Digital Commons Network^™

The Phenomenology Of Place: Rediscovering The Sacred, Renee C. Jones

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The rising prevalence of loneliness and depression, particularly among young adults, has prompted research into the social and environmental factors that influence mental well-being. This thesis examines the relationships between loneliness, symptoms of depression, and dimensions of place attachment—specifically, place identity, place dependence, social bonding, and nature bonding—among UCF students, with subgroup analyses by gender and ethnicity. Additionally, it seeks to incorporate Native American perspectives to explore culturally specific connections to place and community. Due to recruitment challenges, the final sample primarily consists of 201 University of Central Florida students with limited Native American representation.

Quantitative analysis revealed strong positive …

The Role Of Multiteam Systems In Prescribed Fire Operational Incidents, Kevin Llanos

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to study how multiteam systems (MTS) are implicated in prescribed fire operations and enhance an interdisciplinary understanding of occupational demands in the industry to mitigate worsening environmental challenges. We study publicly accessible sources through a mixed-methods approach applying I/O psychology and discuss relevant literature. Land management plan documentation is reviewed to explore the structural and functional components of prescribed fire teams. We apply theory-driven coding to analyze prescribed fire incident documentation as we study MTS system processes and develop thematic findings. Lastly, industry job listing content and occupational demands are reviewed. Through this archival …

Assessing The Prevalence Of Behavioral Work-Related Exposures Among Nail Technicians, Kayla R. Mecoli

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Nail technicians can be exposed to more chemicals and allergens than the general population due to the unique exposures they experience in their day-to-day operations. This study focused on behaviors nail technicians participated in that may have increased their risk of infection, pain, allergy, or ailment. A cross-sectional study was organized, assessing the prevalence of behavioral exposures among nail technicians and their correlation with other factors like prior education, workplace type, and symptoms experienced. The goal was to create a better understanding of how the modern-day nail technician is protecting themselves while working, by identifying gaps to facilitate the creation …

Health Equity Policy In Colombia: Improving Equal Access To Health Care Services For Individuals With Low-Income, Marian Marin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In 1993, the last health reform “Law 100” was introduced in Colombia. It has been over 30 years since its implementation, and there have been many changes to the healthcare system in Colombia ever since. The policy increased health insurance coverage to almost 95% of the population, providing better and more affordable patient care. However, increasing the availability of resources does not necessarily make them accessible to all of Colombia’s residents. This study aims to analyze the outcomes of “Law 100” to the system and studies critical obstacles that halt healthcare equity in Colombia, particularly for those in rural and …

Co-Occurrence Of Autism Spectrum Disorder And Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder With Idiopathic Hypersomnia: Data From The Hypersomnia Foundation Registry, Sophie Sevan Mikkelsen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In recent years, hypersomnia patients and researchers alike have increasingly discussed the possibility of heightened comorbidities, or co-occurrences, of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with the central disorders of hypersomnolence: idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) and narcolepsy (N). While a few scarce studies have investigated a link between ADHD and N, there has been no research on the co-occurrence of these conditions with IH. This study, using data from the Hypersomnia Foundation’s CoRDS Patient Registry, is the first to identify self-reported rates of ASD and ADHD diagnoses by people with idiopathic hypersomnia. Four chi-square tests were conducted to determine …

The Quest For Racial Equality After The Revolution: How Black Intellectuals Envision The Struggle For Equality After Jim Crow And Apartheid, Shelby Morgan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This paper examines the ideas presented by Black public intellectuals from South Africa and the United States regarding their solutions on how to achieve real racial equality after the achievement of equality under the law. It will provide a historical comparative analysis of the two countries by examining the works of George Fredrickson, as well as some contextual background on the existence of racial disparities in the modern day. It will then present various publications by American intellectuals Ibram X. Kendi, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Cornel West, and South African authors Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, Songezo Zibi, and Tembeka Ngcukaitobi that discuss their …

Assessment Of Forensic And Clinical Criteria Of Orbital Blowout Fractures For Use In Bioarchaeological Analysis, Dylan E. Ornot

