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Title: IN LAKE FLOATING TREATMENT WETLANDS COULD PROVIDE ALGAE CONTROL THROUGH UNSUSPECTED MECHANISMS.
Creator: Dettmar, Dana L.
Abstract/Description: Cultural eutrophication has been negatively impacting both artificial and natural water bodies by triggering (at times harmful) algal blooms. These blooms are typically controlled by algaecides, which can collaterally affect aquatic organisms thus further damaging the hydrosystem. Preventing point and non-point nutrient sources from entering hydrosystems may not be sufficient to prevent cultural eutrophication since internal nutrient loading is generally high. Internal loading can however be...
Show moreCultural eutrophication has been negatively impacting both artificial and natural water bodies by triggering (at times harmful) algal blooms. These blooms are typically controlled by algaecides, which can collaterally affect aquatic organisms thus further damaging the hydrosystem. Preventing point and non-point nutrient sources from entering hydrosystems may not be sufficient to prevent cultural eutrophication since internal nutrient loading is generally high. Internal loading can however be reduced, often at great expense, through i) demucking, ii) chemical treatment, and iii) hypolimnetic aeration. Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) are a new type of phytoremediation being used to reduce the impact of eutrophication. FTWs consist of plants grown hydroponically on a floating mat which uptake water nutrients from their roots. The nutrients become tied up in the tissues of the young growing plants, which tissues are then harvested before fully mature to remove the excess nutrients from the system to reduce external and internal loading. Nutrient removal performed by these FTWs is limited unless they cover 5-10% of the surface of the water body. However, most hydrosystems use a lower, e.g. 3% cover rate with often great algal control. Thus, poorly understood or identified mechanisms must be at play. A 2-year investigation was therefore led in three subtropical manmade urban ponds (Pond A, Livingston Pond and Collier Pond) of about an acre and located within the City of Naples, FL to examine whether the dense root network from FTWs’ plants, Juncus effusus and Canna flaccida, would i) have allelochemicals able to control algae, ii) offer diurnal zooplankton protection against predation so that nocturnal grazing would be intensified and iii) harbor beneficial bacteria able to remove water nutrients. For the allelopathy experiments, two methods were used: a liquid culture assay as well as an agar diffusion assay, both in which wells containing algae were inoculated with methanolic extracts from the roots potentially containing allelochemicals. Zooplankton presence/absence studies were completed by performing vertical tows underneath the FTW and in the open water column both during the day and night to explore their nycthemeral horizontal migrations. J. effusus and C. flaccida root microbial communities were characterized by extracting DNA from the biofilm living on root samples using the phenol-chloroform extraction method. The purified DNA was used for 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing to compare community structure. Results showed that chemicals present in the two plants examined could either control algae (especially Cyanophyceae) but in some cases also enhance algae growth (especially Chlorophyceae). When inhibition was found, the agar diffusion assay displayed stronger inhibition than the liquid culture assay in which allelopathic compounds were diluted in liquid medium. In Livingston Pond and Collier Pond, it was determined that zooplankton did not utilize the root systems of FTWs, which is typical of subtropical systems. The bacterial community of Pond A FTWs was typical of oxic as well as anoxic and even anaerobic environments despite the presence of dissolved oxygen in the water underneath the FTWs. Based on the microbial community composition, it is hypothesized that the microbial biofilm growing on the root changed from oxic, to anoxic and anaerobic from its surface to its basal layer. Thus, FTW biofilms provide an environment in which major biologically mediated reactions could potentially occur (e.g. nitrification, denitrification, and sulfate reduction). Based on the results of this study it appears that FTWs have potential mechanisms to control algae growth aside from nutrient uptake. Allelopathy and a microenvironment prone to degradation were such mechanisms but more investigation should be conducted to fully understand the net algal control and impact on nutrient cycling. Future research should include the investigation of these parameters on FTWs in different hydrosystems to determine if the findings of this study are common for all FTWs, or if each FTW provides its own unique environment.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: Dettmar_fgcu_1743_10148
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Indirect effects of freshwater discharges on seagrass beds in Southwest Florida: Mesograzers as mediators of epiphyte growth?.
Creator: Behlmer, Thomas
Abstract/Description: Seagrass beds in the Caloosahatchee Estuary have declined with increased human development in the watershed, which has altered the timing and volume of freshwater and nutrient inputs. Overgrowth of epiphytic algae may contribute to seagrass declines. Small invertebrate grazers (mesograzers) are thought to aid seagrass through removal of excess epiphytes. The goal of this study is to look at the indirect impacts of freshwater releases on seagrass health in the CRE, as mediated by increased...
Show moreSeagrass beds in the Caloosahatchee Estuary have declined with increased human development in the watershed, which has altered the timing and volume of freshwater and nutrient inputs. Overgrowth of epiphytic algae may contribute to seagrass declines. Small invertebrate grazers (mesograzers) are thought to aid seagrass through removal of excess epiphytes. The goal of this study is to look at the indirect impacts of freshwater releases on seagrass health in the CRE, as mediated by increased nutrients and reduced mesograzer abundance and diversity. To do this we recorded seagrass abundance, epiphyte levels, and mesograzer abundance bimonthly for two years at two sites in the Caloosahatchee Estuary. We then compared these responses to seasonal and site variations in salinity related to freshwater discharges. Seagrass was most abundant at the highest salinity site and during the summer months. Epiphyte levels did not exhibit a clear seasonal or salinity-related pattern but showed interesting correlations with mesograzer abundance. Mesograzer species richness was positively correlated with salinity at all sites. Multivariate data analysis found a clear separation between sites, except during the wet season of 2013, where grazer community structure was heavily impacted at both sites. Because prior studies have demonstrated a link between mesograzer richness and epiphyte grazing efficacy, we propose that reductions in mesograzer diversity by high freshwater discharge events could exacerbate problems of epiphyte overgrowth. Understanding these impacts can aid in improving water management plans for the Caloosahatchee Estuary in order to protect its valuable seagrass beds.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: Behlmer_fgcu_1743_10202
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Influence of Freshwater Inflow on the Abundance and Distribution of Decapod Zooplankton in the Caloosahatchee River, Florida.
