Digital Commons Network^™

Investigation Of The Impact Of The Shape Of The Wings On Formula E Racing Car Performance: Enhancements For Optimal Aerodynamics, Ednie Marthe Adlaikah Jozil

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The aerodynamic performance of a Formula E chassis significantly dictates its overall race efficiency, directly impacting crucial parameters such as battery range and thermal management. This thesis investigates the external aerodynamics of the baseline Gen 2 Formula E car and evaluates the performance gains of two novel aerodynamic packages: a "Fully Modified" configuration and a "Flat Rear Wing" design. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted to analyze drag coefficients (Cd), downforce generation, and vehicle wake structures at race-relevant free-stream velocities (e.g., 37 m/s and 89 m/s). To ensure numerical robustness, the computational setup was validated using a smooth sphere …

A Systematic Literature Review Of The Menstrual Cycle And Its Impact On Aerobic Performance In Female Athletes, Jaymie G. Loidolt

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this systematic review is to examine existing literature regarding the menstrual cycle and its impact on aerobic performance in female athletes. This comprehensive review was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 method of analysis. All studies included involved normally menstruating females conditioned in endurance sport. Studies analyzing anaerobic sports, abnormally menstruating females, or physically inactive females were excluded. The databases used included: PubMed, Sport Discus, and Web of Science. The results of these were imported into JBIsumari for deduplication, title and abstract, and full text screening. The results conclude objective performance variables are unchanged regarding the phase of …

Healthcare Access And Community Nursing Outreach Effectiveness In Underserved Zip Codes In Central Florida, Miah Sanchez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Access to healthcare depends on more than whether healthcare services are available. A person’s ZIP code, income, education, transportation options, health literacy, and neighborhood resources can all affect whether care is reached at the right time and in an appropriate setting. This literature review examines healthcare access and the role of community nursing outreach in underserved ZIP codes across Central Florida. The review synthesizes current literature on social determinants of health, geographic disparities, medically underserved populations, and community-based nursing interventions to better understand how these factors shape access to care. Across the literature, poverty, limited transportation, lower educational attainment, neighborhood …

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Profiles Among Metropolitan And Nonmetropolitan Young Adults - A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The 2024 National Health Interview Survey (Nhis), Steven Dimitrakakis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), a group of disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, driven by genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Young adults, although not a common group at risk for CVD, can face reduced health quality due to physical limitations and other environmental factors that can increase their risk for development of CVD. Depending on where young adults live, their risk of developing CVD varies. Young adults fall within the category of individuals ranging in age from 18-24 years old, the average between all ages for young adults between the research …

Dna Half-Adder Based Calculator Driven By 4j Molecular Switches, Andrea Gissele Canizalez Covaleda

Honors Undergraduate Theses

DNA nanostructures have computing functions due to the predictable base pairing of nucleic acids (Watson–Crick). This property allows the programming of DNA circuits that integrate DNA logic gates capable of recognizing oligonucleotides. This molecular device offers the advantages of biocompatibility and potential applications in personalized medicine for diagnosis and therapies.

Our lab has developed DNA logic gates formed by the connection of YES strands via DNA four-way junctions (4J), which can function as molecular switches to develop a DNA-based calculator. Our DNA half-adder calculator nanostructure is designed to recognize up to three combinations of DNA inputs using three DNA strands …

Analysis Of Alternative Gene Splicing Of Natural Killer Cell Exhaustion Markers During Siv Infection, Soledad B. Zayas

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Natural killer cells play a critical role in the innate immune response against Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus infections. During HIV/SIV infection, NK cells undergo functional impairment characterized by an imbalance between activating and inhibitory surface receptors. The upregulation of inhibitory receptors, TIGIT and TIM-3, has proven to contribute to NK cell exhaustion during different retroviral infections. Although alternative splicing regulates immunity related genes, its role in TIGIT and TIM-3 expression during SIV infection remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize alternative splicing patterns of TIGIT and TIM-3 and evaluate transcript variant expression during SIV infection in …

The Environmental Impact On The Development Of Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy, Victoria C. Reynolds

