Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Three In One: An Examination Of Women’S Roles In The Life And Literature Of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ashley Lear

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

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.

Voice Of The Frog: Found Poetry And The Revelation Of An Eastern Aesthetic In The Creative Works Of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Antoinette Libro

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.

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal Of Florida Literature, Volume Xxxiii (2026): Full Issue

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 …

Evaluation Of Electroencephalography Processing Methods For Estimating Metabolic Energy Expenditure During Walking, Stephanie L. Pinelo

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

In this study, three EEG datasets, created via different levels of pre-processing, were used to train VO2 prediction models whose performance was tested and compared. Understanding the link between EEG and VO2 during walking is important when working in rehabilitation or studying metabolic energy optimization. Common methods of measuring these two bio-signals tend to be bulky, uncomfortable, and inefficient, so finding a way to predict VO2 from EEG via 1D CNN model training is a worthy pursuit.  It was hypothesized that, due to a CNN needing more data to find patterns for prediction, a minimally processed EEG dataset would have …

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 …

From Motherhood To Sisterhood: Women Strike For Peace And The Transmission Of Feminist Consciousness, Olivia R. Aldrich

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Women Strike for Peace (WSP) has traditionally been understood as a maternalist peace movement that emerged in response to atmospheric nuclear testing during the early Cold War era. This thesis argues that WSP’s history reveals a more nuanced relationship between motherhood, feminism, and political activism than existing scholarship has suggested. Rather than operating in distinct stages, maternalism and feminism operated simultaneously, working alongside one another throughout the organization’s history. Furthermore, this thesis builds upon Ednie Kaeh Garrison’s concept of feminist “radio waves,” arguing that WSP functioned as a transmitter of feminist consciousness, where ideas, organizational practices, and different political identities …

Infrared Systems And Their Application On Target Detection And Geolocation, Li Zhang

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The infrared spectrum contains various sub-bands (from near infrared (NIR) to long-wave infrared (LWIR), which are specialized at different detection tasks. Objects that are well camouflaged to human vision can be highly noticeable in NIR imagery. For vision navigation, the varying illumination condition and the cluttered urban background poses challenges in the visible band but can easily be resolved by using a thermal imager operating in LWIR. Despite this potential, practical deployment remains limited by the lack of suitable platforms, task-specific datasets, and long-duration field validation. This dissertation addresses these gaps through the design and evaluation of two infrared sensing …

Communication College Students And Their Career Readiness: An Evaluation From The Employer's Perspective, Carson Mann

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Higher education institutions are seen as places that educate students in specific subjects and provide training that leads to either a career or further learning opportunities. Unfortunately, public trust in higher education has plummeted since 2015. The evolution of higher education has been the subject of speculation by various groups, but developing translational skills through effective internships could very well solve the issue at hand. Institutions ought to have data -driven evidence about their disciplines’ effectiveness and their translational ability to the workforce. To understand this, student career readiness must be evaluated. Students' career readiness is a vital measure of …

Performing The Digital Identity: A Media Discourse Analysis Of Online Identity Construction, Dalya Qasem

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This dissertation investigates how news media construct narratives about TikTok and its role in shaping digital identity. While existing scholarship has examined issues such as privacy, marketing, and entertainment, less attention has been given to how identity is represented, negotiated, and understood within public discourse. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) combined with computational text analysis through Voyant Tools, this study analyzes a corpus of 111 news articles published between 2020 and 2025 that explicitly reference TikTok and identity. The analysis identifies prominent keywords, topics, and rhetorical patterns across media texts. Furthermore, the research demonstrates a critical analysis of popular understandings …

Characterization And Experimental Study Of Ammonia-Hydrogen Flames Inside A Toroidal Jet-Stirred Reactor At Atmospheric Conditions, Oli Marquez Valenzuela

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Due to rising concerns about global surface temperatures and carbon emissions, there has been an increased interest in studying alternative fuels. Ammonia and hydrogen are fuels with the potential to replace general biofuels, hydrocarbons, and sustainable aviation fuels, as they do not contain any carbon, eliminating carbon emissions. However, they are both difficult to work with. Hydrogen has great combustion characteristics such as low ignition energy, high flame speed and lower heating value. However, it is volatile and difficult to store, requiring it to be compressed to high pressure or cooled to incredibly low temperatures. Ammonia can be used as …

Quantifying The Effects Of Anthropogenic Disturbance On Two Marine Mammal Species With Agent-Based Models, Landon S. Myers

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This dissertation details the construction and results from two agent-based models (ABMs) that quantify the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on very different marine mammals.  Most would agree the anthropogenic effects on animals are “bad”; the unknown is “how bad.”  Chapter 1 describes the ABM assessing the mortality risk from seagrass loss and the potential loss of a warm water refuge on manatees living in Florida ‘s Indian River Lagoon (IRL).  IRL manatees are at the northern habitat limit and susceptible to hypothermic mortality, and utilize natural and artificial warm water refuges to maintain core temperature.  Combined with reduced seagrass availability, …