Honors Program
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The interdisciplinary Honors Program provides an enhanced learning environment for exceptional University of Tampa students. Led by a distinguished faculty, students are challenged to aim higher and go farther in their lives, communities and careers. Learn more about the Honors Program here.
Honor's students can complete an undergraduate thesis for credit. Search theses by date below, or by keyword in the Search box.
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The Library is undergoing a migration to Spartan Search, where the UoTIR will be integrated in with our catalog. Current capstones, theses, and dissertations will be housed in the Digital Collections found here: https://ut.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/collectionDiscovery?vid=01UTAMPA_INST:SpartanSearch
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Item An Analysis of Spatial Distribution of an Isolated Bahamian Population of the Lined Seahorse, Hippocampus erectus, via Nearest Neighbor, Hot Spot, and Buffering Assessments(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2019) Elson, Jessica; Froeschke, Dr. Bridgette; Masonjones, Dr. Heather; Rose, Dr. EmilyUnderstanding the spatial distribution of animal populations is essential for placing their social interactions into context and developing hypotheses about reproductive, feeding, and predator prey behaviors. A particular population of the lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus, is found in an isolated salt water lake, Sweetings Pond, on the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas. This ecosystem provided a unique opportunity to study the space use of a high density seahorse population in its natural environment. Examination of clustering patterns across time of day, aggregations by size and sex, habitat impact by season, and predator influence on overall spatial distribution were conducted. These questions were analyzed and tested for significance via geographic mapping utilizing nearest neighbor analysis, hot-spot analysis, and the buffering tool. It was concluded that this population of seahorses forms clusters during the nighttime compared to uniform dispersal seen during the daytime. The average seahorse total body length increased with increasing depth regardless of sex. This population is also positively correlated with algae cover in both the wet and dry seasons and display active avoidance of potential predators. Sweetings Pond provided the ideal conditions to be able to study a population in its natural environment. The unprecedented conclusions drawn from this field study provide critical information regarding the natural ecology, behavior, and future conservation efforts of this vulnerable seahorse species.Item Class and Access to Governance in Burkina Faso(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2020-04-07) Ingram, Julia R.This paper explores how individual differences in socioeconomic status can influence an individual's cognitive mapping of governance, that is whether they pursue a formal or informal mechanism of governance. This research shows a positive relationship between socioeconomic status and formality of governance so that those of a higher socioeconomic status pursue formal mechanisms of governance to address needs more than those of a lower status.Item Stomach Content Analysis of the Invasive Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) in the Tampa Bay Watershed(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2020-04-08) Tharp, Ryan M.Throughout their native range in Mexico, Mayan Cichlids (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) have been documented to have a generalist diet consisting of fishes, invertebrates, and mainly plant material. In the Everglades ecosystem, invasive populations of Mayan Cichlids displayed an omnivorous diet dominated by fish and snails. Little is known about the ecology of invasive Mayan Cichlids in the fresh and brackish water habitats in the Tampa Bay watershed. During the summer and fall of 2018 and summer of 2019, adult and juvenile Mayan Cichlids were collected via hook-and-line with artificial lures or with cast nets in seven sites across the Tampa Bay watershed. Fish were fixed in 10% formalin, dissected, and stomach contents were sorted and preserved in 70% ethanol. After sorting, stomach contents were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible and an Index of Relative Importance (IRI) was calculated for each taxon. The highest IRI values calculated for stomach contents of Mayan Cichlids collected in the Tampa Bay watershed were associated with gastropod mollusks in adults and ctenoid scales in juveniles. The data suggest that Mayan Cichlids in Tampa Bay were generalist carnivores.Item The Retinal Pigments of Filter-feeding Sharks (Rhincodon typus, Cetorhinus maximus, and Megachasma pelagios) and their Role in Foraging Ecology(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2020-04-08) Serba, Katherine M.; Dr. Jeffry FasickThe spectral tuning properties of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), and megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) rod (Rh1) and longwavelength sensitive (LWS) cone visual pigments were examined to determine whether these retinal pigments have adapted to the broadband light spectrum available for surface foraging, or