Digital Commons Network^™

A Systematic Review Of Dietary Trends, Influencing Factors, And Their Impacts On Cardiovascular Health In Turkish Populations, Pelin L. Özoğlu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, including in Türkiye. One key factor influencing CVD prevention is dietary patterns, which directly impacts cardiovascular health. Türkiye traditionally follows the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), which is acclaimed for its cardiovascular benefits. Despite this, Türkiye continues to experience high rates of CVD, with projections indicating that CVD mortality will double for both men and women by 2030. It is crucial to address diet-related factors, including potential nutritional deficiencies, to reduce cardiovascular health risks.

This research aims to analyze the Turkish community's adherence to the Mediterranean diet to understand why CVD prevalence …

Elucidation Of The Post-Transcriptional Regulation And Role In Iron Homeostasis Of The Outer Membrane Vesicle Protein Ynce In Salmonella, Mira J. Schmidt

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Iron is an essential element for most bacteria as it is a crucial cofactor for enzymes involved in fundamental reactions such as DNA synthesis. Despite being the fourth most abundant element on Earth, bacteria face challenges acquiring iron under aerobic conditions due to the poor solubility of its oxidized form (Fe³⁺). To overcome this, bacteria have developed various strategies of iron acquisition, such as the production of siderophores. Siderophores are small molecules that scavenge free Fe³⁺ in iron-deprived environments. Iron acquisition is tightly regulated due to its capability of promoting hydrogen peroxide formation via the Fenton reaction. In Salmonella Typhimurium, …

Stem Vs. Non-Stem Students’ Stimulant Misuse For Academic Advantages, Camille H. Allie

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study aimed to explore the relationship between academic discipline, caffeine consumption, reported perception of stimulant misuse behaviors, and reported academic stress at the University of Central Florida. Participants were categorized as either STEM or non-STEM majors and reported whether they had misused stimulants in the past 12 months and their daily average caffeine consumption. Due to the low number of participants who reported stimulant misuse, caffeine consumption was incorporated, grouping participants as either “above median” caffeine consumption or “below median” caffeine consumption. Two 2 (Caffeine Consumption: High vs. Low) x 2 (Major: STEM vs. Non-STEM) between-subjects ANOVAs were conducted …

An Exploration Of Preservice Teachers' Perspectives On Elementary Writing Instruction, Railynn E. Baumgardt

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Writing instruction is frequently overshadowed by a greater emphasis on reading and mathematics in elementary education, resulting in preservice teachers (PSTs) often feeling underprepared and lacking confidence to teach writing effectively. This undergraduate thesis explores the perspectives of junior and senior elementary education majors at the University of Central Florida enrolled in the course Teaching Language Arts for the Elementary Classroom (LAE 4314). Using an anonymous online survey, this study investigated 38 PSTs as writers themselves, their beliefs about writing instruction, their preparedness to teach writing, and the impact of the methods course on their readiness to teach writing. Results …

Seeking Refuge: Aid, Community, And Motivations Among Traveling Women In The 1711 Swiss Anabaptist Migration, Kailey M. Freeman-Depelisi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis explores the logistics of travel, connections between women, and the motivations of Swiss Anabaptist women who were part of a forced migration from Bern to Amsterdam in 1711. In the early eighteenth century, Anabaptists, religious dissenters who were persecuted heavily within the canton of Bern, were aided through the intervention of the Dutch Anabaptist Committee for Foreign Need (Committee). The Committee commissioned Johann Ludwig Runckel, to deescalate the situation and organize the migration of Anabaptists the Bernese government expelled. Following negotiations, Anabaptists, (Amish and Reistian) took part, as well as people with loose connections to the faith. The …

The Effects Of School-Based Menstruation Education Programs On Anxiety And Self-Efficacy In Adolescent Girls: A Systematic Review, Hannah C. Hart

Honors Undergraduate Theses

A significant global knowledge gap exists for adolescent girls regarding what constitutes a healthy menstrual cycle, proper menstrual hygiene practices, and the implications of reproductive maturity that is ushered in by menarche. This limited understanding can lead to poor health outcomes and the development of negative sentiments and beliefs surrounding the normal experience of menstruation.

