Digital Commons Network^™

A Phenomenological Study Of The Stem Identity Experiences Of Women Stem Faculty Who Obtain Federal Grants, Nicole Whetstine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how STEM identity development influences the experiences of women STEM faculty who obtained federal grant funding. Data was collected from semi-structured interviews conducted with ten full-time women faculty in STEM employed at U.S. postsecondary institutions who were or were previously lead investigator on a federal grant. Herlihy and Campbell's (2018) socio-cultural-STEM identity theoretical framework informed the data analysis. Findings from the study revealed four primary ways in which participants were positively influenced in STEM including: (a) having supportive interactions with others; (b) being encouraged by others; (c) finding connections with …

A Causal Comparative Study Of Principal Perceptions Of Instructional Leadership Practices In One Central Florida School District, Tracy Shenuski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this causal comparative quantitative study was to examine relationships between types of crises, perceptions of instructional leadership practices, and length of service as principal. Data from a purposive sampling using the Instructional Leadership, Job Satisfaction, and Retention Survey (ILJSRS) were collected from principals in one district and analyzed to assess the impact crises played on their perceptions of instructional leadership practices and their retention. Independent variables included demographics, type of crisis (weather, violence, health), and principal retention. The dependent variable was perception scores on the ILJSRS. Statistical analyses included the General Linear Model with Robust Standard Errors …

Gamification Of Sleep Hygiene Education For Insomnia: An Examination Of Its Efficacy And The Role Of Individual Differences, Christine Seaver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Insomnia is a sleep disorder which is classified by one's persistent inability to fall asleep or maintain sleep. One common yet controversial approach to treating insomnia is sleep hygiene education (SHE). Sleep hygiene is defined as behaviors that promote quality sleep. SHE is typically provided through as a paper sheet containing a list of recommendations, and the findings regarding its efficacy are mixed. Providing insomnia sufferers with a SHE treatment modality that offers practice, feedback, and motivation may be effective at treating insomnia. Therefore, the first goal of the present study is to examine the efficacy of a game-based SHE …

Population Persistence And Disease Invasion In Heterogenous Networks, Poroshat Yazdanbakhshghahyazi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The problem of understanding how biological species and infectious diseases can persist and spread in heterogeneous networks has brought a wide attention, recently highlighted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This dissertation investigates the connection between the structures of heterogeneous networks and population persistence/disease invasion. To do so, we propose a new index for network heterogeneity by employing the Laplacian matrix of population dispersal and its corresponding group inverse. The network growth rate and reproduction number can be evaluated using the network average and the network heterogeneity index as the first and second order approximation, respectively. We also illustrate the impact …

Improving The Performance And Durability Of Metal Contacts In Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells Using Advanced Characterization, Nafis Iqbal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Solar energy is one of the fastest growing forms of energy generation due to its low cost, lack of emissions, minimal maintenance, and excellent durability. However, like any other technology, it is also not free from defects and degradation, which limit its performance in the real world. Most of the degradation is related to metal contacts, which also happens to be one of the most expensive items in manufacturing, comprising almost half of the cost of converting a silicon wafer into a photovoltaic (PV) cell. Therefore, studying contact degradation to make them reliable and free of defects is the key …

The Acute Effects Of Continuous And Intermittent Blood Flow Restriction On Sprint Interval Performance And Muscle Oxygen Responses, Aaron Wizenberg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of intermittent and continuous blood flow restriction (BFR) during sprint interval training (SIT) on muscle mitochondrial function and perceived effort. Fifteen men volunteered to participate in this investigation and were randomly assigned to complete SIT with CBFR, IBFR, and NoBFR. Each SIT session consisted of 2, 30s maximal sprints on a cycle ergometer with a resistance of 7.5% of body mass. Peak power (PP), total work (TW), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), sprint decrement score (Sdec), and muscle oxygen responses were measured during each sprint. Before (pretest) and after (posttest) …

Machine Learning Algorithms For Forecasting The Impacts Of Connected And Automated Vehicles On Highway Construction Costs, Amirsaman Mahdavian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

A multitude of externalities affects transport efficiency and numbers of trips. Population expansion, urban development, political issues, fiscal trends, and growth in the field of connected, automated, shared, and electric (CASE) vehicles have all played prominent roles. While the market is keenly aware of the upcoming shift to the CASE vehicles, the transformation itself is reliant upon the development of technologies, customer outlook, and guidelines. The purpose of this research is to establish an overview of the possible network design problems, as well as potential consequences to vehicle automation systems by employing machine learning and system dynamics analysis. Finally, the …

Automatic Posture Correction Utilizing Electrical Muscle Stimulation, Ravi Kiran Kattoju

