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Using Geographic Information Systems To Analyze The Effects Of Residential Location On Student Academic Success, Courtney Wilson Jan 2021

Using Geographic Information Systems To Analyze The Effects Of Residential Location On Student Academic Success, Courtney Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Purpose: This study aims to assess the impact of social disorganization indicators (i.e., employment, median-household income, owner-occupied housing, crime, poverty, and minority percentage) on academic performance (i.e., GPA) for 6th and 7th-grade students attending seven K-8 designated Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in central Florida. Methods: A hot spot cluster analysis was used to identify areas where high and low GPA clustering occurs based on the individual block level GPA data obtained from OCPS. Visual map comparison of cluster results and social disorganization indicators were used to understand if high GPA cluster outcomes occur in areas of social disorganization. Moreover, …


Cognitive Rehearsal, Self-Efficacy, And Workplace Incivility Among Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Alina Diaz-Cruz Jan 2021

Cognitive Rehearsal, Self-Efficacy, And Workplace Incivility Among Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Alina Diaz-Cruz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Workplace incivility is a widespread problem in the clinical work environment that affects present and future generations of nurses. The purpose of this study was to determine if a cognitive rehearsal intervention (i.e., TeamSTEPPS® DESC script) would increase senior nursing students' self-efficacy, decrease workplace incivility experienced in the clinical work environment, and if nursing students' pre-intervention self-efficacy level would be indirectly associated with post-intervention workplace incivility. A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest study was used to measure the effect of a cognitive rehearsal intervention on nursing students' self-efficacy levels and workplace incivility experienced in their clinical rotation at an acute care center. …


College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder Enrolled In Stem Disciplines And Their Experiences With Support Systems: A Qualitative Exploration, Michelle Howell Jan 2021

College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder Enrolled In Stem Disciplines And Their Experiences With Support Systems: A Qualitative Exploration, Michelle Howell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

As the number of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) increases, the number of those individuals graduating from high school with the goal of pursuing postsecondary education also increases. For those students with ASD interested in pursuing higher education, Wei et al. (2013) found that they have a propensity to pursue STEM disciplines. The purpose of this qualitative inquiry was to explore the ways students with ASD pursuing STEM disciplines described their experiences with support before and during college. Using Schlossberg's (1984) 4S Transition Model as a framework, the researcher conducted interviews with ten students to explore the challenges …


A Holistic Approach For Power Systems Using Machine Learning And System Dynamics, Bibi Ibrahim Jan 2021

A Holistic Approach For Power Systems Using Machine Learning And System Dynamics, Bibi Ibrahim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The growing digital economy has imposed greater demand on the electricity supply's reliability in the past decades, with more consumers and electric vehicles (EV) becoming connected to the electric grid. While the uncertainty of the outcomes is unavoidable, there is a need for more accurate forecasts, modeling tools, and detailed roadmaps that can support the reliable transitioning of power systems. Predicting the electricity demand growth will allow energy managers to understand consumer demand in the near future better. However, there are challenges for forecasting the peak demand growth since it is very difficult to model the various complex features that …


Chitosan-Gallium Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization And Antibacterial Activity, Samjhana Bhandari Jan 2021

Chitosan-Gallium Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization And Antibacterial Activity, Samjhana Bhandari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of bacteria and the lack of a novel class of antibiotics has become a global health concern. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one common MDR bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections and related mortality worldwide. It has developed resistance against commonly available antibiotics and is in the WHO's priority list of bacteria for which new antibiotics are desperately needed. Currently there is a growing interest in developing metal and non-metal-based nanoparticles to target multidrug-resistant bacteria. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a novel nanocomposite of two non-traditional antimicrobials: a metal (Ga-III) and …


Influence Of Geography On The Healthy Gut Microbiome And The Role Of The Gut Microbiome In Ibd Symptom And Disease Progression, Sayf Al-Deen Hassouneh Jan 2021

Influence Of Geography On The Healthy Gut Microbiome And The Role Of The Gut Microbiome In Ibd Symptom And Disease Progression, Sayf Al-Deen Hassouneh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The human gut microbiome is believed to play an integral role in host health and disease. In a microbial community, associations between constituent members play an important role in determining the overall structure and function of the community. To understand the nature of bacterial associations at the species level in healthy human gut microbiomes, we analyzed previously published collections of whole-genome shotgun sequence data, from fecal samples obtained from four different healthy human populations. Using a Random Forest Classifier, we identified bacterial species that were prevalent in these populations and whose relative abundances could be used to accurately distinguish between …