Creator: Cook, Jaime Elizabeth
Abstract/Description: In order to understand the influence of variable freshwater inflow to estuaries and subsequent fluctuations in salinity on zooplankton community structure and larval recruitment, the distribution and abundance of decapod crustacean larvae in the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary, Florida were quantified using monthly plankton tows for two years. Larvae preferring high salinities (Callinectes sapidus, Dissodactylus spp., Menippe mercenaria, Petrolisthes armatus, and Pinnotheres maculatus) were...
Show moreIn order to understand the influence of variable freshwater inflow to estuaries and subsequent fluctuations in salinity on zooplankton community structure and larval recruitment, the distribution and abundance of decapod crustacean larvae in the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary, Florida were quantified using monthly plankton tows for two years. Larvae preferring high salinities (Callinectes sapidus, Dissodactylus spp., Menippe mercenaria, Petrolisthes armatus, and Pinnotheres maculatus) were concentrated near the mouth of the river; euryhaline larvae (Eurypanopeus depressus and Panopeus spp.) occurred abundantly throughout the river; and the low-salinity species Rhithropanopeus harrisii was found upstream. Total larval abundance peaked in late-spring, prior to the onset of the wet season. Additionally, C. sapidus, E. depressus, M. mercenaria, Panopeus spp. and R. harrisii exhibited significant shifts downstream with the onset of the wet season. P. armatus was the only species to demonstrate significant changes in total abundance among calendar seasons, with significant increases occurring during the spring. Species-specific centers of abundance and total abundance demonstrated significant correlations with both average continuous inflow and daily discrete inflow for lags of up to 120 days prior to sampling. C. sapidus, E. depressus, M. mercenaria, P. armatus, Panopeus spp. and R. harrisii were negatively correlated with inflow. Center of abundance and total abundance of Dissodactylus spp. and P. maculatus were positively correlated with daily discrete inflow. These commensal crabs did not respond in the same way to changes in salinity as expected based on the other species surveyed. These results suggest the importance of considering the impacts of freshwater discharges on both the spatial and seasonal variation in larval supply within the estuary.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: Cook_fgcu_1743_10082
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Inter-rater reliability of the dynamic gait index for lower extremity amputation.
Creator: Bouquette, Renee
Abstract/Description: Background and Purpose: The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) was developed as a tool to identify the ability of an individual to modify gait in response to various conditions, including: level walking, changes in gait speed, walking with head turns in the horizontal and vertical direction, stopping and turning, stepping over and around obstacles, and ascending and descending stairs. The DGI has been used to assess adaptation of gait in a variety of conditions; however, there has not been sufficient...
Show moreBackground and Purpose: The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) was developed as a tool to identify the ability of an individual to modify gait in response to various conditions, including: level walking, changes in gait speed, walking with head turns in the horizontal and vertical direction, stopping and turning, stepping over and around obstacles, and ascending and descending stairs. The DGI has been used to assess adaptation of gait in a variety of conditions; however, there has not been sufficient research on the use of the DGI to examine a lower extremity amputee's ability to adapt his/her gait to changes in task demand. This study seeks to determine the inter-rater reliability of the dynamic gait index when used to assess an individual with a lower extremity amputation. Methods: A volunteer between ages 50-65 was recruited and videotaped performing the tasks on the DGI under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The video was shown to a gait panel, who established a true score using the DGI. Physical therapists were recruited as subjects to rate the performance of the volunteer on the video with the DGI. Scores were then analyzed for agreement using the Fleiss' kappa and the interclass correlation. Results: The raw score of absolute agreement was 39 out of a possibility of 80 (48.75% agreement). Fleiss' kappa statistic (-0.0347) was calculated using the ratio between the degree of agreement above chance actually found in the study (-0.0172) and the degree of agreement above what is expected by chance (0.4953). The ICC was calculated to be 0.18 (95% confidence interval: .043-.476). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the DGI may not be recommended for the assessment of a lower extremity amputee's ability to adapt his/her gait to changes in task demand, which may contribute to falls risk.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: Bouquette_fgcu_1743_10004
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Interactive effects of environmental stressors and the invasive apple snail, Pomacea maculata, on tapegrass, Vallisneria americana.
Creator: McAskill, Shannan C.
Abstract/Description: The island apple snail, Pomacea maculata, family Ampullariidae, is a large freshwater gastropod native to South America. P. maculata is known as a heavy consumer of aquatic plants. P. maculata was introduced to Florida in the 1990s and has rapidly spread throughout natural and man-made wetlands and waterways in the southeastern United States. Negative ecosystem impacts associated with P. maculata invasion include destruction of macrophyte communities via overgrazing, competitive exclusion of...