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Habitually poor posture can lead to repetitive strain injuries that lower an individual's quality of life and productivity. Slouching over computer screens and smart phones, asymmetric weight distribution due to uneven leg loading, and improper loading posture are some of the common examples that lead to postural problems and health ramifications. To help cultivate good postural habits, researchers have proposed slouching, balance, and improper loading posture detection systems that alert users through traditional visual, auditory or vibro-tactile feedbacks when posture requires attention. However, such notifications are disruptive and can be easily ignored. We address these issues with a new physiological …

Assessing The Relative Influence Of Interpersonal Relationship Factors On Probationer Rule Compliance, Lucas Alward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The quality of probation officer-client therapeutic alliance (TA) can result in improvements in supervision success including reduced rearrest and non-compliance. However, less is known about how clients' perceptions of procedural justice during interactions with their probation officer (PO) influence the quality of the PO-client TA and impact supervision outcomes. While extant research supports the importance of procedural justice for shaping citizen's legitimacy beliefs and compliance to the law within policing, we know little about how and whether these concepts influence the PO-client TA in community supervision and whether they impact compliance. Using self-reported survey data collected from a sample of …

Surface Engineering For Controlled Growth And Deposition Of Nanomaterials - Assembly And Design At The Nano-Microscale, David Fox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Materials with nanoscale dimensions offer several important benefits over bulk materials (e.g. increased surface area, low-cost, deviation from bulk properties, etc.). Such materials are critical components for next-generation energy storage materials, optoelectronic devices, and catalyst systems. However, these materials are often processed in liquid media, and their diminutive structures are fragile in the presence of capillary forces. As such, preparing uniform and stable nanomaterial coatings is a significant challenge. Herein, we discuss an approach where the substrate itself is factored into the assembly and growth of these materials. First, nanoporous surfaces were utilized to achieve a uniform deposition of one-dimensional …

Exploring Quality Of Life Perception Among Pre-Clinical And Clinical Phases Of Medical School Students In One Medical School Program In The Southeastern United States, Carley Blades Myszkowski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Medical education is a complex, intense, and demanding process. Research showed that medical school students experienced significant changes and navigated intense and fluctuating stressors during their four years of medical school (Compton et al. ,2008; Hojat et al., 2004; McKerrow et al., 2020; Pagnin & De Querioz, 2015). Research has shown medical school students were impacted by substantially reduced physical, mental, and emotional health (Rajapuram, Langness, Marshall, & Sammann, 2020). Both internationally and nationally there was a growing interest in researching the health and wellness of medical school students, particularly focusing on quality of life (QOL) (Heidari et al., 2014; …

Examining The Lived Experiences Of Mothers' And Maternal Grandmothers' Co-Caregiving For An Elementary-Aged Child With Asd: A Phenomenological Study, Chelsea Pierce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often require additional support, compared to their neurotypical peers. Caregivers of individuals with ASD frequently report mental health impacts including high stress, as well as the need for familial support. While literature exists around grandparents raising children with ASD, the researcher was unable to identify studies regarding the complex care relationship between mothers and maternal grandmothers as co-caregivers for an elementary-aged child with ASD. Therefore, the researcher conducted a phenomenological study to contribute to the literature on the experiences of mothers and maternal grandmothers as co-caregivers for an elementary-aged child with ASD. The researcher …

Davydov-Split Aggregates Of Cyanine Dyes For Bovine Serum Albumin Detection, Yiping Ma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The p-conjugated supramolecular aggregates have gained significant interest in recent years. The cyanine dye aggregates are particularly interesting due to their unique optical and excitonic properties, which cannot be found in individual molecules. Cyanine dyes can form different kinds of aggregates. H-aggregates are formed when dye molecules are packed in a face-to-face fashion, which gives rise to a blue-shift absorption band and strong emission quenching compared to the monomer. J-aggregates are composed of individual dye molecules in a head-to-tail stacking, which leads to a red-shift absorption band and a sharp intense emission band with a small Stoke shift compared with …

G-Quadruplex Reporters: Structural Studies And Application For Visual And Fluorescent Detection Of Point Mutations In Nucleic Acid Sequences, Ryan Connelly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

DNA-based diagnostics traditionally utilize hybridization probes: strands of DNA complimentary to a target sequence that, upon binding, generate a signal to indicate the presence of the target. The classic hybridization probes are the molecular beacon (MB) and TaqMan probes, both single DNA strands with a fluorophore and quencher at opposing ends. Despite their widespread use in applications such as qPCR due to their ability to multiplex with a variety of bound fluorophores, these probes have several shortcomings: temperature limitations for selective target recognition and differentiating single-nucleotide polymorphisms, intrinsic design limitations to interrogate some target sequences, and a high relative cost …