This systematic review aims to comprehensively investigate the current state of research regarding the effects of school-based, formal menstruation education programs on adolescent girls, particularly the effects on anxiety and self-efficacy related to the management of menstruation. Furthermore, this work aims to take a stance …

Examining Perception Of Psychedelic Substances And The Role Of Hallucinations Among College Students, Ryann F. Hilts

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Inquiry into psychedelics is undergoing a cultural and scientific revival, driven by their potential application as novel treatments for mood disorders, substance misuse, and end-of life-distress, but continued implementation in clinical and medical contexts necessitates extensive research. The present study utilizes self-reported data to examine psychedelics across three areas: student attitudes, patterns of use, and motives for use. It additionally explores the perceived importance of hallucinations in therapeutic contexts and focuses on psychological experiences of those with lifetime psychedelic use. The study aimed to deepen understanding of current literature surrounding psychedelics, specifically among university students. Participants were asked to complete …

Cultural Competence In Pre-Medical Education: Examining Preparedness For Cross-Cultural Care, Fiza N. Khan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As the U.S. population continues to grow more diverse, there is an urgent need for future healthcare providers to develop strong cultural competence. This study investigates undergraduate pre-medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and comfort levels toward caring for diverse patient populations, including immigrants, refugees, and individuals from varied cultural backgrounds. The goal was to assess how well students are prepared to provide culturally responsive care before entering medical school. Recognizing that the foundation for medical training begins at the undergraduate level, this study aims to identify specific gaps in readiness that may hinder equitable patient care in the future.

A modified …

Partisan Divides In Environmental Spending Attitudes: A Two-Level Hierarchical Analysis, 1973-2022, Jordan Lipner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Public attitudes toward environmental spending have become increasingly divided along party lines, with sharp shifts over the past five decades. This thesis updates and expands on Johnson and Schwadel’s 2019 study by applying a two-level hierarchical linear model to General Social Survey data updated to include data from 2015-2022, capturing how political affiliation, education, race, and economic context interact with broader political and economic contexts to shape environmental attitudes over time.
The results show that political affiliation remains the strongest and most reactive predictor of environmental spending attitudes. Republican respondents are significantly more likely to oppose environmental spending, especially under …

Effects Of Changes In Strouhal And Reynolds Numbers On Beetle Wing Aerodynamics, Keith L. Thiha

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Insect flight has long been a subject of interest across the scientific community, largely due to the exceptional aerodynamic performance insects demonstrate relative to their size. Insects tend to have very high aerodynamic performance characteristics like thrust and lift generation compared to their size. This has many potential applications in improving aircraft performance, however the flow phenomena concerning insect wing aerodynamics is still an area of ongoing research. This study aims to investigate how variations in key nondimensional flow parameters—specifically the Reynolds number and Strouhal number—affect the aerodynamic performance of beetle wings. Strouhal numbers ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 were …

High-Throughput Drug Screening For Disease-Modifying Arthritis Therapy, Janapriya Vijayakumar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Current therapy for arthritis predominantly focuses on the symptoms rather than the underlying causes of disease progression. Thus, it is necessary to identify novel drugs which target the underlying molecular basis of such diseases. Using high-throughput cell-based drug screening, we screened 458 different compounds, narrowed down from 811 starting compounds from the NIH Mechanistic Set. We selected drugs from the Mechanistic Set following Lipinski's Rule of 5 to ensure optimal pharmacokinetic properties. The study used modified primary human chondrocytes (IIAM-PRG4Luc), which secrete a lubricin promoter-driven luciferase reporter. We use this luciferase expression as a proxy to measure lubricin, a compound …

Investigation Of Lubricin-Stimulating Fda-Approved Compounds For A Disease-Modifying Osteoarthritic Drug, Swathi S. Menon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that affects many people worldwide. Current methods of treatment are palliative, and no treatment exists to fully reverse or cure OA once it begins to progress. The discovery of a disease-modifying osteoarthritic drug (DMOAD) would increase the quality of life for millions and reduce the need for invasive procedures. Screening FDA-approved drugs ensures more promise due to their known safety profile and potential for faster translation to the clinic. The goal of this project was to conduct dose-response assays with FDA-approved drugs that have been shown to stimulate lubricin production in cells that mimic …

Active Musical Engagement Versus Passive Music Listening: Effects On Emotional Modulation, Claudia Allocca

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study explored how different forms of musical engagement, actively playing versus

passively listening, impact emotional regulation following exposure to a stressor. The goal was

to better understand whether active participation in music offers greater emotional benefits

compared to simply listening, as previous research often highlights music’s role in emotional

modulation but overlooks the influence of performance-based engagement. A total of 28

participants either played music or listened to music and then completed both pre- and post-

stressor measures assessing mood, mental task load, and heart rate. Contrary to the original

hypothesis, findings revealed that participants from the listening group …

Examining The Social Influences Of Conspiratorial Belief And Endorsement, Phoebe S. Archibald

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether social factors such as the need to belong, fear of negative evaluation, and conformity predict belief in conspiracy theories, and whether political orientation and social media use moderate these relationships. Conspiracy theories play a growing role in shaping public opinion, and identifying the social contributors to such beliefs can help explain why individuals adopt them. Ninety-nine undergraduate students completed surveys measuring conspiracy belief, need to belong, conformity, and fear of negative evaluation, along with questions about political orientation and social media use.

