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Endpoints And Interdependencies In Internet Of Things Residual Artifacts: Measurements, Analyses, And Insights Into Defenses, Jinchun Choi Jan 2020

Endpoints And Interdependencies In Internet Of Things Residual Artifacts: Measurements, Analyses, And Insights Into Defenses, Jinchun Choi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The usage of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is growing fast. Moreover, the lack of security measures among the IoT devices and their persistent online connection give adversaries an opportunity to exploit them for multiple types of attacks, such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS). To understand the risks of IoT devices, we analyze IoT malware from an endpoint standpoint. We investigate the relationship between endpoints infected and attacked by IoT malware, and gain insights into the underlying dynamics in the malware ecosystem. We observe the affinities and different patterns among endpoints. Towards this, we reverse-engineer 2,423 IoT malware samples and extract …

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Provably Trustworthy And Secure Hardware Design With Low Overhead, Qutaiba Alasad Jan 2020

Provably Trustworthy And Secure Hardware Design With Low Overhead, Qutaiba Alasad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Due to the globalization of IC design in the semiconductor industry and outsourcing of chip manufacturing, 3PIPs become vulnerable to IP piracy, reverse engineering, counterfeit IC, and hardware Trojans. To thwart such attacks, ICs can be protected using logic encryption techniques. However, strong resilient techniques incur significant overheads. SCAs further complicate matters by introducing potential attacks post-fabrication. One of the most severe SCAs is PA attacks, in which an attacker can observe the power variations of the device and analyze them to extract the secret key. PA attacks can be mitigated via adding large extra hardware; however, the overheads of …

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Improving Security Of Crypto Wallets In Blockchain Technologies, Hossein Rezaeighaleh Jan 2020

Improving Security Of Crypto Wallets In Blockchain Technologies, Hossein Rezaeighaleh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

A big challenge in blockchain and cryptocurrency is securing the private key from potential hackers. Nobody can rollback a transaction made with a stolen key once the network confirms it. The technical solution to protect private keys is the cryptocurrency wallet, software, hardware, or a combination to manage the keys. In this dissertation, we try to investigate the significant challenges in existing cryptocurrency wallets and propose innovative solutions. Firstly, almost all cryptocurrency wallets suffer from the lack of a secure and convenient backup and recovery process. We offer a new cryptographic scheme to securely back up a hardware wallet relying …

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Subsurface Characterization Of Internally Eroded Soils In Karst Using The Cone Penetration Test, Ryan Shamet Jan 2020

Subsurface Characterization Of Internally Eroded Soils In Karst Using The Cone Penetration Test, Ryan Shamet

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Sinkholes are a major geohazard with life-threatening consequences when not properly detected and mitigated. Geologic conditions comprised of soluble bedrock (e.g., limestone or other carbonate-based lithologies) overlain by fine-grained sandy and clayey soils, are known internationally as "karst topography" and is generally characterized by such sinkholes, caves, sinking streams, and highly variable groundwater flow conditions. Karst sinkholes, however, are complex geohazards and are difficult to precisely characterize through geotechnical considerations alone. Deterministic methods (e.g., analytical and numerical solutions) may provide for a more robust analysis of internal soil erosion (known as soil raveling) but have limitations for the practical use …

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Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning For Defensive Escort Teams, Hassam Sheikh Jan 2020

Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning For Defensive Escort Teams, Hassam Sheikh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Reinforcement learning has been applied to solve several real world challenging problems, from robotics to data center cooling. Similarly, adaption of reinforcement learning for multi-agent systems facilitated applications such as optimal multi-robot control and analysis of social-dilemmas. In this dissertation, we show that multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithms suffer from several stability issues such as multi-scenario learning, unstable training in dual-reward setting, overestimation bias and value function collapse, and provide solutions to each of these problems respectively. Several contributions of this dissertation have been formalized within the framework of a defensive escort team problems, a scenario where a team of learning …

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His Voice: The Portrayals Of Lgbtq+ Issues In Musical Theatre Seen Through Terrence Mcnally's A Man Of No Importance, Alex Mendez Jan 2020

His Voice: The Portrayals Of Lgbtq+ Issues In Musical Theatre Seen Through Terrence Mcnally's A Man Of No Importance, Alex Mendez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

As a young theatre educator and director, I have found myself to be most impacted by LGBTQ+ works that provide perspectives on controversial topics that exist in today's society. It has dawned on me that representation through theatre is impactful for audiences who are able to relate to the characters in the story that is being told, and through this, can find their own voice in a world where they may feel silenced. In an ever-changing educational world, we as educators are always pushed to innovate and create strategies that can elevate how stories are told through theatre. Through conversations …

