Digital Commons Network^™

Ai Humanizers, Pragmatists, Skeptics: A Cluster Analysis Of Normative Attitudes For Ai’S Capabilities And Roles, Kate K. Mays, Ekaterina Novozhilova

Human-Machine Communication

This study explores people’s attitudes about artificial intelligence’s (AI) capabilities through a normative lens. Drawing from literature on phenomenological, ontological, and heuristic judgments about machines, we aim to better understand what capabilities people think AI should be able to have and how that relates to enthusiasm about having AI take certain roles in their lives. Survey participants (N = 601) were grouped via two-step clustering based on their attitudes, revealing three clusters: AI humanizers, who expect empathy and social interaction from AI; AI pragmatists, who expect cognitive capabilities; and AI skeptics, who prefer AI with limited human-like traits and emphasize …

The Epistemic Power Of Human-Machine Communication, Katrin Etzrodt, Autumn P. Edwards

Human-Machine Communication

This editorial introduces Volume 12 of Human–Machine Communication by positioning communicative machines as epistemic provocateurs that unsettle inherited distinctions among agency, meaning, and relation. Rather than treating these disruptions as anomalies to be resolved, the editorial argues that Human–Machine Communication (HMC) is distinctively equipped to register, analyze, and sustain such epistemological tensions. Drawing on philosophical traditions from Aristotle to Marx and Heidegger, the authors show how contemporary communicative machines simultaneously strain multiple historical settlements that once stabilized human–machine boundaries. The volume frames HMC as a “seismograph” for and as a “practice of” epistemological change, tracing how agency and meaning are …

Whole Earth Machines: Human-Machine Communication For A Green Transition, Klaus Bruhn Jensen

Human-Machine Communication

The climate crisis of the 21st century represents an existential risk to humanity and biodiversity, posing essential questions of how communication may serve to coordinate mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. One recent response has been massive investments by governments and corporations in systems providing feedback on the state of Earth— Whole Earth Machines (WEMs). For human-machine communication (HMC) studies, WEMs invite sustained engagement with communication infrastructures as a key constituent of research agendas, beyond the interface encounters at the center of many HMC studies to date. The article presents a conceptualization and operationalization of WEMs as critical infrastructures …

Wormfood, Susan Mesler-Evans

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

A collection of seven fiction short stories focused on death and mortality, with genres represented including horror, fantasy, science fiction, and literary. The stories include an ecological epistolary narrative set in the near-future, a modern retelling of Hamlet, a Biblical flood narrative, a polyphonic retelling of the Bluebeard myth, a realist drama about abuse and healing, a darkly comic story of a woman planning for her own death, and a sci-fi story about two robots defying their programming to save a flower from destruction.

University Of Central Florida Graduate Catalog, 2025-2026, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Trouble In Paradise: Tracking Tropicalization On Mosquito Lagoon Oyster Reefs, Gabriel T. Silva, Maya Kurian, Katherine Manzelli, Kye Pollard, Johanne Hunt, Avarey Johnson, Kiara Cuevas-Gutierrez, Giavanna Harrington, Giles Cherkaoui, Anya Spara, Tai Powell, Jacob Mclean, Ryan Chin, Kriztian Milanes, Nicholas Groves, Michael Theobald, Justin Moya, Melissa Vance, Logan Chapman, Jordyn Delikat

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

Climate change has caused average temperatures across the globe to increase and the frequency of freezing events in temperate climates to decrease, leading to tropical species moving polewards. This process, known as tropicalization, has been documented on the eastern coast of Florida as the tropical red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) encroaches into temperate communities once defined by the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Mosquito Lagoon, located within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) system, is one community that has experienced an increase of 198% in mangrove coverage on intertidal oyster reefs between 1984 and 2017. Although the frequency of freezes has decreased in …

What Truly Drives Graduate Earnings?, Aiden Akbarov

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

The goal of my project, Predicting the Paycheck: What Factors Truly Influence Graduate Earnings?, was to see if we could actually predict a college graduate's starting salary using data instead of just guessing. I used a dataset of 172 majors from the American Community Survey to look at how a student's field of study, the gender balance of their major, and the current job market all impact their first paycheck. I wanted to create a tool that helps students understand the financial reality of their degree before they even graduate.