"Taken In By The 'Man In A White Van' Story": The Digital Activism Efforts Of One Women's Civic Leadership Organization In Human Trafficking Awareness, Alex Rister

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Feminist activism in the digital age leverages technology to raise awareness of, and to mobilize support for, important issues and causes. Human trafficking is one such cause, and preventing it is included as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. This study sought to understand the digital activism strategies of one women's civic leadership organization, the Junior League, for human trafficking awareness. In addition, this project analyzed how those digital activism strategies did or did not align with social justice approaches to human trafficking and how those digital activism strategies did or …

Data-Driven Diagnostics And Prognostics For Complex Systems: Methods And Applications, Junchuan Shi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Recent advances in artificial intelligence or machine learning have the potential to significantly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of diagnostic and prognostic techniques. The objective of this research is to develop novel data-driven predictive models with machine learning and deep learning algorithms that allow one to model the degradation, detect the faults, as well as predict the remaining useful life (RUL) of complex systems, including bearings, gearboxes, and Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. First, an enhanced ensemble learning algorithm is developed to improve the accuracy of RUL prediction by selecting diverse base learners and features at different degradation stages. The proposed method …

Underlying Dimensions Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Pre And Post-Treatment In Women With Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorder, Emy Willis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

A considerable proportion of women worldwide have experienced various manner of abuse in their lifetime (Devries et al., 2011). Women are more at risk of exposure to physical and sexual violence (Hedtke et al., 2008), and women who have experienced interpersonal violence are at heightened risk of developing several mental health conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders (SUDs; Acierno et al., 1999; McGruder-Johnson et al., 2000; Messman-Moore & Bhuptani, 2017). Treatment outcomes for individuals with co-occurring PTSD and SUDs tend to be worse than for those diagnosed with PTSD alone (Schäfer & Najavits, 2007), and outcome …

Harnessing The Power Of The Nitro Group In Natural Product Synthesis, Katelyn Bobek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The high reactivity and electron-withdrawing ability of the nitro group makes it a powerful tool in synthesizing a diverse range of bioactive natural products. The potential of the nitro group was employed via two main methodologies: iron (III)-mediated oxidative dearomatization and oxime carbonate butyrolactone formation to reach three important heterocyclic scaffolds; spiro, tropone and γ-butyrolactone. Nitro precursors were enantioselective synthesized by key nitro-aldol (Henry) and nitro-Michael reactions. A library of polysubstituted butyrolactone oxime carbonates were formed under mild DMAP and Boc2O conditions from readily available δ-nitroalcohols in good to high yields with broad functional group tolerability. Six lignan γ-butyrolactone natural …

2d Animation Of The 21st Century: The Digital Age, James Chambless

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

My thesis project, entitled The Curse Breaker, is a personal and career venture studying the medium of 2D animation while battling my struggle with cigarette addiction. I researched and applied symbolism and narrative strategies while building an impactful hero narrative. Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces provided insight into the monomyth and hero archetypes. Character and environment designs implemented symbolism as a driving focus of my thesis and fueled the semantic interpretation needed to successfully communicate my struggle with the audience in a non-verbal fashion. The language of cinematography aided in the effectiveness of my thesis film. The …

A Spatiotemporal Evaluation Of Freeway Traffic Demand In Florida During Covid-19 Pandemic, Md Istiak Jahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This thesis contributes to our understanding of the changes in traffic volumes on major roadway facilities in Florida due to COVID-19 pandemic from a spatiotemporal perspective. Three different models were tested in this study- a) Linear regression model, b) Spatial Autoregressive Model (SAR) and c) Spatial Error Model (SEM). For the model estimation, traffic volume data for the year 2019 and 2020 from 3,957 detectors were augmented with independent variables, such as- COVID-19 case information, socioeconomics, land-use and built environment characteristics, roadway characteristics, meteorological information, and spatial locations. Traffic volume data was analyzed separately for weekdays and holidays. SEM models …

Fierce Attatchment: Majorie Kinnan Rawlings And The Book Rep, A Biographer's Quest, Ann Mccutchan

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

Ucf Libraries Audit - 2021, University Audit, University Libraries

Libraries' Documents

UCF Libraries - Audit of selected performance objectives as of May 4, 2021

Risk Factors Contributing To Urinary Tract Infections (Uti) In Neonates, Jennifer V. Harshman

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Urinary tract infections (UTI) in neonates are caused by many types of risk factors such as increased length of maternal labor, physiologic maternal conditions, prematurity, and decreased birth weight. Identification of potential risk factors for UTI in neonates can lead to rapid assessment and early interventions to treat urinary infection in the neonate before it transitions to a severe or life-threatening condition, such as a kidney infection or septicemia.

