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Ucf Libraries 2023-2024 Annual Report, Cynthia S. Dancel

Libraries' Documents

No abstract provided.

How Fiscal And Labor Policies Influence Hospitality Entrepreneurship: A Panel Data Analysis, Mehmet Altin

Journal of Hospitality Financial Management

This study investigates how state-level fiscal and labor policies influence the creation of hospitality firms in the United States from 2002 to 2022. Using a panel dataset and fixed- effects models with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors, we analyze the effects of corporate, sales, property, and income taxes, along with minimum wage laws and educational attain- ment. We separate the results among accommodation and food service subsectors to iden- tify specific policy sensitivities. Our findings disclose that tax and labor policy impacts are highly sector-specific and context-dependent. Especially, minimum wage increases are pos- itively associated with firm formation in lower-income, lower-education states, …

Building A Stronger Community With Hope Helps Inc., Layla Candelario, Cheryl Nguyen, Sarah Samuels

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

Our service-learning project focused on supporting HOPE Helps Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent and reduce homelessness in Central Florida. We volunteered in their thrift store and food pantry, where we helped sort donations, organize merchandise, and assist community members in need. By contributing time and effort, we learned how HOPE Helps provides essential resources that allow families to work toward stability and independence. This experience helped us better understand the value of community service and how small actions can create meaningful change. Through volunteering, we strengthened our connection to the community and supported HOPE’s mission of …

L'Dor V'Dor, Shoshana L. Greene

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

This project details a service-learning experience at Central Florida Hillel. Serving the community involved on-the-ground leadership and meaningful engagement by supporting signature events like the communal Challah Bake and warm, weekly Shabbos Dinners. This work demonstrated that true service involves leaders directly engaged with volunteers, modeling dedication. The project significantly impacted Hillel’s social infrastructure and accessibility, ensuring a reliable, low-barrier, welcoming space for students seeking cultural connection and companionship. This consistent volunteer effort increased organizational capacity, allowing staff to focus core resources on student mentorship rather than basic logistics. Ultimately, the stability and consistency of these events reinforced the sense …

Forgetyounot: A Student-Led Non-Profit For Dementia And Alzheimer's Awareness, Amanda M. Nunez-Ferreira

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

ForgetYouNot is a student-led community non-profit organization focused on promoting awareness for neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Created in 2023, ForgetYouNot has been able to impact the local communities of Pembroke Pines, Orlando, and Gainesville, and plans to continue to impact additional communities by expanding to additional university campuses. We work to promote awareness and education on memory loss diseases, and create a community around conversation, where people have a safe space to share if they have been affected by neurodegenerative diseases within their family. ForgetYouNot has now expanded to a virtual high school research program, as well …

Leading Change, Saving Lives: The Leadership Behind The National Marrow Donor Program, Madison Rhubart, Isabella De Araujo Mota

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

As part of the LEAD Scholar Academy service-learning project, our group partnered with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through cell therapy and bone marrow donation. The purpose of our project was to support NMDP’s mission of expanding the marrow donor registry and to explore how leadership principles can be applied through meaningful community engagement.

Our volunteer work included assembling and labeling swab kits, assisting with donor registration drives, and educating UCF students about the importance of joining the registry. Through these activities, we not only contributed to lifesaving outreach efforts but also …

Smile, It Makes A Difference, Evan Jarosiewicz

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

No abstract provided.

Between A Rock And A Wet Place: Analyzing Mangrove Expansion On Intertidal Oyster Reefs, Lindsay Dolan, Andre Wicks, Lina Souza, Jenna Hodgson, Gabriella Zigler, Ethan Gau, Meagan Pack, Antonia Ferguson, Gwyn Kirby, Mako Rosario, Lee Nguyen, Dwartney Wortham, Jack Budd, Michelle Ganuza, Abby Greene, Cori Mcwilliams, Dyllon Thompson, Emma Quade, Dani Andrews, Jessie Shaffer, Abigail Bond, Julia Murray

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

As global temperatures rise due to climate change, tropical mangroves have spread poleward and now impact many other ecosystems, including salt marshes and oyster reefs in central Florida. A recent study documented a 198% increase in mangrove numbers on intertidal reefs of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) since 1984 in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Our field research project had two goals. First, to collect 2025 data as part of a long-term study to understand the current dimensions, densities, and spatial distributions of red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon (north IRL), and second, to compare …

Correlation Between Physical Inactivity And Mortality Due To Alzheimer's Disease., Steven Dimitrakakis

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

No abstract provided.

