Digital Commons Network^™

Advanced Analysis Of Mode Veering Variations In Academic Blisks, Nicolas Olore

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis presents an in-depth investigation into the vibrational dynamics of bladed disks (blisks), with a focus on understanding the conditions that lead to mode veerings and shifts in natural frequencies under varying geometric configurations. By utilizing maps of frequencies across nodal diameters, this study explores the effects of altering inner and outer disk radii, blade Aspect Ratios, and height ratios on the modal behavior of blisks. The study analyzes these geometric modifications to determine their influence on both mode interactions and frequency shifts, offering insights into how the number of veerings can be controlled. Mode veerings are of particular …

The False Identity Of A Filmmaker, Cheyanne Miller

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The False Identity of a Filmmaker is a multimedia installation and essay film on imposter syndrome within artists. Starting as an exploration into the topic, The False Identity of a Filmmaker became a personal self-discovery in my creative practice, resulting in an essay film that explores my relationship with imposter syndrome in relation to films that are often recognized as canonical. The multimedia installation places the essay film among a textural design of 16mm film strips to recognize filmmaking as a source of my imposter syndrome.

Women, artists, and those with careers in academia experience imposter syndrome quite often but …

Applications Of Plasmonic Biosensors In Chiral And Achiral Sensing, Aritra Biswas

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Monitoring biological systems is crucial in healthcare, driving the need for reliable and noninvasive solutions. The proliferation of unverified drugs in the market necessitates reliable methods for their detection and identification, especially amidst advancements in pharmaceuticals. Plasmonic biosensors emerge as a great platform for ultra-sensitive detection, identification, and manipulation of biomolecular systems. This dissertation report addresses the critical need for precise detection and monitoring of biomolecules and drugs, presenting innovative solutions through the design of a plasmonic biosensor to tackle challenges in sensitivity, selectivity, and label-free detection and identification. We introduce a robust and tunable, cavity-integrated plasmonic nanopatterned sensor that …

High-Power Picosecond Source At 2.05-Μm For Pumping Mid-Infrared Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplifiers, Chase E. Geiger

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Broadband few-cycle high-power sources based on optical parametric amplifiers (OPA) in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) region are of great interest in a variety of applications such as spectroscopy, remote chemical sensing, medical procedures, and attosecond science. Among all the mid-IR nonlinear crystals for parametric amplification, zinc germanium phosphide (ZGP) has received significant attention due to its high nonlinear coefficient, high thermal conductivity, and high damage threshold, making it suitable for generating high average powers in the 3 – 12 µm range. A ZGP OPA requires a pump source above 2 µm due to a sharp increase in absorption immediately below 2 …

Mindful Approaches, Transforming Hearts: Cultivating Elementary Students' Positive Mathematics Identity Development Through An Equity-Based Morning Mathematics Club, Kayla N. Blankenship

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This dissertation examines how third through fifth-grade students' mathematics identities developed through a strengths-based mathematics club focused on equitable teaching practices. In this study, theories of Communities of Practice (Wenger, 1998) and Figured Worlds (Holland et al., 1998) were combined with recommendations from Catalyzing Change (NCTM, 2020) and equity-based practices (Aguirre et al., 2013) to promote students’ positive mathematics identity development. Students with positive mathematics identities have increased mathematics engagement and achievement, and are more likely to seek careers in STEM. Mathematics identities are developed through and influenced by various sociocultural, personal, and educational factors. Incorporating evidence from student surveys, …

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 …

An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study On Usable Cybersecurity And The Behaviorial Effects Of Cognitive Load, Corey Leong

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study investigated individuals’ behaviors and perceptions, and actions of a cybersecurity event after reviewing relevant cybersecurity content published in a cyber alert. As new technologies are developed and released, humans experience pressure to defend against threats while at work to remain productive and meet desired organizational goals (Chowdury & Skinner, 2019). The first part of the study randomly assigned participants to respond to a pre-questionnaire followed by an intervention, reading a cyberalert. Participants then answered a post-questionnaire that included the identical questions from the pre-questionnaire, in addition to, biographical and career related questions as well. The second part of …

An Examination Of The Effect Of Instructional Facility Size On Student Achievement In The State Of Florida, Paul B. Tweed