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High-Speed Imaging Of Reflected Shockwave-Initiated Combustion, Erik Ninnemann Jan 2020

High-Speed Imaging Of Reflected Shockwave-Initiated Combustion, Erik Ninnemann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Shock tubes are considered ideal reactors and are used extensively to provide valuable chemical kinetic measurements, such as ignition delay times and in-situ species time-histories. However, due to nonideal affects the combustion of fuel inside shock tubes can become nonhomogeneous, particularly at low temperatures, which complicates the acquired data. In this work, the combustion of practical fuels used by society are investigated with high-speed imaging. First, high-speed images were captured through the end wall of the shock tube for two hydrogen-oxygen systems. The combustion process was found to initiate in two modes, one that is homogeneous across the fluid medium …

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How Artists Can Capture Us: Educating About The Works Of Stephen Sondheim Through Parody, Jarrett Poore Jan 2020

How Artists Can Capture Us: Educating About The Works Of Stephen Sondheim Through Parody, Jarrett Poore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This thesis examined the modern renaissance man and his relationship between musical theatre history and parody; it examined how the modern artist created, produced, and facilitated an original parody in which humor can both influence and enhance an individual's interest in the art form. In the creation and production of The Complete Works of Stephen Sondheim [abridged], I showcased factual insight on one of the most prolific writers of musical theatre and infused it with comedy in order to educate and create appeal for Stephen Sondheim's works, especially those lesser known, to a wider theatrical audience. My two greatest research …

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Initiating Change, Connection, And Community, Janine Papin Jan 2020

Initiating Change, Connection, And Community, Janine Papin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Augusto Boal said "Theatre is a form of knowledge; it should and can also be a means of transforming society. Theatre can help us build our future, rather than just waiting for it." I have been a teacher in a private school setting for 27 years. In my work with students, it becomes increasingly important to me that the projects in which I engage become transformative, not only for me and my students, but for my audiences as well. Finding ways that promote awareness of social justice, both locally and globally, has become paramount. My ongoing goal is to inspire …

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Meroitic Childhood Diet And Weaning At Sai Island, Sudan: A Carbon And Nitrogen Isotopic Study Of Site 8-B-52.B, Brenna Raisor Jan 2020

Meroitic Childhood Diet And Weaning At Sai Island, Sudan: A Carbon And Nitrogen Isotopic Study Of Site 8-B-52.B, Brenna Raisor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This research explores the diet and weaning patterns of non-adult individuals from an elite Meroitic (300 BCE – 350 CE) cemetery (8-B-52.B) at Sai Island, Sudan. This was accomplished by conducting stable isotopic analyses of carbon and nitrogen on a sample of 54 individuals. These analyses focused on differences in adult and non-adult diet, non-adult weaning patterns, and intra-elite differences between contemporaneous cemeteries at Sai Island in order to shed light on the patterns of non-adult diet and weaning and the mother-infant dynamic. The non-adult individuals range from 36 weeks gestational age to 16.5 years of age, and the adult …

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Playing Disability, Daniel Romano Jan 2020

Playing Disability, Daniel Romano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Disability in performance has a long history, starting with fictional characters such as Shakespeare's Gloucester/Richard, progressing through the freak shows of the early twentieth century, and finally with artists such as Neil Marcus, Mat Fraser and Deaf West Theatre in the past twenty years. Looking to the work of disabled artists, activists, and theorists such as Petra Kuppers and Carrie Sandahl, I will examine the history of both disability in performance and the performance of disability. I will discuss my performance of Garret, a man with muscular dystrophy, in my original play, The Sick Parents Club. Through analysis of what …

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The Effects Of Plant Phytochemistry On Parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Niche Breadth, Ryan Ridenbaugh Jan 2020

The Effects Of Plant Phytochemistry On Parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Niche Breadth, Ryan Ridenbaugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The definition of a species, a fundamental unit of biology, has been debated since its inception. This level of classification is vital to our ability to make meaningful comparisons across all subdisciplines of biology. Cryptic species, those which are indistinguishable from another species using morphology alone, pose a unique problem. This is especially true for biological control programs, where the control of an invasive pest is achieved through the importation of a natural enemy or parasitoid from the pest's native range. The accidental importation of a cryptic species could have long lasting negative environmental effects. Molecular taxonomy provides a solution. …

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Quantum Biology? From Dna Point Mutations To Fibril Formation In Alzheimer Disease, Eduardo Romero Camacho Jan 2020

