Digital Commons Network^™

Reinforcement Learning From Human Feedback For Ethically Robust Ai Decision-Making, Marco M. Plasencia

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The emergence of reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) has made great strides toward giving AI decision-making the ability to learn from external human advice. In general, this machine learning technique is concerned with producing agents that learn to work toward optimizing and achieving some goal, advanced by interactions with the environment and feedback given in terms of a quantifiable reward. In the scope of this project, we seek to merge the intricate realms of AI robustness, ethical decision-making, and RLHF. With no way to truly quantify human values, human feedback is an essential bridge in the learning process, allowing …

Guarding The Grid: Exploring Iot And Iiot Security Vulnerabilities In Smart Power Systems, Nicole G. Parker

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The Internet of Things (IoT) encompasses the collective network of electrical devices and the technology that enables them to send and receive data. The use of IoT technologies in industrial settings, such as transportation, manufacturing, and energy is referred to as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). With the expansion of IoT in homes and IIoT in the energy sector has come an increase in the number of devices connected with each other. Engineers have utilized this network to develop sophisticated smart systems that combine sensing, processing, actuation, and control to produce smart environments. Along with the benefits of IoT …

Dysbiosis In Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis Of Gut Microbiota And Its Role In Gastrointestinal Dysfunction And Disease Progression, Ayan M. Siddiqui Mr.

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and nonmotor symptoms, including gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. Symptoms such as constipation, bloating, and nausea often show early signs before the onset of motor symptoms. Recent research has suggested an essential role of the human gut microbiome and gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut microbiota composition, in the pathogenesis of PD. This thesis aims to assess the potential relationship between gut dysbiosis and PD by conducting a meta-analysis, focusing on differences in gut microbiota between PD patients and healthy controls and evaluating their implications for GI dysfunction and PD progression. The …

Sex Education Experiences Of Lgbtq+ College Students In Florida, Uma Sriram

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Existing research has identified negative impacts of state-level policies on sexual and gender minorities, yet minimal research has assessed the impact of recent anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Florida. This study explored the sex education experiences of LGBTQ+ college students who attended public middle and high schools in Florida and their attitudes towards the “Don’t Say Gay” Law, which was passed in 2022 and has since prevented the inclusion of diverse sexual and gender identities within K-12 school environments. Data consisted of 11 in-depth, qualitative interviews with undergraduate LGBTQ+ students attending Florida public universities. Thematic analysis of the interview data was conducted, …

Dance Movement Therapy For Pediatric Oncology Patients And Its Effect On Cancer Therapy-Related Symptoms, Victoria M. Trautwein

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Pediatric cancer patients are susceptible to emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms impacting their quality of life. Dance movement therapy is a non-pharmacological method that has been shown to improve feelings of depression, anxiety, emotional, somatic symptoms, and overall quality of life. While much of cancer research is dedicated to finding cures, it is also important to focus on identifying methods for improving the symptoms and quality of life for pediatric cancer patients.

Aim: The purpose of the literature review is to examine studies that show the effects of dance movement therapy on pediatric oncology patients’ cancer-treatment related …

Examination Of The Morphological Changes And Genotoxic Effects Of Sodium Benzoate On Neuro-2a Cells In Vitro, Emily S. Larson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Sodium benzoate is a food preservative present in sodas, fruit juices, and other acidic foods and beverages [1]. Its acceptable daily intake is 0-20 mg/kg body weight [2], and it is generally recognized as safe [1, 3]. However, sodium benzoate has been linked to hyperactivity in children [4, 5] and adults [6] and to deficits and behavioral changes in rodents [7-10], indicating potential negative impacts on the nervous system. Sodium benzoate has also induced genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes [11, 12] and Chinese hamster fibroblast cells [13] in vitro and in rat liver tissue in vivo [14]. The effect of …

Investigating Influences On Muslim-American Identity Development, Ruqayyah Adam

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand how the childhood experiences, perceived discrimination, and Islamophobia experienced by Muslim-American college students have played a part in their identity development and overall well-being. Participants completed the RYFF Psychological Well-being Scales, Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, Centrality of Religiosity Scale, GAD7, Identity Distress Survey, Multi-Ethnic Identity Scale, as well as a narrative questionnaire that asked about their childhood experiences. After carefully analyzing the results of my study, results indicated that while Muslim-Americans faced extra difficulties due to discrimination, Islamophobia, and the integration of multiple cultural identities, they still experienced higher well-being and self-esteem despite …

Detection Of Micrornas In Blood Samples Using Biosensors For The Detection Of Early-Stage Lung Cancer, Nicholas Bruno

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Lung cancer kills more people in the U.S. a year than any other cancer. This is largely because patients often remain asymptomatic until stage 3, by which time the tumor is usually highly malignant. High radiation-producing screenings are the current method of lung tumor detection. These typically involve machinery for tumor visualization, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, positron emission tomography (PET scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and X-rays. Not only does radiation exposure from this equipment pose a risk to the patient, but any tumors detected by these scanning techniques are likely to be locally advanced. This suggests that …