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Orbital blowout fractures are a particular facial fracture occurring within the inner eye orbits of the face caused by blunt force trauma to the eyeball or the lower orbital rim. This fracture is common in modern clinical contexts due to physical assaults, but examining this fracture in skeletal material can also provide insights into the patterns of interpersonal violence within the fields of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Issues with analyzing this fracture in skeletal material arise due to the clinical assessment practices of blowout fractures, where medical practitioners are highly focused on the soft tissue presentations of the fracture in …

Reinforcement Learning From Human Feedback For Ethically Robust Ai Decision-Making, Marco M. Plasencia

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The emergence of reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) has made great strides toward giving AI decision-making the ability to learn from external human advice. In general, this machine learning technique is concerned with producing agents that learn to work toward optimizing and achieving some goal, advanced by interactions with the environment and feedback given in terms of a quantifiable reward. In the scope of this project, we seek to merge the intricate realms of AI robustness, ethical decision-making, and RLHF. With no way to truly quantify human values, human feedback is an essential bridge in the learning process, allowing …

Guarding The Grid: Exploring Iot And Iiot Security Vulnerabilities In Smart Power Systems, Nicole G. Parker

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The Internet of Things (IoT) encompasses the collective network of electrical devices and the technology that enables them to send and receive data. The use of IoT technologies in industrial settings, such as transportation, manufacturing, and energy is referred to as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). With the expansion of IoT in homes and IIoT in the energy sector has come an increase in the number of devices connected with each other. Engineers have utilized this network to develop sophisticated smart systems that combine sensing, processing, actuation, and control to produce smart environments. Along with the benefits of IoT …

Dysbiosis In Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis Of Gut Microbiota And Its Role In Gastrointestinal Dysfunction And Disease Progression, Ayan M. Siddiqui Mr.

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and nonmotor symptoms, including gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. Symptoms such as constipation, bloating, and nausea often show early signs before the onset of motor symptoms. Recent research has suggested an essential role of the human gut microbiome and gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut microbiota composition, in the pathogenesis of PD. This thesis aims to assess the potential relationship between gut dysbiosis and PD by conducting a meta-analysis, focusing on differences in gut microbiota between PD patients and healthy controls and evaluating their implications for GI dysfunction and PD progression. The …

Sex Education Experiences Of Lgbtq+ College Students In Florida, Uma Sriram

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Existing research has identified negative impacts of state-level policies on sexual and gender minorities, yet minimal research has assessed the impact of recent anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Florida. This study explored the sex education experiences of LGBTQ+ college students who attended public middle and high schools in Florida and their attitudes towards the “Don’t Say Gay” Law, which was passed in 2022 and has since prevented the inclusion of diverse sexual and gender identities within K-12 school environments. Data consisted of 11 in-depth, qualitative interviews with undergraduate LGBTQ+ students attending Florida public universities. Thematic analysis of the interview data was conducted, …

Dance Movement Therapy For Pediatric Oncology Patients And Its Effect On Cancer Therapy-Related Symptoms, Victoria M. Trautwein

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Pediatric cancer patients are susceptible to emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms impacting their quality of life. Dance movement therapy is a non-pharmacological method that has been shown to improve feelings of depression, anxiety, emotional, somatic symptoms, and overall quality of life. While much of cancer research is dedicated to finding cures, it is also important to focus on identifying methods for improving the symptoms and quality of life for pediatric cancer patients.

Aim: The purpose of the literature review is to examine studies that show the effects of dance movement therapy on pediatric oncology patients’ cancer-treatment related …

Examination Of The Morphological Changes And Genotoxic Effects Of Sodium Benzoate On Neuro-2a Cells In Vitro, Emily S. Larson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Sodium benzoate is a food preservative present in sodas, fruit juices, and other acidic foods and beverages [1]. Its acceptable daily intake is 0-20 mg/kg body weight [2], and it is generally recognized as safe [1, 3]. However, sodium benzoate has been linked to hyperactivity in children [4, 5] and adults [6] and to deficits and behavioral changes in rodents [7-10], indicating potential negative impacts on the nervous system. Sodium benzoate has also induced genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes [11, 12] and Chinese hamster fibroblast cells [13] in vitro and in rat liver tissue in vivo [14]. The effect of …

