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Development Of Functional Plasmonic Nanoceria For The Ultrasensitive Detection Of Ebola Glycoprotein, Carissa A. Sutton

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Infectious diseases have been increasing in both severity and prevalence, leading to increasing economic burdens and health concerns. Ebola hemorrhagic fever is an infectious disease that is both highly communicable and highly fatal. Current detection methods for the virus have high specificity and sensitivity but have long and/or complicated procedures that do not allow for early virus detection in highly affected areas. Compared to the lengthy procedure of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time RT-PCR is more time-efficient; however, specificity and sensitivity are reduced. Since early detection of the virus is the only way to increase survival rates, sensitive detection …

Mining Contamination Of Legacy Deposits On Floodplains Along Turkey Creek, Western Border Of The Ozark Highlands, Hannah Riley Eades

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Historical mining activities in the Tri State mining district in Southwest Missouri from 1850 to 1950 resulted in widespread metal contamination of stream sediments. Beginning in the 1840s, land disturbances associated with Euro-American settlement and agricultural expansion increased runoff and soil erosion rates resulting in the deposition of contaminated alluvium or legacy sediment on floodplains. This study assesses zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) contaminated legacy deposits in cut-bank exposures along floodplains in Turkey Creek Watershed (119 km²) which drained mining areas in Missouri. Ore production histories were used date metal contamination profiles and calculate floodplain deposition rates in legacy deposits. …

Suitability Of Reintroduction As A Tool For The Conservation Of The Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys Mawii), Wesley O. Smith

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) has declined throughout its historical range to the point that it is critically endangered; the primary driver is overharvesting by humans for consumption. To help conserve this critically endangered turtle, a head-start program was established in Belize and introductions of head-started individuals have been considered to bolster populations. I released and studied hatchling and head-started juvenile Central American River Turtles during the summers of 2021 and 2022, respectively. The goal was to determine the suitability of hatchlings and juveniles for use in conservation reintroductions, along with elucidating aspects of the ecology …

Unraveling The Interplay: Religiosity, Sexual Health Knowledge, And Sexual Behaviors, Erinmarie Travis

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Limited research exists on the longitudinal effects of religiosity and sexual health education on adolescents' sexual risk behaviors and their transition into adulthood. This study used The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health data to investigate these effects in a nationally representative sample. Linear regression analyses explored associations between religiosity, sexual health knowledge (SHK), and sexual risk behaviors (SRBs) during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Findings revealed significant associations between adolescent religiosity and SRBs, predicting SRBs during adolescence. However, religiosity's influence diminished in emerging adulthood, and SHK did not mediate the relationship between adolescent religiosity and SRBs. These results …

Role Of Ph And Plant Age On The Selection Of Rhizobial Endophytes In Soybean Root Nodules, Cole Alexander Roman

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Soybeans form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules to acquire most of their nitrogen requirement; nitrogen is often one of the limiting nutrients in the soil. Members of the Bradyrhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Mesorhizobium, and Rhizobium genera can nodulate soybeans. Bradyrhizobium is preferentially selected over other types of rhizobia in varying environmental conditions and is often found in acidic soils. Sinorhizobium is often identified in the root nodules of soybeans in neutral and alkaline soil. So far, the potential role of soil pH on the selection of rhizobial endophytes with soybean root nodules is unknown. Likewise, …

University Of Central Florida Graduate Catalog, 2024 - 2025, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Resilience On Bipoc Graduate Students' Mental And Physical Health, Shelby N. Wilson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Graduate school can be a challenging and demanding experience, with many students facing considerable stress and adversity throughout their academic journey. For BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) graduate students, the challenges may be amplified due to systemic and social factors, which can increase stress levels, potentially affecting their mental and physical health. This study explored the role of resilience as a protective factor for BIPOC graduate students, examining the correlation between resilience, mental health, and physical health, and the importance of religion. The sample consisted of 132 BIPOC participants and 242 White participants. Regarding their academic status, 63.6% …

Antisocial Personality Disorder And Trauma In Females, Marissa Lange

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a diagnosis reserved for individuals who feature deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggressiveness, recklessness, and irresponsibility. Evidence suggests that experiencing trauma is an etiological factor in developing antisocial traits in males. The prevalence of ASPD in the U.S. is three to one, male to female. However, research indicates females are substantially underdiagnosed due to exclusionary diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.-Text Revised; DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) is a personality measure that features a conceptualization of ASPD that differs from the DSM-5-TR and includes more personality-specific …

Examining A Virtual Neuropsychological Battery For Older Adults, Robert W. Kessler

