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Identification And Influence Of Species-Informative 16s Ribosomal Rna Sequences And Evaluation Of Ocean Biofilms, Nikhil Bose

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences are commonly analyzed for taxonomic and phylogenetic purposes because they contain variable regions that help distinguish genera. However, intra-genus classification is difficult due to high sequence similarity among closely related species. The biological impact of nucleotide variants in 16S variable regions are often unknown and hence their sequence differences are weighted evenly during classification, which provides poor species identity confidence. In this dissertation, I determined that analysis of intra-genus 16S allelic variants can provide species information and that nucleotide changes in 16S rRNA variable regions can impact ribosome quality. In one study, I analyzed …

Clay As A Control Technique For Karenia Brevis: Water Chemistry Dynamics And Physiological Impacts On Benthic Invertebrates, Victoria Devillier

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Clay-based compounds are globally the most advanced and widely used method of direct suppression of marine harmful algal blooms, and are currently undergoing investigation as an option to control Karenia brevis blooms in Florida. Before clay may be accepted for widespread use, there are multiple concerns and challenges that must be addressed regarding the environmental safety of this method, such as effects on water quality, the fate of toxins, and potential impacts of clay treatment to non-target organisms. To contribute to ongoing assessments of clay as a potential control method for K. brevis blooms, we conducted experiments with a formulation …

Surface Engineering Of Nanoparticles For Efficient Polymerization Inhibition, Catalysis, And Plasmonic Sensing, Pooria Golvari

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Surface modification of colloidal nanoparticles is essential for broadening the scope of nanotechnology. In this dissertation, we discuss novel approaches to functionalize the surface of nanoparticles to tailor their properties for applications including radical polymerization inhibitors, supported heterogeneous catalysts, and building blocks for plasmonic devices. First, we investigate the interaction of hydrogen-terminated silicon nanoparticles (H-SiNPs) with Karstedt's catalyst and report a room‑temperature synthesis of Pt-coated SiNPs with highly tunable Pt loading. Analysis of the Pt on-Si ensemble reveals surface-bound Pt(II) on SiNPs which can undergo ligand exchange. Upon calcination, Pt-loaded SiNPs catalyze the hydrogenation of phenyl acetylene, and the SiNP …

Chemical Approach To Tire Mark Analysis, John Lucchi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Fatal accidents on the road are an unfortunate daily occurrence, with almost 30,000 deaths resulting from hit-and-runs in the USA between 2006 and 2021. The identification of the driver responsible for this road crime can become a challenge. Nonetheless, the accident scene provides a large amount of trace evidence that can prove critical to this matter, one of them being the tire marks. While traditional tire mark analysis is full of physical information helping the reconstruction of the event, additional information can be extracted from the rubber left during the braking event. Each tire model is manufactured with a specific …

Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Probing Of Structures Of The Rous Sarcoma Virus Capsid, Amyloid Beta, And Reflectin Proteins, Tyrone Thames

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy can be a powerful tool for investigating the atomic-level structures and dynamics of biological macromolecules, including proteins. In this dissertation, I present an ssNMR study of three diverse proteins, revealing insights into their respective secondary structures, conformational variations, and intermolecular interactions. Additionally, I introduce novel computational methods to facilitate the assignment of chemical shifts of ssNMR spectra. The first of the proteins is the capsid protein of the Rous Sarcoma Virus. In previous research, the structure of the hexameric lattice of the in-vitro tubular assembly of the capsid protein was determined. In this …

Understanding The Interactions Between Conservation Agencies And Rangers: A Mixed-Methods Approach, Christina M. Burton

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Research describing conservation agencies has generally been exploratory and limited in the use of theory. Similarly, organizational theories can provide an understanding for how organizations change and adapt to their given environments, but they have not been applied to conservation agencies with unique challenges and strains from other public bureaucracies or private corporations. In expanding this body of literature, not only were these theories applied conservation agencies, but they were also explored in what Powell and Colyvas (2008, p. 276) called "microfoundations" of organizations, which focuses on the interplay between individuals and organizations. To explore this, a convergent mixed-methods design …

Employee Volunteering: Integrating The Volunteering And Helping Literatures Using A Latent Profile Approach, Emily Broksch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In recent years, more and more organizations are being held responsible for the social impact of their organizational priorities, commonly referred to as corporate social responsibility. As a result, there has been an increased implementation of employee volunteering initiatives. However, research on volunteering has largely remained separate from the context of work. As the prevalence of employee volunteering initiatives continues to grow, the need to integrate the theoretical and practical findings from the volunteering literature with that of the extensively studied and related discretionary prosocial work behavior (i.e., organizational citizenship behavior) research has become increasingly apparent. This dissertation examines how …

