Digital Commons Network^™

An Improved Neutrino Transport Algorithm For The Chimera Supernova Code, Ruben Dario Tejedor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Core-Collapse Supernovae (CCSNe) are some of the most powerful events in the universe liberating an astonishing 3×1053 ergs of the gravitational binding energy released by the collapse of the stellar core to a nascent neutron star (PNS) that is formed in these events. The visible display is capable of outshining the entire galaxy where it inhabits. Most of this energy, ~ 99%, is carried away by neutrinos of all flavors, however. According to the favored theory of CCSNe, the production and transport of neutrinos from the dense core through the less dense mantle is believed to deposit energy in the …

Bone Collectors: Personhood And Appeal In The Sale And Trade Of Human Skeletal Remains On Facebook, Evelyn Breda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The desire to own human skeletal remains has been prevalent for many years; in our modern technological age avenues for this market have exploded across the internet. This research focuses on Facebook groups dedicated to oddity sales and collecting. Purchasing human remains is illegal in Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee as well as prohibited by Facebook terms of service, but these sales persist. Over the course of 2021, 319 listings for human skeletal remains were recorded across six Facebook groups. These listings accounted for most skeletal elements found within the human skeleton. Many elements are artistic in nature, something viewed as …

Climate Gentrification And Resilience: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Serena A. Hoermann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

As cities respond to accelerating climate impacts, scholars have identified climate gentrification as a phenomenon exerting displacement pressures on low-income communities, including ethnic enclaves. While climate gentrification pathways literature primarily addresses economic causes and effects, an opportunity exists to better understand policy contributions and social impacts surrounding resilience and displacement. For this dissertation project, I expanded the concept of climate gentrification pathways to examine connections between displacement, resilience strategies, and urban planning. Using an interpretive approach, I explored how an ethnic enclave experienced and responded to displacement pressures, especially regarding social impacts related to (climate) gentrification. In addition, this project …

Dissecting The Mechanistic Roles Of Regulators In Mediating Amyloid-Beta Amyloidogenesis, Fengyun Shen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder. The most recognized disease pathology is the Amyloid-β (Aβ) cascade hypothesis which states that the accumulation of Aβ plaques might be the cause of AD. In the AD brain, Aβ plaques stockpile a variety of molecular components including metals, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and peptides, indicating Aβ aggregation might be influenced by these modulators. In this dissertation, we investigated the effects of Zn2+ and carnosine, phospholipids, and β-hairpins on Aβ aggregation to dissect their mechanistic roles in the amyloidogenesis of Aβ. We first systematically studied the kinetic impact of Zn2+ on the …

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives And Practices In Multicultural Education In South Korea, Yoonhee Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The purpose of this dissertation research is to examine the perspectives of early childhood teachers with regard to multicultural education in South Korea. This study sought to identify teachers’ personal and professional beliefs about multicultural education as defined by their perceptions, descriptions, feelings, judgments, memories, and discussions with others. To better understand early childhood teachers’ perspectives of multicultural education in South Korea, the following research questions serve as a compass for the study: (a) What are South Korean early childhood teachers’ understandings and beliefs about multicultural education in their classrooms? (b) How do South Korean early childhood teachers implement multicultural …

Alveolar Macrophages In Lung Cancer: Opportunities Challenges, Cheng-Yen Chang, Dominique Armstrong, David B Corry, Farrah Kheradmand

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are critical components of the innate defense mechanism in the lung. Nestled tightly within the alveoli, AMs, derived from the yolk-sac or bone marrow, can phagocytose foreign particles, defend the host against pathogens, recycle surfactant, and promptly respond to inhaled noxious stimuli. The behavior of AMs is tightly dependent on the environmental cues whereby infection, chronic inflammation, and associated metabolic changes can repolarize their effector functions in the lungs. Several factors within the tumor microenvironment can re-educate AMs, resulting in tumor growth, and reducing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) efficacy in patients treated for non-small cell lung cancer …