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This correlational study used publicly available Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) data on attributes of educational facilities and student performance to determine the degree of correlation between the physical size of instructional space and student outcomes. The sample used in this study comprised sixty-seven school districts in Florida. A quantitative correlational analysis was utilized to compare the amount of instructional space available to each student in a district and student outcomes in terms of district graduation rates and district scores on statewide assessments. A statistically significant, negative correlation was found between per capita instructional space, district graduation rates, and district …

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) …

First Principles Studies Of Nano-Scale Phenomena At Surfaces: From Characteristics Of Single Atom Catalysts To Molecular Structure Formation, Dave I. Austin

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The dissertation explores the electronic structures induced by the adsorption of atoms and molecules on surfaces. It focuses on the physical and chemical properties of dispersed metal atom sites on oxide surfaces and the formation of novel molecular structures at hybrid organic-inorganic interfaces. The study uses density functional theory (DFT) calculations to simulate atomic-scale behaviors and aims to contribute to understanding reaction mechanisms and enhancing catalytic activity. Part one investigates the local environments of single platinum atoms on a cerium oxide surface by analyzing their physical and electronic properties. The next part studies the local environments of single platinum atoms …

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 …

Exploring The Influence Of Inclusive Middle School Classrooms On Resilience, Character Education, And Life Skills Development In Students With Disabilities, Katherine Bonilla

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study explored the effects of inclusive middle school classrooms on the academic performance, attendance, and social-emotional development of students with disabilities. Using a quantitative, comparative, and correlational design, the research investigated how inclusion influences these outcomes. The study examined data from 1,198 students, including both exceptional student education (ESE) and non-ESE participants, and gathered teacher perceptions to assess the impact of inclusion on social-emotional learning (SEL). Key metrics analyzed included Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) scores for mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA), attendance rates, and teacher survey responses regarding students' SEL competencies, such as resilience, teamwork, and …

Elementary General Education Teachers' Beliefs About Inclusive Practices In General Education Classrooms In The Cayman Islands, Tracey Ann Trail

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Research indicates that teachers' beliefs are pivotal in shaping their inclusive practices. However, there is a dearth of local research on general education teachers’ beliefs about inclusive practices in the Cayman Islands. This qualitative study aimed to fill this gap by understanding the beliefs of general education elementary teachers about inclusive practices in general education classrooms in the Cayman Islands. This encompassed their beliefs about inclusive education, supporting student learning and participation, and their self-efficacy beliefs about implementing inclusive practices. Data about the teacher’s beliefs were collected using two semi-structured interviews with nine general education elementary public elementary school teachers. …

Dual Coalitions Or Dueling Coalitions?: A Comparison Of Single-Issue And Dual-Issue Statewide Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault Coalitions In The U.S., Shannon Sokolowski

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA) are critical social issues requiring a large scale national response. In the U.S., federally designated statewide DV and SA coalitions are nonprofit organizations that play a critical role at the national, state, and local levels. Once individual social movements, DV and SA advocacy coalitions have merged at higher rates in recent decades. Efforts to achieve economic sustainability may drive the decision to merge or reform. However, nonprofit organizations have a double bottom line, needing to consider financial and mission-related performance. With economic uncertainly rising, it is critical to understand the impact that forming …

Every Person A Home Every Home A Person, Emily R. Miller

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Every Person a Home Every Home a Person is a collection of poems that explores the meaning of “home” and the places where our homes are made. The collection consists of intertwining thematic threads that delve into what makes a home, including those found in physical houses, cultural identities and regional areas (in this case, Florida/the American South), other people, and personal identity. Through probing poems inspired by the author’s life and experiences as a queer, neurodivergent woman*, Every Person a Home Every Home a Person asks and tries to answer the question: what makes a home, and how do …

Empathy In Digital Healthcare, Michael R. Powell

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation investigates how the rapid expansion of telehealth, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has reshaped clinician-patient interactions, with a focus on the role of empathy. Telehealth has broadened access to care and introduced new efficiencies, but it also presents distinct challenges in fostering the deep emotional connections traditionally associated with in-person consultations. By exploring how empathy is mediated through digital platforms, this research offers valuable insights into how empathetic connections can be supported, though not fully replicated, in virtual healthcare settings. Through a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative interviews with healthcare providers, the study examines both the barriers …

