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Synthesis And Bioevaluation Of Piperazine-Based Compounds As Anti-Cancer Agents In Pancreatic Cancer, Holly E. Moots

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Pancreatic cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death and new therapies are needed. In this investigation two piperazine-based compound classes were discovered with anticancer activity against human pancreatic cancer cells. The use of piperazine moieties in medicinal chemistry has garnered increased interest because FDA-approved anticancer piperazine derivatives (i.e. Imatinib) have demonstrated significant impact in cancer treatment.

The first half of this study describes the discovery of a class of piperazine-based compounds that function as far upstream binding protein 1 (FUBP1) inhibitors. FUBP1 is a single-stranded DNA/RNA binding protein that functions as a master regulator of various genes, including …

A Chat Analysis Of The Use Of Educational Video Games To Teach Physical Science To Middle School Girls, Stephen G. Petit

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

As students transition into middle school science courses, their interest and engagement in the subject declines. This decline is most significant among girls, particularly for topics in physical science. While several factors have been identified that contribute to the decline, one area that is emerging as a new way to help improve girls' view of science is the use of educational video games to improve engagement and interest in science content, particularly as video games have been steadily rising in popularity with girls. This study used Cultural Historical Activity Theory to understand how middle school girls engage with an educational …

Nonprofit Compliance: Perceptions Of Small Nonprofit Leaders To Be Compliant, Andrea C. Ortega

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Small nonprofit organizations (NPOs) are at higher risk of having their IRS tax-exempt status revoked due to a lack of funding, governance, and structure. Organizations that fail to file an annual information return or notice for three consecutive years automatically lose their tax-exempt status by revocation. In May 2020, the IRS revoked the status of more than 30,000 NPOs for failing to file tax returns. This research contributes to the very limited number of qualitative studies on nonprofit leaders' knowledge of federal compliance, which is unknown and may contribute to small nonprofits losing their IRS-exempt status. This qualitative study examines …

Does Assessment Of Distress Disclosure Enhance Prediction Of Suicidal Ideation In The Three-Step Theory Of Suicide?, Jessica A. Ruiz

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The three-step theory of suicide (3ST) proposes that suicidal ideation (SI) and behavior develops in the context of unbearable pain and hopelessness (Step 1), low social connection (Step 2) and acquired capability (Step 3 - not assessed in this study; Klonsky et al., 2016). Distress disclosure is one way a person may utilize their social network to mitigate feelings of distress and can be a critical measure of social connectedness. Building on efforts to diversify measurement of social connectedness in the 3ST, a sample of 549 college students (mean age = 19.27, SD = 1.28; 56.6% reporting history of SI) …

An Ultrafast, Mid-Wave Infrared Source For Driving High-Order Harmonics Beyond The Water Window, Zachary A. Marra

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This dissertation details the development of the world’s first cryogenically cooled Fe:ZnSe-based chirped pulse amplifier, a mid-wave infrared source for strong-field physics experimentation. The long upper-state lifetime provided by cryogenically cooling the Fe:ZnSe gain medium allows free-running, diode-pumped Er:YAG lasers to be used as pump lasers. The amplifier is seeded by a novel two-stage optical parametric amplifier pumped at 1 μm, which is potentially carrier-envelope phase-stable. The system is capable of producing 247-fs pulses at 333 Hz and 4.6 mJ with a center wavelength of 4.07 μm, although exact characteristics vary for different repetition rates and arrangements. The spectral bandwidth …

Transcriptomic Underpinnings Of Diversification, Phenotypic Plasticity, And Disease Response In Non-Model Amphibians, Nicholas Christodoulides

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Anurans (frogs) are spectacularly diverse in their life histories, evolutionary trajectories, and morphological features. Advancement of next-generation sequencing techniques has improved knowledge of anuran genetics, but the functional genomic underpinnings of adaptation in most frog species remains uncharacterized. Transcriptomic approaches are some of the most powerful tools available to understand the molecular workings of adaptation among lineages and species. Because anurans face a multitude of anthropogenic threats and are unique in their biphasic life history, a question of particular interest is how gene expression profiles relate to phenotypic variation within and among species. In this dissertation, I tackle this question …