Evaluation Of Β-Glucan And Pediococcus Acidilactici Synbiotic Supplementation In Aquacultured Florida Pompano (Trachinotus Carolinus), Ashley Noel Morgan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Evidence that supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics, or combinations of both (synbiotics) enhances the health, growth, and survival of aquacultured teleosts has sparked significant research into their application. This study evaluates the effects of β-glucan and Pediococcus acidilactici synbiotic supplementation in aquacultured Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus). The first study defined embryonic and larval organogenesis. The gastrointestinal tract is differentiated, but not yet fully functional within the first seven days post hatch evidenced by the absence of gastric glands, gastric mucous cells, lipid vacuoles in the anterior intestines, and the persistence of acidophilic supranuclear vesicles. Synbiotics may serve as a source of …

Evaluating The Effect Of Thermal Anomalies On Coral Reef Benthic Competitive Interactions, Christopher T. Spagnolia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Climate change has intensified thermal anomalies in coral reef ecosystems, contributing to coral bleaching and decline. As corals die, reef fragmentation increases, and species interactions in the benthos change. However, it is unclear which competitive interactions may prevail and structure future reef ecosystems. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effect of thermal anomalies on coral reef benthic competitive interactions. Photoquadrats in southeast Florida reef sites were assessed over 15-years to generate interaction metrics and determine effects on hard coral survivorship. A state-transition model was created to predict the resultant community across 100 years with thermal scenarios concordant …

Examining Evacuation Decisions Of People Experiencing Homelessness During Natural Disasters Using The Protective Action Decision Model (Padm), Andrea Ramos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In this dissertation, I examined the lived experiences of people experiencing homelessness (PEH) and their perceptions of protective actions when making evacuation decisions during disasters or extreme weather events. Compared to other members of society, individuals experiencing homelessness during disasters face unique challenges, including a lack of shelter, transportation, access to news, and the need to carry all their belongings. This vulnerability is further heightened when natural disasters occur, as they lack physical protection, leading to increased exposure to hazards and adverse weather effects. The literature on homeless evacuation decision-making is limited (Donley & Wright, 2012), and the direct experiences …

Exploring Employee Turnover During The Great Resignation, Dominick John Spano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In this dissertation, I examined employee turnover during the Great Resignation. In my methods, I used the short-form Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Scribd Questionnaire on Employee Turnover, and additional survey questions more applicable to our modern environment. A survey was conducted using Amazon Mechanical Turk that consisted of a sample of (N=1,036) professionals from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors who were either still employed with their organizations or had turned over in their roles within the last year. Using correlation analysis, pictograms, regression analyses, and other tests, I inspected employee turnover, job satisfaction, and their effects on the private, …

Exploring The Economic, Family, And Social Adaptations To Covid-19 In Fort Pierce, Florida: An Analysis Of Cultural Constructions And Adaptations In A Coastal Community, Stephanie Santiago

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This study investigates the profound repercussions and adaptive measures stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic in Fort Pierce, Florida. Through comprehensive ethnographic interviews with 31 residents, Fort Pierce is showcased as a representative microcosm, reflecting the broader spectrum of the state’s diversity. The analysis underscores how daily routines were drastically altered, and it sheds light on the innovative ways residents navigated these challenges. The effects of economic downturns, disruptions in consumption patterns, reduced social circles, and mental health challenges became evident, particularly among marginalized communities. The pandemic-induced environment led to job losses, supply chain disturbances, and jeopardized essential needs. As a …

Expanding The Narrative: Black Female Doctoral Students Creating Cultural Safe Spaces As Resistance, Iris Rodgers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This narrative research study focuses on the lived experiences of Black female doctoral students navigating predominantly White colleges and universities (PWIs) and their connections within cultural safe spaces. Through the lens of Black Feminist Theory and the application of a Black Feminist-Ecological Perspective, this study investigates how Black female doctoral students are defining cultural safe spaces and how these safe spaces support their academic and personal lives. Specifically, this study explored the narratives of nine Black female doctoral students and how they define and locate cultural safe spaces. This study expanded on the limited existing research on Black women in …