Investigating Influences On Muslim-American Identity Development, Ruqayyah Adam

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand how the childhood experiences, perceived discrimination, and Islamophobia experienced by Muslim-American college students have played a part in their identity development and overall well-being. Participants completed the RYFF Psychological Well-being Scales, Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, Centrality of Religiosity Scale, GAD7, Identity Distress Survey, Multi-Ethnic Identity Scale, as well as a narrative questionnaire that asked about their childhood experiences. After carefully analyzing the results of my study, results indicated that while Muslim-Americans faced extra difficulties due to discrimination, Islamophobia, and the integration of multiple cultural identities, they still experienced higher well-being and self-esteem despite …

Detection Of Micrornas In Blood Samples Using Biosensors For The Detection Of Early-Stage Lung Cancer, Nicholas Bruno

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Lung cancer kills more people in the U.S. a year than any other cancer. This is largely because patients often remain asymptomatic until stage 3, by which time the tumor is usually highly malignant. High radiation-producing screenings are the current method of lung tumor detection. These typically involve machinery for tumor visualization, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, positron emission tomography (PET scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and X-rays. Not only does radiation exposure from this equipment pose a risk to the patient, but any tumors detected by these scanning techniques are likely to be locally advanced. This suggests that …

The Comparative Efficacy Of Ketamine And Esketamine In Treating Anhedonia And Suicidal Ideation: A Meta-Analysis, Yanyi Wu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This meta-analysis examines the efficacy and effectiveness of racemic ketamine (RS-ketamine) and esketamine in reducing depressive symptoms such as suicidal ideation and anhedonia in patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder. This review comprehensively looks at six studies: three clinical studies focusing on suicidal ideation and three looking at anhedonia. Across the studies, RS-ketamine and esketamine were associated with a higher resolution of suicidal ideation, risk, and anhedonia. Significant improvements were noted in the suicidal desire and ideation subscale of the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation. The pooled effect size for suicidal ideation (d = 0.533) and pooled …

Unraveling The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Staphylococcus Aureus Carriage: A Comparative Research Of Pre- And Post-Pandemic Samples, Catherine G. Johnston

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes in the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus carriage and disease. This study aims to assess these changes by leveraging respiratory samples collected from a longstanding cohort, comparing the genomic characteristics of S. aureus isolates from pre- and post-pandemic periods. We analyzed S. aureus genomes and phenotypically determined macrolide resistance to characterize population structure, antibiotic resistance, and virulence profiles. Changes in S. aureus carriage rates, macrolide resistance, disease occurrence, and population structure between samples collected pre- and post-pandemic were examined. By using respiratory samples, chart reviews, and risk factor questionnaires of 498 children from a …

Does Attention Control Mediate The Negative Effects Online Usage Exerts On College Students' Gpa, Carolina Rodriguez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Online media, especially social media, is a continuously growing area of research which has raised questions about its impacts on academic outcomes. Many previous studies have established a negative relation between social media use and academic performance; however, the mechanism behind this finding is still unknown. The present study investigated whether level of attention control mediates the relation between an individual’s propensity for online usage and grade point average (GPA). Undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida (N=226) were recruited for this study, and their levels of online vigilance and attention control were measured. College GPA was self-reported by …

2024-2025 Newsletter, Morehead State University. Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Publications Archive

2024-2025 Newsletter of the Department of Nursing at Morehead State University.

Risk Factors Affecting Intrahospital Transport Of Critically Ill Patients At Oncology Center, Marwa Fathallah Abdo, Manal Elsayed Ismail, Nahla Shaban Khalil

Nursing

Background: Ensuring patient safety during Intrahospital transportation (IHT) is a worldwide critical concern in healthcare settings. Critically ill patients are particularly vulnerable to complications during IHT. Aim: This study aimed to identify the risk factors affecting the Intrahospital transport of critically ill patients at oncology center. Methods: A descriptive, observational design was utilized to collect data from two intensive care units (ICUs) at Mansoura oncology center in Egypt. The study included sixty adult patients undergoing IHT from the ICU to other departments. Two tools were used to gather information. Tool I: patient’s demographic and medical relevant data, tool II: patients' …