To get my results, I used a Multiple Linear Regression …

Non-Destructive Hhxrf Archaeometry For Grouping Individuals Via Trace Element Analysis Of Dental Remains, Griffon G. Binkowski

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Handheld X-ray fluorescence (HHXRF) spectrometry has been validated as an accurate, non-destructive method for analyzing archaeological osseous materials. This study utilizes HHXRF to address key bioarchaeological questions, including population differentiation, individuation, and the interpretation of bioaccumulated trace elements versus diagenetic impacts. Using dental enamel from the Maya site of Altun Ha, Belize (n=20) and several Roman-Christian sites in the Dakhleh Oasis in Egypt (n=6), the occlusal surface of molar crowns was assayed in air using a Bruker Tracer III- equipped with a 12 mil Al, 1 mil Ti, 6 mil Cu filter. Semi-quantitative trace element ratios (Sr/Ca, Fe/Ca, and Zn/Ca) …

Genuine And Meaningful Black Character Narratives In Video Games, Derek L. Manns

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The lack of Black representation in video games reflects stereotypes and hollow narratives. Authentic and meaningful design of Black characters allows Black players a reflection of emotional attachments everyone wants when playing a game. Examining racial identities through avatars, critiquing the notion that customization equates to racial inclusivity, limited options and predominant, white-coded protagonists reinforce systemic biases in games (Dietrich, 2013). My Afrofuturistic content analysis framework explores Black culture with a future of speculative fiction. Reimagining the past, present, and future through Black narratives for alternate futures (Womack). Integrating these ideas enhance culture and aesthetics in this dissertation to highlight …

Lucha Libre: Legends Of The Mask, Anthony J. Aguilar

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Lucha libre, also known as Mexican wrestling, is a cultural phenomenon whose history dates to 1933. Every wrestling match pits flamboyantly costumed and masked wrestlers (luchadores), classified as either the good guys (técnicos) or the bad guys (rudos), against each other in choreographed and dramatized battles. Although lucha libre is often seen as campy or “low brow” due to its exaggerated, theatrical style, this perception overlooks the deeper cultural significance and narrative potential inherent in the form. This thesis will explore the cultural evolution of lucha libre as a highly interactive themed ride attraction. By integrating guest participation through custom …

In The Walls, Taylor S. Arnold

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

In the Walls is a collection of short and flash fiction that uses gothic and speculative elements to explore isolation, identity, gender roles, and experiences of women, including pressures of conformity and the persistent draw of the domestic. In “Poltergeist,” a scorned ghost discovers her supernatural abilities when her husband brings home a new woman. “Home For Sale,” an experimental story structured as a Zillow listing, contains the tale of a housewife’s psychological unravelling amid paranormal encounters in her family’s new home. The titular story, “In the Walls,” focuses on a woman who attempts to conform to a homemaker role …

Ecological And Evolutionary Divergence Of A Shared Sympatric Color Polymorphism In Paracirrhites Hawkfish, Samuel Greaves

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Color polymorphism provides a tractable window into how selection, gene flow, and ecology interact to maintain phenotypic diversity and initiate divergence. I investigate the ecological and genomic basis of sympatric light and melanistic morphs in two reef hawkfishes, Paracirrhites arcatus and P. hemistictus, across Guam and Hawai‘i. This study aims to determine whether the color morphs of these hawkfishes are a stable polymorphism or have begun the process of ecological speciation. For P. arcatus revealed substantially lower density on Guam (0.086 ind/m²) than reported for Hawai‘i (0.292 ind/m²) and a strong skew away from the melanistic morph on Guam …

