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Outcomes Of Patients With Heart Failure In Türkiye, Anil Şahi̇n, Mehmet Bi̇rhan Yilmaz, Ahmet Çeli̇k, Tuğçe Çöllüoğlu, Di̇lek Ural, Lale Di̇nç Asarcikli, Sanem Nalbantgi̇l, Emre Demi̇r, Yüksel Çavuşoğlu, Selda Murat, Emi̇ne Arzu Kanik, Nai̇m Ata, Mustafa Mahi̇r Ülgü, Şuayi̇p Bi̇ri̇nci̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/Aim: Despite Türkiye's younger population, there is an emerging trend of earlier diagnoses of chronic diseases, including heart failure (HF). This study aims to shed light on survival rates, potential influences of guideline-directed therapies, and gender-based differences necessitating personalized management in HF.Materials and Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort analysis on 2,722,151 patients with HF using de-identified data from the Turkish Ministry of Health’s National Electronic Database. Out of the total, there were 2,701,099 adult patients with HF. Adult patients were divided into two groups based on their outcome: those who were deceased and those who survived, and then …

Geochemical Assessment Of Mineral Sequestration Of Carbon Dioxide In The Midcontinent Rift, Alsedik Abousif, David J. Wronkiewicz, Abdelmoniem Masoud

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Study Examines The Potential Of Midcontinent Rift Rocks To Facilitate Long-Term CO2 Sequestration By Providing The Necessary Ca And Mg For Carbonate Mineralization. Surface Samples Were Collected From The Oronto And Bayfield-Jacobsville Groups Around Lake Superior And Used For Petrography And X-Ray Diffraction To Determine Their Mineral Composition. Also, X-Ray Fluorescence Was Also Used To Assess Their Bulk Chemical Composition. The Samples Were Then Exposed To CO2 And Deionized Water In Teflon-Lined Vessels At 90°C, And The Resulting Leachate Fluids Were Analyzed For The Cation Released During The Testing. SEM Microscopy Was Used To Examine The Samples For Potential …

Prediction Of Surfactant Performance From Surfactant Huff-Puff In Carbonate Reservoirs Using A Data-Driven Approach And Desktop Application Development, Y. Yao, Mingzhen Wei, Y. Cui, M. Ali, J. Leng, Y. Qiu

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Surfactants have been widely used to alter the wettability of carbonate rocks from oil-wetness to water-wetness and enhanced oil recovery. One of primary methods implemented in filed applications for enhanced oil recovery is surfactant huff-puff. Currently, a large number of surfactant treatments are conducted in laboratories prior to field applications to optimize the design of surfactant huff-puff, test the performance of surfactants, and minimize failure risk. This process is time-consuming since a treatment could last from several days to more than 300 days. Moreover, a fraction of treatments could not improve oil recovery as reported in the literature. In this …

Pattern Recognition For Wettability Alteration With Surfactants In Carbonate Reservoirs By Using Machine Learning, Y. Yao, Mingzhen Wei, M. Ali, Y. Qiu, Y. Cui, J. Leng

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Surfactants Are Widely Applied Agents to Interact with the Adsorbates on Carbonate Rock Surface, Which Could Alter Wettability from Oil-Wetness to Water-Wetness and Thus Enhance Oil Recovery. Surfactant Huff-Puff is Often Conducted to Achieve Wettability Alteration and Has Been Applied under Various Conditions. Currently, Many Investigations Have Been Reported to Apply Conventional Data Analysis Methods to Analyze Different Sets of Surfactant Huff-Puff Projects. Yet the Application of Machine Learning Algorithms to Reveal the Inherent Patterns is Rarely Reported. in This Study, We Integrate Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Hierarchical Clustering Algorithm (HCA) to Uncover the Hidden Patterns Embedded in Global …

Improving Insar Accuracy For Slow Deformation And Change Detection With Lidar And Gps, Yusupujiang Aimaiti, Vasit Sagan, Cagri Gul, Jeremy Maurer, Jackson D. Cothren, Carla Klehm, Elizabeth A. Koenig, Nathan Scott

