Digital Commons Network^™

Fgf19 Facilitates Metastatic Phenotypes In Colorectal Cancer, Joseph W. Nolff

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. With 154,000 new cases estimated in 2025, there is an increased need for early screening to detect CRC prior to metastasis. Our laboratory has focused on enteroendocrine hormone Fibroblast Growth Factor-19 (FGF19) as it is overexpressed in a subset of CRC tumors. FGF19 is an intestinal-derived hormone involved with lipid homeostasis when bound to its receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor-4 (FGFR4). Our objective focuses on FGF19 contribution towards an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and overall metastatic properties including rapid proliferation and/or increased cell motility. Immunofluorescence was …

Themed Experience & Attractions Academic Symposium 2025 Proceedings, Themed Experience & Attractions Academic Society

Proceedings of the Annual Themed Experience & Attractions Academic Symposium

No abstract provided.

Parents’ Perspectives On Emotional Regulation In Their Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Diana Stewart

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The current study’s main research question was whether emotional dysregulation of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects parental stress levels. This project examined various negative emotional reactions, such as anger, sadness, worry, anxiety, and tantrums that were present in children with an ASD diagnosis, ages 4 to 13. The research consisted of five psychological assessments with strong psychometric properties. The whole survey was supposed to be filled out by a parent or a caregiver of a child, since children are considered a vulnerable population when it comes to research. The first assessment was the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) …

Mitigating And Preparing For Disasters At The Organizational Level: A Global Systematic Literature Review, Abdul-Akeem Sadiq, Ratna B. Dougherty, Rebecca Entress, Bikash Adhikari, Katherine Wilson Mccoy, Emilie Rott, Grace L. Chikoto-Schultz, Shannon Maharajh

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Organizations play significant roles in society by providing goods and services and contributing to the economies of communities, globally. Amid the predicted increase in the frequency and impact of disasters, which will invariably lead to higher disaster costs, there is an urgent need to ameliorate disaster impact on society and organizations. Disaster mitigation and preparedness are strategies for stemming disaster impact and losses within organizations. Cognizant of the importance of disaster mitigation and preparedness, researchers have conducted a myriad of studies on both concepts at the organizational level. To advance knowledge on this topic, this study conducted a comprehensive systematic …

A Review Of The Utilization Of Comics In Research And The Potential For Graphic Medicine Integration In Health Science Communication, Nagatarang Nimmathota

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Communication is a vital part of research, both during its conduction and the dissemination of its findings. This can be difficult to achieve due to factors like knowledge disparity, technical jargon, and differing backgrounds. This narrative literature review draws from databases like PubMed, ScienceDirect, and others to examine the current utilization of graphic medicine in research and its effects on health research communication. This review found that the integration of graphic medicine can help alleviate those issues by simplifying complex topics into engaging visual narratives or comics for consumption by research participants and the public. Additionally, the use of graphic …

Comparative Semiotic Analysis Of Non-Verbal Communication: Apis Mellifera Waggle Dance And Human Kinesic Signaling Systems, Nishtha Tikalal

Honors Undergraduate Theses

There are many parallels between two seemingly disparate forms of non-verbal communication: the waggle dance of Apis mellifera (honeybees) and human kinesic signaling systems. Through a comparative semiotic analysis, this research aims to conduct a comparative semiotic analysis, investigating structural and functional similarities between these communication methods, challenging anthropocentric assumptions about meaning making in the natural world. This research employs a meta-synthesis approach, drawn from a methodological literature review to examine historical representations of bee-human relationships, semiotics of non-verbal communication, and the specific mechanisms of the waggle dance and human kinesics. This methodology involves systematic categorization and analysis of extracted …

