Digital Commons Network^™

Breaking The Glass Ceiling: Do Female Auditors In Public Accounting Shine?, Katie Dubois

Honors Theses and Capstones

This honors thesis examines the significance that female auditors have in shaping the public accounting profession. The study investigates the impact of female auditors on various aspects of the profession, including quality, profitability, and risk. By conducting a comprehensive literature review and analyzing gathered data, this research explores the factors that contribute to the influence of female auditors and the implications for the profession.

The findings highlight that female auditors do in fact impact the public accounting profession positively. Moreover, the data revealed that gender-diverse audit teams enhance audit quality and firm profitability. Client relationships are also positively influenced, as …

Mir-124-3p Target Genes Identify Globus Pallidus Role In Suicide Ideation Recovery In Borderline Personality Disorder, Macarena S Aloi, Guillermo F Poblete, John Oldham, Michelle A Patriquin, David A Nielsen, Thomas R Kosten, Ramiro Salas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by patterns of unstable affect, unstable interpersonal relationships, and chronic suicidal tendencies. Research on the genetics, epigenetics, and brain function of BPD is lacking. MicroRNA-124-3p (miR-124-3p) was recently identified in a Genome-Wide Association Study as likely associated with BPD. Here, we identified the anatomical brain expression of genes likely modulated by miR-124-3p and compared morphometry in those brain regions in BPD inpatients vs. controls matched for psychiatric comorbidities. We isolated lists of targets likely modulated by miR-124-3p from TargetScan (v 8.0) by their preferentially conserved targeting (Aggregate PCT > 0.99, see Supplementary Table 1). …

Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Supplementation Supports Motor Coordination And Affects Myelination In Preterm Pigs, Line I Christiansen, Gemma C Ventura, Bo Holmqvist, Karoline Aasmul-Olsen, Sandy E H Lindholm, Matthew D Lycas, Yuki Mori, Jan Bojsen-Møller Secher, Douglas G Burrin, Thomas Thymann, Per T Sangild, Stanislava Pankratova

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Preterm infants have increased risk of impaired neurodevelopment to which reduced systemic levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the weeks after birth may play a role. Hence, we hypothesized that postnatal IGF-1 supplementation would improve brain development in preterm pigs, used as a model for preterm infants.

METHODS: Preterm pigs delivered by cesarean section received recombinant human IGF-1/IGF binding protein-3 complex (rhIGF-1/rhIGFBP-3, 2.25 mg/kg/day) or vehicle from birth to postnatal day 19. Motor function and cognition were assessed by monitoring of in-cage and open field activities, balance beam test, gait parameters, novel object recognition and operant conditioning …

Emerging Issues In Probiotic Safety: 2023 Perspectives, Daniel Merenstein, Bruno Pot, Gregory Leyer, Arthur C Ouwehand, Geoffrey A Preidis, Christopher A Elkins, Colin Hill, Zachery T Lewis, Andi L Shane, Niv Zmora, Mariya I Petrova, Maria Carmen Collado, Lorenzo Morelli, Gina A Montoya, Hania Szajewska, Daniel J Tancredi, Mary Ellen Sanders

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Probiotics are used for both generally healthy consumers and in clinical settings. However, theoretical and proven adverse events from probiotic consumption exist. New probiotic strains and products, as well as expanding use of probiotics into vulnerable populations, warrants concise, and actionable recommendations on how to work toward their safe and effective use. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics convened a meeting to discuss and produce evidence-based recommendations on potential acute and long-term risks, risks to vulnerable populations, the importance for probiotic product quality to match the needs of vulnerable populations, and the need for adverse event reporting related …

Combined Immunodeficiency Caused By Pathogenic Variants In The Zap70 C-Terminal Sh2 Domain, Cédric Mongellaz, Rita Vicente, Lenora M Noroski, Nelly Noraz, Valérie Courgnaud, Javier Chinen, Emilia Faria, Valérie S Zimmermann, Naomi Taylor

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: ZAP-70, a protein tyrosine kinase recruited to the T cell receptor (TCR), initiates a TCR signaling cascade upon antigen stimulation. Mutations in the ZAP70 gene cause a combined immunodeficiency characterized by low or absent CD8+ T cells and nonfunctional CD4+ T cells. Most deleterious missense ZAP70 mutations in patients are located in the kinase domain but the impact of mutations in the SH2 domains, regulating ZAP-70 recruitment to the TCR, are not well understood.

