Digital Commons Network^™

Do You Copy? Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Auditory Processing, And Heart Rate Variability, Lyndsey Johnson

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self -report measures used in PTSD research have the potential to limit the degree of symptom severity in military veterans, especially as there is often underreporting in this population (Kline, Falca-Dodson, Susner et al., 2010). Polyvagal Theory provides a framework assessing if physiological measures can tap into PTSD Symptomology (Porges, 1995). It is therefore hypothesized that lower scores on auditory processing tests will be positively correlated with higher scores on Stress and PTSD measures. Additionally, it is thought that lower scores on auditory processing tedts as well as higher scores on PTSD and Stress Measures will be positively correlated with …

Inside The Zoo: Captive Giraffes’ Changes In Social Ties Throughout Membership Variations, Morgan Paige Howard

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many animals live in gregarious, fission-fusion societies where group size and composition are continually changing. Despite this, many studies have suggested that captive animals are capable of maintaining long term social bonds with others. In captive giraffes, effects on their social bonds during membership transitions have not been studied thoroughly, however, prior research does show that social bonds are a defining factor in non-captive animals. Captive giraffe social network patterns were investigated at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens using all occurrence behavioral data. Based on previous research, I hypothesized that when one of the individuals in the group was …

Plant Physiological Responses To Environmental Change In A Marsh-Mangrove Ecotone, Matthew Sturchio

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Globally, photosynthesis (A) and autotrophic respiration (R) are the two largest physiological processes responsible for CO₂ flux. Coastal wetland ecosystems are responsible for some of the highest rates of C sequestration. Marsh grass and mangrove habitats responsible for this service are important in supporting biodiversity and preventing shoreline erosion, yet little is known about how this vegetation will respond physiologically to effects of climate and global change. In the first chapter a warming experiment was used to determine whether a C₄ marsh grass (Spartina alterniflora) and a C₃ mangrove (Avicennia …

Characterization Of A Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna Lewini) Nursery Habitat In Portions Of The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Bryanna N. Wargat

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) worldwide population has been in sharp decline, and they are currently listed as a globally critically endangered species by the IUCN. This warrants a need to identify and protect critical habitats for the species, such as nurseries, which promote stable populations. A section of the Tolomato River, in northeastern Florida, has shown to host large and consistent numbers of young of year scalloped hammerhead sharks. This gave cause to determine whether this portion of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) serves as a nursery habitat for the species and to understand how the …

An Investigation Of The Role Of Basigin-Variant-1 In The Immune Response Within The Retina, Abigail D. Tompa

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The neural retina is considered an immune privileged area, in that the eye attempts to suppress the inflammatory response to preserve vision. If there is damage to the blood-retina barrier, such as in diabetes or macular degeneration, it is possible for monocytes to travel out of the blood vessels and into the retina. While studying retinoblastoma, a research group determined that the protein, Basigin, through its extracellular domain, elicits an immune response by enhancing transcription of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Basigin is cell adhesion molecule that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. The Basigin gene has two main transcripts, that …

Disentangling The Role Of Self-Esteem On Eating Disorders In African American Youth, Carly Alexandria Wagner

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self- esteem (SE) has been identified to have a significant impact on eating disorders (ED). Although previous studies have found a relationship between SE and EDs, further investigation in needed because SE and EDs affect gender, age, weight status, and ethnicity heterogeneously. In particular, there is limited research and inconsistent findings on the impact of SE on EDs in youth, males, and African Americans (AAs). This study had six aims: 1) Observe gender and age differences in SE, 2) Examine the impact of weight status on SE, 3) Observe gender and age effects on EDs, 4) Examine the impact of …

Minimizing Reaction Systems, Matthew R. Thomas

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The theoretical model for reaction systems is a relatively new framework originally proposed as a mathematical model for biochemical processes which take place in living cells. Growing interest in this research area has lead to the abstraction of the model for non-biological purpose as well. Reaction systems, with a well understood behavior, have become important for studying transition systems. As with any mathematical model, we want to simplify a given implementation of the model as much as possible while maintaining functional equivalence. This paper discusses the formal model for reaction systems, how we can simplify them with minimization techniques, some …

The Effects Of Fermented Vegetable Consumption On The Composition Of The Intestinal Microflora And Levels Of Inflammatory Markers In Women: A Pilot And Feasibility Study, Amy Galena

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: The gut microbiome plays a key role in metabolic disease development. Diet is a modifiable factor that significantly influences gut microbial composition, and fermented foods are a reliable source of probiotic microorganisms that can contribute to gut homeostasis. The primary objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of fermented vegetable consumption for six weeks on markers of inflammation and gut microflora profiles in women.

