Digital Commons Network^™

Genetic Structure Of Pseudoroegneria Spicata In The Northern Palouse Prairie And Channeled Scablands, Ethan Timothy Bean

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Establishing genetically diverse communities that can adapt to dynamic selective pressures is crucial in ecological restoration. However, the genetic structure of native plant species used for restoration is often poorly understood. Pseudoroegneria spicata, is a keystone species of the Inland Northwestern US that has become a staple in commercially available restoration seed mixes. It is abundant in remnant prairies of the endangered Palouse Prairie ecoregion, which is characterized by rolling hills of deep loess soil. Less than 1% of native Palouse Prairie is left, due to agricultural conversion, with remnants highly fragmented and isolated. P. spicata is also common in …

Password-Less Two-Factor Authentication Using Scannable Barcodes On A Mobile Device, Grant M. Callant Ii

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Currently, passwords are the default method used to authenticate users. As hardware continues to advance in speed, breaking these passwords becomes easier. The traditional solution to this problem is ever increasing password complexity and two-factor authentication. However, users become strained under overly complex login systems and often circumvent them. Two-factor authentication also adds to this complexity and many forms of two-factor authentication are inherently insecure. In answer to these problems, this project proposes a password-less multi-factor authentication system, which leverages the tried-and-proven existing technologies, asymmetric cryptography, digital signatures, and biometric authentication. Simulated user testing shows promising results, suggesting that registration …

Life History And Microbiome Analysis Of Freshwater Fingernail Clams (Sphaeriidae) Exposed To Trace Metal Pollution, Dechen D. Edwards

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Aquatic habitats impacted by anthropogenic activities such as mining can contain metal mixtures of nonessential and essential trace metals. The consequences of chronic exposure to metal mixtures on the life history of benthic organisms are unclear, as are the potential effects on host-associated microbial communities. I use an energy-budget based methodology to ask whether exposure to metal mixtures influences the life histories of freshwater fingernail clams (Sphaeriidae) and if fingernail clams are selecting a different microbial community if chronically exposed to metal mixtures than if in a site that is not impacted by metal pollution. Fingernail clams are small, cosmopolitan, …

Harmonious Disturbance: Pushing The Boundaries Of Communicology In The Classroom And Beyond, Olivia Dugenet

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

A Pilot Study Of Meditation As A Stress Reliever For Dental Hygiene Students During Times Of Heightened Stress, Sarah Henderson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: Dental hygiene students face an exorbitant amount of stress during their educational pursuits. This has only been compounded by the added stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students may benefit from the practice of meditation in managing their stress levels during these trying times. This study analyzes the effectiveness of meditation as a stress reliever for dental hygiene students as they navigate their education during the pandemic and the effects it may have on perception of stress, academic achievement, and physical health.

Methods: Students participated in a four-week meditation study, consisting of a 30-minute guided meditation completed once weekly. Prior …

Moving The Needle On Prairie Conservation: A Palouse Prairie Restoration/Reconstruction Needs Assessment And The Effect Of Intra-Annual Soil Moisture Changes On Balsamroot Seedling Establishment, Sarah Hill

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The Palouse prairie of Eastern Washington and Western Idaho is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the United States. After 140 years of intensive agriculture, less than 1% of prairie habitat remains, making Palouse prairie conservation and restoration a critical need. This study sought to: 1) conduct a thorough needs assessment for Palouse prairie restoration and reconstruction, identifying challenges and opportunities that when addressed, could increase Palouse prairie restoration successes, and 2) gain insight into the effects of intra-annual soil moisture fluctuations on the seedling establishment of Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), since establishment of slow growing perennial species like …

Investigating The Protective Effects Of Intestinal Gaba[Subscript A] Receptor Activation On An Animal Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Hannah M. Kohl

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, produced by neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) and by some species of intestinal bacteria. GABAA receptors are found not only in the CNS, but also in T cells and within the intestines. Past studies have indicated that GABA can have an anti-inflammatory effect and production of GABA by gut bacteria decreases in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We examined whether administration of a positive allosteric GABAA receptor modulator, farnesol, ameliorates the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of MS and whether those effects correlated with a decrease …

Assessing Interpersonal Communication In Dental Hygiene Students Providing Geriatric Care, Lasandra Wilson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: This study examined the implementation of an educational module regarding development of communication skills between dental hygiene students and the geriatric population. The educational module assessed students’ perceived abilities and confidence in communicating with the geriatric population. Subsequently, a standardized rubric determined if there is a difference between how faculty assess students, patients assess students, and students assess themselves.

Methods: Dental hygiene students from the University of South Dakota participated in the educational module and completed pre and post tests. Voice recordings from student-patient interactions in the clinic setting were evaluated by faculty, patients, and students using a rubric …

What If This Girl Has A Yellow Labrador?, Danielle Torpey

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Connections During Times Of Change: The Interplay Between Gratitude Communication, Well-Being And Resilience, Aubrey Carlene Moore

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This pilot study investigates the relationships between gratitude communication, well-being, and resilience in times of change. The 2019 coronavirus, COVID-19, brought on a global pandemic that continues to impact people’s lives daily. However, due to continuous changes, lockdowns, social distancing, mask mandates and more, people have found other ways to stay connected in lieu of face to face communication. This study aims to understand better how people are moving forward during these challenging, ever-changing times. Using an online survey and previously established measures including the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the 14-item Resilience Scale (RS-14), …

Effects Of Beaver Dam Analogs On Stream Ecosystem Function Of Crab Creek, Washington State, Nicholas D. Broderius

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This study documents the effects of beaver dam analogs (BDAs) on nutrient transport, fish community composition, macroinvertebrate drift, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities of Crab Creek, WA, USA. In 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) placed 25 BDAs in Crab Creek on a section of private land near Harrington, WA. Beaver dam analogs are structures placed in streams to mimic the ecosystem effects of beaver activity and are increasingly used as a stream restoration technique. The primary goals of placing these BDAs in the stream was to impound sediment and create a new …

Bryozoan Taxa Of The Toroweap Formation Of Clark County, Nevada, Amy Joy Hess

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Remnant Assessment And Soil Inoculation To Inform Large-Scale Prairie Restoration At Eastern Washington University, Erik E. Peterson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The Palouse Prairie of Eastern Washington and Western Idaho, characterized by rolling hills of deep loess soil, is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, with more than 99% converted to tilled farmland. To mitigate this loss, Eastern Washington University has begun prairie restoration on a tilled wheat field adjacent to campus, in the northern extent of the Palouse Prairie Ecoregion. However, effective restoration requires understanding reference conditions, and there are relatively few studies of remnant prairie plant communities or soils, particularly in the Northern Palouse. From north to south in the Palouse Prairie Ecoregion, there are gradients …

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, …

Prediction Of Emg Activation Profiles From Gait Kinematics And Kinetics During Multiple Terrains, Erika V. Zabre-Gonzalez, Diego Amieva-Alvarado, Scott A. Beardsley

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Continuous myoelectric prediction of intended limb dynamics has the ability to provide transparent control of a prosthesis by the user. However, the impact on these models of adding a human user into the control loop is less clear. Here, the ability of a User Response Model (URM) to continuously predict EMG activity from gait kinematics and kinetics collected during three mobility tasks (level-ground walking, stair ascent, and stair descent) was examined. Multiple-input, multiple-output NARX-based URMs were developed with two outputs (ankle plantarflexor and dorsiflexor) and variable inputs (ankle kinetics, and shank and/or ankle kinematics). Accuracy in predicting the tibialis anterior …