Quantum Biology? From Dna Point Mutations To Fibril Formation In Alzheimer Disease, Eduardo Romero Camacho

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In the '60s, Löwdin explored the realm of Quantum Biology. Löwdin defined Quantum Biology as the use of quantum mechanics to study the activity and molecular properties of biologically active molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. This dissertation aims to describe molecules of biological interest such as DNA base pairs and amyloid-beta peptides and treat them using a quantum mechanical approach. We used electronic structure methods to achieve the quantum biological nature of these molecules under our computational power, tools, and techniques. In chapter 2, we present the quantum mechanical description of the spontaneous mutations in DNA base pairs …

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An Exploratory Case Study Of Teachers' Literacy Orientations And Early Literacy Curricula Preferences, Stacy Escobedo Jan 2020

An Exploratory Case Study Of Teachers' Literacy Orientations And Early Literacy Curricula Preferences, Stacy Escobedo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In this exploratory case study of two Florida charter schools, early literacy teachers' (prekindergarten through third grade; N=9) instructional literacy orientations were explored. The Literacy Orientation Survey (Lenski et al., 1998) was viewed through the lens of early literacy teachers' curricular preferences and practical use of curriculum. Descriptive results were analyzed, indicating that most teachers identified as preferring an eclectic rather than traditional or constructivist approach to instruction. However, one-third of teachers' literacy orientation beliefs and practices were not aligned, meaning what they believed about literacy and what they practiced as teachers (when choice was an option) were incongruent. Additionally, …

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Dolly'll Never Go Away Again: Producing The Classic Musical At The High School Level, Jason Whitehead Jan 2020

Dolly'll Never Go Away Again: Producing The Classic Musical At The High School Level, Jason Whitehead

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

High school theatre programs tend to select musicals that employ many students, both on and offstage, as well as titles which contain little to no objectionable content, making it safe for all family members to attend. The community standards imposed by school districts limit the choices for theatre teachers. Students also tend to be attracted to the newer and recently released musicals, ones that just finished a national tour or their Broadway run. Finding a title that adheres to the various criteria of a high school can be demanding and frustrating. For my thesis, I mounted and produced Hello, Dolly! …

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Fluorescence Microscopy With Tailored Illumination Light, Jialei Tang Jan 2020

Fluorescence Microscopy With Tailored Illumination Light, Jialei Tang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Fluorescence microscopy has long been a valuable tool for biological and medical imaging. Control of optical parameters such as the amplitude, phase, polarization and propagation angle of light gives fluorescence imaging great capabilities ranging from single molecule imaging to long-term observation of living organisms. While numerous fluorescence imaging techniques have been developed over the past decades, there is always an inevitable tradeoff among the spatial resolution, imaging speed, contrast, photodamage and the total cost when it comes to choose the appropriate microscope. A main goal of my dissertation research is to develop state-of-the-art microscope systems that exhibit unprecedented performance in …

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Enabling Recovery Of Secure Non-Volatile Memories, Mao Ye Jan 2020

Enabling Recovery Of Secure Non-Volatile Memories, Mao Ye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Emerging non-volatile memories (NVMs), such as phase change memory (PCM), spin-transfer torque RAM (STT-RAM) and resistive RAM (ReRAM), have dual memory-storage characteristics and, therefore, are strong candidates to replace or augment current DRAM and secondary storage devices. The newly released Intel 3D XPoint persistent memory and Optane SSD series have shown promising features. However, when these new devices are exposed to events such as power loss, many issues arise when data recovery is expected. In this dissertation, I devised multiple schemes to enable secure data recovery for emerging NVM technologies when memory encryption is used. With the data-remanence feature of …

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Transplant Center Criteria And Inequalities Within Transplant Wait Listing Process, Melanie Bergeron Jan 2020

Transplant Center Criteria And Inequalities Within Transplant Wait Listing Process, Melanie Bergeron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

More than 650,000 people per year in the United States are affected by End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (US Renal Data System, 2013). This diagnosis affects many areas of the patient's life and patients have limited options for treatment. Kidney transplantation for patients with ESRD continues to be noted as the most optimal treatment (Rubin & Weir, 2015; Maggiore, et al., 2014; Patzer, Platinga, Krisher, & Pastan, 2014). However, despite this information, utilization of transplantation remains inconsistent and variable in the population. There are many areas of disparities regarding the kidney transplant waitlist including wait times, gaining access to the …

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Effect Of Unaccustomed Eccentric Exercise On Motor Unit Firing Characteristics And The Contralateral Repeated Bout Effect: A Pilot Study, Nicholas Coker Jan 2020