Clinical Approach To Evaluation Of Underlying Cardiac Device Infection In Patients Hospitalized With Bacteremia, Dierdre B Axell-House, Sarwat Khalil, M Rizwan Sohail

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

More than 400,000 cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), including permanent pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, are implanted every year in the United States (US). Infection is a serious complication of CIED therapy and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. While CIED pocket infection can be diagnosed based on clinical exam findings, positive blood culture may be the only manifestation of CIED lead infection. Thus, management of bacteremia in patients living with CIEDs requires special consideration. This review summarizes contemporary data in the context of the recently updated 2023 Duke-International Society for Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases Criteria for …

Immersive Journalism: An Overview, Palak Barmaiya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis provides an overview of immersive journalism (IJ), focusing on its theoretical and conceptual framework, objectives, ethical concerns, and evolving landscape. IJ is defined as the production of news in a form in which people can gain first-person experiences of the events or situation described in news stories through the use of immersive technologies, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality. While the initial objective of IJ was to enhance empathy and transport users to distant places, recent scholars note the limitations and challenges of this approach. Therefore, media outlets are shifting from empathy-based journalism to other objectives. …

Inhibition Of The Growth And Spread Of Human Prostate Cancer, Zoey Yi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Prostate cancer, the most frequent non-skin cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males within the United States. Men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer have a 5-year survival rate of approximately 30%. Goals of this study were to produce a combination of compounds that are effective against the disease with minimal side effects on normal cells, especially those of the immune system. This study showed KBU2046 in combination with calcitriol, limit proliferation, inhibit migration, and are cytotoxic in a testosterone dependent human prostate cancer cell line. Organic compounds, ellagic acid and curcumin were tested alone and in …

Locating The Village Tequesta Using Chi-Square Analysis, Justin Thai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The Miami Circle (8DA12) is a site in downtown Miami, Florida with a unique prehistoric feature. The feature is made up of small post holes which reflect a larger patterned arrangement that resembles a circle, most probably the remnants of a prehistoric structure. The Miami Circle was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and declared a National Historic Landmark on January 16, 2009. The site has been linked to the Tequesta Indians. This project utilized chi-square ��2 test of independence statistical analytical methods using data obtained from the Miami Circle site and neighboring sites to determine …

Monitoring And Analyzing The Seasonal Wetland Inundation Dynamics In The Everglades From 2002 To 2021 Using Google Earth Engine, Ikramul Hasan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Previously published in Geographies 2023, 3(1), 161-177 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies3010010) Inundation dynamics coupled with seasonal information is critical to study the wetland environment. Analyses based on remotely sensed data are the most effective means to monitor and investigate wetland inundation dynamics. For the first time, this study deployed an automated thresholding method to quantify and compare the annual inundation characteristics in dry and wet seasons in the Everglades, using Landsat imagery in Google Earth Engine (GEE). This research presents the long-term time series maps from 2002 to 2021, with a comprehensive spatiotemporal depiction of inundation. In this paper, we bridged the …

Ocr2seq: A Novel Multi-Modal Data Augmentation Pipeline For Weak Supervision, Michael A. Lowe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

With the recent large-scale adoption of Large Language Models in multidisciplinary research and commercial space, the need for large amounts of labeled data has become more crucial than ever to evaluate potential use cases for opportunities in applied intelligence. Most domain specific fields require a substantial shift that involves extremely large amounts of heterogeneous data to have meaningful impact on the pre-computed weights of most large language models. We explore extending the capabilities a state-of-the-art unsupervised pre-training method; Transformers and Sequential Denoising Auto-Encoder (TSDAE). In this study we show various opportunities for using OCR2Seq a multi-modal generative augmentation strategy to …

Our “Hideous Progeny”: Monstrous Womanhood At The Advent Of The Film Sequel In American Cinema, Literature, And Popular Culture, Stephanie M. Flint

