Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Results Of Revolutions In The Third World: A Case Study Of The Iranian, Libyan, And Nicaraguan Revolutions, Noah A. Mohammedelamien

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis examines the post-revolutionary trajectories of Libya, Iran, and Nicaragua to explain why some Third World revolutionary projects preserve and use elements of their founding ideology while others fragment, personalize, or diffuse over time. Rather than focusing on the causes of revolution alone, it analyzes the durability of religious-socialist ideological continuity after revolutionary upheaval. Using a (MDSD) comparative historical and institutional approach grounded in primary and secondary sources, the study evaluates five key dimensions across the cases: religious-socialist ideological fusion, religious elite loyalty, popular religious mobilization, institutional embedding of ideology, and external pressure. The findings suggest ideological continuity is …

Are Courts Developing A Consistent Standard For Sanctioning Attorneys Who Misuse Genai In Legal Filings?, Natalia Borges

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis examines whether Florida courts are developing an emerging statewide standard governing attorney use of generative artificial intelligence in litigation and whether this trend supports the need for formal statewide codification. This study addresses growing concerns about fabricated citations, unverified legal research, attorney sanctions, and inconsistent disclosure practices as generative artificial intelligence becomes integrated into legal drafting and research. This research reviews the Florida Rules regulating the Florida Bar, ethics guidance on generative AI, Florida procedural certification requirements, disciplinary actions, and administrative orders from Florida judicial circuits that require disclosure and verification of artificial intelligence use in court filings. …

Beyond Full Fine-Tuning: The New Playbook For Adapting Deep Neural Networks, Cristian S. Mcgee

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Fine-tuning is the process of teaching and specializing a pre-trained neural network on a downstream task. Fine-tuning is a rapidly growing topic in artificial intelligence domains; however, many fine-tuning endeavors are highly specialized without a coherent framework connecting them. This work presents a unified perspective on fine-tuning methods and performance metrics. Our perspective organizes the methods in terms of how they are applied to fine-tuning. This framework showcases methods that (i) update effective subspaces of the pre-trained model, (ii) change the adaptation optimization procedure, and (iii) alter the representations of the embedded input. Additionally, we present unconventional metrics such as …

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, …

How Does Economic Policy Uncertainty Affect Individual Contributions To Retirement Accounts?, David I. Becker

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study tests whether Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) is associated with U.S. retirement contributions and whether responses differ across account types. Using annual contribution data for defined contribution plans and Traditional and Roth IRAs with the Baker, Bloom, and Davis EPU index, I estimate multivariate regressions with standard macroeconomic controls and compare contemporaneous and lagged specifications. EPU is positively associated with 401(k) contributions, negatively associated with Traditional IRA contributions in the contemporaneous model, and not statistically significant for Roth IRAs. These results suggest uncertainty may shift how households save for retirement rather than uniformly reducing retirement saving.

Associations Between Oral Hormonal Contraceptive Use, Digestive And Other Health Symptoms In Young Women, Silviana E. Buzatu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Oral hormonal contraceptives (OHCs) are widely used among reproductive-age women; however, their gastrointestinal (GI) side effects remain understudied. The present study examined associations between OHC use, GI, physical, and psychological symptom burden in a large sample of undergraduate women. Participants (N = 669) aged 18 to 25 years were recruited from UCF’s SONA system and classified into three groups based on self-reported contraceptive status: no birth control, combined estrogen–progestin OHC, and progestin-only OHC. Participants completed GI questionnaires, as well as physical and mental health symptoms ones.