Methods: Thirty-one women consumed 100 g/day of fermented vegetables (group A), non-fermented vegetables (group B), or no vegetables (group C) for six weeks. Dietary intake was assessed twice during the intervention by a …

Parents' Attitudes And Beliefs Towards Dietary Behaviors Of Children With Autism Aged 5-13 Years, Subashree Narayanan

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability that may affect nutritional management of children with autism. Parent’s attitudes and their behavior towards healthy eating reflects on the child’s eating habits and thus, their nutritional health. This study aimed to describe the diet quality of children with autism using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores. It also aimed to assess the relationship between parent’s perceived barriers and self-efficacy and children’s dietary behavior and dietary intake (age 5-13 years). The relationship was assessed using 2 questionnaires, Nutrition and Health Awareness and BAMBI questionnaire for parent’s attitudes and beliefs and dietary behavior, respectively. Dietary intake …

An Examination Of The Impact Of The Covid-19 Health Threat, Stress, And Social Isolation On Lifestyle Habits As Analyzed Through The Protection Motivation Theory, Luciana Adib Soares

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 emerged in China in 2019 and quickly spread to other countries, leading to mandated lockdowns and social isolation. This cross-sectional study examined the impact of the COVID-19-generated stress, health threat, and social isolation on dietary, physical activity, and self-care habits of adults in Florida, utilizing the PMT as a framework. Participants (n = 478) completed online surveys about demographics, perceived stress, and changes in lifestyle habits. Significant positive changes were reported in cooking at home (p < .001) frequency, sweets (p < .001), and breakfast (p = .009) consumption, outdoors physical activity (p = .005), self-care (p < .001), relaxation (p < .001), and rest (p < .001) habits. Significant negative changes were reported in fast food (p = .004) and snack (p < .001) consumption. A significant relationship existed between self-reported stress, perceived threat, (r = .33, p < .001), and perceived efficacy, (r = -.15, p = .002). Perceived threat was the most important predictor of changes …

Residency And Sociality Analysis Of Skin Lesions In Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Of The St. Johns River, Fl, Brittney Divittore-Goodrum

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Photo analysis of skin lesions is a non-invasive method to measure the health of cetacean populations. The St. Johns River (SJR) in NE Florida is an estuarine system inhabited by bottlenose dolphins that is characterized by high levels of anthropogenic activity, which can impact dolphin health. Social transmission of disease may influence lesion formation in dolphins; thus this study aimed to determine if skin lesion prevalence and body coverage differed based on 1) the amount of time spent in the SJR annually and 2) sociality measures. The dataset was restricted to three 12-month periods, based on the occurrence of an …

Modeling Coastal Vulnerability Of The St. Johns River And Northeastern Florida Shorelines, Madison E. Heppe

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coastal and riverine communities, with anthropogenic congestion and natural and economic resources, are vulnerable to climate change impacts including rising sea levels and increasing severity and frequency of storms. Coastal habitats are being increasingly recognized as natural infrastructure that provides resiliency against these stressors. However, few studies have analyzed coastal vulnerability at landscape scale with finely resolved spatial data that account for habitats and demographics. The purpose of this study is to map the coastal vulnerability of the St. Johns River and adjacent Northeastern Florida Atlantic shoreline within the St. Johns River Water Management District. Unique to this study is …

A Review Of Huperzine A Effects On Concussive Brain Injuries, Denver Luebbers

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Doing Kink Vs. Being Kinky: A Systematic Scoping Review Of The Literature On Bdsm Behavior, Orientation, And Identity, Angel Renee Kalafatis-Russell

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This systematic scoping review examines the literature on BDSM/kink as it relates to three core dimensions of sexuality: behavior, orientation, and identity. The main sexuality framework used for defining these dimensions is Sexual Configurations Theory (van Anders, 2015). This search is guided by two research questions. 1) Are there empirical differences between individuals who simply consider BDSM to be something they do (i.e., behavior only) and individuals who consider BDSM to be part of who they are (i.e., kink-identified)? 2) Are there any existing, psychometrically validated, quantitative measures to assess BDSM as an identity component? I hypothesized that a model …

Reproductive Biology Of The Spinner Shark Carcharhinus Brevipinna, Off The Southeast U.S. Coast, Kristin K. Palmrose

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The spinner shark, Carcharhinus brevipinna, is a large coastal shark species that is common on the U.S. southeast coast and caught in both commercial and recreational fisheries. Little research has been conducted on the life history of C. brevipinna in the Northwestern Atlantic, presenting challenges for fishery management. This is especially true for reproductive biology, warranting a need to determine how rapidly individuals are reproducing and contributing to the population. This study aimed to characterize reproduction in C. brevipinna by determining size-at-maturity, reproductive seasonality, periodicity, and fecundity. This was accomplished by analyzing changes in reproductive tract morphology and histology, …

Quality And Quantity Of Social Support In College Students With Adhd Symptomatology, Chloe J. Reeble

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Social support is an important factor in both physical health and mental well-being. Both the quality and quantity of social support have been found to be a protective factor in some mental illnesses. Individuals with ADHD often have a hard time maintaining peer relationships because of the symptoms of the disorder. This may result in low social support quality and quantity, which may in turn affect social impairment, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. This study examines the relation between ADHD and social support in college students. Findings show that social impairment significantly predicts lower social support quality and …