METHODS:Genetic analyses were performed on four patients with CD8 lymphopenia and a high resolution melting screening for ZAP70 mutations was developed. The impact of SH2 …

Sickle Cell Virtual Support Group Program For Adults: An Implementation Evaluation, Dora L. Clayton-Jones, Lee Za Ong, Abir K. Bekhet, Weneaka D. Jones, Elodie Ontala, James Griffin, Ethlean Peacock, Kristin Haglund

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with medical and psychosocial challenges. SCD in adulthood is characterized by increased morbidity and mortality, vulnerability, inadequate self-management preparation, and limited social support. This study evaluated the implementation of a virtual support group during the COVID-19 pandemic using an intervention parameters framework evaluation. Participants included six adults living with SCD. Content analysis was conducted for each of the six intervention parameters, and satisfaction scores were summarized. Participants positively evaluated all intervention parameters of the virtual support group. Findings confirmed that a community-engaged intervention supports self-management and establishes key social networks for adult participants.

Exploring The Feasibility Of Intrapartum Gbs Collection To Identify Residual Gbs In A Pilot Study Of An Antenatal Probiotic Intervention, Emily Malloy, Lisa Hanson, Leona Vandevusse, Karen Robinson, Maharaj Singh, Marie Forgie

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: We aimed to explore the feasibility of collecting intrapartum maternal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization and immediate post-birth neonatal GBS colonization cultures for use in a larger trial and to identify cases of residual GBS, which were hypothesized to be less common in the probiotics group.

Methods: This sub-study added additional outcome measures to the parent study to identify intrapartum and neonatal colonization and compare between probiotic and placebo groups and to identify cases of residual GBS. Intrapartum maternal vaginal and rectal GBS cultures were collected at the time of admission to a hospital for labor and to give …

Diamond's Hidden Gems - Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery Services, Ucf Libraries, Diamond Williams

Libraries' Documents

Hello, everyone! My name is Diamond Williams; I am a second- year double- majoring in Criminal Justice and Writing & Rhetoric. Welcome to the first installment of Diamond’s Hidden Gems, a blog series in which I introduce you to the University of Central Florida’s library services that you may not have known about!

Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery Services (ILL/DDS)

If you’ve attended the University of Central Florida (UCF) for long, chances are you’ve heard someone mention “ILL” or “loan services” in passing. From professors to library staff themselves, the ILL department is incredibly popular, but remains an under-utilized resource …

Inter-Rater Agreement For The Annotation Of Neurologic Signs And Symptoms In Electronic Health Records, Chelsea Oommen, Quentin Howlett-Prieto, Michael D. Carrithers, Daniel B. Hier

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The extraction of patient signs and symptoms recorded as free text in electronic health records is critical for precision medicine. Once extracted, signs and symptoms can be made computable by mapping to signs and symptoms in an ontology. Extracting signs and symptoms from free text is tedious and time-consuming. Prior studies have suggested that inter-rater agreement for clinical concept extraction is low. We have examined inter-rater agreement for annotating neurologic concepts in clinical notes from electronic health records. After training on the annotation process, the annotation tool, and the supporting neuro-ontology, three raters annotated 15 clinical notes in three rounds. …

Using Catalysis To Control The Morphology And Stiffness Of Shape Memory Poly(Isocyanurate-Urethane) (Pir-Pur) Aerogels, A. B.M. Shaheen Ud Doulah, Chandana Mandal, Hojat Majedi Far, Vaibhav A. Edlabadkar, Rushi U. Soni, Stephen Y. Owusu, Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

A large array of anhydrous metal ions were tested as catalysts in the preparation of shape memory poly(isocyanurate-urethane) (PIR-PUR) aerogels from the reaction of 1,3,5-tris(6-isocyanatohexyl)-1,3,5-triazinane-2,4,6-trione (Desmodur N3300A: a well-known isocyanurate-based aliphatic triisocyanate) and triethylene glycol (TEG) in anhydrous acetonitrile. The reaction yielded wet gels that were dried into aerogels in an autoclave with supercritical fluid CO2. The catalytic activity was mostly identified among CH3CN-soluble salts (mainly chlorides) of third-row d-block elements from iron to zinc, group 13 elements from aluminum to thallium, as well as cadmium, bismuth, and tin. Tin (119Sn) NMR indicated that the metal ion complexes with TEG, …

Heart Failure Drug Treatment-Inertia, Titration, And Discontinuation: A Multinational Observational Study (Evolution Hf), Gianluigi Savarese, Takuya Kishi, Orly Vardeny, Samuel Adamsson Eryd, Johan Bodegård, Lars H Lund, Marcus Thuresson, Biykem Bozkurt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Guidelines recommend early initiation of multiple guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMTs) to reduce mortality/rehospitalization in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. Understanding GDMT use is critical to improving clinical practice.