Controlled Experimental Design Of Neurocognitive Delay Of Alzheimer’S In Standard American, Mediterranean, And Dash Diet Research Proposal, Jasmine Kaur

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable illness of the neuronal system of which has been studied extensively The study presented intends to evaluate the effect of the MIND and the mediterranean diet in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the effect of the Standard American Diet on the development of it as well. Unlike many studies involving the effects of diet in the development of the disease in older populations, this study would involve UCF college students who are scheduled to graduate in 2030. The participants would be evaluated using the Cognitive Function Battery, a series of tests shown …

Predicting Milk Quality With Machine Learning, Franco Vidal, Matthew Nighting-Henderson​

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Milk is a critical component of diets around the world, offering essential nutrients such as protein, calcium, and vitamin B12. However, in many low-income and rural regions, milk quality is often compromised due to poor storage conditions, lack of pasteurization, and even intentional adulteration. Low-quality milk poses serious health risks, including bacterial infections, toxin exposure, and long-term organ damage. These challenges highlight the need for reliable, accessible methods to assess milk quality without relying on costly laboratory testing.

In this study, we propose a data-driven approach to predict milk quality using ordered logistic regression. The dataset used, sourced from Kaggle, …

Bringing Military History To Life, Nathan T. Chamberlain

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

The purpose of this project was to be able to learn about public history in a military history setting. The two key activities that I did were; creating an exhibit for a fellow Navy Veteran, and helping with an Oral History event at the museum where we heard from two World War II veterans. The exhibit was especially important to me as it helped me to tell the story of a fellow Navy Veteran. It was also a helpful experience for me to be able to create all of the advertising for the oral history event. These projects helped me …

The Relationship Between The U.S Stock Market And Energy Commodities, Griffin Seel, Mari Arroyave, Jack Griffin, James Murphy

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

This project began with the goal of finding the predictive power of oil and natural gas on the U.S. stock market. We gathered and used government-issued data on foreign oil imports volume and grade, domestic crude oil prices, domestic natural gas prices and volume, and S&P 500 prices from the 2023 fiscal year. We wrote a program in R that used several different criteria to give us the relationship between the above variables in a simple, optimal, mathematical model. We also used methods from our course such as the Box Cox transformation test to refine our variables. Ultimately, we found …

The Cypress Dome 2025, Issue 36, The Cypress Dome Society

The Cypress Dome

The Cypress Dome Society is the University of Central Florida’s literary organization staffed by undergraduate students. Named after a feature of the landscape on the UCF campus, we are dedicated to fostering the literary arts and promoting a sense of community among writers and artists through events and our annual publication, The Cypress Dome, UCF’s undergraduate literary journal

Damping Modulation Of Dampened Kapton Surfaces, Sebastian Esteban

Honors Undergraduate Theses

When droplets are vibrated or disturbed, they can exhibit a complex sloshing motion, an understudied behavior in drop physics. Droplet sloshing involves a complex combination of transverse and longitudinal motion that changes the droplet's effective weight on the surface the droplet is on. Our current understanding stems from preliminary work focusing on a cantilever beam of fixed thickness and variable viscosity of the liquid being sloshed. This investigation will focus on how variable cantilever thickness and constant viscosity for a liquid being sloshed affects the beam's deflection under consistent vibration. It will also investigate how the natural frequency of a …

Integrated Compliant Structure For A Hand Exoskeleton, Tristan R. Koopman

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis presents the design and prototyping of a wearable hand exoskeleton that integrates a flexible structural framework to assist with hand movement while maintaining comfort and anatomical conformity. The goal was to create a device that supports tendon-driven actuation through a compliant structure, combining elements of rigidity and flexibility to match the natural geometry and motion of the human hand. Traditional hand exoskeletons often trade off motion for structure or vice versa. This project aims to bridge that gap with a hybrid compliant design that balances flexibility and support. The design process followed an iterative approach involving rapid prototyping …

Fabricating Silver-Ceria Polymer Nanocomposite Scaffolds For Biomedical Therapeutic Applications, Shreya S. Pawar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Improper healing of bone fractures and limited regeneration of bone following bone tumor resection remain a prevalent complication worldwide. Long-term effects of this include joint instability, limited movement, and arthritis. Bone infections (osteomyelitis), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation via excessive inflammation, and underlying conditions such as osteoporosis can contribute to suboptimal bone tissue regeneration. ROS accumulation stimulates osteoblast apoptosis, while promoting osteoclast differentiation. These processes inhibit mineralization and osteogenesis. Conventional therapeutics involve the utilization of drugs and bone grafts. However, these approaches pose limitations and can result in subsequent complications. Microbial infections, ROS accumulation, and excessive inflammations are factors that …