Exploring Fraction Comprehension And Interest In Elementary Education Through Ai-Powered Personalized Learning, Kenneth Holman

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Fraction proficiency is crucial for foundational mathematics and broader STEM fields. This dissertation investigates the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mathematics classrooms, with a primary focus on students with mathematical learning challenges. AI technologies offer unique advantages for personalizing instruction and providing tailored feedback. The empirical study in the dissertation addresses a gap in the research related to AI's application during primary school fraction instruction.

The first manuscript presents a comprehensive literature review of AI in mathematics education, synthesizing research from 2020 - 2024. The second manuscript describes a quasi-experimental study evaluating Mathbot, an AI-based personalized learning platform. Repeated …

The Lived Experiences Of Diverse Caregivers Of Children With Disabilities Participating In Out-Of-School Time Activities, Vanessa Spero

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of parents, family members, and caregivers of youth with disabilities from diverse backgrounds who participate in out-of-school time (OST) activities. This study acknowledged the low employment rate for people with disabilities and the potential for OST activities that utilize positive youth development (PYD) frameworks to increase life skill development to increase employment opportunities. Qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology and photo-elicitation methods were used to engage six caregivers in a series of one to three interviews. These results were analyzed with three major themes and nine sub-themes identified. The identified themes and …

The Role Of The Principal In The Recognition Of High Ability Students Who Are Black, English Language Learners, And Low Socio-Economic Status, Nadia N. Winston

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Researchers consider the underrepresentation of Black, English Language Learner, and Low Economic status students who are high ability in gifted and advanced programs, an issue largely due to multiple issues (i.e. lack of standard definition or single conception, identification testing flaws, bias). Though many district and school related mitigation factors have been studied and suggested, there is very little research on the school principal and their role in mitigating these effects. This sequential, exploratory mixed methods study examined the challenges leaders face when implementing policies and processes for supporting and recognizing Black, English language learner, and low socio-economic students who …

Machine Learning Algorithms To Study Multi-Modal Data For Computational Biology, Khandakar Tanvir Ahmed

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Advancements in high-throughput technologies have led to an exponential increase in the generation of multi-modal data in computational biology. These datasets, comprising diverse biological measurements such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and imaging data, offer a comprehensive view of biological systems at various levels of complexity. However, integrating and analyzing such heterogeneous data present significant challenges due to differences in data modalities, scales, and noise levels. Another challenge for multi-modal analysis is the complex interaction network that the modalities share. Understanding the intricate interplay between different biological modalities is essential for unraveling the underlying mechanisms of complex biological processes, including …

Sars-Cov-2 Infection History Is Positively Correlated With Frequency Of Psychotic Symptoms In Schizophrenia, Jackson D. Beecher

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Previous work in human and animal studies has implicated aberrant insular cortex (IC) activity in the pathophysiology of hallucinations. Of note, the IC overlaps with the olfactory cortex (OC), a region of the brain that receives extensive projections from sensory neurons of the olfactory epithelium. SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious coronavirus with a demonstrated ability to cause anosmia; the virus does this by colocalizing with and damaging support cells in the olfactory epithelium, ultimately leading to alterations in olfactory receptor cell signaling to the OC. Given the overlap between OC and IC, we asked the question of whether COVID-19 …

Elements Of The Criminal Mind, Kelsie A. Esposito Ms.

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Studying human behavior and societal dynamics has captivated scholars across time. From ancient philosophers like Plato to contemporary researchers, the quest to comprehend our distinctiveness and the mechanisms that enable harmonious coexistence remains paramount. This thesis examines the enigmatic realm of the “criminal class,” looking at their identity and actions and the cognitive processes underpinning their behavior. Focusing on violent criminal offenders, this thesis seeks to provide greater meaning and understanding of the criminal mind.