to the narrowband blue-shifted light spectrum available at depth. Recently published whale shark Rh1 and LWS cone opsin genes were used to design primers for amplification and sequencing of the opsin proteins from basking and megamouth sharks. Basking and megamouth shark Rh1 and LWS cone coding sequences were PCR amplified and sequenced to identify amino acid residues critical for spectral tuning. The predicted absorbance maxima (λmax) for the whale, basking, and megamouth shark Rh1 visual pigments were 496 nm, 496 nm, and 488 nm, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence for both the whale and basking shark LWS cone opsins resulted in predicted λmax values near 500 nm. Although Rh1 λmax values near 500 nm are typical of terrestrial vertebrates and surface foraging fish, it is uncommon for vertebrate LWS cone pigments to be so greatly blue-shifted. We propose that the spectral tuning properties of the Rh1 and LWS cone pigments in whale and basking sharks are most likely an adaptation to the broadband light spectrum available at the surface, while the megamouth shark Rh1 pigment is most likely an adaptation to the narrowband light spectrum available in deeper waters.Item Perfectionism and The Efficacy of Mindfully-Based Coping Interventions(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2020-04-24) Simon, Alia R.; Dr. Michael StasioTwo studies investigated links among perfectionism, stress, and mindfulness. An exploratory pilot study (N = 297) showed correlations among perfectionistic tendencies, stress levels, and mindfully-inclined thinking. The main study (N = 69) asked whether mindfulness interventions are effective at reducing stress and increasing mindfulness for those with different types of perfectionism (high standards vs. maladaptive, as measured by the Revised Almost Perfect Scale). Participants completed a stressful task and then were randomly assigned to complete a mindfully-inclined journaling exercise, art exercise or control condition, which were all developed by the author. The primary dependent variables were pre-post exercise changes in mindfulness scores measured by the State Mindfulness Scale (SMS) and stress scores measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Findings supported increased state mindfulness and decreased stress levels following treatment, regardless of treatment condition or variations in perfectionism. Notable interactions and future implications were explored and discussed.Item The Origins of Racial Discrimination in Public Health: The 1793 Yellow Fever Epidemic of Philadelphia(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2020-05-21) Nelson, Abigail L.; Kacy TillmanAt the start of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first public health doctrines were being formulated into proper legal documents as the city struggled to stem the outbreak. This paper argues that the origins of discriminatory rhetoric in public health can be traced back to the racist ideas of Matthew Carey and Benjamin Rush.Item “You Throw Like a Girl!”: A Sociological Analysis of Media Representation and Viewership of Women’s Sports(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2020-11-09) Maziarz, Tiffany A.Motivated by the sociological theories of Symbolic Interactionism and Contemporary Feminism, this research explores the intersections of gender, the media, and sports on a southeastern college campus. Undergraduate students were recruited from various sections of Introduction to Sociology to complete a 38-question survey administered through Qualtrics. The final sample size was 85 (n = 85). Bivariate analyses were conducted using RStudio and SPSS simultaneously, and any relationship that was found to be significant (p = .05) was analyzed using a Cramer’s V coefficient test to determine the strength of association. Trends that stood out in the research were 1) There are differences in perspective between men and women college students; 2) There are not many differences in opinion between those who participate in sports and those who do not; and 3) There were differences between viewership frequency (this could also be tied to the amount of sports coverage watched by each gender, however, multivariate analysis was not conducted).Item Snowbird: A Brief Memoir in Essays(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2021-05) Lazansky, Rebecca; Dr. Ryan McIlvainon coming home: Let me describe a photograph for you: It is 2008, it is December, and it has just snowed for the first time that winter. The snow is powdered like cake flour, sticking to everything—and, for those who do not know, that is the perfect kind of snow, the kind of snow that packs into plump snowpersons and welcomes footprints in its white skin. There is a child in striped mittens the color of sherbet laying down on their back with their arms spread out beside them like an eagle. A snow angel is forming beneath them.Item Early Norwegian Independence and the Foundation of National Identity, 1814-1905(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2021-05) Ragan, Erica; Dr. Elizabeth Littell-LambThis work uses a combination of scholarly and primary sources which discuss Norway during its early independence from 1814-1905 in order to support the argument that there exists an “imagined past” which falsely represents a fraction of Norwegian cultural history as representative of the nation as a