Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Influence Of A Structured Strength Program On Sport-Related Outcomes In Female Lacrosse Players, Taylor R. Howard

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Per the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), approximately 30,000 individuals participate in collegiate lacrosse in the United States, roughly 13,000 being women. Participation beyond the NCAA has increased substantially in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA), the Women’s Club Lacrosse Association (WCLA), and high school programs nationwide.  As women’s lacrosse continues to grow, strength and conditioning programs at the collegiate level have become pervasive to enhance athletic performance. However, limited research exists examining the impact of strength training on physical performance in women’s lacrosse.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the …

Fgf19 As A Colorectal Cancer Serum Biomarker And Fgfr4 As A Mediator Of Anti-Her2 Resistance In Breast Cancer, Jordan Beardsley

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19)-fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) signaling pathway regulates hepatic metabolism, bile acid (BA) synthesis, and hepatocyte proliferation. This signaling axis also is implicated in promoting tumor progression, therapeutic resistance, and metastasis in certain cancers.

In colorectal cancer (CRC) there is a critical need for non-invasive biomarkers for disease detection and monitoring. We identified FGF19 as a candidate CRC serum marker through meta-transcriptomics and found FGF19 to be expressed and secreted by CRC cell lines. Tumor-derived FGF19 was detectable in mouse serum at levels correlating with tumor volume in a subcutaneous xenograft model. RNA sequencing …

Pioglitazone Uncouples Macrophage Inflammatory Signaling From Epithelial Oxidative Stress During Map Infection Mimicking Crohn’S Disease Treatment, Sabera Akter Bushra

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by intestinal inflammation, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and abnormal immune signaling. CD pathophysiology is increasingly linked to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection, which increases chronic macrophage activation and the production of inflammatory mediators that lead to epithelial damage. Among these mediators, CXCL10, TNF-α, and IL-6 contribute in inflammation, while NOX-1 and SERPINE-1 indicate epithelial oxidative stress and damage. Despite the role of macrophage-epithelial interaction in CD, selective pharmaceutical regulation of this axis remains unclear. Pioglitazone, an FDA-approved PPARγ agonist used for type 2 diabetes, is an appealing repurposing candidate, given …

Teledentistry: A Path To Minimize Emergency Department Dependency For Dental Issues, Aishwarya Joshi

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Teledentistry has been promoted as a strategy to minimize emergency department (ED) visits for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs). However, it remains unclear whether structural readiness or temporary policy expansion drives sustained reductions in reliance on the ED. This study integrates Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory to examine determinants of Medicaid NTDC ED utilization and Tele-dentistry adoption.

Andersen’s model posits that utilization is shaped by predisposing, enabling, and need factors, whereas DOI theory emphasizes structural attributes that influence adoption, including relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Combining these frameworks allows for a …

The Diversity Of Flavivirus Antibody Dependent Enhancement (Ade) Profiles From A Pediatric Cohort In Mexico, Maiesha Samiha Mahmood

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The Aedes mosquito-borne flaviviruses Zika (ZIKV) and dengue (DENV-1-4) cause an estimated 400 million annual infections globally and pose an increasing threat to public health. Typically, individuals infected with ZIKV or a DENV serotype generate neutralizing serotype-specific antibodies and non-neutralizing, cross-reactive antibodies that bind multiple flaviviruses. Upon secondary heterotypic infection, pre-existing antibodies can either protect or exacerbate disease through antibody dependent enhancement (ADE). ADE occurs when non- or sub-neutralizing concentrations of cross-reactive antibodies facilitate viral uptake into FcγR-bearing myeloid cells, enabling infection of otherwise non-permissive cells and driving severe disease. To date, ADE has not been characterized at a population …

Perspectives Of Poetry: Peering Into Poetry And Aphasia, Kristian M. Perez

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

People with aphasia often experience significant barriers to communication, emotional expression, and participation in meaningful life activities following stroke or neurological injury. Although poetry and creative expression have been explored in broader therapeutic contexts, limited research has examined how people with aphasia perceive poetry. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of people with aphasia regarding definitions of poetry, level of interest in poetry and the factors influencing said interest. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults with aphasia recruited through convenience sampling. Participants responded to questions before and after exposure to the poem Trust by Mark …