Multivariate analyses indicated that overall GI symptom profiles did not differ significantly by birth …

Repurposing Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors For The Discovery Of Novel Antiplasmodial Compounds, Ritam Bhowmik

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Malaria remains a major global health burden with over 282 million cases annually and rising resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies. Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal malaria parasite species in humans, relies on tightly regulated cell cycle progression during replication within red blood cells. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are central regulators of eukaryotic cell division and transcription, and several CDK-like enzymes in P. falciparum, including Pfmrk and PfPK6, are essential for parasite growth and structurally distinct from human kinases. This study evaluated whether commercially available human CDK inhibitors (CDKIs) targeting cancer pathways could be repurposed as novel antimalarial compounds. A library of …

Self-Reported Psychological Effects Of Rock Climbing In Adults On The Autism Spectrum, Brennan Gleason

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Prior research has shown rock climbing to have considerable therapeutic potential through such mechanisms as boosting self-esteem, promoting mindfulness, and creating a supportive social community. (Liu et al., 2022, Osborne et al., 2025). Meanwhile, autistic adults experience mood disorders at a significantly higher rate than the general population; upwards of 54% are diagnosed with a psychiatric condition (Croen et al., 2015). Many of the issues negatively affecting autistic adults align with the benefits of rock climbing, including low self-esteem, inadequate social support, and anxiety.

Objective: This study aimed to find differences in mental health outcomes between autistic adults who …

Health Care Governance And Structural Exclusion In Florida: A Human Rights Analysis Of Access For Latinx Communities, Natalie Medrano

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Access to health care in the United States is a complex system shaped by statutory programs and the discretionary powers of state governance. This thesis examines how Florida’s healthcare system structures access through administrative design, with particular attention to its impact on Latinx communities. Although formally race-neutral, Florida’s reliance on Medicaid non-expansion, managed care delivery, and complex eligibility processes produces systemic barriers that limit access for low-income populations. Drawing on the international right-to-health framework articulated in General Comment No. 14 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, alongside Latinx Critical Race Theory (LatCrit), this study analyzes how …

Manuka Honey Modulates Oxidative Stress In Neuro2-A Cells Through Mitochondrial Regulation, Rachel Abramovici

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Manuka honey is known for its vital usage in wound healing, being an agonist towards fighting infections, and is an acting antioxidant [32]. Its main constituents are flavonoids and phenolic compounds, with methyl syringate (MSYR) being a major active ingredient. The specific compounds responsible for these antioxidant effects, particularly in the CNS, remain unclear. It is hypothesized that pre-treatment of mouse neuroblastoma cells with MSYR followed by hydrogen peroxide exposure will activate the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1a pathway, due to MSYR’s phenolic structure, and thus reduce oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial biogenesis. Hydrogen peroxide is a standard reactive oxygen species (ROS) treatment to …

Transforming Florida Chemistry Education: Exploring Information Literacy Strategies From Singapore, Han N. Le

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study explores the applicability of Singapore’s information literacy (IL) strategies within Central Floridian higher education environments. Singapore’s national IL framework, supported by its Ministry of Education, integrates information and communication technology (ICT), professional development, and lifelong learning initiatives through a standardized, systemwide approach. In contrast, IL instruction in the United States is largely decentralized, often limited to one-time sessions or elective courses. To investigate the feasibility of adapting Singapore’s practices, surveys were distributed to faculty and librarians across Florida’s twelve public universities, yielding responses that highlighted varying levels of IL integration, limited institutional support, and minimal professional training related …

A Systematic Literature Review Of The Possible Negative Impacts Of Overconsumption Of Mass Media And Technology On Elementary-Aged Members Of Generation Z (1997–2012) And Generation Alpha (2013–2024), Ashya Y. Warren

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis explores the possible negative impacts of overconsumption of mass media and technology on the elementary-aged members of Generation Z (1997-2012) and Generation Alpha (2013-2024). This research is aimed at establishing the relationship between excessive and uncontrolled exposure to digital media and cognitive, emotional, social, behavioral, and academic difficulties at a critical period of child growth. The purpose of this systematic literature review can be explained by the author's experience with technology overuse and professional interests as a future teacher, who should be prepared to help promote healthy childhood and development. The systematic literature review was based on peer-reviewed …