The primary purpose of this literature review was to examine risk factors predisposing neonates to UTI. The secondary purpose was to identify if length of time to drug therapy used to …

The Effects Of Delayed Initial Bathing In Newborns, Danielle Nitzachon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Delayed bathing of the newborn infant for twenty-four hours after birth can decrease potential newborn complications such as hypoglycemia, hypothermia, and improve the infants skin integrity and breastfeeding rates. The primary purpose of this literature review was to examine the health benefits of delaying initial bathing in newborns for twenty-four hours. A comprehensive review of the literature was performed using peer-reviewed, research articles from multiple databases focusing on delayed infant bathing after birth and health benefits. 15 articles met the inclusion criteria and answered the research questions. Two studies showed the effects of vernix caseosa on improved skin integrity and …

Evaluating Non-Pharmaceutical Sleep Hygiene Interventions For The Prevention Of Delirium And Improvement In Sleep Quality In Critical Care, Sonja L. Colby

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Patients admitted to an adult intensive care unit (ICU) are at risk of developing an acute condition known as ICU delirium, which can impact patients’ length of hospital stay and increase short term and 6-month mortality. The cause of ICU delirium is multifactorial, and lack of quality sleep is a known risk factor. Patients’ sleep in the ICU is frequently interrupted by clinicians involved in their care and equipment alarms. Sleep hygiene interventions to minimize these interruptions for the patient are one strategy to reduce the risk of ICU delirium. Examples of sleep hygiene interventions include eye masks, earplugs, and …

Obstetrical Nursing Care And Cesarean Section Delivery Rates In Laboring Women: An Integrative Review Of Literature, Ayana Cornelius

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: There is a documented overuse of C-sections (CS) in the United States. The majority of research surrounding CS overuse focuses on the physician’s role, location (state, city, hospital), hospital policies, and the reason why the CS is being performed. Little research focuses on the nurse’s influence on CS outcomes, although nurses spend the longest amount of time with the patient. Methods: Data for this literature review examined 13 research articles between 1992 to present, exploring factors relating to the overuse of CS, specifically, data relating to the correlation between CS and the nurse’s role. Results: Recent research has shown …

The Effectiveness Of Therapeutic Interventions For The Management Of Vulvodynia: An Integrated Literature Review, Arianna Cohen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Problem: Vulvodynia, an unexplained vulvar pain, is a medical condition affecting women of all ages, races, and ethnicities and causes pain levels ranging from very mild discomfort to extreme suffering.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore women’s knowledge toward seeking care for vulvodynia and to explore the different types of treatments prescribed after diagnosis. The secondary purpose of this review was to describe the treatments most effective in reducing pain caused by vulvodynia.

Methods: A review of the literature was conducted using articles from 2001 to 2021 that focused on diagnosis of vulvodynia and the relief of …

Investigating The Relationship Between The Microbiome And Neuroactive Metabolites In Huntington Disease Model Mice, Christian Millot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Huntington Disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a trinucleotide repeat expansion mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. HD is characterized by neurological symptoms, including motor, cognitive, and psychiatric decline. A non-neurological symptom, metabolic dysfunction, is also common in HD and can cause weight change, a feature recapitulated in HD mice. There is a need for a better understanding of the weight changes associated with HD, because patients with a higher body mass index show slower disease progression. Our lab has shown that metabolic dysfunction in HD mice is the result of a disrupted circadian feeding rhythm …

Can Feeling Like An Imposter Be Favorable? A Qualitative Study On The Role Of Appraisal In Harnessing The Imposter Phenomenon For Growth, Emily Hill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The imposter phenomenon is a psychological experience characterized by feelings of self-doubt and personal incompetence that persist despite evidence of achievement and success. Employees with these imposter-like thoughts feel as if they ended up in notable roles and positions not because of merit, but from oversight or luck. Research and popular press articles have portrayed the imposter phenomenon as a negative experience, bringing costs to the individual's well-being and work life. Yet, recent research has revealed that perhaps a favorable trajectory to the imposter experience might exist. To address this question, participants were identified and interviewed using a two-phase, sequential …

An Examination Of Gender-Based Differences In Perceptions Of Supervisor Support, Ann Schlotzhauer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Perceived supervisor support and particularly emotional support possess conceptual overlap with stereotypes of femininity. The present study extends understanding of perceived supervisor support by applying the agency and communality framework of gender stereotypes and role congruity theory. This study employed a vignette research design to examine differential ratings of male and female supervisors who were depicted engaging in (a) no support, (b) instrumental support, (c) emotional support, or (d) instrumental and emotional support. Results suggest that supportive supervision is indeed viewed as feminine in nature. Further, findings suggest that female supervisors engaging in emotional support behaviors are preferred over equivalently …