Laser Beam Shaping Using A Neural Network, Azeem A. Hakim

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Multiphoton lithography (MPL) is a method of laser-based 3D-printing for fabricating micron-scale structures point-by-point in a photopolymerizable medium. MPL’s high-resolution capabilities have made it a powerful method for the fabrication of many devices, such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and tissue scaffolds.  The throughput of MPL processes can be increased by using spatially shaped laser beams that expose large areas or volumes simultaneously. A laser beam can be reshaped by passing it through a spatial light modulator (SLM) displaying a pre-designed phase mask. One type of laser beam profile used for this purpose is the Bessel beam, a type of structured …

Comparative Analysis Of Serum-Free Culture Conditions On Cell Proliferation And Extracellular Vesicle Production By Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Ayna Ghulldu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are promising candidates in regenerative medicine due to their proliferative capacity, self-renewal, and secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs) that mediate intercellular communication. Serum-free media has been increasingly explored for MSC culture as it eliminates xenogeneic components, improving human therapeutic suitability. However, comparative evaluation of distinct serum-free formulations on ADSC proliferation and EV output simultaneously remains limited. This study compares a serum-containing medium to three proprietary serum-free media prototypes differing in composition, including the presence or absence of extracellular matrix proteins, to inform the optimization of culture conditions for clinical use. Proliferation, EV characteristics, and gene expression …

The Depuration Of Microplastic Pollution In Aquacultured Indian River Lagoon Oysters, Lee Nguyen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Plastics are widely used in consumer goods and industrial manufacturing, and their degradation into microplastics (MP, size < 5 mm) has created an emergent environmental pollutant. Plastics readily enter aquatic environments, where they accumulate additional contaminants and bioaccumulate in organisms. While MP contamination in marine ecosystems is well documented, less is known about MP presence in aquacultured shellfish. Depuration, the process of purging contaminants from shellfish, is conducted in sterile seawater without food, which may cause oyster starvation and death. To date, MP depuration has not been examined in the aquacultured eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in published studies. This study had 3 goals: 1) evaluate the effects of algal feed on oyster survival during depuration, 2) determine the effect of algal feed on depuration effectiveness, and 3) investigate the effect of a ten-day depuration on MP concentration in aquacultured C. virginica soft tissue. MP were quantified in oyster tissues, biodeposits, and in industrial algal feed. Tissues were digested using alkaline solutions, manually examined via microscopy, and analyzed using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to investigate MP polymer …

The Impact Of Gastric Sleeve And Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass On Chief Cell Function And Protein Digestion In Obese Patients, Garikoitz Mikel Gainza

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Obesity has become one of the largest global health concerns of the 21^st century, correlating with numerous associated diseases. To help address the growing prevalence and burden of obesity, sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass have become two commonly performed surgical procedures done to promote weight loss by altering the anatomical structure of the stomach and surrounding organs of the gastrointestinal system. Although the benefits of improved metabolism linked to these surgical procedures are well studied, their impact on the physiology of gastric cells, and more specifically chief cells as they relate to protein digestion post-surgery, is yet to …

Noninvasive Monitoring Techniques: The Use Of Scat-Sourced Dna And Camera Traps To Monitor Mammalian Carnivore Species At The Ucf Arboretum, Zachary Montealegre

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The 800-acre University of Central Florida Arboretum Natural Lands functions as a conservation area, recreational space, and research site, making it essential to understand the ecological community it supports. Traditional wildlife monitoring methods such as mark-recapture and blood sampling can be effective but may stress animals or disrupt natural behaviors. To minimize these impacts, this study used non-invasive techniques, specifically scat-based DNA analysis and camera trapping, to assess carnivore species' presence. Two ecologically similar sites within the Arboretum were selected. Suspected carnivore scat was collected twice weekly over two months using both structured and opportunistic sampling. DNA was extracted, amplified, …

Impact Of Lifestyle Factors On Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms And Quality Of Life Among College Students, Lina Saint-Hilaire

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study aims to examine the influence of certain lifestyle factors on the presentation of allergic rhinitis symptoms and the quality of life of college students. Factors of interest include residential setting, household cleaning habits, age of symptom onset, and exposure to household pets. Additional analysis includes assessment of the impact of allergic rhinitis symptoms on sleep. Using a cross-sectional survey design, student responses were self-reported through a paper survey distributed during tabling days at the University of Central Florida (UCF) main campus. Eligible participants had to be 18 years or older and current UCF graduate and undergraduate students. Survey …