Show moreThe island apple snail, Pomacea maculata, family Ampullariidae, is a large freshwater gastropod native to South America. P. maculata is known as a heavy consumer of aquatic plants. P. maculata was introduced to Florida in the 1990s and has rapidly spread throughout natural and man-made wetlands and waterways in the southeastern United States. Negative ecosystem impacts associated with P. maculata invasion include destruction of macrophyte communities via overgrazing, competitive exclusion of the native Florida apple snail Pomacea paludosa, and the potential transmission of toxins and parasites to predators. Populations of P. maculata have been documented in freshwater tributaries of estuaries such as Mobile Bay, Alabama and the Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida, and the snails may be moving into the estuaries themselves. The objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate P. maculata’s potential to harm macrophytes like tapegrass, Vallisneria americana, in low-salinity estuarine environments, 2) to determine how the grazer’s destructiveness might by moderated by environmental context (salinity, temperature, and the presence of other macrophyte species), and 3) to identify management and restoration strategies for V. americana to minimize the harm done by P. maculata. We accomplished these objectives with feeding trials and mesocosm experiments conducted under varying conditions of salinity, temperature, and macrophyte community composition. We found that increasing salinity lowered P. maculata grazing pressure on V. americana but increasing temperature increased grazing pressure. Herbivory on V. americana was not reduced and was sometimes intensified when other aquatic plant species were present. The results of two mesocosm experiments suggested that salinity and snail presence have a nonadditive, antagonistic, effect on V. americana. I.e., in the absence of snails the plant performed best at 0 psu, whereas when snails were present the plant did best at 5-10 psu due to reduced snail grazing. Due to the significant sub-lethal impacts of salinity on P. maculata’s grazing and health it is unlikely that the snail’s invasion will proceed beyond the lowest salinity portions of estuaries. These estuarine regions can therefore serve as a valuable refuge for V. americana populations, providing that effective water management keeps salinity below the approximately 10 psu threshold where significant direct harm occurs to the plants.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: McAskill_fgcu_1743_10133
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: International Service Learning in the Health Professions: Perceived Value of the Student Experience.
Abstract/Description: This thesis demonstrates that European civilians were direct targets for attacks during the 1857 Rebellion, that there were apparent gendered experiences for the victims, and that these killings were a result of the latent racial and religious tensions in India, which were deepened by the socio-political reforms introduced by the British. Therefore, through early imperial philosophy, racial and moral anxieties, and their own homogenization of and hostility towards Indians, the British caused...
Show moreThis thesis demonstrates that European civilians were direct targets for attacks during the 1857 Rebellion, that there were apparent gendered experiences for the victims, and that these killings were a result of the latent racial and religious tensions in India, which were deepened by the socio-political reforms introduced by the British. Therefore, through early imperial philosophy, racial and moral anxieties, and their own homogenization of and hostility towards Indians, the British caused themselves to also be treated as an entity by their enemies during the Rebellion, allowing for civilian deaths. British social and moral anxieties were responsible for not only categorizing Indians, but the British themselves, as "others" in India, therefore, strengthening the barriers between the "occident" and "orient"--to borrow Said's terminology--causing a lack of distinction between "civilian" and "enemy" in terms of being targets for attacks by the rebels. The marked categorization of people into groups--even if the groups were constructed with abstract boundaries--created a space for violent and gendered attacks on civilians during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
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Identifier: Larghi_fgcu_1743_10283
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: INTERVENTION FOR FOOT DROP IN A PATIENT WITH SUBACUTE STROKE: A CASE REPORT.
Creator: Ma, Cynthia
Abstract/Description: Gait deviations are a common deficit seen in persons with stroke. The purpose of this case report was to compare and describe the use of Ace© wrap bandaging and a posterior leaf spring ankle foot orthosis (AFO) as an intervention for the treatment of foot drop in a patient with subacute stroke. The case patient suffered a stroke in the right pons resulting in left hemiparesis and 2+/5 strength in the left ankle dorsiflexors as measured by manual muscle testing (MMT). The patient was...
Show moreGait deviations are a common deficit seen in persons with stroke. The purpose of this case report was to compare and describe the use of Ace© wrap bandaging and a posterior leaf spring ankle foot orthosis (AFO) as an intervention for the treatment of foot drop in a patient with subacute stroke. The case patient suffered a stroke in the right pons resulting in left hemiparesis and 2+/5 strength in the left ankle dorsiflexors as measured by manual muscle testing (MMT). The patient was instructed to ambulate 10 meters at his usual pace with a two wheeled rolling walker. Three trials of gait training were performed; first without the use of any dorsiflexion assistance, second while wearing a posterior leaf spring AFO, and a third time while utilizing Ace© wrap bandaging. Measures of patient performance included the gait section of the Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), gait velocity, cadence, and joint positioning at the trunk, the hip, and the knee assessed by the "Coaches Eye" Video Analysis software. The patient demonstrated a 2 point increase in the Tinetti gait score, improved joint positioning, a 29.4% increase in gait velocity, and a 16% increase in cadence while utilizing the elastic wrap bandaging in comparison to the results from the first gait trial, without any dorsiflexion assistance. With the posterior leaf spring, the patient demonstrated a 2 point decrease in the Tinetti gait score, poorer joint positioning, a .06% decrease in gait velocity, and no change in cadence when compared to the results from the first gait trial. This case patient performed best with the use of Ace© wrap bandaging during ambulation. Further study is needed to determine if this is consistent with the broader population of stroke survivors.
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Identifier: Ma_fgcu_1743_10096
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Intra-Rater Reliability of Diagnostic Ultrasound in Measuring Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Males Versus Females.
Creator: Ochs, Kierra Rachelle
Abstract/Description: Introduction. Obesity is a chronic and dangerous health condition in today’s population that predisposes millions of people to serious health disorders and premature death (Racette, Duesinger, & Deusinger, 2003). In the United States, the prevalence of overweight and obese individuals remains a serious public health problem, as more than one third of adults and 17% of youth in the United States are obese (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014). This major public health challenge requires the...