Wind Turbine Main Bearing Fatigue Prognosis With Physics-Informed Machine Learning, Yigit Yucesan Jan 2021

Wind Turbine Main Bearing Fatigue Prognosis With Physics-Informed Machine Learning, Yigit Yucesan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Unexpected main bearing failure on a wind turbine causes unscheduled maintenance and increased operation costs (mainly due to crane, parts, labor, and production loss). Unfortunately, historical data indicates that failure can happen far earlier than the component designed lives (due to manufacturing problems, for example). For the legacy fleet, which composes the majority of the installed basis, fatigue has become a major issue. Although bearing fatigue can be expressed with physics-informed models, they often inherent large uncertainties due to operation and unknown lubricant degradation mechanism. Apart from the unknown physics of failure, additional uncertainties associated with the grease that surrounds …


Development Of Adjunctive Agents For Difluoromethylornithine Anti-Cancer Therapy, Aiste Dobrovolskaite Jan 2021

Development Of Adjunctive Agents For Difluoromethylornithine Anti-Cancer Therapy, Aiste Dobrovolskaite

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The native polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine are small positively-charged molecules that can interact with negatively-charged macromolecules like DNA, RNA and proteins. These interactions aid in nucleic acid and protein conformational stability, thereby, making polyamines essential building blocks for cells. Polyamines are involved in various cellular functions including gene regulation, protein synthesis, and cell proliferation. Rapidly-proliferating cells, such as cancer cells, utilize high polyamine levels for cell growth. Targeting the polyamine addiction of cancers is a validated anti-cancer strategy. To achieve the maximal reduction of polyamine levels, polyamine blocking therapy (PBT) employs several compounds in combination. First, one can inhibit …


First Impressions Of The Bedside Nurse From The Patient Perspective, Sharon Imes Jan 2021

First Impressions Of The Bedside Nurse From The Patient Perspective, Sharon Imes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Relationships begin with first impressions. Since nurses are the cornerstone to hospital experiences, the nurse-patient relationship is of vital importance, beginning with the first impression. The nurse-patient relationship has the potential to impact the patient's trust, comfort, fear, and ultimately satisfaction with the entire hospital experience. Evidence is found in other disciplines emphasizing the importance of the first impression, however there is minimal research in nursing about first impressions of the bedside nurse. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the first step in understanding the first impression of the bedside nurse from the patient perspective. Additionally, this research …


Computation Of Effective Properties Of Smart Composite Materials With Generalized Periodicity Using The Two-Scales Asymptotic Homogenization Method, David Guinovart Sanjuan Jan 2021

Computation Of Effective Properties Of Smart Composite Materials With Generalized Periodicity Using The Two-Scales Asymptotic Homogenization Method, David Guinovart Sanjuan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In this work, a general mathematical models for flexoelectric heterogeneous equilibrium boundary value problems are considered. A methodology to find the local problems and the effective properties of flexoelectric composites with generalized periodicity is presented, using a two-scales asymptotic homogenization method. The model of the homogenized boundary values problem is presented. A procedure to solve the local problems of stratified multilayered composites with wavy geometry with perfect contact at the interface is proposed. Further, a study of a multilayered piezoelectric composite with imperfect contact at the interface and the influence of the flexoelectric constituents in the behavior of heterogeneous structures …


Perceived Impacts Of Collaborative Technology On Grant Writing Teams: Collaboration, Productivity, And Quality Of Writing, Joshua Roney Jan 2021

Perceived Impacts Of Collaborative Technology On Grant Writing Teams: Collaboration, Productivity, And Quality Of Writing, Joshua Roney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

When a team works together on a collaborative grant proposal, each member will bring expertise and past experience in developing this complex text. Online collaborative tools can be used to support this effort, but it is important to understand how team members perceive the tools, the ways they can or should be used, and the impacts of using them. By adapting the Task-Technology Fit (TTF) model to this context, we can consider perceived task and technology characteristics, performance impacts, and utilization. Trends can be analyzed regarding the perceived fit of specific online collaborative tools to support collaboration, productivity, and quality …


Pivoting To Deeper Experiences In Higher Education Classrooms, Danielle M. Pratt, Daniel W. Eadens Jan 2021

Pivoting To Deeper Experiences In Higher Education Classrooms, Danielle M. Pratt, Daniel W. Eadens

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

In higher education, pivoting quickly to a fully virtual experience online in the midst of a global pandemic is an adventure. There are marked differences between the online experience for a student who was already in a web-delivered course versus one that started face-to-face and quickly pivoted to an online setting. Some assignments, lessons, and courses are easily delivered in alternate formats while other learning opportunities are much more difficult to transition for online delivery. For example, assignments that involve internships or in-person experiences had to shift dramatically, be delayed, or cancelled. Beyond the experiences within the higher education classroom, …