Effect Of Unaccustomed Eccentric Exercise On Motor Unit Firing Characteristics And The Contralateral Repeated Bout Effect: A Pilot Study, Nicholas Coker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Introduction: Eccentric exercise elicits considerable muscle damage. If a bout of unilateral eccentric exercise is repeated on the ipsilateral or contralateral limb, a repeated bout effect (RBE) may be observed where muscle damage is attenuated. Purpose: To examine whether a RBE exists following repeated bouts of damaging eccentric exercise in the ipsilateral and contralateral limbs, and assess changes to motor unit firing characteristics in both limbs following recovery from an initial bout. Methods: Sixteen untrained men were randomized into exercise (EX) or control (CON) groups. EX performed eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors on the dominant (ipsilateral) limb and repeated …

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Applications Of Close-Range Photogrammetry For Documenting Human Skeletal Remains In Obstructed Wooded Environments, Morgan Ferrell Jan 2020

Applications Of Close-Range Photogrammetry For Documenting Human Skeletal Remains In Obstructed Wooded Environments, Morgan Ferrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Crime scenes involving human skeletal remains in obstructed wooded environments are challenging to document. One potential option to include with the crime scene processing protocol is 3D documentation utilizing close-range photogrammetry (CRP). This method results in the generation of realistic 3D models and accurate plan-view maps of the crime scene. The purpose of this research was to explore the use of CRP to preserve contextual information of simulated scenes involving scattered human remains in obstructed wooded environments. The main goal was to improve CRP methodology as well as demonstrate how to incorporate this method into the forensic archaeology documentation protocol. …

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Exploring Preservice Teachers' Affective Response To Disruptive Student Behavior In An Immersive Simulation Classroom, Eileen Glavey Jan 2020

Exploring Preservice Teachers' Affective Response To Disruptive Student Behavior In An Immersive Simulation Classroom, Eileen Glavey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This mixed methods study investigated changes in preservice teachers' affective response to disruptive student behavior within the TeachLivE, immersive simulation classroom. Preservice teachers completed two simulation teaching sessions, during which they were exposed to five different disruptive student behavior events in each. All teaching sessions were recorded and post-processed using iMotions Affectiva Affdex software to collect data on preservice teachers' emotion expression and valence during their teaching experiences. At the end of each teaching session, participants completed a self-report survey on their level of stress. Simulated teaching sessions were followed-up with video stimulated recall sessions where participants reflected on their …

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A Study Of Writing Quality Of Elementary Preservice Teachers: How Teacher Educator Instruction Impacts Writing Improvement In One Semester, Marci Clark Jan 2020

A Study Of Writing Quality Of Elementary Preservice Teachers: How Teacher Educator Instruction Impacts Writing Improvement In One Semester, Marci Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This explanatory sequential mixed methods study was guided by two questions: (1) does the quality of preservice teachers' writing improve over the course of one semester and (2) in what ways do two teacher educators' writing instruction affect preservice teachers' quality of writing within the timeframe of a single methods course? The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test for statistically significant differences in the writing quality of 48 preservice teachers. Participant writing samples were collected before and after taking a single writing methods course. The criteria used to measure the writing quality was the 6 + 1 Writing traits: …

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High Performance Micro-Scale Light Emitting Diode Display, Fangwang Gou Jan 2020

High Performance Micro-Scale Light Emitting Diode Display, Fangwang Gou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Micro-scale light emitting diode (micro-LED) is a potentially disruptive display technology because of its outstanding features such as high dynamic range, good sunlight readability, long lifetime, low power consumption, and wide color gamut. To achieve full-color displays, three approaches are commonly used: 1) to assemble individual RGB micro-LED pixels from semiconductor wafers to the same driving backplane through pick-and-place approach, which is referred to as mass transfer process; 2) to utilize monochromatic blue micro-LED with a color conversion film to obtain a white source first, and then employ color filters to form RGB pixels, and 3) to use blue or …

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Bridging The Gap: An Exploration Of Women As The Driving Force Of Political Participation Within The Latino Population In Central Florida, Meldin Graziani-Califano Jan 2020

Bridging The Gap: An Exploration Of Women As The Driving Force Of Political Participation Within The Latino Population In Central Florida, Meldin Graziani-Califano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

With minorities expected to become the majority in the U.S. by 2050, it is important to consider the impact of diverse groups as political influencers and decision-makers. Despite an ever-growing population, levels of political participation in the form of voter turnout remain low among Latinos. As a matter of public policy, political participation is essential to groups who are under-represented in political structures. Puerto Ricans within Central Florida represent one of the largest concentrations of Latinos in the state of Florida, a population which in recent years has demonstrated a greater interest in political participation. This brings into question the …