Puff, Puff, Pass? Examining Cannabis Use Among Black American Adults, Christopher B. Walker

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

In the United States, cannabis has become one of the most widely used controlled substances due to its increase in social acceptance, the growing number of states legalizing it for medical and non-medical purposes, and the expansion of consumption methods.  However, little is known about the modes of cannabis use chosen by Black American adults.  This population is of importance due to existing research suggesting their increased risk of developing cannabis use disorder compared to their White counterparts and their underrepresentation in existing literature.  The goal of this study is to examine cannabis use among Black adults in the U.S., …

Homoplasy Of Maxillary Orthognathism In Derived Homo, Jared Jordan

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The evolution of the orthognathic condition in the genus Homo represents a monumental transition toward the facial morphology of modern humans from that of earlier hominins, but the phylogenetic positioning of this transformation remains poorly understood. This study investigated temporal trends in maxillary and mandibular prognathism in the genus Homo, and whether maxillary and mandibular shortening in East Asian H. erectus and later East Asian Middle Pleistocene Homo (e.g., Homo longi) represent independent derivations of orthognathic morphology, thereby making orthognathism a homoplasy in the genus Homo. Using a sample of roughly 109 cranial and mandibular specimens spanning …

The Structure, Dynamics, And Impact Of An Interbacterial Weapon Encoded By Human Gut Bacteria, Casey John Latario

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The human gut is densely colonized by diverse bacteria. Over a human’s growth, the GI tract becomes a dynamic community that is subjected to a continual in-flow of nutrients and would-be colonizers and an out-flow of microbes and waste products. Despite these dynamics, the bacterial community often displays stability, with particular strains persisting over decades. These stable colonizers have evolved mechanisms to bolster their colonization, resist disruption by other microbes, and persist through environmental flux.

Both interbacterial competition and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) contribute to colonization and survival within the GI tract. A major mechanism for interbacterial competition is the …

Association Between A Lifestyle Medicine Score And Stroke In U.S. Adults With Hyperglycemia: 2007- 2010 Nhanes, Swarnima Naithani

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between glycemic control and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well- established, however, lifestyle modifications to prevent CVD warrant further investigation. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the six lifestyle medicine pillars promoted by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and stroke in U.S. adults with hyperglycemia. A lifestyle medicine composite score (LMS) was developed to quantify adherence with the hypothesis that a higher LMS (greater adherence to lifestyle recommendations) correlates with lower odds of stroke in adults with hyperglycemia. Methods: The study sample (n=2,079) included adult (≥ 40 years of age) participants in the …

Brief Exposure Therapy With Exercise For Ptsd: A Pilot Study Using Single Case Experimental Design, Troy J.J. Hubert

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and often disabling psychiatric disorder associated with an increased risk of multiple mental and physical health conditions. Exposure therapy is a gold standard treatment for PTSD, but attrition rates and treatment response are notable limitations. Animal and human research collectively indicate that aerobic exercise can enhance preclinical and experimental models of exposure by improving consolidation of fear-extinction memories. To date, only one clinical trial has attempted to translate exercise augmented exposure therapy for PTSD. The current study is an open-label pilot clinical trial aiming at gauging the effectiveness of a brief eight-session PTSD …

Variability In Parainfluenza Virus Derived From Persistently Infected Lung Epithelial Cells, Cassidy R. Conte

Honors Undergraduate Theses

An acute infection (AI) with RNA virus can progress to a persistent infection (PI) where infected cells continue to grow and replicate while producing progeny virions. PIs with respiratory viruses are clinically important, as they can lead to prolonged shedding of viruses and generation of mutant viruses that are altered in pathogenesis and/or immune responses. Parainfluenza type 5 (PIV5) is a prototypic RNA virus shown to cause PIs in cell culture. Plaques in tissue culture from an acute infection with parental PIV5 were homogeneous in size and shape. By contrast, plaques from PIV5 persistently infected cells were heterogeneous, having a …