whole. The region of Sogn, a small portion of the western fjord country, is a rare example of the shared past which was largely fictionalized in order to fuel unity and nationalism and strengthen resistance to Swedish control during the period of early independence. The multifaceted relationships between Sogn and the urban centers of Norway are placed within the wider context of the period and analyzed to reveal the roots of this inaccurate popular re construction of Norwegian history.Item Behind the Veil: The making of a BTS(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2021-05) McNair, Noah; Gregg Perkins, MFA, Committee Chair; Dana Plays, MFA, Committee Member; Tim Harding, MSE, Committee MemberThis study purposed to describe the process of narrative film production by investigating Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) films, featurettes and books created to explain other film projects. Insights describe how films succeeded and faltered through planning, execution, or in post-production and emphasize methods for drawing in the audience through the use of perspective, voice, silence and dialogue. Results include observations and recommendations from authors of BTS books and filmmakers.Item An Investigation into Understudied Moroccan Literature(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2021-05) Connolly, Lily; Dr. Sarah Juliet Lauro; Dr. Spencer Segalla; Dr. Julie NelsonBy looking at the narrative and theories of Fatima Mernissi, we can see that control of women comes down to the regimentation of the body through attire.Item The Role of Instrinsically Disordered Proteins in the Evolution of Multicellularity(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2021-05) Kulhanek, Jonathon; Dr. Padmanabhan MahadevanIDP's are called intrinsically disordered proteins which represent a category of proteins in unicellular and multicellular eukaryotic cells. IDP's have a lack of a specific three dimensional structure that is why these proteins are considered disordered. This structural disorder is located in one or more separate areas along the protein chain or polypeptide. In this research project, the goal is to show unicellular cells have less IDP's than multicellular cells. Eleven organisms were used. Five were unicellular and six were multicellular These organisms protein taste was extracted from ensemble and given to ESPRITZ and SLIDER to determine which organisms had a higher IDP count.Item An Examination of Adult Female and Male Offending in the Context of Strain(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2021-05) Mandatori, Flavia; Dr. Chivon FitchThis study aims to analyze the variance in socioeconomic strains related to offending trends for males and females.Item Copy Number Variation and Obesity in Danio rerio(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2021-05) Desai, Shivani; Kimberly DobrinskiObesity is a worldwide epidemic resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. It is proposed here that overfeeding Danio rerio, (zebrafish), will provide an effective model for studying human obesity. This hypothesis is based on the knowledge of the genetic and structural commonalities between zebrafish and humans that have allowed zebrafish to be used for other types of human research. Fish were fed normal and high fat diets over 8 weeks and Body Mass Indexes were analyzed using ANOVA (p value = 1.04e-11) and a Post-hoc Tukey Test. Results indicated the BMIs from fish fed high-fat diets were statistically significant from each other. Furthermore, histological analysis via the oil red stain indicated that Danio rerio fed on the high fat diet contained a greater number and larger sized adipocytes which are a marker of increased adipose tissue. It is also proposed that an increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) will lead to changes in the genome of the fish, Copy Number Variance (CNV’s), measured by DNA and RNA sequencing analysis. CNV’s are associated with obesity related diseases such as Hepatic Steatosis and Type 2 Diabetes.Item An Artificial Intelligence Approach for Recommending Curriculum(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2021-05) Krumpter III, Thomas; Dr. Natasha VeltriThis study uses SPSS text mining to compare skills desired by employers in job postings to skills in the 2020 ACM-IS curriculum.Item Investigating Quinone-Mediated Treatments on the Warburg Effect(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2022-05) Miller, Jarred; Kimberly Dobrinski, PhDBreast cancer is the most prevalent cancer amongst women in the United States, encompassing approximately 30% of all newly diagnosed cancers each year. