Digital Commons Network^™

Teachers’ Beliefs Towards Learners’ Heritage Languages Inside Schools In A Multilingual Setting, Ivian Boruchowski Phd

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study adds to the conversation about the increasing language diversity in U.S. schools (Paris & Alim, 2014). In the South Florida district discussed here, ELLs represent 16.9% of the total student enrollment (Miami Dade, 2020), and there is a popular narrative about the value of bilingualism in this community. Despite that, Valencia and Lynch (2019), Mackinney (2016), and Lanier (2014) indicated: even though the bilingual political and economic value in South Florida is noticeable, HLs are relegated to a secondary place and with no prestige inside local school settings.

As Garcia and Wei (2014) observed: "language practices cannot be …

A Novel Power-Efficient Wireless Multi-Channel Recording System For The Telemonitoring Of Electroencephalography (Eeg), Mahmoud Sharafi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research introduces the development of a novel EEG recording system that is modular, batteryless, and wireless (untethered) with the supporting theoretical foundation in wireless communications and related design elements and circuitry. Its modular construct overcomes the EEG scaling problem and makes it easier for reconfiguring the hardware design in terms of the number and placement of electrodes and type of standard EEG system contemplated for use. In this development, portability, lightweight, and applicability to other clinical applications that rely on EEG data are sought. Due to printer tolerance, the 3D printed cap consists of 61 electrode placements. This recording …

Exploring Psychopathy Predictors In Males And Females, Teresa M. Encalada

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Psychopathy is a clinical term used to describe a personality disorder. This personality disorder presents as callousness, lack of empathy, feelings of grandiosity, impulsivity, narcissism, and a lack of guilt or remorse (Cleckley, 1951). It is noteworthy that by some estimates, those meeting the criteria of psychopathy commit 20 – 40% of violent crimes (Drislane et al., 2019) and makeup between 15% and 25% of the prison population (Kiehl & Hoffman, 2011). As such, psychopathy is one of the most significant criminal justice constructs of the present day because of the heightened and persistent levels of aggression, criminality, and financial …

Molecular Level Characterization Of Dissolved Organic Matter Integrating Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry And Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry, Dennys Leyva Bombuse

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an extremely complex mixture of organic molecules ubiquitous in aquatic systems and a critical component of the global carbon cycle. Little is known about DOM structural composition at the molecular level. The work presented in this dissertation summarizes the development of a novel analytical toolbox based on trapped ion mobility spectrometry and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (TIMS-FT-ICR MS) that has significantly contributed to expand our knowledge of DOM molecular complexity and diversity. The TIMS-FT-ICR MS/MS analysis provided for the first-time lower and upper estimation of the molecular isomeric diversity. The TIMS-FT-ICR MS/MS …

A Numerical Investigation Of Tornado Production And Intensification In Tropical Cyclones, Marco Paredes

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The environmental conditions required for tornado formation and development in tropical cyclones (TCs) and the mechanisms underlying the intensification of TC tornadoes remain poorly understood. Previous research has suggested that low and mid-level dry air intrusion in TCs may enhance convective instability and influence the production of tornadoes. However, observations have their limitations in answering some of the key questions regarding the relationship among thermodynamic instability, dry air, and TC tornado genesis, development, and dissipation. In this study, a multiple nested Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in a hindcasting mode is used to simulate Hurricane Ivan (2004) by resolving …

Imagining Costumbrismo: Connecting Image And Text In Nineteenth-Century Colombian Cuadros De Costumbres, María Sol Echarren

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Influenced by nineteenth-century scientific trends, Costumbrismo was a literary and artistic genre combining aspects of Romanticism and Realism and presenting traditional customs of autochthonous daily life. Nineteenth-century cuadros de costumbres, or “sketches of manners,” often used local color to depict national scenes, regional types, and cultural traditions. The cuadros, comprised of short but illustrative writings published as periodical pamphlets, contained visually charged descriptive language infused with a didactic objective in order to shape readers’ perspectives about the nation and present specific sociopolitical philosophies.