Relationship Between Internet Social Media Addiction And Communication Patterns Among Adolescents, Mona Hassan Abdelaal

Nursing

Abstract: Background: Internet social media and availability of mobile devices have an impact on the way people communicate. Adolescents have a wide range of positive and negative impacts come from the use of social media. Aim: Assess the relationship between internet social media addiction and communication patterns among adolescents. Design: A descriptive correlational design was utilized. Setting: The study was carried out at Technical Nursing Institutes in Benha city which consists of 2 Institutes and contain total (320) students from Benha Technical Nursing Institute for girls with total (170) students and from Benha Technical Nursing Institute of Health Insurance for …

Effect Of An Intervention Bundle On Thirst Intensity Among Intensive Care Unit Patients, Marwa Abdo, Manal Sayed Ismail, Nayera Mohamed Tantaewy

Nursing

Background: Dry mouth and thirst are commonly associated with a strong desire to drink fluid. Despite this, thirst is often overlooked in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) experience various causes of distress. Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of an intervention bundle on thirst intensity among ICU patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was used with a purposive sample of 100 ICU patients were selected and randomly divided into two groups: the thirst bundle group comprised of 50 ICU patients who received thirst bundle intervention with lip moisturizer, peppermint water mouthwash, …

Effect Of Incentive Spirometry On Respiratory Parameters Among Critically Ill Patients With Chest Tube Drainage, Marwa Abdo, Nayera Mohamed Tantaewy, Asmaa Ibrahim Aboseda

Nursing

Background: Chest tube drainage is a common procedure following cardiac or thoracic surgery, which can lead to respiratory disorders. Incentive spirometry (IS) is used to enhance respiratory outcomes by promoting deep breathing and lung expansion. Aim: evaluate the effect of incentive spirometry on respiratory parameters among critically ill patients with chest tube drainage. Research Design: A quasi-experimental design was used in this study. Setting: Cardiothoracic intensive care unit at the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Center of Mansoura University. Subjects: A convenience sample of 120 patients who underwent chest tube drainage was randomly assigned to either the IS group (n = …

Synthesizing And Using Iron Oxide Nanoparticles As Nanocomposite In Cotton Fabrics Nanofinishing, Hoda Sharouf, Ziad Saffour

Baghdad Science Journal

Metal oxide nanoparticles, including iron oxide, are highly considered as one of the most important species of nanomaterials in a varied range of applications due to their optical, magnetic, and electrical properties. Iron oxides are common compounds, extensive in nature, and easily synthesized in the laboratory. In this paper, iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation of (Fe+2) and (Fe+3) ions, using iron (II and III) sulfate as precursor material and NH4OH solution as solvent at 90°C. After the synthesis of iron oxide particles, it was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These …

Preparation And Characterization Of Silver Nanoparticles And Its Medical Application Against Pathogenic Bacteria, Azhin Zainel Abbas, Rosure Borhanalden Abdulrahman, Thikra A. Mustafa

Baghdad Science Journal

The fabrication of Solid and Hollow silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) has been achieved and their characterization was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential, UV–VIS spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A TEM image revealed a quasispherical form for both Solid and Hollow Ag NPs. The measurement of surface charge revealed that although Hollow Ag NPs have a zeta potential of -43 mV, Solid Ag NPs have a zeta potential of -33 mV. According to UV-VIS spectroscopy measurement Solid and Hollow Ag NPs both showed absorption peaks at wavelengths of 436 nm and 412 nm, respectively. XRD pattern demonstrates that …

A Theoretical Investigation Of Chemical Bonding Of A Heterometallic Trinuclear Cluster Containing Iridium And Ruthenium: [(Cp*Ir) (Cpru)2 (Μ3-H) (Μ-H)3] By Qtaim Approach, Ahlam Hussein Hassan, Muhsen Abood Muhsen Al-Ibadi