High-Performance Computational Kernels For Algorithm-System Co-Design In Machine Learning: Enabling Efficient Gcn Training And Llm Inference Serving., Shakya D. Jayakody Arachchige

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The rapid advancement of machine learning, from Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) to transformer-based Large Language Models (LLMs), continues to expose fundamental limitations in memory efficiency, scalability, and system reliability. GCNs are critical for domains such as biomedical modeling, social networks, and recommendation systems, yet their reliance on sparse general matrix–matrix multiplication (SpGEMM) makes them highly sensitive to GPU memory constraints and irregular access patterns. As graph data scales, out-of-core computation becomes inevitable, but existing systems are hindered by I/O bottlenecks and underutilized GPU resources. Our contribution with AIRES demonstrates how algorithm–system co-design can alleviate these challenges: by introducing block-wise data …

Development Of Generalizable Data-Driven Traffic State Prediction Solutions: A Comprehensive Approach, Md Mobasshir Rashid

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Increased urbanization and population growth lead to more traffic in the transportation system, causing severe congestion. Particularly during disruptive events such as hurricanes or traffic incidents, the traffic flow in the network worsens significantly. As a result, there is a need for data-driven traffic prediction models to reduce congestion in real-time, and the prediction model should be generalizable to be applicable across different dynamic scenarios. Additionally, a robust and adaptable traffic prediction model can help traffic managers to take proactive actions to optimize traffic flow. However, the majority of data-driven traffic prediction models suffer from limited applicability as they are …

Novel Nanomaterial-Based Platforms For Bio-Electrochemical Sensing And Photocatalytic Treatment Of Contaminants Of Emerging Concern In Water, Jonghyun Baik

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation presents the development of novel nanomaterial-based platforms for bio-electrochemical sensing and photocatalytic treatment of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water, including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microcystin toxins. Conventional detection and remediation methods are often costly, time-consuming, and impractical for field use. To overcome these limitations, in this dissertation, five distinct platforms were designed, developed, and evaluated under various water conditions.

First, a microbial fuel cell (MFC)-based biosensor was developed for detecting heavy metals (Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺) and PAHs (benzene and xylene). The system exhibited rapid, linear …

Assessment Of The Safety Culture In Petrochemical Industries In Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Ahmed Mohammed Alqarfi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Given the inherently hazardous nature of petrochemical operations, an effective safety culture is critical. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 29 peer-reviewed articles published in open access between 2014 and 2024 were selected to evaluate the status of safety culture dimensions employed in the petrochemical sector. This cross-sectional study assessed safety culture in the Saudi Arabian petrochemical industry and examined the relationships among safety culture dimensions, safety motivation (SM), and safety performance. Safety performance was operationalized as personal error behavior (PEB) and attitudes toward violations (ATV), with SM modeled as a mediating factor. After obtaining IRB approval, a total of 482 employees …

Quantifying Surrogate Safety Measures And Traffic Delays At Mid-Block Pedestrian Crossings Using Video-Based Data Analytics, Md Jamil Ahsan

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of midblock pedestrian crossings in terms of safety and traffic efficiency, with a particular focus on the newly implemented Mid-Block Pedestrian Signal (MPS) systems. Extensive CCTV video data were collected across Florida and processed using advanced computer vision techniques, specifically the RT-DETR model for object detection and the ByteTrack algorithm for object tracking, to analyze vehicle-pedestrian interactions in detail. Since there is limited post-implementation crash data available for all locations, Surrogate Safety Measures (SSMs) were employed to assess safety outcomes. Conflict Modification Factors (CoMFs) were estimated using Cross-Sectional (CS), Comparison Group (CG), and Empirical …

Development Of A Data-Driven Decision Support System For Intelligent Traffic Management At Intersections, B M Tazbiul Hassan Anik

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Intersections are complex traffic environments where frequent vehicle and pedestrian interactions can lead to safety- and mobility-critical (SMC) conditions. Identifying these conditions promptly is crucial, as delays may result in missed interventions, thereby heightening crash risk, and diminishing operational efficiency. This dissertation introduces a data-driven, real-time decision support framework for the identification and mitigation of SMC conditions using High-Resolution Traffic Controller Data (HTCD) collected via Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPM) system and Connected Vehicle (CV) data from Signal Analytics. First, an end-to-end analytical pipeline was developed to transform HTCD into actionable safety and mobility measures. A Bayesian beta-binomial framework, …

Small Ripple, Big Waves: Individual Political Attitudes, Populism, Illiberalism And Democratic Resilience, Paulo Ricardo Valle