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In 1935, as the first cinematic horror sequel in Hollywood, James Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein helped ignite a new spark in cinema. Woman-gendered monsters, for the first time in cinema, were alive, in the flesh, and projected to massive proportions onto thousands of screens. While this was taking place on screen, women authors of the era of American literary modernism were producing works in which characters discussed, considered, and narrated their experience with monstrosity and their experience with seeing themselves as monstrous in their own respective contexts. Zelda Fitzgerald, the infamously “mad” wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald, published works in …

Plastic Debris In The Marine Environment: Fate, Fragmentation, And Niche Opportunities Of The Plastisphere, Ryan P. Bos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The goal of this dissertation was to examine the fate and fragmentation of plastic debris in the marine environment and characterize the microbial communities colonizing naturally occurring substrates and geologically recent plastic inputs in the ocean using analytical chemistry and genomic techniques. Altogether, the data presented herein reveal the presence of heretofore undescribed plastic accumulation zones in the ocean and depict a stark contrast in microbial traits between early and mature plastic biofilm stages. These data further suggest that emergent plastic biofilm properties can be forecasted across environmental gradients, with the largescale genomic characteristics of early colonizers varying little across …

Porifera Biodiversity In The Indian River Lagoon: Evaluating The Latitudinal Ecotone And Similarities With Saint Lucie Reef, Greer Babbe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Sponges (Phylum Porifera) are hardy organisms persisting and predicted to become more dominant world-wide under climate change scenarios. However, we lack baseline knowledge on sponge biodiversity in transitional areas (subtropical to warm-temperate) that are more susceptible to climate change such as The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) (estuary) and Saint Lucie Reef (northern most coral reef) ecosystems in south Florida. The aims of this master’s thesis are to 1) evaluate if sponge assemblages reflect the previously defined ecotone between subtropical and warm-temperate biomes in the IRL (Chapter one), 2) determine how porifera communities are associated to their respective environment (temperature, water …

Power Of The People: How Four Gubernatorial Candidates Capitalized On The Collective Identity Found In Social Movements, Gail L. Choate

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Gubernatorial mansions are historically home to white men. Candidates with contrary identities, such as women and racial minorities have met limited success in their quest for office. Yet the number of women seeking executive level office has increased and these women represent a broader intersectional identity. The low percentage of women governors has been examined in detail, but that analysis largely holds gender as an isolated variable and does not consider the candidates' broader identity. This project posits gender is only one factor of candidate identity called into question when it is nonnormative and varies from historical office holders. I …

Psychedelic Futures: A Psychedelic Feminist Autoethnography Of Western Psychedelic Therapy, Cassidy Barnett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

From a critical feminist perspective, this thesis analyzes the claims currently being made in mainstream Western research and media about the therapeutic potentials of psychedelics. By utilizing autoethnography, an autobiographical methodology that synthesizes personal experience with scholarship, I analyze my own experience with legal psychedelic therapy in the West to reveal the systemic sociocultural barriers that complicate the rhetoric touting psychedelic therapy’s potentials for healing. After introducing the “psychedelic renaissance” and the psychedelic feminist rationale behind this thesis, I share a narrative of my ketamine IV therapy experience as recalled from memory, detailing my need for the therapy and aspects …

Psychological Contract Violation Among Administrative Middle Managers: A Phenomenological Study In Higher Education, Laura A. Mooney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This qualitative study furthers understanding of psychological contract violation experiences as examined through the lens of administrative middle managers in higher education settings. Psychological contract is defined as unstated expectations in the employment relationship which, when violated, results in negative outcomes for employers and employees. In higher education, middle managers are professional staff with titles such as director, associate director, or assistant director across academic and student affairs units. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the meaning of violation experiences for administrative middle managers in higher education settings. This study advanced understanding of post-violation outcomes on participants’ …

Self-Touch In Henry James's Major Phase, James Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The three novels of Henry James’s “major phase” have alienated many readers in James’s own time and today. I draw on the philosophical school of phenomenology, in particular the work of Maurice Merleau-Ponty and a recent extension by the philosopher Richard Kearney, to suggest that a lack of self-touch by characters in these novels has contributed in a significant but previously unnoticed way to many readers’ sense that these novels feel frustratingly intangible. I make a comparison to the instances of self-touch in other Edwardian novels to underline the difference. I suggest that James is putting forward a model of …