A Survival Horror Video Game's Impact On Visual Attention, Alicia D. Sprague

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The current study’s main research question was whether playing a survival horror video game increases the visual selective attention of a player. This project examined how visual attention and anxiety levels differ after playing a survival horror video game and whether an individual’s gaming preferences affect these concepts. The research consisted of the preliminary evaluation of participants’ visual attention abilities and anxiety levels through psychological tasks. Participants then played Resident Evil 4: Chainsaw Demo, the selected survival horror video game for this study. After playing the demo, participants repeated the previous psychological tasks, and their results were assessed. Results …

The Aerodynamics Of Bird Perching: Understanding Wing And Body Interactions In Pigeon Flight, Anirudh Sriram

Honors Undergraduate Theses

During landing, birds often execute a perching maneuver. The perching maneuver refers to the complex series of actions that birds, and pigeons in particular, will perform when landing. They will typically decelerate by pitching their body to a high angle of attack and spreading their wings. It is believed to help achieve better control and reach optimal lift and drag coefficients. This study seeks to better understand the vortex interactions between the main and tail wings during this maneuver. However, it is still an unexplored phenomenon. Thus, two bird models were conceived to analyze it, one with and one without …

Digital Recess, Screen Time Split: The Impact Of Online Schooling On Recreational Screen Time And Their Dual Impact On Anxiety, Meagan Allender

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study explores the influence of online schooling, anxiety, and recreational screen time in college aged students. Previous studies have shown a positive correlation between screen usage and anxiety scores, assessing either online school or total screen time on anxiety. However, no study had looked at the correlation between online schooling and recreational screen time, nor had any study assessed both their effects on anxiety at the same time. Using a sample of 71 participants, a bivariate regression was conducted to evaluate the correlation of each type of screen time with one another, then another regression was run to assess …

Investigating The Effects Of A Psychoplastogen On Depressive-Like Behaviors In Huntington Disease Model Mice, Kaleigh M. Hanley

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Huntington Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion in the trinucleotide CAG repeat on exon 1 of the huntingtin gene. In HD one of the first symptoms is often depression. In cases where SSRIs fail, treatments for treatment-resistant depression often become a patient’s only option. These rigorous treatments, such as electroconvulsive therapy, are not suitable for this patient population as it can worsen motor symptoms. In order to search for potential alternatives, we queried whether depressive-like behavior could be reduced in Hu97/18 and Q175FDN HD mice by administering tabernanthalog, a non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analog. Our study is not …

Comparative Efficacy Of Hallucinogens In Treating Mood Disorders Through A Meta-Analysis Of Symptom Reduction, Dosage, And Duration, John Marco D.F. Muniz

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Hallucinogens including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) (as ayahuasca), have re-emerged as potential rapid-acting treatments for mood disorders. We conducted a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials evaluating their efficacy in depression and anxiety disorders. Methods: A systematic review identified 12 trials (Total ≈ 670) meeting inclusion criteria (randomized, placebo-controlled). Data on Cohen’s d and Hedges’ g effect sizes for depression- and anxiety-related outcomes were extracted. We computed pooled effect sizes (weighted by sample size and inverse variance), performed subgroup analyses by drug, diagnosis, follow-up duration, and outcome measure type, and assessed heterogeneity (I², Q …

Effect Of Metal Ions On The Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging Capabilities Of Cerium Oxide For Biological Applications, Agastya Mittal

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Ceria nanoparticles' capabilities to defend cells against oxidative stress through superoxide dismutase activity are well-documented. Ceria nanoparticles demonstrate a ratio between 3⁺/4⁺ oxidative states on the surface of the particles to exhibit oxygen vacancies, a feature that allows these particles to scavenge Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in times of Oxidative Stress. Oxidative stress arises from many wounds in the body, such as wounds in the skin, and can have significant impacts on the health of an individual. Even when receiving treatment for the skin wound, ROS can circulate from around the wound, be generated from an imbalance …

Investigating The Role Of Prostasin In Angiogenesis: A Chorioallantoic Membrane Model Approach, Zaima Aline

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Prostasin, also known as PRSS8 or CAP1, is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored extracellular serine protease involved in various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Prostasin expression is observed during key phases of trophoblast invasion and placental development, critical steps in embryo implantation in Rhesus monkeys. This suggests a role for prostasin in extracellular matrix remodeling and tissue invasion, both essential for a healthy pregnancy. Moreover, prostasin appears vital for development as studies in mice show that a germline knockout of the gene leads to significant placental defects and eventual embryonic death, highlighting its importance in vascular and structural development within the placenta.

