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C-Molecules: Molecular-Guided Surgery With Fluorescence Imaging, Riley Karp, Joshua Gutow, William Wolfe-Mcguire

ENGS 89/90 Reports

Surgeries may cost lives if performed inadequately, which is why tools such as fluorescence guided surgery exist to improve surgical outcomes. Fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) is the practice of injecting patients with a fluorescent molecule that, in combination with highly sensitive cameras, allows surgeons to clearly identify complex biological structures. While beneficial in procedures such as endoscopy and gallbladder surgery, this technique is most notable for its role in complex cancer surgeries where misidentifying the boundaries of a tumor can have deadly consequences. Although FGS has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment, highly sensitive imaging systems are necessary to identify …

Bs Management, International Business 2020-21, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Bachelor of Science and Education

No abstract provided.

Bs Management, Hospitality 2020-21, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Bachelor of Science and Education

No abstract provided.

Bse Elementary Education, 2020-21, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Bachelor of Science and Education

No abstract provided.

Bse Biology, 2020-21, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Bachelor of Science and Education

No abstract provided.

Bs Marketing, International Business 2020-21, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Bachelor of Science and Education

No abstract provided.

Bse English, 2020-21, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Bachelor of Science and Education

No abstract provided.

Trapped In The Binary Divide: How Forced Contraceptives Violate The World Anti-Doping Code, Alexandria Adkins

American University International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Global Legal Constraints: How The International System Fails Small-Scale Farmers And Agricultural Biodiversity, Harming Human And Planetary Health, And What To Do About It, Susan H. Bragdon

American University International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Awareness Of The Unaware: Anosognosia As A Comorbidity In Mental Health Conditions, Tiffany L. Baula

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The primary purpose of this integrative review of the literature is to describe healthcare provider’s recognition of anosognosia in individuals with comorbid mental health disorders, as a differentiating diagnosis needing preeminent early intervention. The secondary purpose is to examine how anosognosia influences outcomes in the population of individuals with severe mental illness. It is expected that early recognition by clinicians and implementation of additional interventions to address anosognosia as the most influential comorbidity of schizophrenia, will decrease exacerbations and improve treatment and patient outcomes.

A literature review exploring clinician’s acknowledgement of anosognosia was performed using various databases. Search terms included: …

In Situ Cultivation Of Potential Pah Degrading Bacteria From Coastal Sediment, Kyle Benkel

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Oil spills can introduce potentially carcinogenic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), into coastal environments. Bioremediation uses the natural microorganisms in the environment to remove these pollutants. Traditional studies of these organisms are limited in the types of bacteria isolated due to the limitations of traditional culturing methods. In this study, diffusion chambers were used to culture and isolate potential PAH degrading bacteria from the coastal sediment obtained from the Chandeleur Islands. The diffusion chambers trapped bacteria in agar that contained 1 ppm benzo[a]pyrene. The bacteria were isolated from the diffusion chambers, and the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced …

Recovery In Teachers: Barriers, Facilitators And The Relationship To Physical Stress Symptoms, Amber A. Blatchford

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Previous research has shown that teachers are at risk of experiencing significant work-related stress. Recovery is seen as a way to unwind from work stress caused by a myriad of stressors. This study examines the mechanisms of teacher recovery and their relationship to physical stress symptoms. Fifty high school teachers were recruited to participate from schools in South Florida. Physical stress symptoms were measured using a self-report survey called the Physical Symptoms Inventory (PSI) , which took place directly after the open-ended question portion of the survey. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess any connection between the …

The Effects Of Vaping On Oral Streptococci And Oral Inflammation, Matthew Caldwell

Honors Undergraduate Theses

E-cigarette (e-cig) use is rising, but much is unknown about the effects of its vapor. This vapor contains chemicals such as propylene glycol, a known antimicrobial, and nicotine, whose derivatives are carcinogenic. Here, we study the effects of vaping on resident bacteria of the oral cavity and on oral cell inflammation. Oral streptococci are major residents in the oral cavity, with S. mutans the primary cause of dental caries. Growth and biofilm formation have been shown to be enhanced upon exposure to traditional cigarette smoke in vitro. In this study, we analyzed the effects of e-cig vapor on growth …

Algebraic And Combinatorial Approaches For Counting Cycles Arising In Population Biology, Brian Chau

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Within population biology, models are often analyzed for the net reproduction number or other generalized target reproduction numbers, which describe the growth or decline of the population based on specific mechanisms. This is useful in determining the strength and efficiency of control measures for inhibiting or enhancing population growth. The literature contains many algebraic and combinatorial approaches for deriving the net reproduction number and generalized target reproduction numbers from digraphs and associated matrices. Finding, categorizing, and counting the permutations of disjoint cycles, or cycles unions is a requirement of the Cycle Union approach by Lewis et al. (2019). These cycles …