Differing Circulating Microrna Profiles Of Long-Lived Polish Populations, Fabrizzio Lijeron-Herrera

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Exceptional longevity, defined as a lower biological age relative to chronological age and maintenance of functional capacity or a slowing of functional decline, is a phenotype most readily observed in centenarians and nonagenarians. These individuals exhibit a phenomenon known as compressed morbidity, spending substantially less time in poor health compared to younger elderly populations, thus representing a unique human model of delayed aging. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), potent post-transcriptional regulators of molecular pathways, have emerged as important modulators of aging-related pathways; however, no study has comprehensively profiled miRNAs from serum in long-lived individuals from Central Europe. In particular, Polish populations present …

Nanoparticle Carriers Enhance The Prophylactic Antiviral Effects Of Dsrna In Vitro And Ex Vivo, Shayne Oberhoffner, Stephanie Dewitte-Orr, Starla Richardson, Leah Haile, Dominique Daniels, Erin Cooper, Aizah Ijaz, Janet Velasquez Perez, Mathilde Peruzzi, Bertrand Collet, Paul Craig, Kristof Jenik

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Aquaculture now outpaces traditional capture fisheries as the world population and demand for sustainable protein sources increases. Wild and farmed species are increasingly susceptible to pathogen spread as global temperatures rise and stocking densities increase. Despite the devastating losses experienced by aquaculture due to viral infections, there remain few effective prophylactic antiviral therapeutics. Long double-stranded (ds)RNA is a uniquely viral molecule produced by nearly all viruses during their replication cycle, and its detection by salmonids like rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytsha) leads to the establishment of a defensive antiviral state. Previous in vitro studies demonstrated a …

Neural Correlates Of Cognitive Fatigue In Regular Cannabis Users And Non-Users: A Pilot Fnirs Study, Mariia Vistyzenko

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Background: Cognitive fatigue impairs performance across multiple domains, yet how regular cannabis use affects fatigue responses remains unclear. This pilot study investigated neural and behavioural correlates of cognitive fatigue in abstinent cannabis users versus non-users.

Methods: Twenty-six participants (18 non-users, 8 regular cannabis users after 24-hour abstinence) completed cognitive tasks before and after a 60-minute Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) designed to induce fatigue. Tasks assessed working memory (N-Back), cognitive flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting), psychomotor speed (Digit Symbol Substitution), sustained attention (Continuous Performance Task), inhibition (Stroop, Stop Signal), and motion perception. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) continuously monitored prefrontal cortex …

Geovig And Purevig: Geometry-Aware Architectures For Efficient Computer Vision, Omar Ismail

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Deploying deep learning models for medical image analysis on mobile devices requires a balance between inference latency, memory footprint, and delineating anatomical boundaries with high accuracy. While Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and mobile Vision Transformers (ViTs) offer efficiency, they often struggle to model the irregular, non-local geometric structures inherent in biological tissues without incurring prohibitive computational costs. In this thesis, we introduce GeoViG (Geometric Vision Graph), an architecture that bridges the gap between efficient grid-based processing and explicit Geometric Deep Learning. GeoViG introduces a novel transition from high-resolution pixel grids to low-resolution dynamic graphs via a SpreadEdgePool operator, a geometry-aware …

Robust And Interpretable Medical Image Segmentation Via Retrieval And Mechanistic Analysis, Salma Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Medical image segmentation is a critical component of clinical decision-making, yet deep learning based segmentation models face persistent challenges. These models typically require large volumes of densely annotated data, exhibit strong sensitivity to domain shifts across scanners and patient populations, and lack explicit anatomical priors. Furthermore, despite continual architectural advances beyond fully convolutional networks, most segmentation models remain opaque, where they lack the granularity required for component-level analysis. As a result, when segmentation models fail, it is difficult to identify which internal representations are responsible, limiting developers’ ability to diagnose errors, improve robustness, or establish trust in clinical settings. Existing …

Investigating The Immunostimulatory Potential Of Dsrna-Silk Nanoparticle Complexes In Melanoma, Samuel J. Peters