Objectives: This study sought to describe GDMT use in Japan, Sweden, and the United States in contemporary real-world settings.

Methods: EVOLUTION HF (Utilization of Dapagliflozin and Other Guideline Directed Medical Therapies in Heart Failure Patients: A Multinational Observational Study Based on Secondary Data) is an observational cohort study using routine-care databases. Patients initiating any GDMT within 12 months of a hospitalization for heart failure (hHF) discharge were included. …

Enrollment Of Underrepresented Racial And Ethnic Groups In The Rare And Atypical Diabetes Network (Radiant), Mustafa Tosur, Laura Gandolfo, Ashok Balasubramanyam, Rochelle N Naylor, Toni I Pollin, Neda Rasouli, Sara J Cromer, John B Buse, Maria J Redondo, Radiant Study Group

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (URG) is rapidly increasing in incidence and has worse outcomes than diabetes in non-Hispanic White individuals. Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network (RADIANT) established recruitment targets based on the racial and ethnic distribution of the USA to enroll a diverse study population. We examined participation of URG across RADIANT study stages and described strategies to enhance recruitment and retention of URG.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: RADIANT is a multicenter NIH-funded study of people with uncharacterized forms of atypical diabetes. RADIANT participants consent online and progress through three sequential study stages, as eligible.

RESULTS: …

Never Lose Your Ecg: A Novel Key Generation And Authentication Scheme For Implantable Medical Devices, Nima Karimian, Gokay Saldamli, Younghee Park, Victor Lui

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, and insulin pumps, play a crucial role in monitoring patients' vital signs within healthcare systems. However, these networked devices are susceptible to external attacks and breaches of trust, hindering the potential innovation and social benefits of eHealth services. To address these concerns, we propose a novel ECG-based key generation scheme and blockchain-based authentication protocol to build a trustworthy healthcare service under any situation. The key will be extracted in a single heartbeat using fiducial features. Compared with the existing works, the proposed key generation achieves the most efficient and secure method by …

2d-3d Facial Image Analysis For Identification Of Facial Features Using Machine Learning Algorithms With Hyper-Parameter Optimization For Forensics Applications, Gangothri Sanil, Krishna Prakash, Srikanth Prabhu, Vinod C. Nayak, Saptarshi Sengupta

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Recognizing a face is a remarkable process that humans naturally use. Computer vision has tried to resemble this ability of human vision as a biometric tool to identify humans. Commercial and law enforcement applications are increasingly using face recognition technology to identify people. Currently, it is one of the most sought-after detection methods used in forensics for criminal identification purposes. Owing to similarities in the appearance of certain faces, especially in criminal cases, this problem poses a great challenge in forensic investigation and detection. The novelty of this work lies in the development of a framework for face recognition using …

Investigation To Density And Metallurgical Characteristics Of Selective Laser Melted Ti-5al-5 V-5mo-3cr Versus Ti-6al-4 V, David Yan, Roman Bolzowski

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Ti-5Al-5 V-5Mo-3Cr (Ti-5553) is a metastable near beta titanium alloy with excellent fatigue performance and corrosion resistance. Hence, it is of significant importance in several high-performance aerospace applications such as aircraft landing gear components. The selective laser melting (SLM) technique shows great potential compared to subtractive methods in generating complex geometries. However, the poor surface finish of the SLMed Ti-5553 components means that post-machining is required to achieve the desired surface quality and dimensional accuracy. Although there is a profound knowledge about the surface integrity of SLMed α + β Ti alloys (typically Ti-6Al-4 V), there is a lack of …

Alzheimer’S Disease (Ad) Knowledge In Korean Americans: Identifying Knowledge Gaps And Misconceptions And Examining Predictors Of Ad Knowledge, Sang E. Lee, Michin Hong, Banghwa L. Casado