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The objective of this study was to examine potential associations between environmental factors and the progression of Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (EDM). While environmental contributions to neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly recognized in human patients, little is known about their role in EDM. A comprehensive literature review highlighted the lack of research in this area. Data for this study were collected by Dr. Amy Johnson at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. The two main areas studied were a horse’s lifestyle (specifically turnout conditions) and their geographical proximity to chemicals (pesticides, airborne neurotoxins, and water contaminants). Statistical analysis revealed there was …

The Heterotopic Horizon In Zora Neale Hurston’S Their Eyes Were Watching God, Emily Norton

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

An Interview With David Nolan, Teri Sopp

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

Norman Berg And The Literary Formation Of Pat Conroy, Jacob Lupfer

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

“Ora’S Deep Lament”: Inspired By Mk Rawlings And My Persevering Pioneer Great-Grandmother, Kathlyne Mcdonald Walkup Sheppard

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

Practical Strategies For Instructional Faculty And Librarians Designing Accessible Instructional Materials, Rachel E. Trnka

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

While discussions of the accessibility of instructional materials are not new, librarians and instructional faculty are facing increased pressure to ensure the accessibility of their materials in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic’s rapid shift to online education. Many faculty and librarians, however, do not receive adequate training and support in the area of accessible design. In addition, there is often confusion about who is responsible for ensuring the accessibility of instructional materials in higher education environments. This paper presents practical strategies for librarians and instructional faculty to identify readily available resources, create inventories of their own instructional materials, identify …

From Ship To Shore: The Impact Of Sailor Resistance On The Anti-Vietnam War Movement, Trent Chamberlain

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis explores the often-overlooked role of United States Navy personnel in the broader anti-Vietnam War movement. While civilian protests dominate historical narratives of the era, the impact of active-duty sailor resistance remains underexplored. To address this gap, this thesis examines shipboard and shore-based dissent to determine how Naval resistance influenced both military operations and domestic anti-war efforts. By conducting a historical analysis of primary source materials, including military records, underground press publications, and personal accounts, this research traces the evolution of sailor organizing and its intersections with civilian peace movements. The thesis shows that Naval dissent not only posed …

Investigating The Role Of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine For Cancer Symptom Management In Older Adults: A Rapid Review, Isabelle C. Karshner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Patients with cancer often experience symptoms related to disease, complications, and treatment. One potential method of alleviating these symptoms is traditional Chinese herbal medications (TCHM). This rapid review explores the role of traditional Chinese herbal medications in treating cancer-related symptoms in older adults.

Purpose: The purpose of this rapid review is to gain and provide a better understanding of the effects of TCHM on cancer-symptom management in the older adult population. This review explores the association between TCHM and effects on cancer symptoms in older adults, including interactions, toxicity, and signs/symptoms of TCHM use that may be useful information …

Photogrammetry: Accuracy And Precision Analysis Of Color And Rim Diameter Utilizing Various Cameras, Christina Threlkeld

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

The goal of this paper is to test whether photogrammetry is a viable/affordable way to generate 3-D data sets suitable for research applications. Utilizing a sample of 10 ceramic rim sherds randomly selected out of 40 viable rim samples from the Rio Verde assemblage, I will generate 3-D models for 3 different technologies. From there I will test measurements by calculating rim diameters and consistency of color through Munsell readings The data collected will help determine what type of data can be extracted from 3-D renderings. In order to ensure accuracy, rim sherd diameter and Munsell data will be directly …

Constrained Freedom: Economic Strain, Time Control, And Perceived Autonomy In Life, Lorena E. Black

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

Autonomy is often framed as an individual capacity rooted in personal choice, discipline, and self-determination, with dominant cultural narratives positioning freedom as something earned through effort and responsibility. This study challenges that assumption by examining autonomy as a socially structured and unequally distributed condition shaped by material and temporal constraints. Drawing on classical and contemporary sociological frameworks—including Marx’s analysis of labor and material dependence, Weber’s account of disciplined rationality, and Antonio Gramsci’s concept of cultural hegemony—this research positions perceived autonomy as an outcome produced through economic and institutional arrangements rather than solely through individual will. While existing literature has extensively …

Analyzing The Impact Of Ai Tool Type And Work Environment On Employee Productivity: A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis​, Katrina Gumerov, Alex Weninski, Victor Aviles