Show moreIntroduction. Obesity is a chronic and dangerous health condition in today’s population that predisposes millions of people to serious health disorders and premature death (Racette, Duesinger, & Deusinger, 2003). In the United States, the prevalence of overweight and obese individuals remains a serious public health problem, as more than one third of adults and 17% of youth in the United States are obese (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014). This major public health challenge requires the need for implementation of assessment tools and interventions in order to aid in the prevention and treatment of obesity. Several body fat assessment tools exist with varying levels of reliability. It is necessary to assess diagnostic ultrasound as tool for the assessment of body fat in the clinical setting. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine if a difference exists in the intra-rater reliability of diagnostic ultrasound between males and females when measuring subcutaneous adipose tissue. Current literature supports that diagnostic ultrasound can be used to provide accurate and reliable measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue (Bazzochi et al., 2011; Kopinski, Engel, Carlsohn, Cassel, & Mayer, 2014; Leahy et al., 2012; Pineau et al., 2009; Schlecht et al., 2014; Toomey, McCreesh, Leahy, & Jakeman, 2011; Wagner, 2013). Research pertaining to the intra-rater reliability of diagnostic ultrasound is limited and minimal research has been conducted regarding reliability between genders. Methods. Fifty participants were recruited to participate in this research study, including 25 males and 25 females. Participants had two anatomical sites (abdomen for both genders, thigh for males, and calf for females) measured for subcutaneous adipose tissue based on a previous study (Leahy et al., 2012) and measurements were made according to ISAK skinfold sites (Marfell-Jones et al., 2006). Each site was measured three consecutive times to assess intra-rater reliability of diagnostic ultrasound to accurately measure subcutaneous adipose tissue. Age, gender, height, weight, and ethnicity were collected from each participant for further analysis of factors that may influence reliability. Each participant was given an estimated body fat percentage based on the measurements taken according to prediction equations used by Leahy et al. (2012) and the participant was given his or her body composition classification according to ACSM classification. The collected data were analyzed with intra-class correlation for intra-rater reliability. Results. The results of this study indicate high intra-rater reliability when using diagnostic ultrasound to measure subcutaneous adipose tissues in both males and females. The results demonstrate a slightly higher ICC in males than in females when using the combined sites ICC, implying that when using diagnostic ultrasound to measure subcutaneous adipose tissue the intra-rater reliability will be greater in males than in females. The results also demonstrate a higher reliability when measuring the abdomen in females compared to males. A higher reliability was demonstrated at the calf site in females compared to the anterior thigh site in males. The results of this study indicate that the combined use of the two sites in males measured have a higher intra-rater reliability compared to individual sites measured. In females, the abdominal site demonstrated higher reliability than the calf site and was equal to the reliability of both sites combined. Conclusion. The use of diagnostic ultrasound in the measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue demonstrated excellent intra-rater reliability for males and females. This research further supports the use of diagnostic ultrasound as an effective tool for the measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue. In conclusion, diagnostic ultrasound has the potential to serve as a quick, safe, and reliable diagnostic tool for assessing the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue of an individual, regardless of gender. Further research regarding the reliability of the measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue in overweight and obese individuals is necessary in order to validate the use of diagnostic ultrasound as an accurate and reliable tool for the prevention and treatment of obesity in the clinical setting.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: Ochs_fgcu_1743_10170
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Intra-Rater Reliability of Diagnostic Ultrasound in Measuring Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Males versus Females.
Creator: Hinds, Morgan
Abstract/Description: Introduction. Obesity is a chronic and dangerous health condition in today’s population that predisposes millions of people to serious health disorders and premature death (Racette, Duesinger, & Deusinger, 2003). In the United States, the prevalence of overweight and obese individuals remains a serious public health problem, as more than one third of adults and 17% of youth in the United States are obese (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014). This major public health challenge requires the...
