Digital Commons Network^™

Sepsis Knowledge In Undergraduate Nursing Students, Kelsey E. Tilton

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Sepsis is the most common cause of death in critically ill patients in settings other than cardiovascular intensive care units (ICUs). Research shows that early detection is the best way to prevent sepsis progression and improve patient outcomes. Nurses can play a critical role in the treatment of sepsis using their knowledge and resources to detect the presence of sepsis at the earliest possible point in the progression of the syndrome. Baccalaureate nursing students were surveyed to assess students' beliefs and knowledge of sepsis and to examine the gaps in students' abilities to identify sepsis. Methodology: An …

The Effects Of Medical Cannabis Use Among Adults With Chronic Pain: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Bridget A. Asevedo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this integrative literature review was to understand the effects of medical cannabis for chronic pain management in adults. Anecdotal reports suggest the use of medical marijuana as a pain management therapy could be an alternative to opioids and other medications which have long term consequences. Potential uses span the health care continuum, from prescribed outpatient symptom management, to acute care, extended care, home care, and hospice treatment settings. The methodology included a review and synthesis of relevant research articles from 2012 to 2018, written in the English language. The findings suggest medical cannabis has the potential of …

Autologous Skin Cell Spray-Transplantation As An Innovative Alternative To Autologous Split- Thickness Skin Grafts For Deep Partial Thickness Burn Wounds: An Integrative Literature Review, Alexandria M. Beaudet

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Burn wounds tend to be a critical problem with a complicated healing process. Although advancements have been made and the treatment of burn wounds has improved significantly, the healing process for deep-partial thickness burn wounds remains problematic. The purpose of this thesis is to review the available literature on an innovate biotechnology, autologous skin cell-spray transplantation, to more effectively treat burn wounds and potentially other injuries in the future. This study was conducted by critically researching and comparing (N=7) peer-reviewed research articles focusing not only on burn wounds using traditional treatments, but also the treatment of burn wounds using revolutionary …

The Effects Of An 8-Week Judo Program On The Psychosocial Factors Of Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Auckland J. Burrell Jr

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of an 8-week judo program on self-competency, physical activity (PA) motivation, and enjoyment of PA in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). METHODS: The sample included 20 children (ages 8 – 17) with a primary diagnosis of ASD. The participants completed an 8-week judo program that occurred once a week for 45 minutes. Participants were instructed to complete a series of questionnaires that measured athletic self-competency, PA motivation, and PA enjoyment at baseline and at the end of the 8-week judo program. Paired t-tests were conducted to examine differences …

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

Honors Undergraduate Theses

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

Barriers To Healthcare For The Transgender Population: A Focus On The Trans Persons' Experience Accessing Healthcare Services, Bryce E. Harrison

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Transgender people face several barriers to healthcare when accessing services. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived-experience of the transgender person accessing healthcare. Methods: Colaizzi phenomenological method was used to delve into the experience. The guiding question was: What is the lived experience (challenges, barriers, and/or difficulties) that the transgender person experiences when accessing healthcare? Results: Initial themes were collapsed to create relevant meanings. Five themes emerged from the protocols and were validated by participants. Overall, the transgender person is vulnerable in the healthcare system due to the lack of representation of their identity, which …

The Use Of Behavioral Pain Assessment Tools And Pain Outcomes In Nonverbal Patients, Patrick A. Healy

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Acute and critical care patients experience significantly more pain than those patients on a general nursing unit. Due to the severity of their condition, acute care patients may be nonverbal and unable to self-report their pain. Behavioral pain assessment tools are a method of objectively measuring pain in patients who are unable to communicate. While the use of these tools has been shown to improve short- and long-term outcome for patients, there is a paucity of evidence as to nurses' perceptions related to their use. The purpose of this study is to investigate acute care nurses' perceptions of the relationship …

Role Of Amyloid Precursor Protein In Neuroregeneration On An In Vitro Model In Alzheimer's Patient-Specific Cell Lines, Lina S. Bedoya Martinez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Alzheimer's disease (AD) leads to neurodegeneration resulting in cognitive and physical impairments. AD is denoted by accumulation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, known as tau, and extracellular plaques of the amyloid beta protein (Aβ). Aβ results from the proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and gamma-secretases in the amyloidogenic pathway. Although, Aβ has been widely studied for neurodegeneration, the role of APP in both, the healthy and diseased conditions, has not yet been entirely understood. The function that APP has in neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation, differentiation, and migration during adult neurogenesis has been previously studied. Additionally, …