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The rate of resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in metastatic melanoma is quite high, with an overall rate of 70%. Melanoma achieves these high rates of resistance by suppressing the immune response in the tumour microenvironment (TME), making them immunologically “cold”. The type 1 interferon response could be leveraged to initiate immune responses in melanoma, making their “cold” TMEs “warm” again. Double-stranded ribonucleic acids (dsRNAs) are potent activators of an innate immune response; however, they are susceptible to degradation by nucleases present in the body and need a carrier. Silk nanoparticles (SNPs) are an ideal drug-delivery platform as they …

Promoting Occupational Harmony With High School Students Transitioning To College, Megan Maekawa

Occupational Therapy | OTD Capstone Projects

Background: Many students struggle to balance their occupations, especially in their first year of college. One reason they struggle may be that they are unprepared for the demands of college life as they transition out of high school. They may struggle with adjusting to different academic standards, adapting to their new social life, transitioning to a new environment or living situation, and managing their mental health. Occupational therapists support high school students in learning and implementing occupational harmony. Occupational therapists can support pre-college students in a summer bridge program as students learn to balance their academics, manage their social …

The Qualitative Investigation Of The Role Of Nicu-Based Slps, Netanya Tsang

Selected Full-Text Master Theses Collection 2018-

In 2004 that the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) released a position statement pertaining the roles of SLPs in swallowing and feeding disorders, specifically in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In the NICU, one of the last criteria for discharge of the neonate is to demonstrate consistent and stable feeding. For NICU-based speech-language pathologists (SLP)s, a primary responsibility is treating the neonate’s ability to feed and swallow. Within this specialized setting over time, the role of the SLP has changed, but there is significant variation across locations and setting; with little formally documented regarding updated responsibilities. Therefore, this …

Accessing Campus Mental Health Services In A Nigerian Southwestern University: Barriers To Academic Success, Caroline Dada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health disorders are a significant health concern among higher education institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. A substantial treatment gap exists in the Nigerian healthcare system, and this gap is further worsened by cultural and religious barriers, which reinforce stigma that discourages students from seeking professional help. This qualitative narrative inquiry explored the barriers students encountered when accessing mental health services at a university in Southwestern Nigeria, to increase service access. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with seven professional mental health providers at a university counseling center between March and April 2025. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify …

Clinical Challenges Associated With Enhancing Hypertension Among The Underserved African American Population, Ashley Richardson

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Background 

African Americans face a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, tend to develop complications at younger ages, and have disproportionately higher mortality rates. Key social determinants of health (SDoH)—including food deserts, unequal access to healthcare, and geographic disparities in healthcare resources—contribute to these ongoing inequities. Addressing both systemic and individual barriers is crucial for effective hypertension management.

Objective

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a culturally relevant, community-based intervention designed to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among Black adults with uncontrolled hypertension.

Methods 

Quality improvement (QI) initiatives typically employ multicomponent, equity-focused models. The primary components of …

Exploring Management Strategies To Reduce Workplace Violence: Perceptions Of Illinois Healthcare Professionals, Mary Mack

All Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how managers of nonprofit healthcare facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area implement strategies to reduce workplace violence, what these strategies are and how they are carried out, and what organizational factors facilitate or impede their implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven healthcare professionals in management or safety-oriented roles across seven facilities, purposefully sampled through the researcher's professional network. Findings revealed four recurring patterns across the sample. Prevention infrastructure was installed reactively, following specific triggering incidents rather than anticipating documented risk. Facilities consistently favored lower-cost mitigation measures over more resource-intensive prevention strategies. Reliance on short-tenure contract …

Communication Sciences And Disorders Faculty Perspectives On Collaborating With Students As Instructional Partners, Bryanna Cosman

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Student-faculty partnerships, such as instructional partnerships, have been shown to benefit both students and faculty members who engage in them. This form of collaboration does not commonly occur at public, comprehensive universities, especially in the field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD). The purpose of this study was to understand the perspectives of CSD faculty on collaborating with students as instructional partners (IP), as there is limited research on it. IPs are students who have successfully taken a class in the recent past, attend the course in a subsequent semester, and meet after each class with the professor to discuss …

Spatial Analyses Using Emergency Medical Services Data To Inform Healthcare., Jeffrey Alan Pesarsick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Spatial analyses using Emergency Medical Services data to inform healthcare.