Building …

Examining The Effect Of A High Fat Diet On The Expression Of Adipokines In A Murine Model Of Barrett's Esophagus, Saagar A. Shah

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Chronic acid reflux results in injury to the esophagus and the development of Barrett’s Esophagus (BE). BE elevates the lifetime risk for a patient to develop Esophageal Adenocarcinoma (EAC). Clinically, one of the main risk factors for BE and EAC is obesity, which alters the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by adipocytes, also referred to as adipokines. Conflicting reports have been made to the expression of adipokines and their receptors in the progression to esophageal cancer. Utilizing an inflammation-based mouse model for BE, we hypothesize that alterations in the expression of adipokines and their receptors favor an inflammatory environment associated with …

Evaluating Coffee And Caffeine Intake In Adults With Cardiovascular Disease: A Comparative Literature Review, Adam Harrington

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Coffee is among the most commonly consumed beverages worldwide, and its bioactive components, including caffeine, affect the cardiovascular system through multiple physiological mechanisms. Patients with cardiovascular disease are typically advised to limit coffee and caffeine consumption because of potential cardiovascular harm, but emerging research challenges this recommendation. This review evaluates recent evidence regarding consumption of whole coffee, caffeine, or decaffeinated coffee in adults with established cardiovascular disease. Database searches conducted across three platforms for studies published after December 2021 yielded 360 records. Following screening against inclusion criteria, 11 studies were reviewed included in the final review. The studies showed variable …

Florida’S Gifted Education Program: Exploring The Nexus Between Giftedness And Choice Of College Major, Sterlin L. Bass

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Florida’s Gifted Education Program (FGEP) is a K-12 educational program in Florida’s public education system through which gifted students are identified and supported through individualized educational plans promoting intellectual development. The intent of this study is to explore the influence Florida’s Gifted Education Program has on the choice of major of a student and mental health outcomes. Current data revolving around different definitions of “giftedness” such as high ACT scores, SAT scores, and GPA, show a connection between negative mental health outcomes produced by the development of perfectionism. FGEP presents challenges in addressing these concerns due to non-standardized curricula across …

Examining The Best Dietary And Lifestyle Interventions To Prevent Hyperinsulinemia And Insulin Resistance In Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Erica C. Morman

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex reproductive and metabolic disorder that affects up to 15% of women, contributing to insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The interconnected hormonal and metabolic disruptions in PCOS create a feedback loop that exacerbates symptoms, making dietary and exercise interventions critical in its management. This literature review evaluates the efficacy of various dietary interventions including the ketogenic diet, high-protein diet, low-carbohydrate diet, and high-fiber diet, as well as exercise interventions such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT), resistance training, and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Results found that modifying carbohydrate intake, and increasing fiber …

Facilitation Of Chemotherapy Efficacy Through Targeted Drug Delivery In Lung Cancer Cells Via Ultrasound And Implications On Health Interventions, Ibrahim Nasim

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Lung Cancer (small cell and non-small cell) is the leading cause of cancer death in the US, accounting for about 20% of all cancer deaths. Paclitaxel (PTX) is a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used to treat lung cancer. It works by slowing and stopping cancer growth by stiffening microtubules within cells, promoting mitotic halt and cell death. Carboplatin (CP) is another agent given to lung cancer patients containing platinum and works via direct damage of oncolytic DNA. The exact mechanism of how PTX and CP cause cell death is still an under-studied area. This thesis aims to provide insight into how …