Total Salivary Protein Concentration And Its Correlation To Dental Caries, Emyli Peralta

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization, dental cavities are the number one chronic disease in children. Saliva coats the teeth all day and can serve many functions to maintain and protect teeth. Saliva has many proteins that can be both detrimental and essential to the preservation of tooth enamel. The purpose of this study is to determine if a correlation exists between the total protein concentration in saliva and the prevalence of cavities in the mouth. We hypothesized that there would be a positive correlation with total salivary protein concentration and the prevalence of cavities in the participant. Methods: …

Willingness To Communicate And International Students' Use Of L2, Michelle Verbitskaya

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Willingness to Communicate (WTC) in the second language (L2) is the "readiness to enter into discourse" which is considered to be the direct precursor of students' communication in L2 (MacIntyre et al., 1998). Oral language is thought to precede written language which creates an assumption that ongoing refining of oral skills may impact writing fluency. In respect to WTC model, there have been several versions that describe the construct (MacIntyre et al., 1998; Wen & Clement, 2003; Matsuoka, 2006). This study references self-efficacy, a cognitive variable in Matsuoka's (2006) proposed model, when analyzing writing as a phenomenon in relation to …

Relationship Between Executive Function And Postural Control, Lara V. Suarez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

While it has been established that postural control is affected by executive function, research is lacking in identifying if specific executive function components are most responsible or if certain aspects of postural control are more affected than others (e.g., proprioception, vestibular, visual). The current study examined the role of inhibition, processing speed, and visuospatial ability in postural control under conditions affecting visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular sensory input. Cognitive assessments consisted of the Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Clock Drawing Test, Trail Making Test – Part B, and simple reaction time. Standing Balance was used to …

Exploring Galvanic Replacement As A Method To Engineer Peroxidase-Mimics Nanoparticles, Kuryn T. Magloire

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Peroxidase enzymes are of critical importance within the scientific community for their applications in biosensing assays. In a living system, natural peroxidases function as catalysts in the oxidation of peroxide (e.g., H2O2) - a harmful byproduct of aerobic processes and convert them into harmless compounds. Such an ability allows peroxidases to serve as labels in biosensing assays, where they are conjugated to antibodies and accurately produce a detection signal by catalyzing substrates. However, due to intrinsic limitations, namely instability, Peroxidase made of proteins substantially inhibit broader applications.

Alternatively, nanoparticles produced from noble metals have been found to exhibit peroxidase-like abilities …

The Effect Of Family And Social Support On Suicidal Ideation In Jails, Megan L. Small

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Suicidal ideation and associated behaviors are up to four times more common among jail inmates than the general community (Jenkins et al., 2005; Hayes, 1986). Research finds a variety of social, biological, and psychological factors interact to influence suicidal thoughts of incarcerated individuals (Bonner, 1992; Borrill et al., 2005). Particularly, psychological distress such as, depression and feelings of hopelessness, along with loss of social support and decreased feelings of connectedness have been linked to suicidal ideation and behaviors (Moscicki, 1997; Hawton & van Heeringen, 2009). Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017) has emphasized the importance of connectedness …

Current Perceptions Of Undocumented Immigrants In The United States, Gabriela Lozano

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to examine current perceptions that U.S. Americans have about immigrants coming to the U.S. illegally/ undocumented. There is currently an ongoing debate around immigration in today's political climate. Historically, immigration has always happened in the U.S. and has sparked a vast array of feelings from the U.S. population (Obinna 2018). This study aims to contribute to the existing literature on undocumented immigration to the U.S. and opinion surrounding it. The current study uses the opinion of 177 people to compare current perceptions of undocumented people based on gender, income, and political standing. This study …

Health Literacy And Health Information Seeking Behaviors Of Student At The University Of Central Florida, Abigail Mcwhorter

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Health literacy is the skill needed to acquire, read, understand, and use health related information to make informed healthcare decisions. It is also the skill needed to follow and maintain a treatment plan. Having a high or adequate health literacy level is important because possessing poor health literacy skill can have a negative impact on one's overall health. This research is important because there are few studies available on the health literacy levels of undergraduate college students. The majority of health literacy studies focus on at risk or underserved populations with low education. Previous studies have shown that education is …

Utilizing Journaling In The Mathematics Classroom: A Handbook Guide For Teachers, Audrey Nicole Wilson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

A handbook designed for teachers to illustrate how to utilize journaling as an effective teaching practice in the mathematics classroom. This thesis was written to illuminate educators about the powerful research and proper strategies for implementing journaling in mathematics. The handbook provides three lesson plan samples using journaling in the mathematics classroom for grades 3-5, strategies and idea for implementing journaling in mathematics, and tips and activities for mathematical journaling. The goal of this handbook is to give teachers clarity, examples, guidance, and strategies on mathematical journaling.