Baghdad Science Journal

Numerous integral and local electron density’s topological parameters of significant metal-metal and metal-ligand bonding interactions in a trinuclear tetrahydrido cluster [(Cp* Ir) (Cp Ru)2 (μ3-H) (μ-H)3]1 (Cp = η5 -C5Me5), (Cp* = η5 -C5Me4Et) were calculated and interpreted by using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM). The properties of bond critical points such as the delocalization indices δ (A, B), the electron density ρ(r), the local kinetic energy density G(r), the Laplacian of the electron density ∇2ρ(r), the local energy density H(r), the local potential energy density V(r) and ellipticity ε(r) are compared with data from earlier organometallic …

Estimating The Parameters Of Exponential-Rayleigh Distribution Under Type-I Censored Data, Rihaam N Shatti, Iden H. Al-Kinani

Baghdad Science Journal

This paper discusses estimating the two scale parameters of Exponential-Rayleigh distribution for singly type one censored data which is one of the most important Rights censored data, using the maximum likelihood estimation method (MLEM) which is one of the most popular and widely used classic methods, based on an iterative procedure such as the Newton-Raphson to find estimated values for these two scale parameters by using real data for COVID-19 was taken from the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environment, AL-Karkh General Hospital. The duration of the study was in the interval 4/5/2020 until 31/8/2020 equivalent to 120 days, where …

On Semigroup Ideals And Right N-Derivation In 3-Prime Near-Rings, Enaam Farhan

Baghdad Science Journal

The current paper studied the concept of right n-derivation satisfying certified conditions on semigroup ideals of near-rings and some related properties. Interesting results have been reached, the most prominent of which are the following: Let M be a 3-prime left near-ring and A_1,A_2,…,A_n are nonzero semigroup ideals of M, if d is a right n-derivation of M satisfies on of the following conditions,d(u_1,u_2,…,(u_j,v_j ),…,u_n )=0 ∀ 〖 u〗_1 〖ϵA〗_1 ,u_2 〖ϵA〗_2,…,u_j,v_j ϵ A_j,…,〖u_n ϵA〗_u;d((u_1,v_1 ),(u_2,v_2 ),…,(u_j,v_j ),…,(u_n,v_n ))=0 ∀u_1,v_1 〖ϵA〗_1,u_2,v_2 〖ϵA〗_2,…,u_j,v_j ϵ A_j,…,〖u_n,v_n ϵA〗_u ;d((u_1,v_1 ),(u_2,v_2 ),…,(u_j,v_j ),…,(u_n,v_n ))=(u_j,v_j ) ∀ u_1,v_1 〖ϵA〗_1 ,u_2,v_2 〖ϵA〗_2,…,u_j,v_j ϵ A_j,…,〖u_n,v_n ϵA〗_u;If d+d is …

Secure Smart Contract Based On Blockchain To Prevent The Non-Repudiation Phenomenon, Noor Sabah Mohammed, Omar A. Dawood, Ali M. Sagheer, Ahmed Adil Nafea

Baghdad Science Journal

Blockchain is an innovative technology that has gained interest in all sectors in the era of digital transformation where it manages transactions and saves them in a database. With the increasing financial transactions and the rapidly developed society with growing businesses many people looking for the dream of a better financially independent life, stray from large corporations and organizations to form startups and small businesses. Recently, the increasing demand for employees or institutes to prepare and manage contracts, papers, and the verifications process, in addition to human mistakes led to the emergence of a smart contract. The smart contract has …

Bi-Distance Approach To Determine The Topological Invariants Of Silicon Carbide, Abid Mahboob, Muhammad Waheed Rasheed, Jalal Hatem Hussein Bayati, Iqra Hanif, Sajid Mahboob Alam

Baghdad Science Journal

The use of silicon carbide is increasing significantly in the fields of research and technology. Topological indices enable data gathering on algebraic graphs and provide a mathematical framework for analyzing the chemical structural characteristics. In this paper, well-known degree-based topological indices are used to analyze the chemical structures of silicon carbides. To evaluate the features of various chemical or non-chemical networks, a variety of topological indices are defined. In this paper, a new concept related to the degree of the graph called "bi-distance" is introduced, which is used to calculate all the additive as well as multiplicative degree-based indices for …