The Role Of Emotions In Consumer Behavior, Aysu Senyuz Jan 2021

The Role Of Emotions In Consumer Behavior, Aysu Senyuz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Feelings and thoughts are inseparable in decision making process. As social beings, individuals frequently integrate their emotions in relation to other people in their consumption choices. In my two dissertation essays, I seek to examine the role of emotions on consumption decisions. In the first essay, I explore the impact of self-transcendent emotion of awe on preferences for limited edition products. Findings across seven studies indicate that awe-eliciting appeals commonly used in the promotion of limited edition products decrease consumer preferences towards those products. This effect is due to reduced feelings of connection for individuals feeling awe in response to …


Signals As Symbols: Applying Normalization Of Deviance To Improve User-Centered Design, Amy Vanschaik Jan 2021

Signals As Symbols: Applying Normalization Of Deviance To Improve User-Centered Design, Amy Vanschaik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Mistakes can happen in the process of designing and developing interactive digital projects. Sometimes these mistakes negatively impact users' perception and trust of digital interfaces. This research applies the concept of normalization of deviance to identify potential missed opportunities in user-centered design data within the context of a website redesign. By doing this I explore how through observing accidental deviant behaviors or processes we can identify ways to improve the usability and user experience of digital environments. I review the concepts of normalized deviant behavior as addressed by Diane Vaughan in the field of engineering and identify a process for …


Assessment Of Work-Related Feelings Among Teachers Within The United States And Jordan, Shahed Obeidat Jan 2021

Assessment Of Work-Related Feelings Among Teachers Within The United States And Jordan, Shahed Obeidat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Human personalities combined with working conditions affect how employees react to different work situations. Personality and work environment have also been shown to affect workers' feelings. Employees' psychological health plays an essential role in their performance and productivity in the workplace, and organizational awareness of work-related feelings has sparked interest in investigating this field of study. Teaching is a stressful job; however, research evaluating discrete states of work-related emotions in teachers remains somewhat limited. This study investigated the effects of job demands on teachers' work-related feelings within middle and high schools in the United States and Jordan. The study results …


Representation Of Death In Independent Videogames: Providing A Space For Meaningful Death Reflection, Alexander Boyd Jan 2021

Representation Of Death In Independent Videogames: Providing A Space For Meaningful Death Reflection, Alexander Boyd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This thesis examines the unique representation of death in independent videogames. Specifically, in three titles: That Dragon, Cancer, Spiritfarer, and A Mortician's Tale. These three games break traditional norms of death in video games and how death is presented in other more traditional mediums. These unique perspectives are more concerned with the personal and societal side of death, the reflection, and confrontation of our mortality. Each game is a stand-out example of a growing trend in independent titles coined as "death positive" games. These types of games are made with the intent to approach death differently, potentially providing comfort to …


Index-Based Approach With Remote Sensing For The Assessment Of Extreme Weather Impact On Watershed Vegetation Dynamics, Kushan Bellanthudawage Jan 2021

Index-Based Approach With Remote Sensing For The Assessment Of Extreme Weather Impact On Watershed Vegetation Dynamics, Kushan Bellanthudawage

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Spatial technologies such as satellite remote sensing can be used to identify vegetation dynamics over space and time, which play a critical role in earth observations. Biophysical and biochemical features associated with vegetation cover can then be used to elucidate climate change impact such as floods and droughts on ecosystem that may in turn affect watershed-scale water resources management. Unlike single flood or drought event, intermittent extreme weather events may exert more physiological and biological pressures on the canopy vegetation. This study aims to investigate the climate change impacts on canopy vegetation, which occurred from March 2017 to October 2017 …


Mutilated Masculinity: Intersections Of Disability, Gender, And Mental Health In Modernist Fiction, Sara Thames Jan 2021

Mutilated Masculinity: Intersections Of Disability, Gender, And Mental Health In Modernist Fiction, Sara Thames

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This thesis investigates the impact of the intersection of physical disabilities and mental health conditions on the masculine identities presented in modernist texts. Here, I analyze a collection of works by Ernest Hemingway, D.H. Lawrence, Claude McKay, and Wilfred Owen. Utilizing a combination of theoretical approaches: trauma theory, gender and sexuality studies, narratology, disability studies, and insights from the medical humanities, I revisit well-known novels like The Sun Also Rises and Lady Chatterley's Lover and illuminate lesser-studied works like "A Natural History of the Dead" and the recently published Romance in Marseille. I recognize here the psychosocial struggles faced by …