Do Cognitive Metaphors Moderate The Effectiveness Of Protective Behavioral Strategies?, Skyler M. Hoover

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Past research has shown a positive relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol related consequences. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are able to lower the negative effects of drinking alcohol, however, the protective effects of PBS at times is moderated by situational circumstances or individual differences. This study looks at the cognitive metaphor of being a Head or Heart person and the moderating effects it has on PBS and alcohol consumption and alcohol related consequences. Participants completed the AUDIT-C to measure drinking habits, the PBSS to asses strategy usage, the YAAQC to measure drinking problems and a self-report single item measure for …

Effects Of Sme Access To Capital On Country Economic Performance: Understanding The Differences Between The Developed And The Developing World, William B. Reed

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to explore the effects of small-medium enterprises' (SME) access to capital on country economic performance and examine the differences between the developed world and the developing world. Specifically, two main questions are addressed: whether there are significantly higher barriers-to-entry through a lack of access to credit in developing countries as well as whether SMEs access to credit around the world has changed over time.

Using a sample of 46 countries and grouping them two different ways (developed vs developing and free-market vs non-free-market), I find a negative correlation between the SMEs access to capital …

The Envelope Stress Response In Sedimentation-Resistant Escherichia Coli, Neel K. Shah

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Previous research discovered the existence of sedimentation-resistant mutants of E. coli. Genomic studies revealed that these mutants resisted sedimentation due to independent modifications to genes that influenced the Rcs signal transduction pathway, causing increased secretion of an exopolysaccharide capsule comprised primarily of colanic acid. The Rcs system is responsible for detecting envelope stressors; consequently, ampicillin and osmotic stress were used to perturb the cellular envelope and study the response of the mutants compared to wild-type cells. It was found that the overproduction of colanic acid in the mutants confers some resistance to envelope stress; however, the mutants still behaved …

Overview Of Direct Thrombin Inhibitors For Use In Staphylococcus Aereus Infections, Joseph C. Risler

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The pathogenicity and intractable nature of the microorganism Staphylococcus aureus (SA) has been long documented and highlighted by many health care agencies, with emphasis on its ability to exploit the human coagulation system to deadly effect. Two drugs from a class of inhibitors known as Direct Thrombin Inhibitors (DTI) have been shown to have a substantial effect on the enzyme secreted by SA known as Staphylocoagulase (SC), but up until now the application of this potential treatment has been limited. This paper strives to supply an overview of these clinical studies and propose a novel protocol for testing DTI's on …

Subjective Measures Of Implicit Categorization Learning, Audrey Zlatkin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The neuropsychological theory known as COVIS (COmpetition between Verbal and Implicit Systems) postulates that distinct brain systems compete during category learning. The explicit system involves conscious hypothesis testing about verbalizable rules, while the implicit system relies on procedural learning of rules that are difficult to verbalize. Specifically from a behavioral approach, COVIS has been supported through demonstrating empirical dissociations between explicit and implicit learning tasks. The current studies were designed to gain deeper understanding of implicit category learning through the implementation of a subjective measure of awareness, Meta d', which until now has not been validated within a COVIS framework. …

The Psychosocial Effects Of Solid Organ Transplantation On Living Donors: A Literature Review, Christopher G. Evans

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Historically the source for most organ donations were from the cadavers of deceased donors. Over time living organ donation has become an important way to address the shortage of organ availability. The purpose of this literature review is to explore the psychosocial effect the organ donation process has on the living donor. The body's physiological response to organ donation had been well documented. However, the psychosocial effect of donation is now being more appreciated and studies are being done to try to elucidate the factors that can influence the living donor's response to the transplant pro The ultimate goal of …

Fall Risk Assessment In Community- Dwelling Older Adults: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Maryann Dool

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Abstract

Aims: 1) To determine fall risk assessment using subjective and objective measures; 2) To understand older adults' perception on fall risk assessment.