Correlational analyses revealed that all three social variables …

Development Of A Proposed Selective Medium For The Isolation And Differentiation Of P. Sordellii, Dimyana Bottros

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Clostridium, a genus of anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria, includes clinically and ecologically significant species like Clostridium difficile and Paeniclostridium sordellii. C. difficile causes antibiotic-associated colitis, while P. sordellii is linked to fatal infections and spontaneous abortions. Recent studies found both species in marine sediments, suggesting their role in environmental and wildlife health disturbances, including the 2013 mass mortality of over 300 manatees in the Indian River Lagoon. However, isolating and differentiating P. sordellii is challenging due to the lack of selective media optimized for its growth. This thesis proposes a novel selective medium tailored to P. sordellii’s physiological …

2024-2025 Ucf Center For Community Schools Progression Data, Ucf Center For Community Schools

Community Partnership Schools Annual Progression Data

No abstract provided.

From Novel To Movie: The Yearling In Florida, Donna Green-Townsend, Kathlyne Walkup Sheppard

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

Introduction To Hurston's And Sexton's Letters, Marvin E. Hobson

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

Learning Dissemination Strategies: Lessons From The Covid-19 Pandemic In Training Healthcare Professionals In Disease Management, Kishan Vishanagra

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges for global healthcare systems, requiring rapid training and dissemination of disease management strategies among healthcare professionals. This study conducts a systematic review of 37 studies to examine the learning dissemination methods created and utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on just-in-time training for disease management. This study identifies four core training topics: airway management, infection control, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and patient triage. This study also categorizes delivery methods into in-situ simulation-based training, online e-learning platforms, online simulation-based training, and hybrid training models. Findings highlight that simulation-based training methods proved effective for invasive high-risk procedures, while …

Reconciling Theory And Praxis. Defending Subjective Agency Against Althusser's Structuralism - Daniel Guerrero, Daniel Guerrero

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Louis Althusser labels Marx’s early works as humanist, pseudo-materialist, and self-contained within the ideology of German idealism. Therefore, all attempts to develop a Marxist theory based on these works are futile and ideological. Instead, Althusser proposes a ‘scientific’ reading of Marx developing a structuralist theory based on dialectical materialism. I argue that his interpretations deny individual agency and reduce social relations to mechanistic processes, which directly conflicts with fundamental Marxist ideas like alienation, production, and species-being. By discussing authors within the Marxist Humanist tradition, I argue that a theoretical framework based on Marx’s early works is not only possible, but …

Community Music, Counter-Stories, And Social Inequality In Central Florida's Music Spaces, Katia Destine

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Black working-class musicians have shaped American popular culture for centuries. Despite their contributions, they have faced decades of marginalization and exploitation by record companies, executives, and consumers. While systems of exploitation affect musicians of all backgrounds, Black working-class musicians are in a double bind, susceptible to both economic and social exploitation. Musicians who live within the subdominant groups of race, gender, and class frequently face obstacles that place them at a disadvantage. Through semi-structured interviews, the research draws on the lived experiences of Black working-class musicians in Central Florida. I argue that community music serves as a vital resource, offering …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Cultural Stigma, And Identity Distress Among College Students, Jessica T. Frank

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cultural stigma, and identity in a sample of college-age students. Previous studies have primarily focused on children, yet few have examined ADHD as it persists into adulthood. Likewise, studies examining cultural stigma and identity were limited and primarily examined stigma toward mental health as a general concept rather than ADHD-specific attitudes. To address these disparities, a sample of undergraduate college students enrolled in psychology courses at a large metropolitan university (N = 339) were recruited and took an anonymous online survey in exchange for course …