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Objectives: This study examined Alzheimer’s disease (AD) knowledge and its predictors among Korean Americans (KAs). Design: Convenience sampling was used to recruit KAs in the Greater Washington metropolitan area. A total of 268 KAs participated in the study and completed a cross-sectional survey in 2014. Using the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS), overall and domain knowledge was assessed. Multiple regression analyses were conducted for overall and domain knowledge with predictors including exposure to AD, social engagement, sources and frequency of health-related information, stigmatic beliefs (pity, antipathy, and social distance), English proficiency, and education. Results: KAs reported a 59% accuracy in …

Faculty Experiences Of Implementing Co-Teaching Strategies, Krystie Lynn Seese

Theses and Dissertations

Co-teaching is defined as two or more certified teachers working together to meet the needs of the diverse learners in their classroom, especially students with disabilities. Co-teaching is a widely implemented method used in public schools to educate children with and without disabilities in the general education setting to comply with state and national legislation requirements. There are six commonly used co-teaching strategies and approaches: one teach, one observe; one teach, one assist; parallel teaching; station teaching; alternative teaching; and team teaching. The research questions asked and answered were: What approach is most widely used and most effective at the …

Kinetic Assessment Of Light Hydrocarbons Separation Over Fe-Doped 13x Composite Sorbents Under Multicomponent Feed Conditions, Khaled Baamran, Jimmy D.L. Moreno, Ali A. Rownaghi, Fateme Rezaei

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Current sorbents investigated for light olefin/paraffin separation usually suffer from low selectivity. Besides, multicomponent analysis of this important separation is usually overlooked in the literature. To enhance the separation efficiency of zeolite 13X, we developed a series of Fe₂O₃/13X composite sorbents and assessed their separation performance using binary, ternary, and multicomponent gas mixtures of C₂H₄, C₂H₆, CH₄, and H₂. In these composites, nano- and micro Fe₂O₃ particles (NPs and MPs) with varied loadings were used, while Fe was also ion-exchanged into …

Analysis Of Methods For Assimilating Fire Perimeters Into A Coupled Fire-Atmosphere Model, Adam K. Kochanski, Kathleen Clough, Angel Farguell, Derek V. Mallia, Jan Mandel, Kyle Hilburn

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Correctly initializing the fire within coupled fire-atmosphere models is critical for producing accurate forecasts of meteorology near the fire, as well as the fire growth, and plume evolution. Improperly initializing the fire in a coupled fire-atmosphere model can introduce forecast errors that can impact wind circulations surrounding the fire and updrafts along the fire front. A well-constructed fire initialization process must be integrated within coupled fire-atmosphere models to ensure that the atmospheric component of the model does not become numerically unstable due to excessive heat fluxes released during the ignition, and that realistic fire-induced atmospheric circulations are established at the …

Reconstructing The Ecological Relationships Of The Latest Cretaceous Antarctic Dinosaurs And How Functional Tooth Morphology Influenced Diet And Ecological Niche Among Basal Ornithopod Dinosaurs, Ian Broxson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Of the final three connected Gondwanan landmasses, the dinosaur fossil record of Antarctica in the Cretaceous is the least complete. Most dinosaur faunas in this time period (145 Ma to 66.0 Ma) are widely separated geographically and temporally from one another by million years. However, a group of non-avian dinosaurs from the James Ross Basin (JRB) of the Antarctic Peninsula, composed of two elasmarians, a parankylosaurian ankylosaur, a hadrosaur and a suspected megaraptor, all are represented by fragmentary remains have emerged from the same horizon of the Sandwich Bluff Member (SBM) of the López de Bertodano Formation and were thus, …

Three-Layer Model With Absorption For Conservative Estimation Of The Maximum Acoustic Transmission Coefficient Through The Human Skull For Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation, David Attali, Thomas Tiennot, Mark Schafer, Elsa Fouragnan, Jérôme Sallet, Charles F. Caskey, Robert Chen, Ghazaleh Darmani, Ellen J. Bubrick, Christopher Butler, Charlotte J. Stagg, Miriam Klein-Flügge, Lennart Verhagen, Seung Schik Yoo, Kim Butts Pauly, Jean Francois Aubry

School of Psychology

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) has been shown to be a safe and effective technique for non-invasive superficial and deep brain stimulation. Safe and efficient translation to humans requires estimating the acoustic attenuation of the human skull. Nevertheless, there are no international guidelines for estimating the impact of the skull bone. A tissue independent, arbitrary derating was developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take into account tissue absorption (0.3 dB/cm-MHz) for diagnostic ultrasound. However, for the case of transcranial ultrasound imaging, the FDA model does not take into account the insertion loss induced by the skull bone, nor …