This dissertation analyzes the connections between literature and art through the written cuadros de costumbres …

Collaboration For Public Services: Explaining Outputs And Outcomes, Jennifer Hilton Montero

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses a current gap in collaborative governance literature pertaining to the performance of collaborative regimes. Specifically, it conceptualizes collaborative performance as consisting of outputs and outcomes and offers a novel way to measure them consistently across policy domains. The study tests the contextual, situational, and institutional design factors that lead to enhanced outputs and outcomes of collaborative forums. The dissertation consists of three essays, and the findings of one form the base for the others. Essay 1 systematically reviews the literature (n=274) and compares the approaches to studying collaboration in public administration to those in political science and …

Reframing First-Year Composition: A Translingual Approach To Writing About Writing, Nicole H. Sirota

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces a course design that brings together two successful approaches to teaching First-Year Writing, Writing about Writing Studies and Translingual Writing, to encourage transfer of writing knowledge and ultimately help students be the best writers they can be. The course situates translingualism within the Writing about Writing approach and suggests assignments that will allow students to recognize their language differences as resources to help create new meanings and fight against the discriminatory expectations of “standard” English often seen in academia. By the end of the course, students will gain agency in their writing allowing them to take greater …

Three Essays On Understanding Social And Economic Responses To Crisis And Disaster Events, Shahnawaz Mohammad Rafi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dissertation comprises three chapters that analyze the social and economic responses to crises and disasters. In the first chapter, I have investigated whether media affects the US official foreign aid channel or crisis related aid. I have examined natural disaster citations in four mainstream US newspapers to analyze whether they influence the Official Development Assistance (ODA) or the short-term crisis related aid need of a recipient following a natural disaster. I created three new media variables to measure the strength of media effect on US ODA, humanitarian aid, and food aid. The empirical analyses indicate that media citation only …

Enhanced Methods For Utilization Of Data To Support Multi-Scenario Analysis And Multi-Resolution Modeling, Syed Ahnaf Morshed

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The success of analysis and simulation in transportation systems depends on the availability, quality, reliability, and consistency of real-world data and the methods for utilizing the data. Additional data and data requirements are needed to support advanced analysis and simulation strategies such as multi-resolution modeling (MRM) and multi-scenario analysis. This study has developed, demonstrated, and assessed a systematic approach for the use of data to support MRM and multi-scenario analysis. First, the study developed and examined approaches for selecting one or more representative days for the analysis, considering the variability in travel conditions throughout the year based on cluster analysis. …

State Of Inequity: Three Essays On Disparities In Justice Provision, William T. Jackson

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inequities in public service provision refer to disparate outputs and outcomes among social groups. This dissertation addresses inequalities in justice provision in American society and has three objectives. The first objective is to test whether the race and ethnicity of top elected law-enforcement officials mitigate disparities in juvenile justice provision among social groups. The second objective is to examine whether the gender of top elected law-enforcement officials affects the severity of justice outcomes at the street level. The third objective is to analyze institutional responses on social media platforms to police misconduct and social unrest after the death of George …

Preparing To Break Barriers: A Mixed Methods Exploration Of The Knowledge, Attitudes, And Perceptions Of Hiv, Prep, And Hiv Risk Behaviors Among Women Of Color In Miami, Florida, Amanda C. Ichite

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. HIV epidemic is characterized by regional, racial, and ethnic disparities. HIV rates are disproportionately higher in the South and Black and Hispanic populations are most impacted. Moreover, the intersectional identity of being a Black or Hispanic woman living in the South has been associated with profound disparities in HIV impact. Prior to the advent of the biomedical HIV prevention tool pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in 2012, women were limited in their options for female-controlled HIV prevention strategies. Despite the proven efficacy of PrEP, utilization in women is significantly lower than other at-risk groups. In the present study, secondary analysis …

Examining The Relationship Of Interoception, Self-Regulation, Eating Domains, And Eating Outcomes In College Students, Shanté Curlina Jeune

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College student weight gain has steadily increased throughout the past decades. Issues resulting from overweight and obesity can lead to chronic disease and increased mortality risk. Inability to maintaining a healthy weight status may be attributable to unhealthy eating behaviors that often lead to poor diet quality and overeating. Recently, cognitive behaviors such as interoception and dietary self-regulation have been of great interest in order to better understand the processes of eating behaviors and their relationship with obesity.