Methodology: An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used and consisted of two phases. Phase 1, the quantitative data was collected from nineteen older adults at an independent living facility in Orlando, Florida. Phase 2, the qualitative data was collected from three participants of Phase 1. After obtaining Institutional Review Board approval, the study was conducted at Lutheran Towers an independent living facility located in the downtown area of Orlando, Florida. Three measurement tools were used: demographic …

The Efficacy Of Meditation-Based Treatments In Relapse Prevention For Persons With Substance Use Disorders, Florence C. Bates

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Substance abuse is a global problem that has contributed to a variety of societal, financial, health, and familial strains. An increasing prevalence of illicit drug, prescription opioids, and alcohol abuse has created a need for re-evaluation of recovery and relapse treatments. This literature review examines the efficacy of meditation-based treatments for relapse prevention in persons recovering from Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). A comparative analysis of Mindfulness Based Relapse Programs (MBRP), an adapted MBRP-W program, and a Transcendental Meditation (TM) intervention was used to examine the success of meditation-based interventions. Research supports improvements associated with the meditation-based interventions including significant reductions …

Assessing The Impact Of Digital Health Technologies On Maternal Health Care In Sub-Saharan Africa, Samerawit Tadele

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Maternal morbidity and mortality are prevalent issues worldwide that profoundly affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa. Estimates vary, but by the end of 2015, at least 300,000 women died in LMICs due to preventable pregnancy and childbirth conditions. Pregnant women die from complications that could be detected and managed if they were able to receive early access to necessary health interventions. Mobile technology is increasingly common across the globe, including LMICs, and incorporating digital health technologies, especially mobile phone (mHealth) programs, can offer a possible solution to morbidity and mortality related to pregnancy. A literature review analyzing the …

The Use Of Hydrotherapy For Chronic Pain, Emily S. Medal

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a critical analysis of research findings about hydrotherapy as a means of reducing chronic pain used independently of opioids. Chronic pain is often treated with analgesics of varying potency, some with serious adverse side effects if used over a long period of time. Exploring the effectiveness of therapies other than medication to treat chronic pain is important to decrease or eliminate the amount to pain medication taken for chronic pain. Hydrotherapy is one therapy that may improve the pain experience for those with chronic pain. A literature search was conducted using the …

Nursing Interventions For Intradialtyic Hypotension: Using Blood Volume Monitoring Guided Ultrafiltration, Suzette S. Cedeno

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Intradialytic hypotension is a potential complication experienced by patients with end-stage renal disease who receive hemodialysis. This complication occurs during the dialysis treatment in 15-30% of all treatments. The multiple comorbidities that exist in hemodialysis patients predispose them to recurrent intradialytic hypotension episodes. Recurrent intradialytic hypotensive episodes can result in negative short-term and long-term clinical consequences. Short-term consequences include complications such as ischemic events (e.g., heart attacks, strokes), clotting of patient dialysis access, or heart rhythm abnormalities. Long-term consequences include end-organ damage, increased cardiovascular morbidity, and a higher mortality rate. Problem Statement: Available nursing interventions used to treat intradialytic …

Fear Of Falling Assessment And Interventions In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Case Study, Amanda S. Cappleman

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Fear of falling has significant adverse physical and psychological effects for the community-dwelling older adult. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults and explore participant perceptions of fear of falling assessments and interventions. Methods: A mixed methods case study was utilized to gain an in-depth understanding of older adults' perceptions. It consisted of quantitative data collection by objective measures and qualitative data collection by four individual in-depth interviews. A sample of four community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older and living in Orlando, Florida, completed the study in their home …

Factors Contributing To The Negative And Unhealthy Psychological Conditions In The Ed Rn, Ariana M. Nieves

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The emergency department is a stressful environment. Emergency department registered nurses (ED RNs) are at an increased risk of development of negative and unhealthy psychological conditions due to their frequent exposure to stress and traumatic events. These conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder, compassion fatigue, and burnout syndrome, which are already known to be common in the emergency department registered nurse population. It is important to understand the factors that influence the development of these psychological conditions in order to provide better education to nurses regarding prevention of the development of these psychological conditions. This literature review aimed to identify articles …

Metabolic Effects Of 17a-Estradiol Are Growth Hormone Independent And Sex Specific, Silvana Sidhom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aging is a major risk factor for metabolic syndromes and type two diabetes. With growing elderly populations worldwide and increasing incidence of age-related diseases there is a great need to develop pharmacological interventions that would delay aging and protect from age-related diseases. 17-alpha estradiol (17α-E2) is an epimer of the primary female sex hormone estradiol and has been shown to extend lifespan and downregulate markers of age-related metabolic dysfunction in male mice. Because 17α-E2 does not induce feminization in males it holds potential as a novel therapeutic in humans for age-related metabolic dysfunction. Importantly, we have previously shown that 17α-E2 …