The Successful Characteristics That Contribute To Black Male Students Matriculating Into Medical School, Cedric Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In 2019, individuals that identified as Black represented 13.4% of the U.S. population, 12.5% of the undergraduate student enrollment population and 7.1% of the medical school population. Subsequently, this has yielded a 5% Black physician population and workforce consisting of just 2.3% Black male physicians (AAMC, 2018). The disproportionately low Black physician representation contributes to greater healthcare disparity outcomes within the U.S. Black population. This study is centered on the post-positive characteristics of Black male medical students that have successfully overcome barriers to entry and matriculated into medical school. The phenomenological post-positive study was conducted through the lens of Self-Efficacy …

High-Efficieny Ultrafast Mid-Infrared Source For Strong Field Science, Fangjie Zhou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The potential of high-energy sources within the mid-infrared region (3-8 μm) has garnered significant attention for diverse research and industrial applications. Millijoule pulses extending beyond 3 μm can facilitate the production of x-rays with photon energies in the keV range through high harmonic generation (HHG). These high-energy x-ray pulses enable the characterization of electron dynamics within molecules and condensed matter materials. Additionally, the atmospheric transmission window between 3-5 μm allows lasers within this spectral range to deliver energy efficiently to distant targets via optical filaments without divergence, highlighting promising prospects for defense applications. In contrast to laser amplifiers, which are …

Understanding Outgroup Aversion Effects On Innovation Adoption And Polarization In Network Environments, Bruce G. Miller

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Individuals' decisions to adopt an innovation can be influenced by the group identity of previous adopters or non-adopters in their social network. Previous research in innovation diffusion considered initial innovators and word-of-mouth imitator effects using analytical models. Simulations and agent-based models have been developed to address the heterogeneity of decision makers and the non-linearity of the process. A further refinement modeled adoption based on networks of social relationships between potential decision makers, analogous to the spread of disease on networks. In addition, adoption or non-adoption of some innovations has been characterized as a means of signaling identification with or aversion …

Student Perceptions Of Campus Crime And Victim Services, Tracy Gulliford

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Few would argue that college campus crime is a serious problem across the United States. Debate arises, however, regarding why the problem is so pervasive and how best to address it. This dissertation addresses that gap by exploring the nature and magnitude of the college campus crime problem followed by a rationale for studying student perceptions regarding knowledge about and use of victim services resources offered on the University of Central Florida (UCF) campus. Doing so is particularly important in light of the fact that five years have now passed since UCF launched the "Let's Be Clear" campaign designed to …

Professional Development For Graduate School: Eportfolio And Networking, Wesley Lim

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2023

The development of an ePortfolio offers a digital introduction during networking events in an increasingly technology-driven society. Throughout one semester in Biomedical Sciences Careers, MCB 3933, I developed an ePortfolio with components like a resume, personal statement, individual development plan, and elevator speech. In my ePortfolio, I had three areas of focus that showcased my highlights and skills in my undergraduate education: the academic skill sets I developed, my relevant research experiences, and my time as a teaching assistant for multiple courses.

As part of the course, students were required to contact at least four people in their desired field …

Project Nur: Illuminating Lives Through Islamic Society's Community Service In Central Florida, Adam Bawatneh

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2023

This poster presents an in-depth exploration of my service experience at the Islamic Society of Central Florida (ISCF), where I have been serving as the head chef for the Family Night event. It delves into the challenges and triumphs encountered during my service, particularly in light of the recent conflict in Palestine. The poster also reflects on the personal growth and leadership development I have experienced throughout this journey.

Comparing Phosphorus Removal Efficiencies And Mechanisms Via Two Cost-Effective Specialty Adsorbents In A Cascade Upflow Filtration System, Sydney Kilgus-Vesely

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Finding solutions to treat water that contains phosphorus is an important effort due to the harmful impacts it presents to both human health and the environment. Phosphorus is considered a limiting factor in water oftentimes and therefore controls the growth of algal bloom in a water body. The increase of algal populations due to wastewater effluent, stormwater runoff, and agricultural discharge in Florida waters has a direct link to the event of harmful algal blooms such as red tide in coastal regions, eutrophication of waterbodies, and fish kills. Finding low cost, energy efficient, and low maintenance green sorption media (GSM) …

A Framework For The Automatic Identification Of Optimized Yield Surface Parameters, Kevin Hanekom

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Advanced engineering materials are designed to display tensile-compressive asymmetry (TCA) and anisotropy to provide unique attributes to critical components necessary in the hot section of turbines. The never-ending chase for higher efficiencies, and with them, higher temperature gradients, intrinsically leads to more and more of these complex materials, like single crystal turbine blades, embedded within the turbine environment. Mathematical models, known as yield criteria, allow engineers to visualize the mechanical behavior of these materials in various orientations under complex loading. Yield criteria are dependent on three key items in determination of their governing parameters: material test data, mathematical constraints, and …