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

An assessment has been conducted to see how much AI tools and workplace conditions affect productivity using a multiple linear regression approach. This project looked at how different kinds of AI tools affect performance, as well as other things like commute time to work, employee well-being, and hours worked. The dataset was cleaned and restructured, and then the various AI tools were grouped into meaningful categories. After grouping the tools, an exploratory data analysis was conducted to look for trends. Finally, models were developed using multiple linear regression. For model selection, forward, backward, and stepwise model selection methods were used …

Drained Defenses: How Altered Hydrology Influences Invasive Plant Species Richness In Cypress Domes, Jamie M. Snider, Cori Mcwilliams, Natalia Knapp-Seale, Deborah Faerman

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

Cypress domes are unique wetland ecosystems distinct in species biodiversity and hydrologic patterns which have become increasingly degraded from alteration of hydrology. These changes are made with little understanding about how this may affect plant communities and weaken a wetland’s resistance to invasive species, shifting its plant regimes. This study investigates how altered hydrology affects the presence of invasive species and may cause plant communities to shift by studying two cypress domes on UCF campus. Three 30 meter transects were established per wetland in random cardinal directions, with 70 cm quadrats placed every 6 meters for a total of 18 …

Women In Industrial Engineering Leadership And Barriers To Advancement, Fiorella Barney

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

This research investigates how organizational and cultural barriers influence the advancement of women into leadership positions within industrial engineering. Despite being one of the more gender-balanced engineering disciplines at the entry level, industrial engineering remains largely male-dominated in leadership, and this project set out to understand why that gap persists and what sustains it.

To explore this question, I conducted a review of seven peer-reviewed sources organized around five themes: the scope of underrepresentation, organizational barriers, gendered workplace culture, early career pipeline effects, and attrition. I then conducted a qualitative, semi-structured interview with a woman who began her career as …

Analysis Of Workplace Attributes On Annual Income In The Technology Sector, Kyle J. Miller, Naddya Jannessa Favela, Kyle A. Carter

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

No abstract provided.

How Do The Interrogation Strategies Of Women Detectives Differ In Style And Efficacy From Their Male Counterparts?, Sarah M. Quinones

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

This research proposal seeks to examine recorded interrogation footage and in-depth interviews of professional interrogators to analyze how their interrogation styles and efficacies differ between men and women. There is an imminent need for a reformed, standardized, and research-backed interrogation system to improve the efficacy and discriminatory habits of the justice system. The proposed hypotheses include:

• Transformational interrogation styles yield more cooperative and informative responses than transactional interrogation styles. 

• Because women’s interrogation styles more often align with transformational leadership patterns, their interrogations exhibit higher efficacies.

These hypotheses were drawn following an extensive literature review of the current academic contributions, both …

The Investor Perspective Of Materiality, Sam Lessinger

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Often auditors are asked to adopt the reasonable investor perspective in their materiality evaluations however, there is no consensus regarding what investors deem to be material. This can lead to confusion in the markets. In fact, past studies have shown how taking an investor perspective can backfire and may result in more leniency and fewer misstatements being deemed material by auditors. This leniency can, potentially, result in financial statements that mislead investors. The aim of this paper is to address the reasonable investor perspective to achieve a more complete understanding of an investor’s viewpoint. This study also incorporates the effect …

The Adjustment Of Autistic First-Generation Students To Higher Education, Paris J. Cumba

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of the current study is to investigate how first-generation students on the autism spectrum adjust to higher education compared to their continuing generation and neurotypical peers through the lens of intersectionality. Previous research has studied how first-generation students and autistic students transition into college environments, but little research has explored how these identities intersect and affect college adjustment.

For this study, 189 undergraduate students completed a survey that measured different dimensions of college adjustment, such as academic motivation, self-efficacy, and current life satisfaction. ANOVA tests showed that there was no significant interaction between first-generation status and autism status …

Experimental And Numerical Study On The Stability Limits Of Ammonia And Ammonia/Hydrogen Flames Inside A Toroidal Jet-Stirred Reactor, Guillermo Alberto Barrios Cadenas

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Ammonia’s (NH₃) properties as a carbon-free hydrogen carrier, its phase characteristics, and its wide global infrastructure present a solid case as a potential surrogate for carbon-based aviation fuels. Delivering a zero-emission NH₃-based engine requires careful integration and optimization of the combustor and thermal management systems, a process that requires high-fidelity chemical reacting models experimentally validated through the use of simplified combustors. This study investigates NH₃ fundamental combustion characteristics at conditions relevant to aviation gas turbines using a newly constructed toroidal jet-stirred reactor (TJSR) facility. Lean blow-off (LBO) experiments were carried out for NH₃ blends …