Lifes Amazing When La'ing, George T. Rolle Iii

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2024

A young college student who fears chemistry is offered the chance to assist in teaching the course he once dreaded. This is their story of overcoming the obstacles faced in not only understanding the course but knowing how to prepare for it as well. Throughout his spring semester, he will learn the ins and outs and eventually create a way to educate others.

Weeds To Wealth: Upcycling Emilia Sonchifolia To Biobased Batteries, Arielle E. Myerson, Lauren Whetstone

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2024

Lithium ion (Li-ion) battery technology typically requires graphite as the conductive material for the anodes. Graphite is an unsustainable material which is either synthetically manufactured from fossil fuels or mined and imported. To replace graphite anodes, silicon-based materials such as silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) can be used along with bio-based carbon sources to make even more energy-dense anodes than traditional graphite. The lignins that comprise plant cell walls are an excellent biological source of carbon. Therefore, invasive weeds, such as Emilia Sonchifolia (lilac tassel flower) are a good candidate for building sustainable Li-ion batteries. In this research, the weeds were collected, …

Unraveling Molar Wear Patterns Of San Pedro Maya: Exploring Dietary Correlations And Oral Health, Julie M. Alvarez, Emily Boutin

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2024

This study investigates the oral health and dietary practices of the historical San Pedro Maya population in Belize. By analyzing the wear patterns on their molars, we gained insights into their past diet and oral health conditions. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the lifestyle and health of the San Pedro Maya in ancient times. This research illuminates the connections between diet and oral health among this indigenous group, offering valuable historical insights into their well-being and contributing to our understanding of ancient Maya civilization. We hope to add to what is known about the Maya of San …

March Of The Mangroves: Tropicalization Impacts On Mosquito Lagoon Oyster Reefs, Amber Rogerson, Maggie Sago, Jamaris Arcaya Guzman, Morgan Vasser, Stephanie Fletcher, Mariam Sonbol, Ashley Coppola, Holly Barno, Reese Hamlin, Isabella Puzino, Nexus Green, Riley Mccool, Sara Kuykendall, Julia Kruger, Dylan Rios, Tanelisse Gonzalez-Garcia, Kristal Prado-Zapata, Jenilee Garcia, Tyler Callaghan

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2024

As global temperatures rise due to climate change, tropical mangroves have spread poleward. Mangroves now impact many other ecosystems, including salt marshes and oyster reefs in central Florida. A study documented a 198% increase in mangrove abundance on intertidal reefs of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) since 1984 in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). The first goal of the field project was to understand the current dimensions, densities, and spatial distributions of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon (ML;North IRL) compared to an earlier survey. The second goal was to record …

Beyond Fear: Inspiring Students To Appreciate Sharks And Understand Their Role In The Ocean, Carolina A. Souza, Janelle Seefelt, Jordyn Delikat, Brianna Rendon

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

Our team visited a fourth-grade classroom of 26 students at Geneva Elementary School to speak on sharks. We highlighted the ecological significance of sharks, cultural respect for them in Polynesian and Hawaiian cultures, threats facing shark populations, and different ways students could help protect them. Our goal was to address negative stigma surrounding sharks. The students participated in a take-home project where they decorated their own paper bag shark puppet and wrote what they loved about sharks on the back. They also made shark tooth necklaces. Lastly, each student picked a marine organism, decorated it, and glued it onto a …

History Of Injustices And The Current Interim Government Actions In Bangladesh, Kazi S. Salsabil

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

The project illustrates the knowledge I obtained through the U-LEAD global leadership course and the research project assessing global issues. This illustration will discuss the past and current situation of Bangladesh. It has only been 53 years since Bangladesh became independent. Unfortunately, the country has a long history of political struggles. The country is recovering from the destabilized government left by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The purpose of this project is to assess the political and societal obstacles faced by Bangladesh.