Bodies Of Knowledge: The Accuracy Of Medical Anatomical Drawings From The 14th To The 18th Century, Marina G. Mitchell

Honors Undergraduate Theses

From the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries, European anatomical illustration underwent major transformations in response to changing scientific methods, technologies, and visual conventions, reflecting critical transitions in anatomical history. Scientific evolution allowed these images to achieve increasing structural precision and internal detail, though they frequently diverged from anatomical forms as they are understood today. This study examines how anatomical inaccuracies across five centuries emerged not from ignorance, but from deliberate mediation between purpose, observation, pedagogy, artistic convention, and cultural ideology. Through close analysis of works in visual comparison to their modern counterparts, this thesis identifies specific deviations from the twenty-first …

Social Determinants Of Health Affecting Cardiovascular Health Among South Asian Americans, Ann Mary Thomas

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: South Asian Americans experience disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease, yet the social determinants contributing to these disparities remain understudied.

Objective: This systematic review examines the role of social determinants of health (SDOH) in shaping cardiovascular outcomes among South Asian Americans.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science using predefined search terms related to South Asian populations, cardiovascular health, and SDOH. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 reporting guidelines, and study screening and management were performed using Covidence. A total …

Distribution And Morphology Of Catecholaminergic Axons And Terminals In Flat-Mounts Of The Whole Left Ventricles Of Rats: Tracing, Digitization And 3d Scaffold, Emily Liu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cardiac sympathetic innervation plays a vital role in regulating various heart functions, and its remodeling has been linked to a range of cardiovascular diseases. To understand cardiac sympathetic innervation and remodeling, it is important to elucidate the topographical distribution and morphology of sympathetic axons in the whole left ventricle. However, immunohistochemistry (IHC) on whole heart tissues presents challenges due to their thickness, as conventional methods label only small sections. This disrupts tissue integrity and neural connections. To overcome this, we developed a whole flat-mount technique to process the rat heart (ventricle thickness: 3 mm). We performed cardiac sympathetic nerve imaging …

Investigating The Interaction Of Gram-Positive Lactobacillus Species With Mucin In The Context Of Barrett's Esophagus, Ritisha Suresh

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) can progress to the precancerous Barrett’s Esophagus (BE) condition, in which the normal esophageal squamous epithelium is replaced with a columnar epithelium containing goblet cells. Mucins, sticky substances, are secreted in response to bile acid exposure during reflux episodes to protect the esophageal epithelium. Goblet cells secrete these mucins, which can also scaffold microbial colonization. Probiotic Lactobacillus bacteria can use glycosidase enzymes to process mucin and metabolize them into their component sugars (glycans). This project aims to identify the role of the Lactobacillus-mucin interaction in BE, as glycan availability could confer an advantage to Lactobacillus …

Investigating Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Cardiometabolic Outcomes Among Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: An Umbrella Review, Gianna C. Santoni

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinological disorders affecting women of reproductive age. Due to the possibility of a genetic component affecting women with PCOS, evidence supports varying health outcomes among racial and ethnic groups. This literature aims to answer the question: Does the prevalence of cardiometabolic outcomes differ among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome across racial/ethnic groups? This umbrella review was conducted in accordance with JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and PRIOR reporting guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO (CRD420261303872) before completion. PubMed, MEDLINE via EBSCOhost, and Web of Science via EBSCOhost were searched from …

Socialization Interventions For Older Adults In Assisted Living Facilities: A Systematic Review, Anoop S. Muvva

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Older adults, defined as individuals over the age of 65, are a growing population in the United States, with projections estimating this group will reach approximately 80 million persons by 2050. Over 90% of older adults are diagnosed with a chronic condition, which can make it difficult to carry out the activities of daily living. As a result, some older adults reside in assisted living facilities, where dedicated staff provide daily support. However, issues in the delivery of care within these settings, including unmet socialization needs and complications among care staff, may contribute to social isolation. Programs designed to address …