Show moreIntroduction. Obesity is a chronic and dangerous health condition in today’s population that predisposes millions of people to serious health disorders and premature death (Racette, Duesinger, & Deusinger, 2003). In the United States, the prevalence of overweight and obese individuals remains a serious public health problem, as more than one third of adults and 17% of youth in the United States are obese (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014). This major public health challenge requires the need for implementation of assessment tools and interventions in order to aid in the prevention and treatment of obesity. Several body fat assessment tools exist with varying levels of reliability. It is necessary to assess diagnostic ultrasound as tool for the assessment of body fat in the clinical setting. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine if a difference exists in the intra-rater reliability of diagnostic ultrasound between males and females when measuring subcutaneous adipose tissue. Current literature supports that diagnostic ultrasound can be used to provide accurate and reliable measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue (Bazzochi et al., 2011; Kopinski, Engel, Carlsohn, Cassel, & Mayer, 2014; Leahy et al., 2012; Pineau et al., 2009; Schlecht et al., 2014; Toomey, McCreesh, Leahy, & Jakeman, 2011; Wagner, 2013). Research pertaining to the intra-rater reliability of diagnostic ultrasound is limited and minimal research has been conducted regarding reliability between genders. Methods. Fifty participants were recruited to participate in this research study, including 25 males and 25 females. Participants had two anatomical sites (abdomen for both genders, thigh for males, and calf for females) measured for subcutaneous adipose tissue based on a previous study (Leahy et al., 2012) and measurements were made according to ISAK skinfold sites (Marfell-Jones et al., 2006). Each site was measured three consecutive times to assess intra-rater reliability of diagnostic ultrasound to accurately measure subcutaneous adipose tissue. Age, gender, height, weight, and ethnicity were collected from each participant for further analysis of factors that may influence reliability. Each participant was given an estimated body fat percentage based on the measurements taken according to prediction equations used by Leahy et al. (2012) and the participant was given his or her body composition classification according to ACSM classification. The collected data were analyzed with intra-class correlation for intra-rater reliability. Results. The results of this study indicate high intra-rater reliability when using diagnostic ultrasound to measure subcutaneous adipose tissues in both males and females. The results demonstrate a slightly higher ICC in males than in females when using the combined sites ICC, implying that when using diagnostic ultrasound to measure subcutaneous adipose tissue the intra-rater reliability will be greater in males than in females. The results also demonstrate a higher reliability when measuring the abdomen in females compared to males. A higher reliability was demonstrated at the calf site in females compared to the anterior thigh site in males. The results of this study indicate that the combined use of the two sites in males measured have a higher intra-rater reliability compared to individual sites measured. In females, the abdominal site demonstrated higher reliability than the calf site and was equal to the reliability of both sites combined. Conclusion. The use of diagnostic ultrasound in the measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue demonstrated excellent intra-rater reliability for males and females. This research further supports the use of diagnostic ultrasound as an effective tool for the measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue. In conclusion, diagnostic ultrasound has the potential to serve as a quick, safe, and reliable diagnostic tool for assessing the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue of an individual, regardless of gender. Further research regarding the reliability of the measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue in overweight and obese individuals is necessary in order to validate the use of diagnostic ultrasound as an accurate and reliable tool for the prevention and treatment of obesity in the clinical setting.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: Hinds_fgcu_1743_10167
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Intra-Rater Reliability of Diagnostic Ultrasound in the Measurement of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue.
Creator: Juttelstad, Matthew
Abstract/Description: The rise in global obesity rates over the past 30 years is one of the most serious crises in the world today. Obesity is associated with many serious health risks, and the cost of medical treatment for obesity is estimated at approximately $150,000,000,000 annually. Medical professionals need to find methods to not only treat and to help prevent obesity, but quickly and accurately assess it as well. With dozens of body fat assessment tools of varying reliability and validity, it is important...
Show moreThe rise in global obesity rates over the past 30 years is one of the most serious crises in the world today. Obesity is associated with many serious health risks, and the cost of medical treatment for obesity is estimated at approximately $150,000,000,000 annually. Medical professionals need to find methods to not only treat and to help prevent obesity, but quickly and accurately assess it as well. With dozens of body fat assessment tools of varying reliability and validity, it is important to investigate all potential measures for use in combating the obesity epidemic. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the Intra-rater reliability of diagnostic ultrasound in the measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Previous research has concluded that diagnostic ultrasound is a valid tool for measurement of total body fat percentage, but research on the Intra-rater reliability of the tool is limited at this time. METHODS: 75 participants were recruited to participate in this study. Participants had their body fat assessed in a Bod Pod prior to ultrasound measurements to further expand the data analysis. Additionally, age, gender, and ethnicity were collected to better assess factors that might influence reliability. Participants then had two sites measured for adipose tissue size based on a previous study (Leahy et al., 2012). Each site was measured three separate times to evaluate intra-rater reliability of the diagnostic ultrasound. The collected data were analyzed with intra-class correlation for intra-rater reliability. RESULTS: The ICC for diagnostic ultrasound in the measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue was found to be .999 for the total sample at all three tested sites. Intra-rater reliability can vary between 0 and 1.0, where 0 represents no reliability, and 1.0 represents perfect reliability (Weir, 2005). Additionally, ICC was found to be greater than or equal to .993 at all age groups above 18 at all three tested sites, and above .996 at all body fat percentages from less than 10% to greater than 30% at all three tested sites. Finally, ICC was found to be above .967 at all three tested sites in all ethnicities evaluated, including Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, and African-American. Overall, the intra-rater reliability of diagnostic ultrasound in the measure of subcutaneous adipose tissue was found to be strong in all genders, ethnicities, ages, and body composition types measured. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic ultrasound demonstrated excellent intra-rater reliability in the measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Given the previously demonstrated validity of diagnostic ultrasound in the measurement of total body fat percentage (Leahy et al., 2012), this research further supports diagnostic ultrasound as an effective tool for accurately measuring total body fat percentage.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: Juttelstad_fgcu_1743_10114
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Investigation of Trophic Transfer from Oyster Reefs to Predatory Fishes in Southwest Florida.
Creator: Wasno, Robert Michael
Abstract/Description: Reefs formed by the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica are ecologically and economically important in the estuaries along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States. Crassostrea virginica is a sessile benthic organism that plays a vital role in improving water quality in estuaries by filtering nutrients, sedimentary fines (microscopic sand particles), phytoplankton and pollutants. The resulting increase of sunlight penetration into the water column also helps promote seagrass growth....