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women in the United States. The main challenge in current therapeutic treatments is the increasing resistance of breast cancer cells to targeted therapies. Drug resistant cancer deaths are often the result of heterogeneous cell populations that may utilize different growth strategies. Drug resistant cancer cells prefer to generate ATP energy pools through the process of aerobic glycolysis (AG), known as the Warburg effect, rather than proceeding through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), to avoid a buildup of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). This proposal challenges the current paradigm that concurrent use of antioxidants with chemotherapy yields antiapoptotic effects through the investigation of capsaicin, resveratrol, and shikonin on two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. While MCF-7 cells are nondrug resistant and grow via glycolysis in combination with OXPHOS, MDA-MB-231 cells are drug resistant and utilize the Warburg effect as a growth strategy. We hypothesize that the quinones tested will drive an AG-OXPHOS switch in the MDA-MB-231 cell line by upregulation of OXPHOS genes w/ concomitant downregulation of AG genes, thereby increasing ROS and leading to apoptosis. The quinones’ ability to induce death in a breast cancer cell line was validated by administering three concentration levels of each quinone in short term culture. Concentration levels vary for each quinone depending on their prior efficacious measures from the researched studies. Cytotoxicity was assessed by CyQUANT NF Cell Proliferation Assay. Statistical significance in MDAMB- 231 cell viability as a response to capsaicin, resveratrol, and shikonin treatment was confirmed using ANOVAs (p-value = 0.0004, p-value = 0.0002, and p-value < 0.0001, respectively). This study is important, as it could elucidate quinones that may be useful as therapeutics against drug resistant cancer, as well as investigate mechanisms used by drug resistant cells committed to growth via Warburg.Item The Promises and Perils of Blockchain in Auditing(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2022-05) Lammon, Hannah; Dr. Robert Marley; Professor Rachel Gambol; Dr. Leon FaifmanThis paper discusses the promises and perils of blockchain in auditing. By synthesizing available literature and data, this paper provides a comprehensive summary of blockchain technology, technological pitfalls, and how it could change auditing.Item The Psychological and Physiological Effects of Stress on the Human Epigenetic Profile and Brain(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2022-05) De Kock, Jana; Stephen KuceraThe role of stress in the brain has been an intense topic of debate in the 21st century due to the spike in societal pressure, depression and anxiety globally. As our lives become busier and more stressed, it is vital that we stop to look at how this effects both our epigenetic profile and our brain functioning. When we understand this we are able to make key lifestyle and medical changes in order to prevent effects such as early onset Alzheimer's, cancer, auto-immune disorders, etc. One of the most significant factors that counteract chronic stress is social interaction and community. Emphasising this in a world that seems to increasingly move away from traditional community structures is pivotal in reviving the stressed, chronically depressed, and exhausted.Item The Broadening of Competency Based Premed Requirements: An Open Ended Approach to Medical School Preparation for Undergraduate Students(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2022-05) Manno, Sarah; Alyssia M. Miller De Rutté, PhD (chair); L. Michael Carastro, PhD; Ann H. Williams, PhDWhile scientific knowledge is fundamental to the world of medicine, a holistic human approach and bedside manner are fundamental to patient care as a physician. Current premedical (premed) requirements in the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) American-Accredited Schools in the United States and Puerto Rico are not unanimously reflective of the same approaches. The premed world is growing to focus on students demonstrating competency in both scientific and humanistic requirements as opposed to extensive knowledge in only the core sciences. This research project investigates the current, required and recommended premed curriculum across all 155 AAMC American- Accredited Schools in the United States and Puerto Rico. The results are indicative of a broadening of open-ended competency requirements to demonstrate readiness of undergraduate students for medical school.Item Do Face Masks Degrade our Ability to Remember Face-Name Associations?(Honors Program, The University of Tampa, 2022-05-07) Rodriguez, Alexandra; Sara B. FestiniIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have become a required item of attire. Holistic face processing refers to how the human visual system integrates facial features into a whole rather than as separate parts. However, face masks obstruct the bottom portion of our faces, restricting us from standard holistic processing upon meeting someone new. The present study examined the influence face masks have on memory predictions and memory performance for new face-name associations. Participants studied face-name pairs presented for 8 seconds (Experiment 1) or 10 seconds (Experiment 2). Half of the face-name pairs included a face mask obstructing the nose and mouth of the pictured face, counterbalanced across participants. Participants provided item-by-item memory predictions (judgements of learning, JOLs) and completed subsequent recall and recognition memory tests. Both experiments demonstrated that face masks impaired memory for newlylearned names, however, the magnitude of the impact was under-predicted by participants. Therefore, the presence of a face mask negatively influences memory performance to a greater degree than expected. Results from this experiment have implications for name learning during pandemics, as well as in other settings where face masks are common (e.g., the medical field).