Comparative Spatial Biology: A Cross-Species Analysis Of Canine Oral Cancers As Models For Human Disease, Ram Pradhyumnan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), one of the most common malignancies of the oral cavity, remains a clinically challenging disease due to its aggressive behavior, late-stage diagnosis, and limited improvements in therapeutic outcomes over recent decades. A significant barrier to progress in OSCC research and treatment is the lack of suitable preclinical models that recapitulate the complexity and natural progression of the disease. Most current models—including cell lines, xenografts, and genetically engineered mice—fail to capture key features such as the spatial organization of tumor epithelium, interactions with an intact immune system, and the stepwise evolution from normal mucosa to invasive …

Who Makes The Jury? Demographics And Decision-Making In The Jury Process., Ana B. Pons

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Within the American judicial system, juries have played a central role in promoting representation and fairness in the courtroom. However, limited information exists on whether prosecutorial decisions during jury selection, jury composition, or jury behavior differ based on the sex, race/ethnicity, type of case, political ideology, or geographic location of potential jurors. Following PRISMA guidelines, this scoping review synthesizes 48 peer-reviewed articles published between the 1940s and 2026 to examine whether prosecutorial decision-making and jury outcomes vary based on the sex, race/ethnicity, type of case, political ideology, or geographic location of potential jurors. Findings indicated that men are disproportionately selected …

Invasion Of Microplastics Into The Reproductive Tissues Of Feral And Domestic Felines, Emma K. Quade

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Although plastics have many useful properties in modern society, once these materials are introduced into the environment, they can cause extensive damage. Following degradation into microplastics (MP), plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, these contaminants can make their way into a variety of different environments and organisms. There are many studies that have investigated the prevalence of MP in marine environments, but fewer studies have looked into terrestrial systems, and even less that have focused on contamination in companion animals. This study sought to investigate the invasion of MP into the reproductive tissues of felines, Felis catus, …

Analyzing Early Medieval Perspectives Of Fetal Development, Nivedha Srinivasan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis examines early medieval perspectives of fetal development by analyzing two manuscripts: British Library, Cotton Tiberius A III and Leiden University, Vossianus lat. Q69. This study will investigate how knowledge of pregnancy was shared throughout England before the establishment of universities. Interest in medieval reproductive language has piqued in importance in recent years, especially due to modern legal debates surrounding reproductive rights. By examining descriptions of the nine months of fetal development in these two manuscripts, as well as in widely known earlier medical texts like Pliny’s Natural History and Vindicianus’ Gynaecia, this research explores how monastic writers in …

Listening To The Cemí: An Exploration Of Taíno Spirituality Culture Through Artifact Analysis And Digital Archives, Jordan G. Richardson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

My research explores the evolution and continuity of Taíno spirituality culture across five centuries through artifact analysis and digital archives. While Spanish imperialism in the 15th century devastated Taíno populations and traditional craft production, I find that Taíno spirituality was not eradicated but rather adapted its mode of expression. The shift in medium from primarily pre- and peri- physical cemí artifacts (carved from wood and stone) to contemporary digital representations (online archives, blog posts, YouTube videos) illustrates two things: a) strategic integration of Taíno technological use to preserve spiritual practices while reestablishing cultural connectivity through education, community, and resistance movements, …

Generating Genomic Resources For The Pink Sundew And Its Specialist Herbivore Moth From A Single Gene To Entire Genomes, Kerissa F. Tarpley

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Genomic resources are critical for the conservation of threatened species, providing valuable insights into genetic diversity, population structure, and adaptive potential. This thesis focuses on two ecologically interconnected species: the carnivorous plant pink sundew (Drosera capillaris) and its specialist herbivore the sundew plume moth (Buckleria parvulus). The sundew and plume moth face an uncertain future as their vital bog habitats continue to disappear. The sundew plays a crucial role in the life cycle of the plume moth, which relies on the sundew during its larval stages for survival. To aid in species detections, I first generated …