The Timeless Explosion Of Fantasy's Dream: How State Courts Have Ignored The Supreme Court's Decision In Panetti V. Quarterman, Michael L. Perlin, Talia Roitberg Harmon, Maren Geiger

Articles & Chapters

Multiple states have enacted statutes to govern procedures when a state seeks to execute a person who may be incompetent to understand why s/he is being so punished, an area of the law that has always been riddled with confusion. The Supreme Court, in Panetti v. Quarterman, sought to clarify matters, ruling that a mentally ill defendant had a constitutional right to make a showing that his mental illness “obstruct[ed] a rational understanding of the State’s reason for his execution.” However, the first empirical studies of howPanetti has been interpreted in federal courts painted a dismal picture. Only a handful …

Law Professors’ Conceptualization And Use Of Students’ Prior Knowledge And Experience In Developing Subject-Matter Understanding, Matthew Gewolb

Articles & Chapters

No abstract provided.

Same-Sex Family Recognition And Anti- Discrimination Law: A Free Speech Battleground, Arthur S. Leonard

Articles & Chapters

No abstract provided.

Transcript - Civil Liberties: The Next 100 Years, Susan Herman, Erwin Chemerinsky, Ellis Cose, Anthony Romero, Nadine Strossen

Articles & Chapters

No abstract provided.

Generative Ai And Chatgpt: Applications, Challenges, And Ai-Human Collaboration, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah, Ruilin Zheng, Jingyuan Cai, Keng Siau, Langtao Chen

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Reassessing Theories Of Capital Structure: Empirical Insights From Companies Listed In Vietnam, Ya Dai, Liang Guo, Chang Guo, Hongxian Zhang

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Over the past decade, the Vietnamese capital market has undergone a remarkable transformation, with a significant focus on its stock market that has displayed substantial expansion since 2012. This research delves into the impact of this market progression on the choices pertaining to capital structure made by companies listed in Vietnam. By analyzing a range of trade-off and pecking order models and amalgamating them into a unified regression framework, we gauge their capacity to elucidate these decisions. Our study outcomes unveil that the trade-off theory offers a more robust rationale for the capital structure determinations of Vietnamese companies, particularly during …

Evidence-Based Teaching In Contact Lenses Education: Teaching And Learning Strategies, Fabrizio Zeri, Frank Eperjesi, Craig Woods, Stefan Bandlitz, Bhootra A Kumar, Mahesh R. Joshi, Manbir Nagra, Helmer Schweizer, Shehzad A. Naroo

School of Health Professions

Contact lens (CL) practice is an ever-changing field with clinical knowledge, techniques and equipment continuously evolving. These new developments are backed with clinical trials and research to ensure that practitioners feel confident that there is an evidence base to support these advances. Evidence-based practice is now a crucial part of CL practice, and its importance also filters down to CL education. For example, lectures are one of the most popular tools for an educator but, is standing at the front of a lecture theatre full of students a more effective way of teaching than providing the same material for students …

Racial Healing In The Church: The Usefulness Of The Interpersonal Process In Therapy Model, Winston Seegobin

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Racial disunity is a major challenge facing the Christian church. This article examines psychological factors that contribute to and maintain both racial disunity and racial unity through the lens of the Interpersonal Process in Therapy model (Sullivan, 1968; Teyber & Teyber, 2017). It looks at how early interpersonal relationships in childhood influence interpersonal relationships as adults and how the therapeutic relationship as a healing influence can be applied to racial healing as adults. Spiritual factors that contribute to and maintain racial disunity and racial unity are also discussed. Understanding that it is the relationship that heals, specific strategies such as …

Spiritual Well-Being Scale (Swbs): Measuring Spiritual Well-Being In International Contexts, Rodger K. Bufford, Raymond F. Paloutzian

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

The Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) is a 20-item measure of self-perceived spiritual health. Developed in the 1980s, it includes 2 subscales with 10 items each. Responses are made on a 6-point continuum from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree with no neutral point; 9 of the items are negatively worded to minimize response biases. The US samples show good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Content validity was established in construction. Expected correlations with religion and spirituality indices, social and psychological measures, and physical functioning and demonstration of expected group differences support criterion validity. Factor analysis commonly shows 2 factors corresponding to …