The purpose of this study is to examine the associations of interoception, self-regulation, eating domains and body mass index (BMI) in college …

Novel Materials And Devices For Terahertz Detection And Emission For Sensing, Imaging And Communication, Naznin Akter

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Technical advancement is required to attain a high data transmission rate, which entails expanding beyond the currently available bandwidth and establishing a new standard for the highest data rates, which mandates a higher frequency range and larger bandwidth. The THz spectrum (0.1-10 THz) has been considered as an emerging next frontier for the future 5G and beyond technology. THz frequencies also offer unique characteristics, such as penetrating most dielectric materials like fabric, plastic, and leather, making them appealing for imaging and sensing applications. Therefore, employing a high-power room temperature, tunable THz emitters, and a high responsivity THz detector is essential. …

The Invisible Propaganda: A Case Study Of The Trump Administration’S And The Media’S Messaging On Sanctuary Cities, Valeriia Popova

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

How does systemic propaganda work in contemporary American democracy? The literature suggests that propaganda in its negative meaning is limited to authoritarian regimes. In democracies, it is the corporate and partisan newsrooms that acts as propaganda mouthpieces. This dissertation challenges this status quo and shifts the focus to the interaction between contemporary democratic governments and the media. This dissertation develops a model of democratic propaganda that accounts for the two- step propaganda process in contemporary democracies: the government (responsible for the original message) and the media (responsible for the final message). The project proposes an innovative eight-fold spectrum of media …

Body Fluid Identification Using Dna Extraction Waste Product, Rachel M. Tolces

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In many situations, the amount of DNA evidence recovered at a crime scene is at trace levels, limiting the amount of testing that can be done on the evidence. Because genetic profiling is generally considered the most imperative assay to be completed on a DNA sample, in situations where yield is low, DNA extracts may not be utilized for any other purpose. Fortunately, an alternate source of DNA may exist by utilizing the waste products resulting from DNA extraction.

The goal of this project was to a protocol for recovery of DNA from robotic extraction waste and utilizing this DNA …

A General And Practical Framework For Realization Of Sdn-Based Vehicular Networks, Juan V. Leon

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the recent developments of communication technologies surrounding vehicles, we witness the simultaneous availability of multiple onboard communication interfaces on vehicles. While most of the current interfaces already include Bluetooth, WiFi, and LTE, they are augmented further by IEEE 802.11p and the 5G interfaces, which will serve for safety, maintenance, and infotainment applications. However, dynamic management of interfaces depending on application needs becomes a significant issue that can be best addressed by Software Defined Networking (SDN) capabilities. While SDN-based vehicular networks have been promoted previously, none of these works deal with practical challenges. In this thesis, we propose and develop …

Assessing The Impact Of Intergovernmental Grant Policies In Education - The Case Of Florida, Nga (Angie) Le

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent decades, grant funding from federal and state governments has played an increasing role in school finance. However, prior research shows that education grants are not always effective, and the resources distributed to school districts are often not efficient. Increased federal and state funding does not always improve schools’ effectiveness but instead may trigger greater bureaucracy and a mass-production vision in local education administration.