Developing A Multi-Level Model Of Integrated-Organizational Resilience, Reza Bahari

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Most contemporary organizations work in unsteady environments and are impacted by various types of disruptions that have profound impacts on performance such as natural disasters, globalization, and financial recessions. Due to this, the concept of integrated organizational resilience (IOR) has become an important issue for both academic researchers and practitioners in recent years. A review of the literature shows that much of the research has focused on identifying and measuring the factors that affect OR in an effort to improve organizations' capacity for resilience. While significant research has been conducted in this area, much of the evidence focuses on a …

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 …

Eavesdropping-Driven Profiling Attacks On Encrypted Wifi Networks: Unveiling Vulnerabilities In Iot Device Security, Ibrahim A. Alwhbi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Abstract—This dissertation investigates the privacy implications of WiFi communication in Internet-of-Things (IoT) environments, focusing on the threat posed by out-of-network observers. Recent research has shown that in-network observers can glean information about IoT devices, user identities, and activities. However, the potential for information inference by out-of-network observers, who do not have WiFi network access, has not been thoroughly examined. The first study provides a detailed summary dataset, utilizing Random Forest for data summary classification. This study highlights the significant privacy threat to WiFi networks and IoT applications from out-of-network observers. Building on this investigation, the second study extends the research …

A Multimodal Framework For Automated Content Moderation Of Children's Videos, Syed Hammad Ahmed

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Online video platforms receive hundreds of hours of uploads every minute, making manual moderation of inappropriate content impossible. The most vulnerable consumers of malicious video content are children from ages 1-5 whose attention is easily captured by bursts of color and sound. Prominent video hosting platforms like YouTube have taken measures to mitigate malicious content, but these videos often go undetected by current automated content moderation tools that are focused on removing explicit or copyrighted content. Scammers attempting to monetize their content may craft malicious children's videos that are superficially similar to educational videos, but include scary and disgusting characters, …

Analytical And Experimental Verification Of Bistable Composite Laminates For Aerospace Applications, Maxwell J. Booth

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Composite laminate structures offer promising aerospace applications owing to their multi-functional capabilities. These composites exhibit the unique ability to transition between stable geometries, passing through an intermediate, predicted unstable geometry. Actuation is achieved through the application of external loading conditions, encompassing both mechanical and thermal stimuli, with a particular emphasis on the latter. The nonlinear response induced by such transitions experimentally motivates this research due to the minimal amount of data on the transition section between geometries. Application of these composites under loading conditions proves interesting for a thermal management application with additional thermal loading present. This use would require …

A Near Field Lagrangian Particle Modeling For The Multiphase Flow Of Reaction Control System Thrusters In Space Environments, Janice Zou

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

In the current age of space exploration, the push to reach further to deep space presents a greater need for analysis and verification and validation of rocketry components in the space environment. Due to the nature of space, firings of rocket thrusters in space is a multi-regime problem. With the low density, pressure, and temperature of the environment, the resultant plume structure, seeded with unburnt fuel droplets, extends up to multiple orders of magnitude in distance as compared to a plume structure in the Earth’s atmosphere. The frozen droplets, or particles, create concerns including surface contamination and erosion, calling a …

Advances In High Performance Computing Through Concurrent Data Structures And Predictive Scheduling, Kenneth M. Lamar

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Modern High Performance Computing (HPC) systems are made up of thousands of server-grade compute nodes linked through a high-speed network interconnect. Each node has tens or even hundreds of CPU cores each, with counts continuing to grow on newer HPC clusters. This results in a need to make use of millions of cores per cluster. Fully leveraging these resources is difficult. There is an active need to design software that scales and fully utilizes the hardware. In this dissertation, we address this gap with a dual approach, considering both intra-node (single node) and inter-node (across node) concerns. To aid in …

Semiconductor Mode-Locked Lasers For Applications In Multi-Photon Imaging And Microwave Photonics, Srinivas Varma Pericherla