Jeffrey Pesarsick

Background

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) often serve as the initial entry point for patients into the healthcare system in the United States.  Rural health disparities, geographic isolation, socioeconomic disadvantages, and operational challenges create disparities in access to EMS services.  Disparities include prolonged response times, less resources available, and inequities in levels of care available.  The overall goal of these series of projects was to quantify the extent to which operational challenges in EMS data impact health, and how EMS data could be used to identify neighborhood level trends …

Hyperglycemia Detection From Sigle - Lead Ecg Using A Hybrid Cnn & Transformer Model, Adam Ayomikun Ogunjembola

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract
Hyperglycemia Detection from Single-Lead ECG using a Hybrid CNN & Transformer Model
Adam Ogunjembola

Diabetes Mellitus is known as high blood glucose. This high blood glucose level happens when the body has a problem with producing or using insulin. Insulin is a very important hormone that the pancreas makes to control how much glucose gets into the bloodstream and cells. Diabetes Mellitus has an effect on the body if it is not treated, such as damaging the blood vessels and nerves which can lead to stroke, kidney failure, heart attack and permanent loss of vision. Since people with diabetes …

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In A Pediatric Specialty Care Office, Sierra Leigh Hays

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: The role of OT in primary and specialty care clinics is a rising area of interest in the field. There are also many multidisciplinary clinics that OTs can be or are apart of. This study aims to evaluate the consulting role of OT in primary and specialty care clinics, as well as to evaluate data collected by an OT in a pediatric brachial plexus and peripheral nerve clinic. Methods: The first objective was focused on analyzing functional outcomes, using the Active Movement Scale (AMS), of children following neurosurgery or onabotulinum toxin A injections. This was a retrospective study with …

Caring For The Caregiver: Implementing An Occupational Therapy-Tailored Educational Program To Alleviate Caregiver Burden, Lura Elizabeth Simons

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Caregivers of traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors experience caregiver burden, which is a prevalent issue. The most significant concern is for symptoms of burden affecting mental health and sleep quality. This doctoral capstone project addressed the knowledge gap regarding programs that alleviate these signs and symptoms through evidence-based interventions. The objective was to create an educational program with modules that demonstrated improvement in satisfaction and content understanding through in-person sessions and individualized interviews with staff members. This project aimed to reduce perceived burden by conducting in-person sessions to implement interventions through an occupational therapy (OT) lens and by using educational …

Cross-Cue Reactivity Of Nicotine And Cannabis Vaping Products, Madeline Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

SIGNIFICANCE. The rewarding properties of nicotine increase when administration is paired with external stimuli, or “cues”, including those related to vaping products. Given the visual similarity between nicotine vaping products (NVPs) and THC vaping products (TVPs), exposure to one product may elicit reactivity (e.g., craving, urge to use) to the other. The present study aimed to develop a set of cues capable of differentiating NVPs from TVPs to inform investigations of cross-cue reactivity. METHODS. Images (n=61 NVPs; n=64 TVPs; 7=unspecified) were obtained via an online search using both generic (“vape”, “vape pen”) and product-specific (e.g., “nicotine vape”, “dab pen”) keywords …

Evaluation Of Finger-Tightening Torque Applied To Implant Healing Abutments By Dental Providers With Varying Experience And Physical Characteristics: An In-Vitro Study., Bayan Abuhalimeh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Evaluation of Finger-Tightening Torque Applied to Implant Healing Abutments by Dental Providers with Varying Experience and Physical Characteristics: An In-vitro Study

Bayan Abuhalimeh, D.D.S

Aim: The primary objective of this project is to measure the actual torque applied by dental providers when finger-tightening a healing abutment and assess the variability among individuals. A secondary objective is to analyze the correlation between applied torque and: provider experience level (residents, general dentist, specialist); gender; age; and, physical attributes (e.g., grip strength, hand size, and dominant hand used for tightening). The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in the mean finger-tightening …