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 …

Multicomponent Deoxyribozyme Probes For Targeted Detection Of Cancer Associated Gene Insertions, Samuel R. Veleke

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Insertions and deletions (indels) in DNA sequences of genes are linked with cancers such as glioblastoma (GB). Thus, indels may be used as potential cancer biomarkers. In the NANOG gene, its pseudogene NANOGP8 has a 22 base pair insertion sequence for GB patients. In this work, the NANOG gene and the insertion sequence were detected in one sample using a dual-fluorescent assay containing two multicomponent split deoxyribozyme (Dz) probe complexes. One complex used TXR fluorescence to detect the gene regardless of the insertion’s presence. The other complex used fluorescein (FAM) fluorophore to detect the insertion. The probes were able to …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Nurse-Led Prenatal Education On Maternal Outcomes And Labor Satisfaction, Alexis Boris

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Prenatal education has been a long-time major component of maternal healthcare, which has been known to impact expectant mothers and their level of preparedness during the labor and birthing process. Nurses have historically been key educators in the maternity field, due to their accessibility, education, and holistic approach in the healthcare system. Despite their recognition as vital educators in this field and the importance of maternal prenatal education, maternal healthcare is still affected by many modern-day factors, such as access to healthcare and education, health disparities, and negative childbirth experiences. This integrative literature review aims to evaluate the overall effectiveness …

Slay Her: The Rhetoric Of Violation In Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Lea N. Wright

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This research draws on feminist theory and monster theory to perform a close rhetorical analysis of incidents in the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy) where female characters are violated physically, psychologically, and/or sexually. Buffy is one of the most-analyzed television shows of all time, with a particular emphasis on the show’s engagement with feminism; however, the issue of violation has received little scholarly investigation despite multiple instances of it within the show. Through examining the rhetorical elements (such as dialogue, camerawork, body language, and character response) that surround incidents of violation, this research reveals that Buffy …

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 …

Gen Z Perspectives On Mental Health Service Interaction: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Reddit Discourse, Victor A. Aguiar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Compared to prior generations, Generation Z engages with mental health and mental health service interaction in distinct ways, frequently using social media platforms to share experiences, concerns, and opinions. Previous research has examined mental health discourse on Reddit; however, much of this work relies on inductive thematic approaches and offers limited focus on mental health service interaction and the factors influencing utilization. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study examines how Generation Z discusses mental health service use through online discourse. Public Reddit posts authored by users identifiable as Generation Z, based on self-reported age, school enrollment, …

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 …

Socioeconomic Stressors And Their Association With Anxiety And Depression In Undergraduate And Graduate Students, Shreyaashri Selvakumar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Socioeconomic status (SES) is a social determinant of mental health that may influence the prevalence of anxiety and depression in undergraduate and graduate students. Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often encounter financial, academic, and social stressors, which may contribute to poorer mental health outcomes. This study investigates the association between SES-related factors and symptoms of anxiety and depression in undergraduate and graduate students. Data were collected from a large national survey of students in various degree programs and included measures of financial circumstances, food and housing insecurity, access to mental health services, and other demographic variables. Symptoms of depression and …

Perceptions Of Illicit Drug Use And Perceived Drug Misuse Risks Among Individuals With Military Experience, Emilia Havlicek

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study investigates perceptions of illicit drug use and perceived drug misuse risks among individuals with military experience in the United States, highlighting how military service shapes attitudes toward substance misuse. Using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this research examines the influence of military status, combat exposure, PTSD, gender, and sociodemographic factors on perceptions of drug-related risk. Findings indicate that while most individuals perceive illicit drug use as highly risky, important differences exist among subpopulations, particularly female veterans, who are more likely to perceive lower levels of risk. The study explores how military culture, …

Impact Of Senescence On Breast Cancer Outcomes, Gracie Sous

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cellular senescence is a biological process in which damaged cells exit the cell cycle while remaining metabolically active and accumulating within tissues. Senescence plays a complex role in breast cancer progression, largely through the secretion of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors. These factors include a broad range of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and signaling molecules that can influence the tumor microenvironment.