What Factors Improve Police Legitimacy?, Nyomi Powers

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Legitimacy in law enforcement can be defined as the perception of the police as an appropriate and respected source of power and authority. United States law enforcement is facing a legitimacy crisis stemming from a growing distrust in the police and decreased police community relationships. In order to address this problem, solutions are being sought in both police agencies and by researchers in the field. This systematic review aims to compile all relevant experiments and analyze the findings to create a comprehensive list of policy implications that most effectively improve police legitimacy. For experiments to be included in this review, …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Working Memory, Lake Miller

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Extensive research has shown that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as sexual abuse, poverty, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect, can negatively impact an individual’s development. The presence of ACEs has also been linked to an increase in one’s engagement in risky behavior, dropping out of school, unemployment before the age of 21, and a variety of health issues. Currently, there is a gap in literature regarding the performance of different working memory (WM) tasks and the presence of ACEs. This study focuses on filling this gap in literature by measuring participants’ Philadelphia ACE score, which is a 16-item questionnaire, …

The Impact Of Caffeine On Neurotransmitter Production By Lactobacillus Spp., Angela Caruso

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Caffeine, a prevalent stimulant, has inconclusive effects on the gut-brain axis. Key probiotics such as Lactobacillus play a chief role in gut health and neurotransmitter production. These bacteria are able to effectively influence brain function and overall health. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of caffeine on Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus reuteri to determine antagonistic or synergistic effects on the bacteria’s gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production and synthesis of serotonin-related metabolites.

The methodology for this work begins with treating bacterial cultures with varying concentrations of caffeine and then incubating at 37ºC for 48 hours. Supernatants …

Gaba And Dopamine Dual Therapy: A Potential Treatment For A549 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Ahmed Abdalla, Jemimah Olajide

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Lung cancer is the deadliest and second most prevalent cancer in the United States, with approximately 230,000 new cases and 125,000 deaths reported yearly, according to the American Cancer Society. Annually, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Recent research has shown that GABA and dopamine independently induce apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Parameters such as LD50 and IC50 are essential to determine optimal concentration for human toxicity and CI analysis can be utilized to understand the synergistic interactions between two agents. In this research project, the relative effectiveness of GABA and dopamine …

Assisting Orlando Health With Patient Experience & Logistics, Usman S. Ahmed

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

This showcase is a narrative of my experience as a volunteer for the Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, operated by Orlando Health. Orlando Health is a non-profit organization that operates a network of general and specialty hospitals across Orlando. Their stated mission is “To improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve”. One of their largest clusters of healthcare facilities by far is located in the Doctor Phillips area of Orlando, which includes the hospital where I volunteered. As a volunteer, my job was to improve the background operations of the fifth floor. More specifically, …

Shadows From The Double-Wide: A Reflection On Home, Brittani K. Brown

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

My studio practice acts as a personal anthropological investigation into my upbringing in the rural South. I utilize photographic, textile, print, and virtual mediums that have a unique historical and/or modern connection with the South. Almost a decade after deciding to leave my Southern Baptist religion behind and even longer after covering up my Southern accent, I find myself in a place of tension-ridden nostalgia for the place I grew up.

The community of artists in the Southeast region of the United States continues to grow and create a more cohesive picture of the South and Southern identity through their …

Evolving Perceptions Of Self And Others: The Effects Of Communing With Nature While Thru Hiking The Florida National Scenic Trail, Stella P. Arbeláez Tascón

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This body of artwork comprises a thesis that documents and exposes the artist’s inner workings as she regained balance after experiencing deep emotional trauma. This individual’s healing transformation was prompted by her immersion in nature while walking the Florida National Scenic Trail in its entirety, 1,130 miles (or 1,818 km), from the Everglades to the panhandle, in three and a half months. The artistic research conducted, and autobiographical body of work created from it, aims to help others reconnect with their own strengths and to seek wellness in the restorative properties of Nature, while advocating for an empathetic approach to …

Catalytic Interfaces Of Earth-Abundant Metals Copper And Nickel Chalcogenides For Hydrogen Evolution Catalyst, Manuel Alejandro Ramirez Ubillus

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation establishes design principles for earth-abundant catalysts used in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), showing that electroactivity is primarily controlled by structural features such as surface facet exposure, dopant content, and dynamic phase transformations. These factors influence conductivity, active site density, and stability, as demonstrated through three model systems: Cu₂O, NiSe₂, and Cu₂S. Cu₂O particles with controlled shapes were synthesized to explore the relationship between facet exposure and catalytic activity. Octahedra dominated by the facet 111 performed better than cubes rich in the facet 100. Combining Cu₂O with reduced graphene oxide further improved conductivity, dispersion, and stability, leading to …