kisabanzira

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused a shift in traffic patterns that have in turn influenced a change in traffic accident trends. Due to stay-at-home orders that were issued across the United States, transportation agencies reported low traffic demands on highways after the pandemic outbreak. Low traffic volumes are associated with relatively higher speeds that are linked to increased severity of crashes. Several states reported an increase in fatal crashes after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper evaluates the traffic crash trends on three interstates in Florida (I-10, I-75, and I-95) and sheds light on what happened before, during, …