Show moreReefs formed by the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica are ecologically and economically important in the estuaries along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States. Crassostrea virginica is a sessile benthic organism that plays a vital role in improving water quality in estuaries by filtering nutrients, sedimentary fines (microscopic sand particles), phytoplankton and pollutants. The resulting increase of sunlight penetration into the water column also helps promote seagrass growth. However, environmental value increases further when oysters and the reefs they create provide feeding stations for many species of predatory fish. These reef structures provide refugia for mobile benthic organisms that utilize the reef's interstitial spaces for protection, feeding and reproductive activities. These organisms are important as a food source for higher trophic level organisms, such as recreationally and commercially important fishes, that use reefs as feeding stations. Previous studies have shown that unique organisms are associated with specific types of benthic habitats, such as oyster reefs, seagrass meadows, mangrove root structure systems and mudflats. Habitats for particular organisms encompass certain characteristics such as physical structure, provision of food, substrate, hydrodynamics and hydrology that, together, determine their utilization by organisms. For example, species of mud crabs in southwest Florida belonging to the family Xanthidae are found predominantly on oyster reefs because of their ability to find protection inside the interstitial spaces between and beneath oyster valves, where they can endure the harsh environment created by inter-tidal exposure, and wave energy. For each of the benthic habitats previously mentioned, there are unique parameters that allow certain organisms to thrive, while others may struggle to survive. Unique organisms that have evolved to exist in a particular environment as their primary residence are usually found in the greatest numbers in those habitats. This presence makes them an indicator species for specific benthic habitats. However, many of these same organisms can be found in lesser numbers in several types of habitat as they could transition between habitats via tidal currents, swimming or hitching a ride on floating algae. This project investigated the link between oyster reef communities and the trophic transfer of biomass to tertiary-level predator fishes that were captured in proximity to isolated reef structures. A previous study using stable isotopes (Abeels et al. 2012), demonstrated trophic transfer of biomass from nutrients in the water column through oysters and several organisms that reside on the oyster reefs. By examining gut contents and identifying prey items classified as oyster reef indicator species, this extension of the trophic link can be established. From January 2006 through September 2006, sampling of fishes around oyster reefs was conducted using an entanglement net (also referred to as a gill net). A total of 294 fishes were captured for analysis of stomach contents. Of those fishes, 106 stomachs contained identifiable prey items. Within the gut contents, a total of 26 different prey item categories were identified. These prey items were then characterized using the Lima-Junior and Goitein (2001) Importance Index method of analysis. This method serves to rank predator diet composition of stomach contents to community prey assemblages of oyster reefs and of those from other benthic habitats. These fishes were captured in the Horseshoe Keys area of Estero Bay, Lee County, Florida from a specified area measuring 4 km2. This site was chosen because of the nearly complete isolation of oyster reef habitat from that of other habitats, such as seagrass. Results showed that prey items indicative of oyster reef residency belonging to the family Xanthidae (mudcrabs) occurred in the greatest number of stomachs (44%). Xanthids found in the stomachs of predator fish include Panopeus spp. and Eurypanopeus depressus. Other prey items deemed to be indicator species of oyster reefs, including Palaemonetes pugio (daggerblade grass shrimp), Alpheus heterochaelis (big claw snapping shrimp), Petrolisthes armatus (green porcelain crab), Opsanus beta (gulf toad fish) and Gobiesox strumosus (skillet fish), occurred in the majority of stomachs, contributing 53% of the overall Importance Index (AI). These indicator species contributed 48% of the dry season diet and 58% of the wet season diet for cumulative prey items of all predators. Results suggest that while the diversity of predatory fish caught in wet and dry seasons did vary, the diets of those fish did not differ significantly. These results demonstrate that several key prey items identified as oyster reef indicator species and found in the stomachs of predatory fishes contribute to oyster reef biomass transfer. Therefore these results identify an important ecological service provided by oyster reefs as feeding sites for a variety of transient fishes. Further studies could show that expanded oyster reef restoration efforts can lead directly to enhanced fisheries production and, peripherally with clearer bay water, to greater production of seagrass meadows. This, in turn, could greatly enhance the overall ecological production of estuaries such as Estero Bay.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: Wasno_fgcu_1743_10084
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Joining "the Cordillera with the Pampa, the Aymara with the Guarayo": Constructing the Bolivian Transportation Network and National Identities, 1880-1935.
Creator: Spencer, Brent D.
Abstract/Description: The Creole nationalist literature of the late nineteenth century in Bolivia is replete with references to plans of consolidating and linking Bolivian national territory by rail, highway, and waterway in order to more effectively exploit and export the country’s mineral and agricultural resources. Caudillos and politicians ceded national territory by conflict and treaty as a consequence of failed efforts to gain access to important seaports and to build a modern export economy with fluid...
Show moreThe Creole nationalist literature of the late nineteenth century in Bolivia is replete with references to plans of consolidating and linking Bolivian national territory by rail, highway, and waterway in order to more effectively exploit and export the country’s mineral and agricultural resources. Caudillos and politicians ceded national territory by conflict and treaty as a consequence of failed efforts to gain access to important seaports and to build a modern export economy with fluid transportation and communication links. Yet as late as 1935, the influential writer, physician, university administrator, and politician, Jaime Mendoza, wrote of the unfulfilled need to build a modern transportation network to connect the “Cordillera with the Pampa, the Aymara with the Guarayo” in a project that was apparently still necessary to “consolidate true nationality.” How did these infrastructure projects simultaneously promote consolidation of the nation-state as a prerequisite for nationalist integration while excluding some populations from the national project? In what ways were people in the diverse regions of Bolivia either seen as assets to be exploited for labor for these projects, or as backward savages to be civilized or exterminated to make way for progress? In what ways did subaltern communities collaborate with these projects, and how did they relate to their position vis-à-vis the state and the national imagination of the Creole elites? This thesis explores the role that national transportation projects played as a catalyst for creating imagined national identities in Bolivia.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: Spencer_fgcu_1743_10124
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Juvenile School Shooters and Adult Mass Murderers: Determining Continuity of Offender and Offense Characteristics.