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) uses two or more SAR images over the same region for mapping ground surface displacements through time. InSAR displacements are relative to a reference point due to the 2π phase ambiguity that from unwrapping, and as a result ground control points (GCPs) are often used to calibrate the displacement model and obtain absolute measurements. Errors in InSAR time-series are typically measured with respect to the reference point, but absolute errors are not currently well constrained. To develop absolute error models for InSAR, we generate Sentinel-1 InSAR time-series for Belleville, Illinois and compare time-series with Global …

Kiloton Class Isru Systems For Lo2/Lch4 Propellant Production On The Mars Surface, Steven R. Oleson, Elizabeth Turnbull, Julie Kleinhenz, Wesley Johnson, Ryan Grotenrath, Nicholas Uguccini, Benjamin Abshire, Lee Mason, Thomas Packard, Anthony Colozza, John Z. Gyekenyesi, James Fittje, Stephen Hoffman, Leslie S. Gertsch

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

As part of the 2023 strategic analysis cycle to explore the trade space, the NASA Mars Architecture Team wanted to explore what it takes to produce in situ on Mars many hundreds of tons of propellants for a large all-chemical transportation system. The conceptual operations and design of the LO₂/LCH₄ in situ resource utilization (ISRU) water acquisition, propellant production and liquification system was assigned to the NASA Compass concurrent engineering team with support from various NASA ISRU, cryogenic fluid management, and surface power experts. The conceptual point design examined one case producing 300 t of LO_{2 …}

Prediction Of Stratified Ground Consolidation Via A Physics-Informed Neural Network Utilizing Short-Term Excess Pore Water Pressure Monitoring Data, Weibing Gong, Linlong Zuo, Lin Li, Hui Wang

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Predicting stratified ground consolidation effectively remains a challenge in geotechnical engineering, especially when it comes to quickly and dependably determining the coefficient of consolidation ((Formula presented.)) for each soil layer. This difficulty primarily stems from the time-intensive nature of the consolidation process and the challenges in efficiently simulating this process in laboratory settings and using numerical methods. Nevertheless, the consolidation of stratified ground is crucial because it governs ground settlement, affecting the safety and serviceability of structures situated on or in such ground. In this study, an innovative method utilizing a physics-informed neural network (PINN) is introduced to predict stratified …

Novel Re-Crosslinkable Preformed Particle Gels (Rppg) For Parent- And Infill-Well-Fracture Interactions Mitigation, Xiaojing Ge, Adel Alotibi, Ahmed Al-Hlaichi, Yanbo Liu, Tao Song, Junchen Liu, Baojun Bai, Thomas P. Schuman

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hydraulic fracturing treatments in unconventional infill (or "child") wells can be significantly affected by depletion from existing parent-well, resulting in asymmetrical fracture growth. These issues may lead to excessive load-water production, proppant deposition, casing deformation in the parent well, and unbalanced stimulation of infill wells. To mitigate these effects, various strategies have been proposed, including the use of far-field diverters in child wells and repressurization of parent wells. Additionally, an increasingly popular strategy involves injecting near-wellbore diverters to temporarily plug entry points into the parent wellbores during frac operations on infill wells. To achieve better application, a novel low-cost, self-degradable, …

Experimental Study: Evaluating The Effect Of Low High Viscosity Friction Reducer Concentrations To Transport Proppant Across Static And Dynamic Models, Ghith Biheri, Abdulmohsin Imqam, Shari Dunn-Norman, Khaled Elmaleh

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hydraulic fracturing treatments may significantly improve the oil production from wells in unconventional reservoirs by enhancing the fracture conductivities. Fracture conductivity can be improved by efficiently transporting and distributing the proppant through the lengths of the fractures. The main target of this study is to evaluate the viscosity and elasticity of high viscosity friction reducer (HVFR) for the purpose of transport and suspend the proppant at a temperature of 25°C. This study an alyzes the settling of proppant across HVFR using two different concentrations, 0.5 and 1 gallon per thousand of gallon (gpt). The tests were conducted using two static …

Comparative Analysis Of Critical Bond Strength Parameters Of Neat Class G Cement And Fly Ash Enhanced Cement To Steel, C. M. Potter, Andreas Eckert, James A. Jones, Z. Weicheng, M. Meng