Utility Of Novel Rotational Load-Velocity Profiling Methods In Collegiate Softball Players, Chad Herring Jan 2021

Utility Of Novel Rotational Load-Velocity Profiling Methods In Collegiate Softball Players, Chad Herring

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purposes of this study were to determine the reliability of the bat swing (BS) and rotational medicine ball throw (RMBT) load-velocity profiling (LVP) methods and the relationships between LVP variables and batting performance in NCAA Division I softball players. Current NCAA Division I softball athletes participated in this study. Bat velocity was tracked with a swing sensor during the BS method. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) tracked forearm velocity during the BS and RMBT methods. Two-way intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used for relative reliability and coefficient of variation (CV) was used for absolute reliability. For the BS method …


Bacterial Association Networks From Healthy And Cancer-Associated Gut Microbiomes, Mark Loftus Jan 2021

Bacterial Association Networks From Healthy And Cancer-Associated Gut Microbiomes, Mark Loftus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The human gastrointestinal tract is colonized by a diverse community of symbiotic microorganisms, mainly bacteria, that are known to play essential roles in maintaining the health of their human host. Disruption of this bacterial community has been associated with numerous diseases, including Colorectal Cancer (CRC). CRC is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. As such, focus has been placed on the modulation of the bacterial community within the cancer-associated gut microbiome as the next step in possible CRC treatment and prevention strategies. To use the bacterial community for these purposes, a better understanding of the associations that …


Competence Transcriptome Changes In Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Smitha Shambhu Jan 2021

Competence Transcriptome Changes In Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Smitha Shambhu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a human commensal and the causative agent of pneumococcal disease. Pneumococci are naturally competent – able to uptake exogenous DNA from the environment and incorporate it into their genome through homologous and non-homologous recombination. Recombination has significantly shaped the evolutionary history of S. pneumoniae, as it allows pneumococci to rapidly adapt to interventions such as antibiotic therapy or vaccine introduction. Recombination frequencies vary considerably across pneumococcal populations; yet the underlying mechanisms for these variations are not well understood. Entry and exit into competence, a state in which the cell can uptake DNA, is tightly regulated through transcriptional …


The Actor And The Iceberg, Christopher Creane Jan 2021

The Actor And The Iceberg, Christopher Creane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Actors have ingrained vocal, physical, and mental habits they unknowingly use on stage in the form of physical movements, vocalization, and character choices which can inadvertently communicate information to the audience. Rarely, however, are actors asked to play themselves and if their own habits are unconsciously being merged with their intentional character choices, then the audience's perception of the actor's portrayal may be shaped by unintentional behavior. "The Actor and the Iceberg" will be a synthesis of awareness building and control techniques for the mind and body, specifically: meditation, mindfulness, the Feldenkrais Method, and the Alexander Technique. The goal of …


Braving The Discomfort: An Examination Of Hate Speech And Racially-Motivated Violence Onstage, And How We Should Approach It, Sarah Hubert Jan 2021

Braving The Discomfort: An Examination Of Hate Speech And Racially-Motivated Violence Onstage, And How We Should Approach It, Sarah Hubert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This thesis is an exploration of best practices in regards to creating a safe space within the theatre for artists to feel comfortable creating without risk to their emotional or physical safety. These safe spaces are particularly needed around shows which call for onstage racial violence or racist language. Methodology for these best practices includes theatrical intimacy, safe space creation as utilized by various advocacy groups, Theatre of the Oppressed, and drama therapy. In addition to these best practices that apply to the entire production, ideas for individual practice are explored. As a case study, Theatre UCF's production of Sweat …


Sympathy For The Devil: A Compassionate Approach To Morally Reprehensible Characters In Drama, Amy Livingston Jan 2021

Sympathy For The Devil: A Compassionate Approach To Morally Reprehensible Characters In Drama, Amy Livingston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Empathy is often heralded as a vital part of the theatrical experience. Generally understood as the experience of feeling what another person is feeling, it is believed to help actors create more honest performances and to help audiences better understand viewpoints different from their own. These empathic experiences are complicated, however, when applied to stories about characters who commit unforgivably evil acts and may lead people to feel manipulated into justifying or sharing the immoral beliefs of these characters. This thesis argues that for theatre practitioners telling stories about morally reprehensible characters, compassion, involving feelings of care and concern for …