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The Power Color: Does Shared Decision Making Between Physicians And Patients Differ By Race, Vernon Headley Jan 2020

The Power Color: Does Shared Decision Making Between Physicians And Patients Differ By Race, Vernon Headley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Objective: Shared Decision-Making (SDM) as a clinical approach allows patients and physicians to discuss the best treatment options for the patients' improved health outcomes. Over the past two decades, SDM has improved the quality of health by reassuring patients that they have a voice when considering treatment options. The objective of this study is threefold: to examine parents' perceptions of engaging in SDM with their physicians about their treatment options; to engage in the SDM process when their children's mental health conditions were the subject of SDM; and to assess the comfort level of parents engaging in SDM, based upon …

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Using Project-Based Learning As A Tool For Teaching Mathematics In Urban Elementary Schools, Bernadette Jaster Jan 2020

Using Project-Based Learning As A Tool For Teaching Mathematics In Urban Elementary Schools, Bernadette Jaster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the lived experiences and views of fourth- and fifth-grade math teachers who implemented project-based learning (PBL) addressed the needs of their at-risk students in urban schools. The researcher examined the use of PBL in mathematics-impacted instruction, seeking to understand teacher beliefs related to the influence of exposure to PBL experiences on students' academic outcomes. When deliberately planned and embedded into teaching, the implementation of PBL helps students retain content, improve attitudes about learning, and improve their ability to collaborate with others (Cervantes et al., 2015). A literature review was conducted to …

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A Nested Pcr Strategy For Recovering Highly Discriminatory Y-Str Dna Profiles From Trace Male Dna Samples, Anna Kimball Jan 2020

A Nested Pcr Strategy For Recovering Highly Discriminatory Y-Str Dna Profiles From Trace Male Dna Samples, Anna Kimball

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

DNA profiling is an effective method of identifying individuals in forensic casework. In sexual assault cases in particular, male donor DNA can be genotyped using Y chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) analysis even in the presence of significant levels of female DNA. The recently released recommended national standard for sexual assault evidence collection from the victim is within 5 days after the sexual assault, with the probability of obtaining a male DNA profile diminishing significantly thereafter due to degradation and/or loss of sperm. The present study was designed to develop a method of obtaining a highly probative DNA profile with …

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Tensor Network States: Optimizations And Applications In Quantum Many-Body Physics And Machine Learning, Justin Reyes Jan 2020

Tensor Network States: Optimizations And Applications In Quantum Many-Body Physics And Machine Learning, Justin Reyes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Tensor network states are ubiquitous in the investigation of quantum many-body (QMB) physics. Their advantage over other state representations is evident from their reduction in the computational complexity required to obtain various quantities of interest, namely observables. Additionally, they provide a natural platform for investigating entanglement properties within a system. In this dissertation, we develop various novel algorithms and optimizations to tensor networks for the investigation of QMB systems, including classical and quantum circuits. Specifically, we study optimizations for the two-dimensional Ising model in a transverse field, we create an algorithm for the $k$-SAT problem, and we study the entanglement …

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Estimation And Clustering In Network And Indirect Data, Ramchandra Rimal Jan 2020

Estimation And Clustering In Network And Indirect Data, Ramchandra Rimal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The first part of the dissertation studies a density deconvolution problem with small Berkson errors. In this setting, the data is not available directly but rather in the form of convolution and one needs to estimate the convolution of the unknown density with Berkson errors. While it is known that the Berkson errors improve the precision of the reconstruction, it does not necessarily happen when Berkson errors are small. Furthermore, the choice of bandwidth in density estimation has been an open problem so far. In this dissertation, we provide an in-depth study of the choice of the bandwidth which leads …

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Social Support And Mental Health Outcomes Of Lgb People Of Color, Jessica Ruiz Jan 2020

Social Support And Mental Health Outcomes Of Lgb People Of Color, Jessica Ruiz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people of color (LGB PoC) continue to remain an understudied population. Research supports that LGB PoC may experience greater negative health consequences compared to LGB racial/ethnic majority populations. Social support, including family and peer support, is often associated with positive health outcomes for sexual minorities of all backgrounds. The present study sought to evaluate differences between types of social support, including what occurs when one is faced with significant loss of support (i.e., family support). Comparisons between groups sought to determine whether alternative systems of support (i.e., peer social support) buffers against the negative impact of …

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