Peptidylarginine Deiminase 2 Citrullinates Mzb1 And Promotes The Secretion Of Igm And Iga, Benjamin Geary, Bo Sun, Ronak R Tilvawala, Leonard Barasa, Konstantin Tsoyi, Ivan O Rosas, Paul R Thompson, I-Cheng Ho

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: MZB1 is an endoplasmic reticulum residential protein preferentially expressed in plasma cells, marginal zone and B1 B cells. Recent studies on murine B cells show that it interacts with the tail piece of IgM and IgA heavy chain and promotes the secretion of these two classes of immunoglobulin. However, its role in primary human B cells has yet to be determined and how its function is regulated is still unknown. The conversion of peptidylarginine to peptidylcitrulline, also known as citrullination, by peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) can critically influence the function of proteins in immune cells, such as neutrophils and T …

Distinct Temporal Trajectories And Risk Factors For Post-Acute Sequelae Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Chen Chen, Sairam Parthasarathy, Jacqueline M Leung, Michelle J Wu, Katherine A Drake, Vanessa K Ridaura, Howard C Zisser, William A Conrad, Victor F Tapson, James N Moy, Christopher R Defilippi, Ivan O Rosas, Bellur S Prabhakar, Mujeeb Basit, Mirella Salvatore, Jerry A Krishnan, Charles C Kim

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The understanding of Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) can be improved by longitudinal assessment of symptoms encompassing the acute illness period. To gain insight into the various disease trajectories of PASC, we assessed symptom evolution and clinical factors associated with the development of PASC over 3 months, starting with the acute illness period.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study to identify parameters associated with PASC. We performed cluster and case control analyses of clinical data, including symptomatology collected over 3 months following infection.

RESULTS: We identified three phenotypic clusters associated with PASC that could be characterized as …

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Circulating Levels Of Fgf23 And Pulmonary Diffusion, Anthony J Esposito, Jewel Imani, Shikshya Shrestha, Shefali Bagwe, Anthony M Lamattina, Marina Vivero, Hilary J Goldberg, Ivan O Rosas, Elizabeth P Henske, Souheil Y El-Chemaly

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, destructive disease of the lungs with a limited number of determinants of disease activity, which are a critical need for clinical trials. FGF23 has been implicated in several chronic pulmonary diseases. We aimed to determine the association between serum FGF23 levels and pulmonary function in a cohort of patients with LAM.

METHODS: This was a descriptive single-center study in which subjects with LAM and controls with unreported lung disease were recruited. Serum FGF23 levels were measured in all subjects. Clinical data, including pulmonary function testing, were retrospectively obtained from electronic medical records of LAM …

The Animated Screendance: Cinema, Body, Choreography, And Disney’S Fantasia, Matthew Ari Elfenbein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The animated screendance presents a meaningful experience through the medium of cinema as seen emerging from Mickey Mouse’s early cartoons, Silly Symphony’s experiments, and Fantasia (1940). The core focus of this research investigates the emotional and affective identifications of the audience engendered through the qualities of animation and the screendance. Drawing from the theories of the animated screendance, a term that shows how cinema can construct affective characters across the artistry of their inherent dance, I argue that these films elicit new understandings of the choreographed body. This is derived through the lens of artistic cartoon animation along with the …

The Loose-Line Aesthetic: Visual Styles And Contemporary Fusion, Alex Henry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Loose-line is a visual style where dramatic lines are created with quick, swift strokes, often randomly overlapping each other. Loose-lines can be used to depict a subject and emphasize its actions. They capture the viewer's attention and provide them with an understanding of the narrative depicted through its implication or suggestion of action. In this thesis I will examine, the loose-line technique and its components. I will show how loose-line has been used as a foundational technique for pre-visualizing painting, sculpture, and architecture throughout art history, and especially with regard to its role in the development of cinema and animation. …