Creator: Vena, Jessica Lauren
Abstract/Description: Although school shootings and mass murders are not common phenomena, the unexpected, devastating, and media frenzied nature of these events beseech communities, law enforcement, and researchers to take an epistemological approach to better understand these offenders and their crimes. Numerous variables used in the Safe School Initiative (Vossekuil, Fein, Reddy, Borum, & Modzeleski, 2002) were applied to case studies of juvenile school shooters and adult mass murderers to investigate any...
Show moreAlthough school shootings and mass murders are not common phenomena, the unexpected, devastating, and media frenzied nature of these events beseech communities, law enforcement, and researchers to take an epistemological approach to better understand these offenders and their crimes. Numerous variables used in the Safe School Initiative (Vossekuil, Fein, Reddy, Borum, & Modzeleski, 2002) were applied to case studies of juvenile school shooters and adult mass murderers to investigate any congruencies in depth. This study revealed that although they contrasted in many ways (such as location, age of offender, and victimology), the school shooters and mass murders in this study shared more similarities than they did differences. Specifically, offender characteristics and motivations were, overall, more compatible between the two groups of offenders than were characteristics of their offense. The school shooters and mass murderers in this study tended to be socially isolative Caucasian males, who had an extreme fascination with weapons and planned their revenge-based attack.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: Vena_fgcu_1743_10139
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: KINESIOTAPE© APPLICATION TO THE EXTERNAL OBLIQUE AND RESULTING EFFECTS ON CLUB HEAD VELOCITY AND TOTAL DRIVING DISTANCE ON LOW-HANDICAP COLLEGIATE GOLFERS.
Creator: Bridge, Joshua
Abstract/Description: Introduction to Research Question: The objective of this independent research project was to evaluate the resulting effects of KinesioTape© (KT©) application to the external oblique on club head velocity and total driving distance on low-handicap collegiate golfers. Methods: Twenty-eight golfers participated in this study (registered USGA handicap of below 12). Each of the participants received all three conditions (KT© application, segmental KT© application, and no tape) and acted as his/her...
Show moreIntroduction to Research Question: The objective of this independent research project was to evaluate the resulting effects of KinesioTape© (KT©) application to the external oblique on club head velocity and total driving distance on low-handicap collegiate golfers. Methods: Twenty-eight golfers participated in this study (registered USGA handicap of below 12). Each of the participants received all three conditions (KT© application, segmental KT© application, and no tape) and acted as his/her own controls. Each participant completed a total of nine swings, i.e. – 3 swings with each variable, in the FGCU Professional Golf Management performance lab. Trackman© was used to collect data regarding club head speed and ball distance under each of the three conditions. Results: The results confirm there were no statistically significant differences in performance, as measured by club head speed (p = 0.46) or ball distance (p = 0.94), when KT© or segmental KT© is applied, as compared with no tape. Discussion: Questions remain whether a greater sample size or different research methodology would have affected the data measuring the impact of KT© application on improving club head velocity and resulting distance. Conclusion: The results yielded no statistically significant difference between KT©, KT©seg, and no tape application. Despite the results, it is the authors’ belief that KT© still may have beneficial performance enhancements for the golfing population.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: Bridge_fgcu_1743_10231
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Lacrosse: Biomechanics, Injuries, Prevention and Rehabilitation.
Creator: Klemz, Bridgett Lynn
Abstract/Description: Lacrosse is a sport deeply embedded in traditions and respect for the game. The biomechanics necessary to be successful in the sport demand athletes to possess the speed and power of football and hockey athletes as well as the endurance, agility, and strategy of basketball and soccer athletes. With these physical and mental skills athletes are expected to perform shooting, passing, and checking with precision. The sports combination of speed, sticks, balls, and contact make for a unique set...
Show moreLacrosse is a sport deeply embedded in traditions and respect for the game. The biomechanics necessary to be successful in the sport demand athletes to possess the speed and power of football and hockey athletes as well as the endurance, agility, and strategy of basketball and soccer athletes. With these physical and mental skills athletes are expected to perform shooting, passing, and checking with precision. The sports combination of speed, sticks, balls, and contact make for a unique set of injury types, biomechanics, and preventative interventions. Injuries range from minor strains and sprains to season ending anterior cruciate ligament tears, broken bones, and severe concussions. Rehabilitation specialists and strength and conditioning coaches must have a good understanding of each injury sustained in order to ensure each athlete is returned to play based on an appropriate timeline for tissue healing and re-injury is not likely to occur.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: Klemz_fgcu_1743_10051
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Learning from Genocide.
Creator: Mattey, Krystine Elaine
Abstract/Description: Genocide has occurred many times throughout history, for various reasons. When a leader becomes a dictator and commits crimes for reasons that do not serve humanity, we have to ask why this dictator was allowed to come to leadership. The following pages will examine just what factors the dictators Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Slobodan Milosevic had going for them that they were able to commit such horrible crimes in their time of leadership; and if figured out, what can be done to prevent...
Show moreGenocide has occurred many times throughout history, for various reasons. When a leader becomes a dictator and commits crimes for reasons that do not serve humanity, we have to ask why this dictator was allowed to come to leadership. The following pages will examine just what factors the dictators Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Slobodan Milosevic had going for them that they were able to commit such horrible crimes in their time of leadership; and if figured out, what can be done to prevent them from happening again?
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: Mattey_fgcu_1743_10152
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: LEFT ANKLE MODIFIED BROSTROM PROCEDURE WITH FIBULARIS TENODESIS FOLLOWING CHRONIC ANKLE INSTABILITY: A RETROSPECTIVE CASE REPORT.