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The restructuring of clinical service provision during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted neuropsychologists to reconsider telehealth options for patient care. Subsequent advances in teleneuropsychology (Tele-NP) research and practice have demonstrated that virtual assessment is not only practical, but also increases accessibility to neuropsychological services for the elderly, medically at-risk, and rural patients. In order to ensure services are in-line with professional standards of evidence-based practice, it is incumbent on research to demonstrate the validity of virtual assessment, as well as patient acceptability of Tele-NP findings. The objectives of this research project were three-fold. First, I aimed to determine the reliability of …

Vicarious Trauma And Doctoral Graduate Trainees: The Physiological Impact Of High-Acuity Patient Care, Alicia M. Mann

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There is comprehensive literature regarding vicarious traumatization in mental health providers. Previous research identifies underlying mental health conditions and limited clinical exposure as increased risk factors for vicarious traumatization. Graduate student mental health has recently been described as a significant public health problem. Although some research exists on the impact of high-acuity clinical work on psychology graduate students, there has been limited attention on the physical impact of vicarious traumatization. The current study assessed the relationship between graduate trainees’ subjective anxiety levels and heart rate variability in response to high-acuity client work. Results indicated that doctoral trainees with high levels …

Evaluating Professional Clinical Competency Development In Doctor Of Psychology Students Using Multiple Methods Of Evaluation: Peer, Supervisor, And Self-Assessment, Jodi Lynn Brents

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The United States is currently facing a shortage of mental-health providers that affects 160 million Americans. The need to empower the health system with appropriately knowledgeable, skilled, and diversely aware people mental-health practitioners is a critical necessity for current and future healthcare needs. This study aims to validate the importance of multiple methods of evaluation (self, peer, supervisor) in competency-based training of clinical psychologists. Multiple methods of evaluation offer unique contributions to competency-based education, including providing a scaffolding for building confidence and progressive alignment of evaluation of self with supervisor evaluation. Over time, students were able to better align with …

The Effect Of Completing The Ace Questionnaire On Electrodermal Activity, Nicholas P. Cherry

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The adverse childhood experience (ACE) questionnaire assesses the number of traumatic experiences during childhood and has been shown to predict negative health outcomes associated with more adverse events during childhood (Felitti et al., 1998; Mersky et al., 2013). While studies have examined the immediate impact of recent traumas on the individual’s physiology, few have examined the effect of administering questionnaires about past adverse events. This study utilized electrodermal activity to measure sympathetic nervous system activity while participants completed the ACE questionnaire compared to participants who completed a benign survey. Half of the ACE questionnaire participants were given a verbal prompt …

Waking The Nightmare: Understanding The Relationship Between Trauma And Sleep In Children, Jacklyn Ewald

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This clinical dissertation expands upon previous research investigating the impact of trauma on children’s sleep quality. Prior research utilized subjective reports of trauma’s impact on sleep in children or objective measures which studied a specific traumatic event. This study used objective measures through cardiopulmonary coupling to study sleep in children with trauma exposure. Participants completed a questionnaire which included the Pediatric Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Related Life Events Screener (PEARLS) or Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) questionnaire, Pediatric quality of life scale, the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and demographic information. Trauma was defined by endorsement of any items on the …

Examining The Associations Between Civic Engagement, Parenting Style, And Identity Development, Manesha Shalom Ram

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study explored important factors that may influence an individual’s level of civic engagement in early adulthood. Associations between parenting style, personal identity dimensions, and ethnic identity were explored, as each can have a significant influence on one’s political identity (Wray-Lake et al., 2020; Yates & Youniss, 1998). Participants were 231 undergraduate students from a small liberal arts university with a mean age of 20.0 years. Measures used include the Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran–Short Form (s-EMBU) (Arrindell et al., 1999), the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) (Luyckx et al., 2008), the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure—Revised (MEIM-R) (Phinney & …

The Effectiveness Of Group Treatments For Veterans: A Meta-Analysis, Janine S. Hazel

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Transitioning into civilian life after serving in the military can be a huge adjustment for many military members. The military lifestyle and culture are unique structures that become a large part of military members’ identity and belief systems. For decades, veterans have struggled with several mental health issues and other poor outcomes at higher rates than non-military individuals (i.e., depression, PTSD, suicidal ideation, homelessness, financial distress). Often, these poor outcomes can leave veterans feeling alone and misunderstood by their non-military community—impacting their ability to reintegrate into civilian life successfully. Social isolation and a lack of felt interconnectedness negatively affect veterans’ …