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In subsurface engineering applications, such as wellbore integrity, the interface between cement and steel is integral to expected functionality. The interface between steel and cement is often a structural weak point in many systems, however, the critical parameters for debonding evaluation are poorly understood and derived from outdated experimental procedures. Through experimental debonding tests, this study aims to analyze the tensile bond strength and fracture parameters and their sensitivity to cement composition with a pozzolanic additive (fly ash). Neat Class G cement testing resulted in an average tensile bond strength of 0.223 MPa, an average contact stiffness of 2.94x108 N/m3, …

The New Antisemitism, Edgar G. Soto

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Following the Second World War, antisemitism appeared to be on a decline. Presently, however, there is an uptick in antisemitic hate crimes, worldwide. Modern-day Islamic antisemitism in particular is in large part recycled European Christian antisemitism adapted for Islamic audiences and intensified by the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. This iteration of anti-Jewish bigotry is not the same as the “old,” but neither is it different. As will be explained, antisemitism has, throughout history, amounted to an anomaly in Islamic culture and in what may be called “normative” Islam.

Indeed, Muslims and Jews lived together amicably for centuries. In fact, within dar-al-Islam, …

The Association Between Patient Race/Ethnicity/Culture, Physician-Patient Communication, And Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review, Maazen Khan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Research shows that health disparities exist among patients of varying races, ethnicities, and cultures in the United States. Numerous studies have suggested that these disparities may be partly associated with physician-patient communication. The larger project that this thesis is a part of is a mixed-methods analysis of physician-patient communication across patient race, ethnicity, and culture. This thesis specifically excluded qualitative studies and focused on how such communication can affect health outcomes. Sixty-nine studies were identified and appraised for quality. Of these, only four associated physician-patient communication with the health outcomes of patients. These studies had inconsistent results, highlighting the gap …

Concepts And Measures Of Human Intelligence And Anthropology: A Systematic Review Of Academic Literature From 1930s To 2010s, Leilani Maldonado

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis explores the evolution of intelligence research and its contextualization within historical biases. Using a meta-analysis approach, the study examines word frequencies in academic literature spanning from the 1930s to the 2010s to identify shifting trends in intelligence discourse. Eleven search terms related to intelligence were analyzed to interpret changes in academic focus over time. The findings reveal significant shifts influenced by historical events, societal movements, and advancements in technology and methodology. From the prominence of IQ measures during World War II to the rise of cognitive science in the 1960s and the emergence of emotional intelligence in the …

Rewriting Reality: The Sociological Context Of Gaslighting, Kristen L. Engasser Jr.

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In 2007, Robin Stern published The gaslight effect: How to spot and survive the hidden manipulation others use to control your life, highlighting gaslighting as a form of psychological abuse that makes victims question the validity of their perceptions. Since then, gaslighting has primarily been tackled from a psychological perspective. Some sociologists, however, theorize that gaslighting is not simply a psychological issue but a sociological one as well. They argue that gaslighting may take place unintentionally when a perpetrator acts on their biases towards members of other social groups, a concept known as epistemic gaslighting. As a form of …

Improving The Robustness Of Neural Networks To Adversarial Patch Attacks Using Masking And Attribution Analysis, Atandra Mahalder

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Computer vision algorithms, including image classifiers and object detectors, play a pivotal role in various cyber-physical systems, spanning from facial recognition to self-driving vehicles and security surveillance. However, the emergence of real-world adversarial patches, which can be as simple as stickers, poses a significant threat to the reliability of AI models utilized within these systems. To address this challenge, several defense mechanisms such as PatchGuard, Minority Report, and (De)Randomized Smoothing have been proposed to enhance the resilience of AI models against such attacks. In this thesis, we introduce a novel framework that integrates masking with attribution analysis to robustify AI …

Guns Can't Kill Ghosts, Krista B. Ruffo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis explores the grieving process of a child, 6-year-old Maple, in a fictional way. As Maple attempts to carry on with daily life, such as attending first grade, after the death of her father, she experiences supernatural visions that cause her to consider what life and, consequently, death is. She also contends with her mother’s unwillingness to tell Maple why her father is dead, since her mother believes that keeping Maple shielded from the full truth is the best course of action. Maple struggles with sleeping issues, reoccurring dreams of her father, depression, lack of interest in formerly exciting …