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Semiconductor lasers are considered essential for the advancement in the field of photonics where compact and energy-efficient lasers are necessary. Advancements in integrated photonic technologies will help push the performance of semiconductor lasers in the coming years and expand the technology to several other applications. Semiconductor lasers offer several key features such as high energy efficiency, mass production, availability at a myriad of wavelengths, and high integration capabilities. However, limitations in noise performance, pulse energy, and duration hold back semiconductor lasers from being utilized to their full potential. This dissertation reviews the utilization and development of external techniques that enable …

Rhizophora Mangle (Red Mangrove) Seedling Success In Different Habitats In Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, Usa, Mekail N. Negash

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Mangroves provide many ecosystem services in coastal environments around the world. These include water quality improvement, creating habitats for terrestrial and aquatic species, and stabilizing shorelines. In central Florida, the red mangrove Rhizophora mangle is a common species in coastal wetlands, and recently the number of individuals successfully recruiting to intertidal oyster reefs has greatly increased, possibly because biogeochemical hot spots are present on oyster reefs due to nutrient-rich biodeposits from the live oysters. To understand how well R. mangle responds in terms of survival and growth to the suite of variables associated within these two unique habitats, I tracked …

Film As Ritual: Healing From Complex Trauma And Transmuting Pain Through Film, Lorraine I. Sovern

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Forward Fast, Always/Never (Together Forever) and Shotgun Baby are three short experimental documentary films as part of the requirements for earning a Master of Fine Arts in Feature Film Production from the University of Central Florida. These films focus on the unique power of cinema and its ability to assist in healing from complex trauma. Three films were produced on an artisanal, micro-budget scale.

This body of work confronts and examines the significant traumas from an abusive childhood upbringing (Shotgun Baby), the effects of misogyny in Western media on my developing filmic sensibilities (Forward Fast), and …

Next-Generation High-Performance Virtual Reality And Augmented Reality Light Engines, Zhiyong Yang

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The immersive virtual reality (VR) and the optical see-through augmented reality (AR) are expected to revolutionize human lives in work, education, entertainment, healthcare, spatial computing, and digital twins, just to name a few. Next-generation VR/AR devices should exhibit a wide field-of-view (FoV), crisp image without screen-door effect, high dynamic range, compact form factor and lightweight, and low power consumption. Such demanding requirements pose a significant challenge to traditional direct-view display panels. To address these technical challenges, novel approaches need to be proposed. This dissertation is devoted to developing next-generation high-performance display light engines toward high resolution density, high optical efficiency, …

Breaking Molds: Transformative Processes In Art Making, Materials, And Life, James M. Wysolmierski

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Drawing upon traumatic moments of my past as a catalyst, I pursue understanding and acceptance of physical and emotional pain. In this thesis body of work, I employ the intersection of industrial and body imagery in sculptural forms and installation as a corporeal and allegorical account of my lived experience using visual narratives of trepidation and metamorphosis. In my creative practice, I incorporate various materials that create a reference of specific moments from my past. The artworks draw from principles rooted in Buddhism, affect theory, phenomenology, and materiality; incorporating them as tools to comprehend my position in the world and …

Modeling Health Insurance Premium Using Bayesian Hierarchical Models, Bennedict Kongyir, Emil Agbemade

Data Science and Data Mining

Insurance pricing requires pragmatism and creativity due to the unpredictable nature of risk [3]. This paper explores Bayesian hierarchical models to model health insurance premiums using individual and group predictors like demographics, health status, and geography. Data from Kaggle on health insurance policyholders was utilized, with prior distributions enhanc­ing model interpretability and credibility. Bayesian models improve predictive accuracy and provide valuable insights for actuaries and policymakers, highlighting the signifcant impact of factors such as age and BMI on premium pricing.

Software Company Workplace Bias In Technical Communication, Amanda Altamirano

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This dissertation is an interdisciplinary work that explores the intersection of humanities and technical communication by focusing on the presence and impact of software company workplace bias in technical professional communication. It focuses on workplace bias in technical communication because, when present, bias can impact the experiences that technical communicators and end-users (people who use the software) have with the software. This mixed-methods study consists of a survey, an interview, and a new diagram designed to help technical communicators mitigate biases in technical documentation. To understand better the presence and impact of bias in these workplace contexts, this study surveys …