A Mixed-Methods Study Of Religious, Spiritual, And Psychological Change In Ireland, James D. Conway

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Throughout the 20th century, over 90% of all individuals living in Ireland identified as Roman Catholic, but recent shifts have altered the country's religious landscape. According to the most recent national census, 70% of individuals still identify as Catholic (Central Statistics Office, 2023). However, they also reported a 187% increase in those claiming “no religion” over the last eleven years—making it now the second largest group (Central Statistics Office, 2023). This mixed-methods study investigated the factors behind these changes, surveying one hundred nine Irish individuals from sixteen counties using six validated measures, and conducting thirteen qualitative interviews. Quantitative and qualitative …

An Exploration Of Social Connection And Spiritual Well-Being In Young Adults, Rebecca Crowder

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Loneliness is multi-faceted, but few studies have tried to define or explore the experience of spiritual loneliness, and fewer still have explored loneliness’s relation to spiritual well-being (Chornobai, 2020). To date, no known studies have explored in what way a dyadic experience focused on spiritual exercises might impact spiritual loneliness and spiritual well-being in young adults. This study examined in what way spending time with a person in a spiritual context (i.e., practicing Lectio Divina as a dyad), impacts a person’s experience of spiritual loneliness, spiritual well-being, and friendship. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: Lectio …

Gait Entrainment & Energetics Of Young Adults To Discrete Mediolateral Perturbations, Lindsey D. Lee

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Entrainment is a natural phenomenon that occurs with synchronization to a rhythmic stimulus which can be auditory, visual, or mechanical. An everyday example is walking next to someone and synchronizing your steps. Previous studies have explored entrainment from auditory cues, such as a metronome, and mechanical cues, such as an exoskeleton applying a force at the ankle. These studies have found entrainment is more likely to occur if the stimulation frequency is close to the person’s natural locomotion frequency. Previously we found when discrete mediolateral perturbations were applied on a treadmill, participants increased their speed and retained this increased speed …

Quantifying Age And Growth Rates Of Gray Snapper (Lutjanus Griseus) In Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, Wei Chen

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) is a common reef fish inhabiting the western Atlantic Ocean. In estuaries of the Southeastern United States, such as Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, oyster reefs, seagrass, and mangrove shorelines are vital nurseries, also known as essential fish habitat (EFH), for juvenile fish. However, EFH in Mosquito Lagoon has declined from historic levels due to human activity. To mitigate these losses, oyster reef and living shoreline restoration projects have occurred to putatively increase the availability of EFH. For gray snapper in Mosquito Lagoon, past studies have assessed local habitat preferences and trophic structure, but the biotic …

The Influence Of Natural And Anthropogenic Drivers On Estuarine Food Webs At Various Spatio-Temporal Scales And Levels Of Complexity, Michelle Shaffer

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Global coastal ecosystems support human life by providing critical services like food, water purification, and coastal protection, yet these ecosystems are among the most threatened due to natural and human-driven disturbances. The long-term maintenance and restoration of these ecosystems is a complex challenge for resource managers due to the wide range of factors affecting these ecosystems ecological condition over long timespans. Most studies in marine ecology evaluate ecosystem change over relatively short temporal scales (ago), often resulting in shifting baseline syndrome. To effectively manage and restore these ecosystems, resource managers must consider long-term ecosystem baselines.

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) …

On Immunogenomic Evolution And Disease In Marine Turtles, Katherine R. Martin

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Characterizing immune gene diversity and function is paramount to understanding population adaptive potential and species survival in the face of selective pressure from infectious disease. In this dissertation, I examined immune gene evolution and function using sea turtles to better understand the selective forces shaping reptile immunogenomic diversity. I focused on four species from the northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico: loggerheads (Caretta caretta), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea), and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii). In Chapter 2, I characterized MHC class I (MHCI) evolution and diversity in Ca. caretta …

Supply Chain Security: Assessing Confidence In Food Defense Compliance As A Function Of Management Systems 4.0 Deployment In Truck Transportation, Celso Alvarado

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The secure transportation of food via trucks within the supply chain is a pivotal aspect of ensuring food safety and defense, necessitating the seamless integration of advanced security control processes and systems. This study primarily investigates how the integrated use of Industry 4.0 (4IR) technologies, such as AI, IoT, and Blockchain, alongside ISO standards like ISO 28001 and ISO 22000, in trucking management systems for food transport influences the confidence of supply chain professionals in ensuring that food products remain safe and untampered with during truck transportation.