Experiences Of Limited English Proficiency (Lep) Patients In Healthcare, Javier Cintron

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As the US becomes increasingly more diverse, the presence of non-English speaking individuals also increases. With healthcare being a vital aspect of most individuals’ lives, it is drastically affected by any gap in communication, especially when a language barrier is present. For this investigation, I conducted a research study to examine the experiences of limited English proficiency (LEP) patients in healthcare using anthropological methods. The aim was to understand how having LEP affects patients. The primary form of data collection for this project consisted of Semi-structured interviews with a sample of individuals with LEP. In addition to interviews, I analyzed …

The Lasting Legacy Of Chemical Weapons In Iraqi Kurdistan, Jenna L. Dovydaitis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In 1988, the Iraqi regime executed the Anfal Genocide against its Kurdish population, killing a conservative estimate of approximately 50,000 to 100,000 Kurds (Human Rights Watch, 1993). This genocide involved the widespread usage of chemical weapons and marked a highly traumatic moment in modern Kurdish history. As of today, little academic research has been completed on the long-term medical and political consequences of exposure to chemical weapons in the Kurdistan region.

This exploratory research aims to contribute to the body of literature on this topic through interviews with medical professionals, Kurdish politicians, and non-governmental organization employees that have expertise on …

Detection Of A Peptide Hormone - Somatostatin - Label-Free Split-Aptameric Probes, Charles A. Dowis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Peptide hormones are important biomolecules that transduce downstream effects such as cell proliferation, regulation, and gene expression. Their levels have been upregulated in various disorders such as cancer, yet detection methods are lacking. We designed two split aptamer-based assays for the detection of a peptide hormone – Somatostatin (SST) – with different signal readouts: fluorescent readout based on light-up aptamers and the colorimetric readout of ABTS peroxidation from a G-quadruplex. We used an already selected split-aptamer –SSTA5–for SST for our designs and we had expected the developed detection systems to exhibit detection and quantification capabilities that would hopefully allow their …

The Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Mental Health And Neurological Disorders, Gabriella Victoria Fernandez De Salvo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Sleep deprivation is defined as an individual sleeping less than 6 hours per night. It is a common behavior amongst individuals who live in industrialized nations.Along with industrialization, its prevalence is also expected to rise with age. Despite this, there has been a shift in recent years with sleep deprivation increasing in the youth, likely related to the increased use of technology during the nighttime. Sleep deprivation and chronic sleep disruption are behaviors commonly observed amongst patients suffering from neurological and psychiatric disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and anxiety. Many of these patients suffer from sleep disorders like …

Restortive Effects Of Meditation Apps, Kyle Hart

Honors Undergraduate Theses

We have investigated two different smartphone meditation apps to determine if they have any effects on stress and check if they are a viable tool that users can engage with to cope with stress during a work break. The dependent variables being measured include affective and cognitive restoration. The control group performed a coloring activity using a mandala figure. The experimental conditions engaged in app guided meditation through either 10% Happier or Calm. Both are health apps that are intended to help users practice a variety of mindfulness meditation exercises and help build healthy habits. This research focused on a …

The Effect Of A Senolytic Drug On Messenger Rna And Micro Rna Expression In Perigonadal Adipose Tissue Of Young And Old Mice, Catalina Hernandez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As we face an expanding elderly population and increased age-related chronic diseases, we must seek solutions that address interconnected problems. Dasatinib plus quercetin (D+Q), a novel combination drug, is a proposed solution to improve the health and longevity of aged individuals with minimal side effects, exceptional efficacy, and maximum convenience. In this experiment, intermittent D+Q treatment was completed on young and old mice. RNA was extracted from perigonadal adipose tissue and cDNA libraries of mRNA and miRNA were made. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess relative gene expression for mRNA and miRNA pertaining to cell senescence, inflammation, …

Comparing Domestic Human Trafficking Policy Of States Party To The Palermo Protocol, Siera N. M. Himmerich

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Human Trafficking involves the various forms of coercion and force against millions of individuals all over the world into situations of unpaid labor, sexual exploitation, and organ sales. Attention to the phenomenon is relatively new and there is complexity both in how to address it and study it. When looking at human trafficking, issues of development, poverty, immigration, gender, international cooperation, social stigma, among others, are considered.