Creator: Romeis, Richard Gordon
Abstract/Description: Chronic ankle instability refers to the occurrence of repetitive ankle sprains and persistent residual symptoms post-injury. This case report describes the incidence and prevalence of chronic ankle instability as well as the signs and symptoms of chronic ankle instability, factors that comprise chronic ankle instability, and interventions to treat chronic ankle instability both conservatively and surgically. Diagnostic ultrasound will be discussed by being compared and contrasted to other...
Show moreChronic ankle instability refers to the occurrence of repetitive ankle sprains and persistent residual symptoms post-injury. This case report describes the incidence and prevalence of chronic ankle instability as well as the signs and symptoms of chronic ankle instability, factors that comprise chronic ankle instability, and interventions to treat chronic ankle instability both conservatively and surgically. Diagnostic ultrasound will be discussed by being compared and contrasted to other imaging techniques. The case patient is a 35-year-old woman referred to physical therapy by her orthopedic surgeon after a lateral ankle sprain. Following her initial physical therapy, which did not provide an acceptable outcome, she sought surgical intervention and underwent a modified Broström lateral ankle reconstruction procedure with fibularis (formerly known as peroneal) tenodesis and had subsequent physical therapy rehabilitation. Diagnostic ultrasound will be discussed as a viable imaging technique to use in a clinical setting. In particular, to assess the impaired ankle of the aforementioned case patient following a subjective report of increased ankle pain on the operative side following an episode of increased activity. This case report can be used as an illustration of the use of diagnostic ultrasound in an outpatient physical therapy clinical setting to assess soft tissue morphology for patients with acute reports of pain.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: Romeis_fgcu_1743_10054
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Managing a Male Golfers Low Back and Sacroiliac Joint Pain Using Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercises to Avoid Surgery and Continue Scratch Level Play.
Creator: Hoeft, Kathleen Belton
Abstract/Description: The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate a unique way of working with low handicap golfers looking to avoid surgery after two years of low back/sacroiliac pain (LBP/SIJP) and injury. This study used all encompassing treatment sessions each time the patient was seen, including lengthening, strengthening and creating power with less stress on the LB/SIJ region. The treatment looked at decreasing muscle and structural imbalance and engaging all of the muscles when making a swing.
Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: Hoeft_fgcu_1743_10270
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Manual Therapy Techniques in Lymphedema Treatment.
Creator: Hansen, Marissa Marguerite
Abstract/Description: Background and purpose: This case presentation describes the physical therapist examination, evaluation, and interventions for a patient with left upper extremity lymphedema. The patient received complete decongestive therapy with an emphasis placed on the utilization of a home exercise program with self-manual lymph drainage. Case description: The patient was a 55-year-old female who developed left upper extremity lymphedema approximately three months after surgery and chemotherapy for...
Show moreBackground and purpose: This case presentation describes the physical therapist examination, evaluation, and interventions for a patient with left upper extremity lymphedema. The patient received complete decongestive therapy with an emphasis placed on the utilization of a home exercise program with self-manual lymph drainage. Case description: The patient was a 55-year-old female who developed left upper extremity lymphedema approximately three months after surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer. The patient presented with pain and swelling in the left upper extremity, as well as decreased range of motion, and decreased ability to reach overhead and complete functional tasks. Interventions: An intervention program was designed that consisted of manual lymph drainage techniques, compression, skin care education, and therapeutic exercise. The patient received treatment 2 to 3 times a week instead of the recommended 5 times per week, for a total of 9 visits. Outcomes: The outcomes related to lymphedema were measured using the sum of the circumference of each limb. Upon discharge, the patient had a 9% reduction of lymphedema in the left upper extremity. Range of motion was increased back to functional limits, and she was able to resume all normal functional activities. This case presentation demonstrates the effectiveness of a home exercise program with a focus on self-manual lymph drainage.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: Hansen_fgcu_1743_10107
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: MANUAL THERAPY TREATMENT FOR LUMBAR STENOSIS AND ACCOMPANYING RADIATING PAIN.
Creator: Emery, Ryan
Abstract/Description: Background and Purpose: Patients with lumbar stenosis and radiating pain are frequently treated using various forms of manual therapy. This case report study describes a single patient case and the treatment of lumbar stenosis and radiating pain using manual therapy techniques. Case Description: A 53-year-old female presented to outpatient care with 10/10 left lumbar pain and radiating pain present to posterior lateral mid-calf. The patient was in a motor vehicle accident three weeks ago....
Show moreBackground and Purpose: Patients with lumbar stenosis and radiating pain are frequently treated using various forms of manual therapy. This case report study describes a single patient case and the treatment of lumbar stenosis and radiating pain using manual therapy techniques. Case Description: A 53-year-old female presented to outpatient care with 10/10 left lumbar pain and radiating pain present to posterior lateral mid-calf. The patient was in a motor vehicle accident three weeks ago. Symptoms were provoked during right rotation and left lateral flexion of the lumbar spine as well as during prolonged sitting or walking. A multi-modal manual therapy based treatment approach was utilized which included: lumbar spine rotation (Grade II, III) mobilizations, soft tissue mobilization, and therapeutic exercise for lumbar pelvic stabilizer muscle strengthening and neuromuscular control. Outcome: After 12 visits over 5 weeks of treatment, the patient displayed significantly improved strength, range of motion, level of disability, centralization of pain, and reduction of pain. Discussion: While the results described in this case report cannot be generalized, it does depict a successful outcome of a patient with lumbar stenosis and radiating pain using manual therapy techniques and therapeutic exercise.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: Emery_fgcu_1743_10250
Format: Document (PDF)

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