A Framework Of Critical Success Factors For Implementation Of Industry 4.0 In Aerospace And Defense Industries, Lina Khan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, is essential to the success of Aerospace and Defense (A&D) organizations as it showcases the ability to adapt, innovate, and remain competitive. Industry 4.0 technologies such as cyber-physical systems (CPS), big data, cognitive computing, smart factories, connected manufacturing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) focus on revolutionizing manufacturing through embedding digital and physical systems, with the goal to maximize the desired output(s) while using minimal resources. Although there are numerous advantages, there are challenges associated with implementation of these complex systems. This doctoral research investigates the critical factors needed for successful implementation of …

Variational Autoencoder And Sensor Fusion For Robust Myoelectric Controls, Keith A. Currier

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Myoelectric control schemes aim to utilize the surface electromyography (EMG) signals which are the electric potentials directly measured from skeletal muscles to control wearable robots such as exoskeletons and prostheses. The main challenge of myoelectric controls is to increase and preserve the signal quality by minimizing the effect of confounding factors such as muscle fatigue or electrode shift. Current research in myoelectric control schemes are developed to work in ideal laboratory conditions, but there is a persistent need to have these control schemes be more robust and work in real-world environments. Following the manifold hypothesis, complexity in the world can …

Before They Could Be Saved: Aids Voices Before Protease Inhibitors, Julian J. Willis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to explore writing during the start of the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. States. This time period encompasses the early 1980s to mid-1990s before Protease Inhibitors were FDA approved which was the medical breakthrough drug that helped turn an HIV diagnosis from a death sentence to a chronic condition. This thesis will be an examination of three themes: “Gay White Cis Male Experience of HIV/AIDS”,” Marginalized Identity Experience of HIV/AIDS” and an exploration of two plays written during the height of the AIDS epidemic that were later turned into HBO productions: The Normal Heart …

Speech-Language Pathologists' And Speech-Language Therapists' Role Working With Youth In The Juvenile Justice System, Maria Cuza

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to examine and provide insight into how speech-language pathologists and speech-language therapists (SLP/SLT) in Australia (AUS), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (USA) work with youth in the Juvenile Justice System (JJS). Currently, many youth involved in the JJS struggle with language barriers and need proper services to overcome them. Studies have shown that an SLP/SLT positively affects young people in the system. This study aimed to examine the demographic, educational, and occupational backgrounds of SLPs/SLTs working with youth in the JJS and the services provided to these youth by …

Predation And Harvesting In Spatial Population Models, Connor R. Shrader

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Predation and harvesting play critical roles in maintaining biodiversity in ecological communities. Too much harvesting may drive a species to extinction, while too little harvesting may allow a population to drive out competing species. The spatial features of a habitat can also significantly affect population dynamics within these communities. Here, we formulate and analyze three ordinary differential equation models for the population density of a single species. Each model differs in its assumptions about how the species is harvested. We then extend each of these models to analogous partial differential equation models that more explicitly describe the spatial habitat and …

The Effect Of E-Cigarette Vape On Oral Cell Proliferation Using 3d Spheroids As A Preclinical Model, Vikram Chinnaiyan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

E-cigarettes have recently become increasingly popular, especially amongst middle and high school students. Although they are marketed as safer alternatives to tobacco cigarettes, they produce toxic metals and carcinogenic nitrosamines. This thesis studies the effects of e-cigarette aerosol on the growth and proliferation of oral epithelial cells because the consequences of vaping, including a potential risk for aberrant growth leading to cancer, are not well understood. Cells were grown in matrigel, causing the formation of three-dimensional spheroids modeling the physiological architecture of the oral epithelium. Those spheroids were chronically exposed to vape with different treatment conditions to study the functional …

Addressing Medical Mistrust Within The Black Community To Improve Their Health Ourcomes, Jillian Weathington

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Mistrust of the healthcare system is increased among the Black population compared to other race/ethnicity groups. Medical mistrust can lead to intensified health inequities and negative health outcomes among this population. Currently, there is limited research that explores ways to address medical mistrust, especially among the Black population. This study investigated medical mistrust to find ways to improve the quality of life amongst the Black population. Twenty-one participants in this study completed a Group Based Medical Mistrust Survey and five of those participants participated in a semi-structured interview. Descriptive and correlation analyses were conducted. The GBMMS was separated into three …

Long Term Effects Analysis Of Children Exposed To Postpartum Depression, Asheria Foster