The purpose of this research paper is to compare and analyze local law interpretations of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations …

Development Of A Computer Algorithm For Generation Of Primers For Nucleic Acid Sequence Based Amplification (Nasba), Rohit Karnati

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA) is a primer based isothermal method of RNA/DNA amplification. Currently, primer design for NASBA has been restricted to hand creating sequences of oligonucleotides that must follow a set of rules to be compatible for the amplification process. This process of hand-creating primers is prone to error and time intensive. The detection of mutants, post amplification, also offers a benefit in point of care scenarios and the design of hybridization probes for sequences in the region of amplification is also an erroneous and time intensive process. By creating a program to design primers and hybridization …

Coping Mechanisms In Graduate School Discipline Specific Comparison, Sandra P. Montenegro

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Psychological research has studied the effects of college academic demands on students' wellbeing through the moderating role of coping mechanisms. This study provides further insight by focusing on coping mechanisms among graduate students from different fields, including humanities, STEM, and social sciences. Participants were recruited at the University of Central Florida (n=97). They answered an online survey assessing the prevalence of academic stressors, the use of different coping mechanisms, and strain outcomes, including somatic symptoms, insomnia, and burnout. STEM students reported higher organizational constraints and higher interpersonal conflict compare to students in other fields. Arts and humanities students reported higher …

Assessing 3d Printability Of Bioinks, Nicole Ramirez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The field of tissue engineering (TE) is continuously improving through the use of additive manufacturing techniques (AM) such as three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting. The 3D bioprinter has significantly gained attention in the TE field because it is more efficient than regenerative medicine and is readily available as opposed to organ transplants. Working like a conventional 3D printer, the 3D bioprinter is able to dispense material layer by layer from the bottom up with the printing head able to move in the X, Y, and Z direction. This movement allows for the fabrication of structures with complex geometries. In this study, the …

Genetic Structure Of Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) Foraging Aggregations On The East Coast Of Florida, Monica R. Reusche

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The genetic structure of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) foraging on the east coast of central Florida is not well understood, nor has it been examined over time. In the last three decades, the dramatic increase in the number of green sea turtle nests in Florida, in association with other population parameters, has led to this species being down-listed under the Endangered Species Act from “endangered” to “threatened” in the northwest Atlantic. However, it was unclear if the exponential growth in Florida nest numbers had any influence on the genetic structure of juveniles in nearby foraging aggregations. To …

Investigating The Effects Of Uv Filters In Sunscreen On Human And Environmental Health, Brittany M. Thompson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Ultraviolet filters are active ingredients in sunscreen that protect us from harmful UV radiation. However, organic UV filters are thought to have adverse effects on the environment and humans. In recent years, fear of harmful impacts of sunscreen has caused a surge of coral reef safe sunscreens to hit the market. These sunscreens, which contain inorganic metal oxides as UV filters, have been accepted as safe for humans and the environment until recently. Metal oxides in reef safe sunscreens may form intermediates in the water that can harm marine life and can absorb through the skin and into the blood, …

Characterization Of The Physical And Chemical Effect Of Membrane Disruption And Protein Inhibiting Treatments On E. Coli, Khadijah Wright

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The increase in antibacterial resistance has placed the issue of microbial multi-drug resistance on a global stage (Gurunathan, 2019). This issue poses a threat to human and animal health as well as to the environment (Aslam et al., 2018). It affects not only the efficacy of treatment but also how those treatments are conducted (Friedman, Temkin, & Carmeli, 2016). As a result of this ongoing threat, new treatments that have potent effects on bacteria are necessary. One scientific response to this issue has been the development of multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs)(H. Wang et al., 2018). NPs have the ability to be …

Learning Outcomes With Gamification: An Integrative Review Of Gamification In Training For Occupational Health Psychology, Dishanki Savla

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Gamification has received a lot of recognition over the past few years. The current generation has grown up playing video games and online gaming is increasing daily. Thus, I/O psychologists and other scholars have focused their attention on gamification in order to build intrinsic motivation in employees. Gamification can be explained as a method of applying gaming techniques in non-gaming concepts in order to increase productivity, knowledge, motivation, etc. Due to the increase in technology a different approach to encourage learning is crucial. The current generation of workers have been brought up using games and thus, using gamification at work …

Exploring The Effects Service Dogs Have On Veterans With Ptsd, Shelby E. Reeves

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness resulting from exposure to a traumatic event. Symptoms of PTSD vary, but those affected commonly experience nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and trouble sleeping; they may also avoid people or situations that trigger traumatic memories. It is estimated that PTSD affects about 10-30% of all United States veterans. Additionally, traditional treatment methods have an average dropout rate of 25% among military personnel. Inadequate PTSD symptom management may lead to depression, anxiety, suicidality, isolation, unstable relationships, and substance misuse. The purpose of this review is to examine the current research concerning the use of service …

Over Sexualization Of Women In The Media And Its Effect On Self-Objectification, Alaysia M. Herndon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The current study examined the relationship between the sexualization of women in the media and its effects on women's self-objectification and sexual priming with sociodemographic variables as a mediator. It was hypothesized that (1) exposure to increased sexual content in music videos would positively correlate with increased sexual priming among viewers and (2) increased sexual priming among females would be associated with increased self-objectification and increased objectification of other women. Additionally, the current study aimed to examine sociodemographic factors and if they correlate to the impact of sexual priming on self-objectification and the objectification of other women. The results of …