Studies suggest that senescence may significantly promote cancer metastasis. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the genes involved in cancer progression and to improve understanding of how SASP is regulated, which is critical for improving breast cancer outcomes. The central …

Feasibility Of Telehealth-Delivered Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy For Managing Gastrointestinal Health: Exploring Specific Vs. Nonspecific Effects, Sabrina Romero

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of telehealth-delivered Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH) compared to General Hypnotherapy (GH) for managing gastrointestinal symptoms associated with disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI). Eleven adults were randomized to receive four 1-hour hypnotherapy sessions over a 14-day period via Zoom (GH n = 5; GDH n = 6). Primary outcomes included PROMIS GI Belly Pain T-scores and Abdominal Pain Ratings assessed at baseline and post-treatment. Follow-up assessments were conducted at three months (n = 8). At post-treatment, participants receiving GDH demonstrated significantly lower PROMIS GI Belly Pain T-scores compared to GH, F(1, …

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 …

Do Fair Schedules Matter? Work-Home Conflict And Justice In Emergency Medicine, Maresca J. Brand

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Emergency physicians work in a high-demand environment requiring irregular, around-the-clock schedules, which can contribute to elevated work-home conflict and burnout. While previous research has focused on objective schedule characteristics such as length of shift or time of day worked, less attention has been given to how emergency physicians perceive the fairness of the scheduling process itself. Drawing on Work-Home Resources Theory and Personal Resource Allocation Theory, this study examines whether perceptions of schedule justice influence work-home conflict via schedule satisfaction. I propose that perceived fairness in schedule creation functions as a contextual resource that shapes whether a schedule is experienced …

Unmasking Impression Management: Large Language Models For Detecting Socially Desirable Responding In Open-Ended Situational Judgment Tests, Barret Vermilion

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Socially desirable responding (SDR) — the tendency to present oneself in an overly favorable light — remains a persistent validity concern in industrial-organizational psychology. Contemporary theory frames SDR as multidimensional, distinguishing agentic impression management (AM; inflating competence, dominance, and achievement) from communal impression management (CM; inflating warmth, cooperation, and prosocial qualities). Existing measures of AM and CM rely on self-report, which captures these constructs only at the level of generalized trait-like tendencies rather than as they naturally unfold in applicants' own language. This dissertation proposes a text-based alternative: detecting AM and CM in open-ended situational judgment tests (SJTs) of Big …

Optically-Pumped Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, Dhruvkumar Desai

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) offer a low-cost, compact solution for power amplification needs in an optical communication system compared with the dominant erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). They can also provide a wide gain bandwidth. However, conventional electrically-pumped SOAs suffer from larger noise figures, low saturation power, and polarization dependence, in comparison with EDFAs. We propose an optically-pumped SOA (OP-SOA) that will maintain the benefits of conventional SOAs while closing the gaps in other amplifier performance metrics. The underlying reasons for optical pumping are twofold. First, optical pumping allows higher carrier injection and thus "population inversion." Second, optical pumping decouples carrier …

Minimizing Performance Overheads For Crash-Consistency In Disaggregated Persistent Memory, Khan Shaikhul Hadi

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Compute express link (CXL) enables persistent memory disaggregation with memory pooling and hardware managed multi-host memory sharing capability, resulting in better resource utilization, increased scalability. Persistency-aware applications need to manage crash consistency across the system which results in significant performance overhead. This dissertation systematically investigates performance overhead to achieve crash consistency in disaggregated persistent memory and proposes solutions to enable persistency-aware application scaling for distributed system. First, we study persistent parallel programming to scale computation capability beyond single processor and determine the underlying hardware limitation to adopt lock-free data structure. We propose hardware support to design durable atomic instruction (DAI) …