Investigating The Effect Of Artificial Sweeteners On Fitness And Metastasis In Drosophila Melanogaster, Om R. Patel

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Artificial sweeteners are widely used sugar substitutes, yet their potential effects on health remain poorly understood. For example, more evidence suggests that frequent consumers of sugar substitutes may also be at increased risk of excessive weight gain, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes, which contradicts the original purpose of artificial sweeteners. This thesis investigates the impact of artificial sweeteners on health using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism, focusing on three key areas: viability, excretion, and cancer metastasis. Viability assays revealed that flies exposed to artificial sweeteners exhibited a decrease in progeny, with some concentrations increasing progeny but most decreasing …

Ableism Under The Veil Of Ignorance: Does Rawls Render Justice To The Disabled?, Marina T. Habib

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis focuses on Rawls’ neglect of disabled people in A Theory of Justice. Rawls claims that disabled people are too complicated for this theory and thus depriving them of their equality. This thesis looks at how other scholars have approached Rawls’ claim. This is meant for advanced undergraduates and new graduate students in political science, political theory/philosophy, and philosophy, who are likely being first introduced to Rawls or have never heard of him before. These students are the future of our society, and they will make a change in the future. This thesis serves to educate them on Rawls’ …

Threading The Needle: Chinese American Adoptees And The In-Between, Annalee Johnson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Threading the Needle is a short documentary that investigates the relationships between Chinese American adoptees, their families, and their heritage. The film features two primary participants, Mia Nails and Annalee “AJ” Johnson as they reflect on their Asian American identity, experiences with racism, and their struggles with cultural estrangement. The similarities and differences in their perspectives shed light on both the wonderful and the heartbreaking circumstances of adoption. The contemporary value of the film lies in how it challenges popular representations of the Asian American experience: Though in recent years, Asian American media has become more present in popular culture, …

Elucidation Of The Post-Transcriptional Regulation And Role In Iron Homeostasis Of The Outer Membrane Vesicle Protein Ynce In Salmonella, Mira J. Schmidt

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Iron is an essential element for most bacteria as it is a crucial cofactor for enzymes involved in fundamental reactions such as DNA synthesis. Despite being the fourth most abundant element on Earth, bacteria face challenges acquiring iron under aerobic conditions due to the poor solubility of its oxidized form (Fe³⁺). To overcome this, bacteria have developed various strategies of iron acquisition, such as the production of siderophores. Siderophores are small molecules that scavenge free Fe³⁺ in iron-deprived environments. Iron acquisition is tightly regulated due to its capability of promoting hydrogen peroxide formation via the Fenton reaction. In Salmonella Typhimurium, …

The Truth And Their Versions: Florida Lawmakers And Academic Freedom Across K-12 And Higher Education, Kassandra Faylun

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Florida’s HB 7 and SB 266, enacted July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, respectively. HB 7 controls how certain race-related concepts, like critical race theory, are taught in K-12 classrooms and higher education. SB 266, apart from prohibiting expenditures for DEI programs, provides new requirements for general education core course curricula, including the disallowing of teaching identity politics and barring any classes that are “based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.” Both HB 7 and SB 266 …

Role Of C4 Resources In Isotopic Variability In Diet Among Children From Kellis 2 Cemetery, Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, Faith R. Hendrix

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Using stable carbon isotope analysis, this study investigates dietary diversity in children buried at the Kellis 2 Cemetery (c. AD 50–450) in Egypt's Dakhleh Oasis. From the analysis of δ¹³C isotope values in hair keratin and bone collagen, the study reconstructs short-term and long-term dietary signals in juvenile and adult subjects. The aim is to clarify the role of C₄ plants—particularly millet—in weaning and childhood diets in a Romano-Christian Egyptian village context. A total of 631 segmented hair and 54 bone collagen samples were analyzed from 127 juveniles and 97 adults. Juvenile individuals (i.e., under 15 years biological age) showed …