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore and understand any correlation between a mother having postpartum depression and her now college-level child having a mental illness. The research question posed for this study was: Is there a correlation between maternal postpartum depression and the development of mental illnesses in college students? Studies have shown that there is a correlation in early childhood development, but there are deficits when it comes to long-term follow-up. Data for this study was collected via online surveys on SONA UCF. The results from the Chi-square test imply a strong association (p = .007) at …

Remembered Spaces: Navigating Memory Through Drawing, Leeann Rae

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This thesis reflects my research and studio practice into how memory is gathered, interpreted, and affects the present. I discuss my historical and contemporary artistic influences, my history, and my visual narratives. I construct layered drawings using charcoal and soft pastel to interpret how we understand our inherently flawed memory. Memory can be clear and easy to understand but simultaneously distorted and convoluted. When recalling a memory, I purposely keep my initial drawn gestures visible to show the pentimenti or shift in marks. The materials, processes, and subject matter in this body of work encourages viewers to navigate the drawn …

Developing Cost-Effective Specialty Adsorbents To Meet The Emerging Challenges Of Pollutant Removal In Surface Water Systems, Diana Ordonez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The production of clean water is emphasized under the United Nations goals for sustainable development (SDGs), enlightening the acute need of developing new sustainable technologies in all disciplines. SDGs have urged all engineers in the 21st century to mitigate pollution of drinking water sources and prevent all receiving waterbodies from the impact of agriculture discharge, wastewater effluent, and stormwater runoff. Current water matrix constituents of concern include traditional pollutants (i.e., total nitrogen and total phosphate), natural organic matters (i.e., total organic carbon (TOC), tannic acid), heavy metals (i.e., copper, calcium), and harmful algae toxins (i.e., microcystin), as well as contaminants …

Auto-Ignition Characteristics Of Hydrogen Enriched Natural Gas For Gas Turbine Applications, Christopher T. Loving

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

A successful transition to clean energy hinges on meeting the world's growing energy demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving this will require significant growth in electricity generation from clean and carbon-free energy sources. Several energy providers have already begun the transition from traditional carbon-based fuels to cleaner alternatives, such as hydrogen and hydrogen enriched natural gas. However, there are still many technical challenges that must be addressed when applying these fuels in gas turbines. The application of hydrogen or hydrogen/natural gas blends to advanced class gas turbines, which have higher operating pressures and temperatures has raised concerns about the …

Holding An Empathic Lantern To Help Depressed Friends Find Their Way Out Of The Darkness: An Examination Of Intention To Offer Social Support Guided By The Reasoned Action Approach, Laura Boutemen

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Guided by the reasoned action approach, this two-fold research first used an online open-ended elicitation survey to identify beliefs held by undergraduate students (N = 397) pertaining to offering social support to depressed friends or peers. Then, these findings were included in a closed-ended survey study to assess the influence of intention on the social support behavior among students (N = 509). Additionally, the influence of the antecedents of intention (i.e., attitude, perceived norms, perceived behavioral control) on behavioral intention was explored. Next, the study examined whether beliefs predicted the antecedents of intention. Last, the influence of background …

The Role Of Savoring In The Relationship Between Concussion History And Consummatory Reward, John O'Donnell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Concussions are a relatively common neurological injury and are associated with several adverse outcomes including depression. Anhedonia is a core feature of depression, with multiple subtypes, including consummatory anhedonia (i.e., diminished reward liking). Reward liking is related conceptually to the practice of savoring pleasurable stimuli. Savoring has been a component of mindfulness-based interventions that have efficacy in treating depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between lifetime concussion history, reward liking, savoring, and depression severity. 293 participants (56% women; mean age: 19.31) completed an online questionnaire and computer-based image savoring task. Contrary to expectations, no …

Mapping The Focal Points Of Wordpress: A Software And Critical Code Analysis, Bryce Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Programming languages or code can be examined through numerous analytical lenses. This project is a critical analysis of WordPress, a prevalent web content management system, applying four modes of inquiry. The project draws on theoretical perspectives and areas of study in media, software, platforms, code, language, and power structures. The applied research is based on Critical Code Studies, an interdisciplinary field of study that holds the potential as a theoretical lens and methodological toolkit to understand computational code beyond its function. The project begins with a critical code analysis of WordPress, examining its origins and source code and mapping selected …

Evolutionary History And Adaptation To Salinity In American Alligators, John Konvalina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Stressful environments can commonly be found at the edge of a species range and may be a driver for adaption in suboptimal environments. Furthermore, the edge of a species' range can expand and contract over time, resulting in multiple independent invasions of the same stressful habitat. Elucidating population genetic structure and demographic history can aid in determining the which geologic factors impact range distributions and when climatic changes occurred driving genetic patterns observed in contemporary populations. Moreover, populations at the edge of the species range may adapt to the stressful environments that occur at the range edge and exhibit genetic …