To ensure the robustness of our survey, a two-round Delphi study involving 10 …

Nonlinear Dynamical Characteristics Of Electroencephalogram Signatures In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis, Christopher I. Hernandez

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The application of nonlinear analysis in studying electroencephalography (EEG) signals has been increasingly applied to patients with neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Various nonlinear analysis methods have been employed to investigate MS, offering unique insights into understanding, diagnosing, and treating the condition. This study utilized two nonlinear analyses, sample entropy (SampEn) and Higuchi’s fractal dimension (HFD), to explore the effects of Interferon-β (IFN-β) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on patients with MS. Data were collected from 175 participants at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, across three groups: IFN-β (n = 39), DMF (n = 53), and healthy controls (n …

Hydrogen Cryo-Adsorption In Silica Aerogel: Analytical Model Of Adsorption In Porous Media And Experimental Validation, Adil Riahi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Hydrogen has incontestably gained attention as one of the best alternative energy sources to fossil fuels due to its volatility, abundance and eco-friendly attributes. The classical methods for hydrogen storage in its gaseous or liquid forms such as high-pressure tanks or cryogenic temperatures display several challenges. Hence, the need to come up with innovative methods to store and transport it is imminent. Comparative studies have demonstrated that material-based hydrogen storage has proven promising in enhancing energy efficiency. However, material selectivity is the missing part of the puzzle to achieve optimal hydrogen storage performance. This dissertation introduces a novel material for …

Dordt University 2024-25 Catalog, Dordt University. Registrar's Office

Academic Catalogs

Academic Catalog for 2024-25

Iere Annual Report 2024, Erin Largo-Wight, Nicole Lowe, Kelly Rhoden, Abbey Townsend, Ruby Cox

Annual Reports

2024 Annual Report of the Institute for Environmental Research and Education

Training Practitioners For Real-Time Product Development Using Generative Artificial Intelligence, Antoine J. Jetter, Ameeta Agrawal, Dahm Mongkol Hongchai, Charles Weber, Yufei Tao

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

A workshop to train practitioners in real-time new product development (NPD) using generative artificial intelligence (AI) was conducted. Three teams of graduate students in Engineering and Technology Management (many with work experience as managers and engineers) were given minimalist instructions to develop a product concept and a preliminary marketing plan for a product of their choosing within six hours using ChatGPT, search engines, and other Internet-based tools. The product was to be novel, and the plan was to include customer identification, market analysis, generating personas, and a 15-minute presentation at the end of the workshop. The goal was to 'inspire …

Characterizing The Effects Of Melatonin On Reproduction In Green Anoles (Anolis Carolinensis)., Nicholas T. Shankey

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that is involved in the regulation of seasonal behaviors in a variety of species. Specifically, high levels of melatonin are associated with short photoperiods, which often coincide with the non-breeding season in most animals, meaning that melatonin may have an inhibitory role in regulating seasonal reproduction. To exert effects on different target tissues, melatonin must bind to its receptors (MT1 and MT2). Like other seasonally breeding animals, green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis), have large, active gonads, increased levels of testosterone and estradiol, and increased reproductive behaviors during the breeding season compared to the non-breeding …

Differential Photosynthetic Yield And Accumulated Degree Day Estimation For Parrotfeather (Myriophyllum Aquaticum) To Determine Invasive Potential In The Midwest, United States, Alyssa Anderson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Thank you to the Aquatic Plant Management Society (APMS) and affiliated chapters for funding this project. I would like to thank Mississippi State University for sending my source parrotfeather for propagation throughout the course of this project. Thank you to Jenna Eklund, Allison Squires, Thomas Zellmer, Justin Kjorness, and others in the Weed Science lab for their assistance. Finally, I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to my committee members: Ryan Wersal, PhD, Christopher Ruhland, PhD, and Gray Turnage, PhD for their everlasting support and guidance throughout this project.

Circular Material Usage Strategies And Principles In Buildings: A Review, Paulo Santos, Génesis Camila Cervantes, Alicia Zaragoza-Benzal, Aimee Byrne, Ferhat Karaca, Daniel Ferrández, Adriana Salles, Luís Bragança

Articles

Building construction accounts for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions, raw material extraction, and waste production. Applying circular economy (CE) principles in the building construction industry would considerably reduce these values. However, uptake by the industry is relatively slow, which is largely attributed to sectoral barriers, including limitations in knowledge and experience. This review paper aims to assess and contribute to diminishing these obstacles by offering a comprehensive review of circular material usage principles and strategies within the construction sector. Opportunities and facilitators of change are also presented, including innovations and emerging technologies in recycling, digitization, robotic systems, …