The Comparative Efficacy Of Ketamine And Esketamine In Treating Anhedonia And Suicidal Ideation: A Meta-Analysis, Yanyi Wu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This meta-analysis examines the efficacy and effectiveness of racemic ketamine (RS-ketamine) and esketamine in reducing depressive symptoms such as suicidal ideation and anhedonia in patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder. This review comprehensively looks at six studies: three clinical studies focusing on suicidal ideation and three looking at anhedonia. Across the studies, RS-ketamine and esketamine were associated with a higher resolution of suicidal ideation, risk, and anhedonia. Significant improvements were noted in the suicidal desire and ideation subscale of the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation. The pooled effect size for suicidal ideation (d = 0.533) and pooled …

Unraveling The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Staphylococcus Aureus Carriage: A Comparative Research Of Pre- And Post-Pandemic Samples, Catherine G. Johnston

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes in the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus carriage and disease. This study aims to assess these changes by leveraging respiratory samples collected from a longstanding cohort, comparing the genomic characteristics of S. aureus isolates from pre- and post-pandemic periods. We analyzed S. aureus genomes and phenotypically determined macrolide resistance to characterize population structure, antibiotic resistance, and virulence profiles. Changes in S. aureus carriage rates, macrolide resistance, disease occurrence, and population structure between samples collected pre- and post-pandemic were examined. By using respiratory samples, chart reviews, and risk factor questionnaires of 498 children from a …

Does Attention Control Mediate The Negative Effects Online Usage Exerts On College Students' Gpa, Carolina Rodriguez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Online media, especially social media, is a continuously growing area of research which has raised questions about its impacts on academic outcomes. Many previous studies have established a negative relation between social media use and academic performance; however, the mechanism behind this finding is still unknown. The present study investigated whether level of attention control mediates the relation between an individual’s propensity for online usage and grade point average (GPA). Undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida (N=226) were recruited for this study, and their levels of online vigilance and attention control were measured. College GPA was self-reported by …

Into The Activism: An Exploration Of Gen Z'S Political Participation, Nia J. Davis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Gen Z is a considerably politically active generation. However, Gen Z differs from previous generations in their methodology, campaigning for change through both in person and digital activism. While both forms of activism are effective in their own way, digital poses a unique challenge. When people can be activists from the comfort of their phone, they become “slacktivists”. People whose activism does not contribute to any significant action outside of the internet (Serup Christensen).

Through interviews and focus groups, my documentary explores how Gen Z participates in activism, and what that means for the future of activism. After these discussions, …

Effect Of External Electromagnetic Stimulation On Microtubule Polymerization, Florian Alushi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Intracellular processes are influenced by mass transport at different spatial and temporal scales, facilitated by diffusion and stochastic encounters between cellular components. While traditionally explained by short-range "lock and key" interactions, some processes involve rapidly fluctuating charges generating electromagnetic (EM) fields, allowing long-range biomolecular interactions. This challenges the conventional view that efficient biochemical reactions depend solely on random encounters and short-range interactions, suggesting EM fields play a crucial role in cellular dynamics. Microtubules (MTs) are essential components of the cell cytoskeleton, responsible for intracellular transport, cell migration, cell division, etc. Beyond their mechanical role, MTs have unique electromagnetic properties due …

Mapping The Reaction Networks Of Cis Formed In The Ozone-Assisted Oxidation Of C₆ Acyclic And Endocyclic Alkenes, Zachary Clarke

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Criegee intermediates (CIs) are highly reactive species generated during the ozonolysis of alkenes, exerting a critical influence on atmospheric oxidation, combustion chemistry, and synthetic processes. Their reactivity, encompassing unimolecular and bimolecular pathways, shapes oxidation mechanisms and product distributions in these environments. A key determinant of CI behavior is the structural nature of the parent alkene. Acyclic alkenes typically yield intermediates with minimal steric hindrance, facilitating rapid reactions, whereas endocyclic alkenes produce geometrically constrained CIs with enhanced internal stabilization, redirecting reaction pathways and reducing overall reactivity. Despite their importance, mechanistic understanding remains limited due to experimental challenges in detecting CIs and …

Majorie In War And Peace, Gary R. Mormino

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

The Renaissance Of The Traphagen Farm, Ann Mccutchan

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

Poems, Peter Gordon

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings: Harmony In Rural Florida, Leslie Kemp Poole

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

A Star Fell On Florida And The Magic Circle, Stetson Kennedy

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Writing Award Co-Winner Graduate Essay: "Douglas And Rawlings: Literary Awareness And Advocacy Of Florida Environment", Hind Berji

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Writing Award Co-Winner Graduate Essay: The Social Problems With Cross Creek's Transcendentalism, Mohammed Forero Bucheli

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Writing Award Co-Winner Undergraduate Essay: "Trauma And Tranquility: Rawlings's And Hemingway's Tales Of Transformation", Simon Cole

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

An Assessment Of The Hotel Customers’ Robotic Service Quality Perceptions: Scale Development And Validation, Ahmet Hacikara

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

"Hotel customers' interactions with service robots are becoming increasingly common, raising questions about how these interactions impact their experience. To address this gap in knowledge, this dissertation develops and validates a novel robotic service quality (ROBOQUAL) scale. Drawing on social exchange theory, the study examines the reciprocal relationship between hotel customers and artificially intelligent service robots, exploring how robotic service quality influences customers' perceptions of experience quality, satisfaction, and word-of-mouth intentions. The research employs focus-group studies, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and partial least squares equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to develop and validate the ROBOQUAL scale."