Additionally, psychological well-being and accessibility to resources will be evaluated. For this project, I used Google Forms to …

Doing Good With Goods And Grace, Piper Sunvold

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

Goods and Grace is a non-profit grocery store located in Casselberry, Florida, specifically founded to serve the low income community in Central Florida. Goods and Grace’s mission is “To nourish Bodies & Souls with Dignity and Grace” (Goods and Grace, n.d.). They fulfill this mission by providing lower priced grocery store items to families that meet the low income requirements, and by providing members with advice on job hunting, cooking, and other areas. While serving with Goods and Grace, I was a cashier, who checked people out as well as restocked shelves. However, there were also many people who just …

Waves Of Influence- Our Impact On The Next Generation, Caleb Ryland, Mariam Sonbol, Joedy Maysonet, Lea Obendorf

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

Through our Service-Learning experience, the four of us came together to create a meaningful learning opportunity for a class of grade school students while also contributing to marine conservation. Our goal was to teach them about the unique adaptations of marine life, focusing on concepts like bioluminescence and camouflage. To make the lesson engaging, the students crafted glow-in-the-dark jellyfish to represent bioluminescence and colored cutouts to demonstrate camouflage. By tapping into their creativity, they not only learned but also showcased their newfound knowledge. The success of our efforts was reflected in the students' improved scores on a post-test compared to …

Experiencing Opening Your Heart To Hope, Lucia Quinones

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

Working at the HOPE Chest Thrift Store, I got to learn about looking through quality of clothing, talking with the community, staff members, cleaning up the store, and learning what it's like from an outsider's perspective vs a behind the scenes perspective on how workers are in the back. Main learning lessons, discipline and hard work can go a long way for impacting others. Everyone is doing their best and being the leader to see the background, leads to an open-mind. My goal was to work at a food pantry but it turned into working at a thrift store that …

Disability Representation In Contemporary Playwriting, Caroline Hull

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Is it possible for a playwright to authentically capture the disabled experience without it becoming privy to stereotypes or utilized as a catalyst for the plot? The thesis aims to challenge the prevalent notion that making the disability intrinsic to a theatrical plot is essential for authentic representation, and instead asserts that authentic portrayal of the disabled experience can exist independently of making the disability a central plot device. To support this claim, In Chapter One, I engage with relevant work in the field of playwriting and narrative media studies, such as the workshop "Inaccessible: Writing Plays with Characters who …

Nailed It: Creative Nonfiction Essays, Kristi M. Dao

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Nailed It is a collection of personal essays that follow the life of the narrator as an unlovable outsider raised by parents who are Vietnam War refugees. This collection is made up of seven essays, each focusing on the relationships that have shaped the speaker's identity and ideas about how love works. “Lost in Translation” opens the collection and explores the narrator's attempts to make sense of parental relationships defined by communication errors. The next several essays consider the father and mother as both parents and business owners, as well as relationships with people beyond the immediate household and family. …

In Vitro Metabolite Identification Of Indole 3-Ylcycloalkyl Ketones, Inez M. Jacobs-Hinton

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) have emerged as a complex and evolving class of compounds designed to mimic the effects of natural cannabinoids, targeting the endocannabinoid system. Despite their widespread recreational use and therapeutic potential, the safety and pharmacokinetic properties of synthetic cannabinoids remain inadequately understood. This study examines the in vitro drug metabolism of a prominent class of SCs—indole-3-ylcycloalkyl ketones—by identifying and characterizing their metabolites. Human liver microsomes were used to investigate the metabolism of several SCs, including (2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropyl)[1-(4,4,4-trifluorobutyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-methanone (XLR-12), 1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-1H-indol-3-yl-methanone (A-796260), 1-[(1-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl]-1H-indol-3-yl-methanone (AB-005), 1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl-methanone (FAB-144), and 1-[(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)methyl]-1H-indol-3-yl-methanone (A-834735). Several time points were chosen to assist in elucidating the dynamics of …