An Integrated Framework For Last-Mile Delivery Optimization Using Reinforcement Learning And Social Media-Based Traffic Prediction In Underdeveloped Megacities, Vasanth Bhat

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Supply chain management has become increasingly critical as transportation costs rise and urban delivery systems place additional pressure on already congested networks. Last-mile delivery—the movement of goods from distribution centers to end users—represents the most expensive and operationally complex segment of the logistics process, particularly in underdeveloped megacities characterized by unpredictable traffic, limited infrastructure, and sparse real-time data. This dissertation proposes an integrated framework for optimizing last-mile delivery in such environments by combining social media–based traffic intelligence, machine learning, and deep reinforcement learning. The framework leverages unstructured, real-time data from social media platforms to enhance traffic prediction and incorporates these …

The Importance Of The Proline Residue In The Ldiapa Motif Of Cholera Toxin, Akash Bharathan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cholera is currently on its seventh global pandemic, disproportionately affecting developing countries. Vibrio cholerae, the bacterial etiologic agent, is able to cause infection by adhering to intestinal epithelial cells and secreting cholera toxin (CT), an AB-type exotoxin that dysregulates signaling pathways. Previous research by the Teter lab has shown that Hsp90, a host cytosolic chaperone, is required for CT to enter the cytosol where it produces toxic effects. Hsp90 binds to CT at two specific motifs, RPPDEI and LDIAPA. The prolines in the RPPDEI motif are essential for binding, but the proline in the LDIAPA has yet to be …

Structural Batteries For Aerospace Applications, Tariqullah Wardak

Honors Undergraduate Theses

There is increasing pressure on the aviation sector to lower carbon emissions and switch to entirely electric and hybrid propulsion systems. However, the feasibility of standard lithium-ion batteries for long-range aircraft is limited, as they add substantial weight and occupy significant volume. Structural batteries, which combine load-bearing capability with energy storage, offer a potential pathway to lighter and more efficient aerospace systems.

This work investigates a carbon-fiber-based structural battery that utilizes carbon fiber as both a current-collecting, load-bearing electrode and a component of the composite structure. In contrast to lithium-ion chemistries, a zinc-based aqueous electrolyte is chosen for better environmental …

Designing Presence Together: A Coi-Guided Summit And Accountability Approach, Latisha D. Haag, Rachel Dolechek, Janet Stramel, Jessica Heronemus-Claiborn

Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository

This strategy, developed as part of a Digital Teaching Champions initiative at a regional comprehensive university, describes an Engage & Elevate summit and accountability model that helps faculty implement small, presence‑focused changes in their online courses using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework. In two synchronous Zoom summits, faculty cohorts completed a brief CoI self‑assessment, explored discipline‑neutral examples of social, cognitive, and teaching presence, and analyzed low‑, moderate‑, and high‑presence versions of common online activities. Guided by summit worksheets and templates, each instructor selected one existing activity (such as a discussion, peer review, or feedback workflow), identified one “small teaching” …

Efficiency Without Compromise: Automating Group Formation And Peer Accountability In Online Graduate Courses, Aj Dalal, Whitney Newman, Tanla Bilir, Liz Drabkin

Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository

This strategy uses Canvas's built-in random group assignment tool paired with FeedbackFruits' Teammate Evaluation to create a near-fully automated group work pipeline in online graduate courses. By eliminating manual group formation and connecting peer evaluations directly to the gradebook, instructors can implement accountable, structured group work with minimal administrative effort.

Mental Health Effects Of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome In Adult Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Survivors Hospitalized During Or After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Brooke M. Leggiero

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) is "new or worsening problems in physical, cognitive, or mental health status arising after a critical illness and persisting beyond acute care hospitalization.” This study examined the prevalence of PICS mental health conditions in adult ARDS survivors hospitalized between 2020 and 2025 and differences in mental health conditions between those hospitalized during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study enrolled adult survivors hospitalized between 2020 and 2025 who required mechanical ventilation and were at least 1 month removed from the intensive care unit (ICU). Individuals with prior brain injury were excluded. …