Examining Perception Of Psychedelic Substances And The Role Of Hallucinations Among College Students, Ryann F. Hilts

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Inquiry into psychedelics is undergoing a cultural and scientific revival, driven by their potential application as novel treatments for mood disorders, substance misuse, and end-of life-distress, but continued implementation in clinical and medical contexts necessitates extensive research. The present study utilizes self-reported data to examine psychedelics across three areas: student attitudes, patterns of use, and motives for use. It additionally explores the perceived importance of hallucinations in therapeutic contexts and focuses on psychological experiences of those with lifetime psychedelic use. The study aimed to deepen understanding of current literature surrounding psychedelics, specifically among university students. Participants were asked to complete …

Exploring The Impact Of Attorneys With Exposed Tattoos On Jurors, Diego F. Mahoney

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Within the legal field, there appears to be a pervasive stigmatization of exposed tattoos. Law firms justify their explicit or implicit bans on exposed body art by arguing that tattoos could negatively prejudice jurors who may be biased against people with tattoos. This thesis intends to put that notion to the test via a digital survey. Subjects who meet the qualifications to serve as a juror in the United States were shown one of two identical videos of an opening statement. However, in one video the attorney has a neck tattoo, whereas in the other the attorney does not. Subjects …

Genomic Epidemiology Of Staphylococcus Aureus Sequence-Type 72, Sachitaa Senthilkumar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, SA) is a gram-positive bacterial colonizer and pathogen commonly carried on the skin and in the anterior nares of humans. SA colonization may lead to a variety of non-invasive (e.g., skin and soft tissue infections, SSTIs) and invasive (e.g., bacteremia and osteomyelitis) infections. The SA population is comprised of multiple lineages that can be delineated through multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), which compares nucleotide sequences within seven housekeeping genes. Strains belonging to an MLST share a common evolutionary history and phenotypic characteristics like antibiotic resistance or virulence. As a result, the epidemiology of lineages can be …

Effects Of Changes In Strouhal And Reynolds Numbers On Beetle Wing Aerodynamics, Keith L. Thiha

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Insect flight has long been a subject of interest across the scientific community, largely due to the exceptional aerodynamic performance insects demonstrate relative to their size. Insects tend to have very high aerodynamic performance characteristics like thrust and lift generation compared to their size. This has many potential applications in improving aircraft performance, however the flow phenomena concerning insect wing aerodynamics is still an area of ongoing research. This study aims to investigate how variations in key nondimensional flow parameters—specifically the Reynolds number and Strouhal number—affect the aerodynamic performance of beetle wings. Strouhal numbers ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 were …

High-Throughput Drug Screening For Disease-Modifying Arthritis Therapy, Janapriya Vijayakumar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Current therapy for arthritis predominantly focuses on the symptoms rather than the underlying causes of disease progression. Thus, it is necessary to identify novel drugs which target the underlying molecular basis of such diseases. Using high-throughput cell-based drug screening, we screened 458 different compounds, narrowed down from 811 starting compounds from the NIH Mechanistic Set. We selected drugs from the Mechanistic Set following Lipinski's Rule of 5 to ensure optimal pharmacokinetic properties. The study used modified primary human chondrocytes (IIAM-PRG4Luc), which secrete a lubricin promoter-driven luciferase reporter. We use this luciferase expression as a proxy to measure lubricin, a compound …

Starch Analysis Of Shell Tools From The Penny Plot Site (8br158) For The Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project, Alaina Waldo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Shell tools have a history of being used in the processing and usage of plant foods and materials in past cultures. This study looks at starch residue analysis obtained from shell tools retrieved at site 8BR158 during excavations by the Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project (CCAMP) in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This research hopes to expand the understanding and usage of shell tools and to gain a clearer picture of plant usage and environmental interactions of earlier inhabitants along the East Coast of Florida through starch grain analysis. Eleven shell tools were analyzed for starch residues, with six showing evidence of …