How Hpa Stress Response Relates To Anxiety: Sex Differences And Estradiol, Carrie Shea

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Cortisol is a stress hormone secreted during activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a system within the body that shows increased activation in response to stress. Cortisol is often assumed to be related to anxiety. However, previous research on the relationship between cortisol and anxiety is mixed. The present research examined the moderating effects of sex differences and estrogen on the relationship between cortisol reactivity and anxiety. Participants (n = 54) completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and completed measures of anxiety. Consistent with previous research, it was hypothesized that men will exhibit increased cortisol reactivity compared to women. …

The Zones Of Regulation In Schools, Kyle Andrew-Kelly Wiebers

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Emotion regulation is a concept that has existed within the literature for decades, but the presence of emotion regulation programs in schools is a relatively new concept in research (Durlak et al., 2011). Research suggests that emotional regulation skills are related to improved peer relationships and academic success (Denham & Brown, 2010; Durlak et al., 2011). Students who exhibited well-adjusted, or adaptive, emotion regulation had better peer relationships and were more productive and accurate when completing academic tasks (Denham & Brown, 2010; Dvir et al., 2014; Kim & Cicchetti, 2010; Kim‐Spoon et al., 2013; Lereya et al., 2015). For this …

Public Perception Of Adults With Adhd In The United States: Stigma Vs. Strengths, Peyton S. Barton

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Stigma is a stereotyped judgement of a group of people (e.g. people with a mental illness; Goffman, 1963). Mentally ill individuals are often assumed to be dangerous, irresponsible, or incapable of taking care of themselves (Rüsch et al., 2005). The type of judgement and the level to which individuals are judged is influenced by the sociodemographic factors of the observer as well as the stigmatized individual (Martin et al., 2007). Additionally, in some cases people judge those with mental illness as having strengths; for example, believing people with bipolar disorder to be particularly creative (Galvez et al., 2011; Kiume, 2017). …

Earthworm Density Differences Among Tallgrass Prairies Over Time In The Ozark Highlands, Carlee Hensley, Kristofor R. Brye, Mary C. Savin, Edward E. Gbur, Lisa S. Wood

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

To mitigate the loss of tallgrass prairies through fragmentation and conversion to other land uses, prairie restoration efforts have been undertaken to reclaim areas that have been previously used for agricultural production. Earthworms are a key component of the soil ecology of natural, undisturbed ecosystems. However, limited research exists on earthworm populations in prairie restorations and how earthworm densities may change over time. The objectives of this study were (a) to evaluate earthworm densities in the upper 20 cm of soil over time (i.e., May 2007 and May 2019) in a native prairie and chronosequence of three prairie restorations (i.e., …

Electrochemically Precipitated Struvite Effects On Extractable Nutrients Compared With Other Fertilizer-Phosphorus Sources, Ryder Anderson, Kristofor R. Brye, Laszlo Kekedy-Nagy, Lauren Greenlee, Edward Gbur, Trenton Roberts

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recovery of struvite, or magnesium ammonium phosphate (MgNH₄PO₄ · 6H₂O), from wastewater streams may provide an alternative to traditional P fertilizers. Little research has assessed the behavior of struvite relative to other commercially available, fertilizer-P sources in historically row-cropped soils in the United States. The objective of this study was to evaluate total extractable P and other nutrients from electrochemically (ECST) and chemically precipitated struvite (CPST) compared with triple superphosphate (TSP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and rock phosphate (RP) in a moist-soil incubation without plants using varying soil textures (loam, silt loam, and …

Earthworm Differences Among Mound Positions In Native Prairies In The Ozark Highlands, Carlee D. Hensley, Kristofor R. Brye, Mary C. Savin, Lisa S. Wood, Edward E. Gbur

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mounded, tallgrass prairie ecosystems are a unique, endangered ecosystem due to severe disturbance for agricultural production and/or urban expansion. Limited research exists on earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) dynamics in mounded, tallgrass prairies, particularly in the Ozark Highlands region of northwestern Arkansas. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of soil moisture regime (SMR), landscape position (LP), and sample date on earthworm densities in the top 20 cm of soil in two mounded, native prairies in the Ozark Highlands region of northwestern Arkansas. Juvenile and total earthworm densities were five times greater (P < .05) in the udic- and aquic-inter-mound combinations than any other SMR-LP combination in October 2018 and May 2019, respectively. Adult earthworm densities were two times greater (P < .05) in the aquic-inter-mound at Searles Prairie than any other SMR-LP combination in either mounded prairie. Juvenile earthworm densities were three times greater (P < .05) in May 2019 than in May 2018 at Chesney Prairie, but adult and total earthworm density did not change over the same period of time. Combined across all data, juvenile and total earthworm densities were positively correlated (P …