Factors Associated With Resilience And Sense Of Coherence In Adult Transgender Persons: Identifying Predictors To Reduce Health Disparities In A Vulnerable Population, Jake Bush Jan 2021

Factors Associated With Resilience And Sense Of Coherence In Adult Transgender Persons: Identifying Predictors To Reduce Health Disparities In A Vulnerable Population, Jake Bush

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

National studies revealed the transgender population has barriers to positive health outcomes, but also showed evidence of resilience. A focus on health strengths such as resilience may help mitigate health barriers. This work focused on the sociodemographic predictors of and interrelationships between resilience, sense of coherence (SOC), and health perception. There were three aims of this work. The first aim was to review the literature surrounding resilience and SOC in the adult transgender population. Results from an integrative literature review revealed three themes of resilience in the adult transgender population: social support, individual factors, and resources. Prior to the current …


Three Papers Examining The Impact Of Non-Financial And Supplier Diversity Disclosures On Investors' Judgments And Decisions., Andria Hill Jan 2021

Three Papers Examining The Impact Of Non-Financial And Supplier Diversity Disclosures On Investors' Judgments And Decisions., Andria Hill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Sustainability reporting is standard practice for large and mid-cap global companies. Sustainability reports are voluntary in nature and are used by companies to report on their sustainability activities to investors and other stakeholders. The supplier diversity disclosure is common amongst sustainability reports; however, current standards provide limited guidance on the information that is pertinent to the users of the information. Supplier diversity and inclusion is an important strategic business initiative, and yet the topic has garnered little attention in academic research. To further examine this topic, I conduct three studies examining the topic using multiple methods. The first study presents …


Victim Blame Of Missing People Based On Race And Media Framing, Ciara Peebles Jan 2021

Victim Blame Of Missing People Based On Race And Media Framing, Ciara Peebles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This study examined the effects of a missing person's race and framing of their personal characteristics on participants' attribution of victim blame. Participants were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 428) and completed a 2x3 between-subjects experimental study. The victim's race (Black vs. White) and news media framing of the victim's personal characteristics (positive vs. mixed vs. negative) were manipulated, and victim blame was assessed through reactions to a mock news article about the missing person's case. A two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted (with the participants' race and Modern Racism Scale score as covariates), and results indicated …


Two Studies Investigating Institutional Theory And Municipalities' Payments In Lieu Of Taxes Programs In Nonprofit Organizations, Gregory Stone Jan 2021

Two Studies Investigating Institutional Theory And Municipalities' Payments In Lieu Of Taxes Programs In Nonprofit Organizations, Gregory Stone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Building on prior studies analyzing institutional logics within and among organizations, I first investigate large nonprofit organizations in Boston, Massachusetts, to determine the logics held by these organizations, how the logics drive organizational behavior when faced with payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOTs), and the strategies they implement as they recompose their position in the field. Using nonprofit community benefit reports, news and trade publications, and data from the Boston PILOT Program, I explore the development of organizational activities and how they use a combination of market and community logics to construct themselves as charitable. Nonprofit pursuit of creating and maintaining a strong civil …


Easy Money: Examining Social Disorganization, Urbanization, Healthcare Fraud, And Community Health In America., Wilmer Alvarez Irizarry Jan 2021

Easy Money: Examining Social Disorganization, Urbanization, Healthcare Fraud, And Community Health In America., Wilmer Alvarez Irizarry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In the past 40 years, the health of citizens in the United States has changed significantly. The population of the United States managed to get sicker and die slower across the prior four decades. Adding to this complexity is the fact that illnesses and health behaviors in the United States are also not equally distributed by race, class, gender, or other social factors. These facts do not only reflect level of the disease and illness in the United States, but also the disparities that exist within them and the sociomedical factors that impact health. Despite costing American taxpayers between $120 …


Model-Form Uncertainty Quantification In Prognosis And Fleet Management With Physics-Informed Neural Networks, Arinan De Piemonte Dourado Jan 2021

Model-Form Uncertainty Quantification In Prognosis And Fleet Management With Physics-Informed Neural Networks, Arinan De Piemonte Dourado

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Prognosis and health management play an important role in the control of costs associated with the operation of large industrial equipment. By properly comprehending hardware degradation and accurately predicting the remaining useful life of such equipment, we can significantly lower operational costs by reducing asset downtime and maintenance interventions. However, complex interactions between operational conditions and component capability make accurately modeling damage accumulation for large fleets a daunting task. Unforeseen factors such as aggressive missions introduced by operators, exposure to harsh environments, manufacturing issues, amongst many others, can lead to large discrepancies between predicted and observed useful life. Motivated by …