An Examination Of Frontline Service Workers' Empathy In A Cobot Team, Emily Anne Broker

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Service robots are an emerging technological advancement increasingly utilized in the hospitality industry. In return, service workers are required to use them during their interactions with customers. This study sought to examine how the service robot-worker team affects cognitive and affective empathy present in a service encounter. Using the empathy attribute part of the SERVQUAL model, this study aimed to examine and differentiate the server's empathy impact in the presence of a service robot. This study utilized semi-structured qualitative interviews to collect data from service workers employed in two restaurants characterized by distinct service environments. The interviews were qualitatively analyzed …

Identifying Antecedents And Consequences Of Mental Imagery: The Use Of Sor Theory In The Context Of Immersive Digital Exhibitions, Yeonjae Kim

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

With innovative technologies, various types of immersive digital experiences (IDEs) have gained significant attention in the past few years. Despite their popularity, little research has been conducted on the factors that examine visitors’ experiences and behavioral intentions. This study applies experience economy within the framework of the SOR (Stimulus-Organism-Response) theory, indicating the dimensions of IDE function as stimulus (S), mental imagery and attitude as the organism (O), and behavioral intentions as the response (R). This study aims to identify the antecedents and consequences of mental imagery to explain and understand the mechanism behind visitors’ evaluations for future decisions.

A total …

Unveiling Financial Performance As A Mediator In Vacation Rentals' Valuation: Evidence From The Central Florida Market, Marcos Medeiros

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This dissertation innovatively extends the hedonic value model by crafting a comprehensive and novel econometric framework to analyze the mediating role of financial performance in the valuation of vacation rental properties. The study not only conducts an empirical analysis of the fundamental hedonic determinants of vacation rentals’ performance and value but also examines the influence of vacation rental performance on their valuation by leveraging the capitalization rate theory, a prevalent metric for evaluating commercial real estate value, to ascertain its applicability in forecasting the worth of vacation rentals. The core contribution of this study is the discovery of how short-term …

Contextualizing Tiktok Controversies: Critical Discourse Analysis Of Platform Privacy Debates, Bshaer Kameil Aharazi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study focuses on online news coverage of TikTok's privacy policies to uncover accusations related to security threats between October 2020 and May 2023. Using critical discourse analysis, the research compares TikTok's discourse with other platforms like Facebook and YouTube, highlighting the role of governments, tech companies, and users in shaping this discourse. Furthermore, it demonstrates how cultural and political factors influence privacy discussions, particularly regarding the controversies, discussions, and accusations between the United States and China. AI tool ChatGPT analyzes the discourse by focusing on the news texts' most prominent topics and keywords. The goal is to identify key …

Home, Sweet Home: Gender The Civil War And Reunion Through Popular Music, Nathanial E. Bock

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

“Home, Sweet Home” is widely considered the most popular tune of the American Civil War, but its enduring popularity before, during, and after the war has never been fully explored. This thesis combines classic and modern histories of the music of the Civil War with some of the latest work in gender studies and the post-war era to explore the continued popularity of this song throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It begins by examining the life of the song’s unusual author, John Howard Payne, and why Americans were predisposed to find both Payne and his song so compelling. It …

Defining The Roles Of Blari Orthologs In Mycobacterium Abscessus, Lauren E. Bonefont

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The increasing incidence of Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) infections is a global concern as the treatment failure rate is more than 50%. Mab is an opportunistic pathogen, thriving in harsh conditions in the environment and in hosts. To respond to these conditions, Mab employs many signal transduction mechanisms. This work characterizes two non-redundant systems using a novel mechanism in Mab: BlaRI-type protease-mediated two-component systems. In the Staphylococcus aureus prototype, BlaR binds β-lactams with a C-terminal extracellular sensing domain, activating BlaR through acylation and autoproteolysis. Activated BlaR then cleaves DNA-bound dimerized BlaI, disrupting repression by BlaI and enabling transcription …

Application Of A Zinc-Borate Based Nanoparticle To Impede The Spread Of Huanglongbing, Carlos J. Flores

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Huanglongbing is a citrus disease devastating the worldwide citrus industry. It is caused by the pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), and spread through the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP). ACP vectors HLB as a host for CLas and spreads the bacteria through the saliva when feeding on citrus leaves. There is no cure for the disease, making preventative measures a top priority for the citrus industry. Previously used methods such as individual protective covers and insecticides have proven effective but costly to slow the spread of the disease. In this thesis, we report on the interactions of a novel zinc-borate spray-on …