Dna Nanotechnology: The Development Of Multi-Functional Hybridization Sensors, Brittany L. Mueller

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Hybridization probes have been used to detect specific nucleic acids for the last 50 years. These probes have medical applications, including identifying disease-causing genes or multi-drug resistant bacteria. To be considered robust, a probe should have high selectivity at ambient or low temperatures, be able to detect folded analytes, and remain economical for use in clinical settings. This work will uncover a challenge faced by molecular beacon probes (MBP), describe an adaptation to MBPs that enables the hybridization of the probe to a folded target, a multicomponent DNA sensor (OWL2) that overcomes common challenges faced by hybridization probes, and a …

A Quantitative Approach To The Analysis Of Human Hair For Forensic Examinations, David S. Hernandez Funes

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Hair is frequent trace evidence found in crime scenes due to its high transfer potential due to natural shed. They can provide investigative information in various cases, including homicide, sexual assault, missing persons, and human trafficking. Physical examination of hair involves the analysis of microscopic features, such as color and pigmentation, commonly using bright field microscopy. Microscopical techniques are non-destructive, with minimum to no sample preparation that can be followed by chemical and biological analysis. Although individualization is not possible via microscopical methods, it can be used to include or exclude potential donors. However, previous microscopical techniques lack quantitative and …

Developing Integrated Dna Molecular Circuits, Andrea C. Bardales Martinez

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Due to nucleic acid’s programmability, it is possible to realize DNA structures with computing functions, and thus a new generation of molecular computers is evolving to solve biological and medical problems. There is evidence that genetic heredity diseases and cancer can be the result of genetic heterogeneity, thus there is a need for diagnostics and therapeutic tools with multiplex and smart components to compute all the molecular drivers. DNA molecular computers mimics electronic computers by programming synthetic nucleic acids to perform similarly to central processing units. Considering how the evolution of integrated circuits made possible the revolution of silicon-based computers, …

Mathematical Developments For Bubble Dynamics, Kacie Kulenguski

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis explores bubble dynamics described by the Rayleigh-Plesset equation. The primary focus is on bubble growth. A theoretical discussion of bubble growth is given using the Rayleigh-Plesset equation. This work considers bubble growth in four different cases: a polytropic case without the consideration of surface tension, an isothermal case without surface tension, a polytropic case with surface tension, and an isothermal case with surface tension. Based on these cases, this work develops asymptotic solutions for the evolution of radial bubble growth over time. This thesis provides numerical solutions to these cases through the use of the Runge-Kutta method. These …

Development And Validation Of The Nicotine Vaping Expectancy Questionnaire: Item Generation, Scale Construction, Reliability And Validity, Gabrielle Lynch

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Over the past two decades, cigarette smoking has decreased among teenagers and young adults, but nicotine vaping has increased dramatically. Liquid vape products contain harmful chemicals ingested when vapor is inhaled, and vaping is associated with lung damage and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There has been relatively little research on nicotine vaping and effective prevention and intervention methods have yet to be developed. Changing expectancy processes has been successful in preventing early alcohol use and cigarette smoking, but little is known about nicotine vaping expectancies. An appropriately developed nicotine vaping expectancy measure is necessary to better understand vaping behavior and …

The Effect Of Perceived Discrimination On Alcohol Use Behaviors: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Among Hispanic/Latinx Drinkers, Ardhys N. De Leon

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Hispanic/Latinx drinkers are more likely to experience adverse alcohol-related consequences and have less access to treatment services. Research indicates that discrimination has a unique effect on drinking behaviors. The Minority Stress Model depicts how discrimination places individuals at a heightened risk for adverse health outcomes. Emotion regulation and alcohol craving are also known to impact alcohol use. This study investigated the impact of perceived discrimination on emotional disturbance, alcohol craving, and alcohol use using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). The following were proposed: H1: Emotional disturbance will predict alcohol craving in the moment (Level 1). H2: The association between perceived discrimination …