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Why do individuals who support democracy also endorse populist and illiberal attitudes? Current literature focuses efforts on exploring the role that institutions and political actors have in democracy resilience (Levitsky & Ziblatt, 2019; Merkel & Lührmann, 2021). However, relatively few academic works have examined this phenomenon at the individual level. With the aim to exploring the causal effect between individual political attitudes, anti-democratic threats, and democratic resilience at the individual level, this study applies a micro-level theoretical approach to assess how individuals’ political attitudes toward populism and illiberalism affect their support for democratic values. To test the hypotheses, this study …

Multi-Trait Convergent Evolution Correlated With Host Ecology Suggests Trait Syndromes In Parasitoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)., Christina L. Watkins

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Convergent evolution, the independent evolution of similar traits in different lineages under shared ecological pressures, provides information on patterns of adaptation and character evolution. In Braconidae (Hymenoptera), a diverse and abundant parasitoid wasp family, the assorted biological and ecological traits of their insect hosts have been frequently hypothesized to drive repeated morphological evolution. This study presented the first family-wide phylogenetically informed test of host-driven convergence in Braconidae, integrating morphological and ecological data across 74 genera representing 32 subfamilies on the most current and robust phylogeny. Analyses revealed multiple instances of correlated evolution between host traits and parasitoid morphology, suggesting trait …

An Ailment I Will Fight With: Differential Diagnosis And Methodology Evaluation Of Possible Treponemal Infection At Dayr Al-Barsha, Egypt, Lindsey D. Lefebvre

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Treponemal diseases, including bejel, yaws, pinta, and venereal syphilis, have long plagued human populations and continue to pose public health challenges today. Despite their persistent global presence, the origins, transmission pathways, and archaeological identification of these diseases—caused by various subspecies of Treponema pallidum—remain contested. This study explores the utility of standardized diagnostic criteria, as proposed by Baker et al. (2020), in assessing the presence of treponemal disease in highly fragmentary skeletal remains from the Roman-period necropolis at Dayr al Barsha, Egypt. Through the examination of 14 individuals, this research seeks to (1) identify indicators consistent with bejel (T.p. …

Determining Essential Attributes For Experience And Satisfaction In The Customer 4.0 Era: A Kano Model Approach, Cintia Z. Buffon

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The world is constantly changing, with rapid technological advancements and increased digital connectivity shaping daily activities. In this evolving landscape, customers have transformed into what is known as Customer 4.0—a new generation of consumers who expect high levels of personalization, digital engagement, and greater transparency from organizations. These expectations extend to higher education, where students demand more customized learning experiences, interactive content, and digital accessibility. This research investigates engineering students' preferences regarding educational attributes aligned with Customer 4.0 characteristics using the Kano model. While the Kano model has been widely applied across industries, its use in higher education remains limited. …

Investigating The Impacts Of Peer Support And Online Information Seeking In Chronic Pain Online Health Communities, Aaron Necaise

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Chronic pain is a highly prevalent medical condition that contributes to intense emotional distress and social isolation in patients. With the growth of social media, online health communities (OHCs) have become a popular resource for patients to learn about their pain and establish social connections with peers. Although there is some evidence suggesting that curated online resources can benefit patient well-being, social media interactions have the potential to propagate medical misinformation and negativity. This dissertation expands upon the Social Communication Model of Pain to examine how interactions within social media-based OHCs impact chronic pain and uncover practical insights into OHC …

Genomic Consequences Of Habitat Fragmentation In The Florida Scrub-Jay: Diversity, Adaptation, And Disease Susceptibility, Maryam Ghoojaei

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Habitat fragmentation is a severe threat to biodiversity by reducing population size, gene flow, and adaptive potential, especially in habitat specialists like the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). This dissertation integrates whole-genome sequencing and immunogenetics to assess the genomic consequences of habitat fragmentation across three primary Florida Scrub-Jay strongholds: Archbold Biological Station, Ocala National Forest, and Florida’s East Coast. In Chapter 2, I focused on adaptive genetic diversity at the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II genes. I characterized MHC allelic richness, evaluated signatures of selection, and examined associations with pathogen infections. Despite population declines, I found moderate MHC diversity, suggesting …

Investigation Of Combustion Properties Of Renewable Biofuel Blends Using A Hot Surface Ignition Assistant Device, Matthew Voigt

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

With global warming, fuel supply, rising fuel prices, and energy security becoming major concerns for countries around the globe, many countries have been researching methods to reduce carbon emissions. One option being considered is using Bio-derived fuels as a possible alternative to modern jet fuels due to their ability to produce less emissions. However, while they do produce less emissions, they are also characterized by their low cetane numbers resulting in low reactivity requiring more energy to ignite, lower total heat release values, and longer ignition delays leading to engine problems such as knocking and power loss. Ignition assistant devices …