This research aims to provide a theoretical foundation for and empirical evidence on the impact of intergovernmental aid in education and inform future policy reforms. This study investigates the effects of federal and state grant …

Insights To Protein Pathogenicity From The Lens Of Protein Evolution, Janelle Nunez-Castilla

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As protein sequences evolve, differences in selective constraints may lead to outcomes ranging from sequence conservation to structural and functional divergence. Evolutionary protein family analysis can illuminate which protein regions are likely to diverge or remain conserved in sequence, structure, and function. Moreover, nonsynonymous mutations in pathogens may result in the emergence of protein regions that affect the behavior of pathogenic proteins within a host and host response. I aimed to gain insight on pathogenic proteins from cancer and viruses using an evolutionary perspective. First, I examined p53, a conformationally flexible, multifunctional protein mutated in ~50% of human cancers. Multifunctional …

Allosteric Mechanism On Dream Dimerization And Impact On Its Interactions With Divalent Metal Zn2+, Maria D. Santiago Estevez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

DREAM belongs to the NCS family, and it is involved in several physiological processes mediated by Ca²⁺ association, which produces changes in its oligomerization state. The mechanism of how Ca²⁺ binds to DREAM remains unknown. A kinetic study of the binding of Ca²⁺ to DREAM suggested that DREAM dimerization is a two-step process, the first step( τ₁= 8±0.1ms) is associated with the binding of Ca²⁺ to the monomer, while the second step (τ₂ = 3.6 ±0.4 s ) corresponds to a conformation relaxation that leads to the dimerization. Furthermore, by analyzing the fast …

Serpin-Derived Novel Peptide For The Treatment Against Hiv-Induced Inflammation In The Central Nervous System, Yemmy Soler

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the brain, HIV predominantly infects microglia/macrophages and astrocytes to a lesser extent. These cells form virus reservoirs with low levels of infection that are very hard to eradicate. Even though the use of cART increases survival rate in HIV patients, the virus persists as a chronic condition. cART is not able to effectively cross the BBB, control HIV replication, or attenuate inflammation in brain reservoirs. Therefore, the virus still causes neuronal dysfunction, pain-related pathology, and ultimately HAND. In this study, we decided to test the hypothesis that a serpin-derived small peptide, SP16, can serve as an anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, pro-survival, …

Means To An End: A Qualitative Interview Study On Medical Students And Debt, Alberto Juan Diaz Jr

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Today, 43.4 million Americans owe 1.7 trillion dollars in student loan debt (Hanson, 2022). The American Association of Medical Colleges (2021) reported that 73% of medical students graduate with educational debt, of which the average medical student borrowed $203,062 in student loans. The problem addressed through this study is that as the narrative about student loan debt grows, the hegemonic understanding of debt revolves around the undergraduate student's experience and their eminent struggles regarding repayment of student loans and employment. However, limited research exists on how medical students understand and experience debt.

Several researchers have discussed the lack of understanding …

Assessment Of The Toxicity Of Legacy And Next-Generation Perfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) In Early-Life Stages Of Freshwater And Marine Fish, Kiflom Gebreab

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of synthetic surfactants that have utilized for several decades in a wide range of industrial and manufacturing applications. Owing to their high chemical stability, PFAS are widespread and persistent in the environment, and have been shown to be bioaccumulative in diverse organisms including plants, wildlife, and humans. Exposure to PFASs has been linked to a range of documented toxic and/or adverse effects in relation to human and animal health. The potential environmental health and ecotoxicity of next-generation PFAS remain unclear. In the present study, toxicity, and bioconcentration potential, of several perfluoroether carboxylic …

Lift Every Voice: A Narrative Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Black Female Educators In Public Schools, Rachelle A. Surrancy

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Black female educators (BFE’s) are becoming an anomaly in public school education. This decline, which can be traced back to the period of desegregation, has persisted, as Black female educators comprise only 5% of the current teacher workforce; and this at a time when their presence is needed and critically important to the successful educational experiences and outcomes of all students, but particularly Black students. While much of the research focused on Black female educators has centered around factors contributing to their decisions to leave the field, this dissertation, through the critical lenses of Critical Race Theory (CRT), and Black …

An Evolutionary Optimization Algorithm For Automated Classical Machine Learning, Leila Zahedi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning is an evolving branch of computational algorithms that allow computers to learn from experiences, make predictions, and solve different problems without being explicitly programmed. However, building a useful machine learning model is a challenging process, requiring human expertise to perform various proper tasks and ensure that the machine learning's primary objective --determining the best and most predictive model-- is achieved. These tasks include pre-processing, feature selection, and model selection. Many machine learning models developed by experts are designed manually and by trial and error. In other words, even experts need the time and resources to create good predictive …

An Interpretive Analysis: Black Men, Masculinities, And The Field Of Tropic Play, Mario D. Lewis

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While much has been written about the participation of Black Men in higher education, such scholarship has often been predicated on empirically derived insights that have privileged phenomenological experiences as a primary point of departure for analysis. While this literature has done much to illuminate how higher education scholars and practitioners understand what Black men pursuing higher education experience, I use this study as an opportunity to think differently about this demographic and those experiences.

With the aim of not only providing nuanced understanding of Black men in college, but also a general methodological shift in how they are studied …

Decision-Making Culture And Change: Toward Democratic Equity And Inclusion, Dale Francis

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of challenges to the development of democratic equity and inclusion in administration. It examines Woodrow Wilson’s and the 1968 Minnowbrook Conference participants’ thoughts about public administration in environments of political constraint and crisis. The study consists of four essays. Essay 1 is an overview of Wilson’s concerns for the development of administration and thoughts on a prescribed role for the study. Essay 2 presents an overview of the Minnowbrook Conference concerns, including the traditional political rationality. Essay 3 surveys contemporary equity and inclusion literature and assesses the linkages to the ideas of Wilson and the …

Role Of Novel Immunoregulatory Long Noncoding Rnas In Airway Epithelial Pathophysiology And Chronic Pulmonary Disease, Marko Manevski

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

COPD is currently the third leading cause of death globally, accounting for approximately 6% of all deaths in 2019, and cigarette smoke (CS) is the primary risk factor for disease development.

Transcriptomic analysis of a 3D in vitro model using differentiated human airway epithelial cells (AECs) identified a novel lncRNA on the antisense strand of ICAM-1 or LASI that showed increased expression upon CS exposure. The lncRNA was significantly upregulated in CS-induced Rhesus macaque airways and in human COPD airways that exhibited higher mucus expression and goblet cell hyperplasia, which was recapitulated in vitro. Blocking lncRNA expression in cell culture …

Community-Based Behavioral Understanding Of Mobility Trends And Public Attitude Through Transportation User And Agency Interactions On Social Media In The Emergence Of Covid-19, Md Rakibul Alam

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The increased availability of technology-enabled transportation options and modern communication devices (smartphones, in particular) is transforming travel-related decision-making in the population differently at different places, points in time, modes of transportation, and socio-economic groups. The emergence of COVID-19 made the dynamics of passenger travel behavior more complex, forcing a worldwide, unparalleled change in human travel behavior and introducing a new normal into their existence. This dissertation explores the potential of social media platforms (SMPs) as a viable alternative to traditional approaches (e.g., travel surveys) to understand the complex dynamics of people’s mobility patterns in the emergence of COVID-19. In this …

Effect Of Using The Snackability Smartphone Application To Improve The Quality Of Snack Intake, General Diet Quality, And Weight Among College Students, Lukkamol Prapkree

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College is a challenging period to make healthy food and snack choices and this could lead to poor diet quality and weight gain in the future. The Snackability application (app) was developed using the Social Cognitive Theory for behavior change to help students choose healthy snacks based on the USDA guidelines. The objective of this study was to determine whether the app improved snack, diet quality, and body weight in overweight and obese college students within a two-arm, 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT). A total of 139 participants completed all baseline measures and were randomized into the control or app …