Estimating Modeling Parameters For Covid-19 Spread On Campus, Aviel S. Crigger

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Understanding the true burden of community transmission of communicable diseases like COVID-19 is crucial for effective public health response. Clinical cases, while important, only represent a fraction of the actual disease prevalence within a population. In this thesis, we investigate methods to estimate parameters that link clinical cases to the true disease prevalence using a modified compartmental model known as SICR (Susceptible, Infected, Cases, Recovered). We employ Bayesian inference and ensemble Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations to analyze clinical case data provided by the University of Central Florida Health Center from 2020 to 2022. Our goal is to estimate …

Florida’S Most Recent Anti-Transgender Political Policies And Their Effects On Transgender Adults, Jaron A. Sanchez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

During May of 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed multiple bills into law, which included House Bill 1521, Senate Bill 1580, and Senate Bill 254. Critics have regarded these bills to directly discriminate against transgender individuals and negatively impact their quality of life. The main research question this project seeks to answer is what impact these bills have, if any, on transgender individuals who live in the state of Florida. This includes experiences that negatively impact quality of life outcomes and mental health disparities. An online survey of a small sample of the population that self identifies as transgender, that …

Are You Looking At Me? The Relationship Between Social Media And Personality Disorders, Madison G. Goran

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis investigates the relationship between social media and Cluster B Personality Disorders: Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and Histrionic Personality Disorder. This research builds upon previous findings by examining specific negative social media motivations and behaviors, such as excessive use and negative motivations, in relation to Cluster B Personality Disorders. Participants completed the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD; Zanarini et al., 2005), The Short Dark Triad (Jones &Paulhus, 2014), Antisocial Process Screening Device (Frick & Hare, 2002), Self-Test Histrionic Personality Disorder (Olivardia, 2022), and Motivations for Social Media Use Scale (MSMU; Rodgers …

In My End Is My Beginning: Mary Stuart And The Foundation Of Her Religious Pragmatism, Shantelle M. Clement

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots and Dowager Queen of France, demonstrated atypical religious tolerance during the turmoil of the sixteenth-century reformations, particularly in comparison to other monarchs of the time. This research especially focuses on her upbringing in France, and how her education and those around her influenced the pragmatism and actions displayed as a monarch in Scotland until July 1565. Her youth in France and religious tolerance is a rare focus in secondary sources compared to the more dramatic events in her later life.

Intent, Content, And State Specific Circumstances 25 Years Later: A Comparative Analysis Of Contemporary Protections For Women Refugees Among Beijing Declaration Signatory Countries, Grace Bennett

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Women refugees suffer from high levels of abuse, discrimination, and sexual and gender-based violence. This paper aims to determine what factors account for different levels of state commitment to protections for women refugees. Existing literature suggests a connection between states’ concern for gender equality and ethical treatment of women, and their commitment towards the protection of women refugees. A content analysis of the Beijing Declaration 25+ national reports, along with the World Health Organization, United Nations, and other similar reports, seeks to further explore this connection. In doing so, this study examines three categories: states’ stated intentions or concerns, state …

Exploring The Diffusion Potential Of A Collaborative Mobile Platform For Disaster Management And Relief, Joao De Mendonca Salim

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis describes the creation of a collaborative digital platform for disaster management and relief, focusing on the case study of the city of Petrópolis natural disaster in February 2022. The frequency and intensity of natural disasters are rising, necessitating efficient and timely disaster response efforts. This thesis details the development of a software application that fosters collaboration among governmental agencies, emergency services, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society to enhance logistical planning and situational awareness during disasters. The proposed platform harnesses the power of social networking and leverages the ubiquitous presence of smartphones equipped with cameras, GPS, and sensors …

Effectiveness Of Doxycycline As Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Doxy-Pep) For Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (Stis) Among Men Who Have Sex With Men (Msm) In Central Florida, Micah P. Greer

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), notably syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, have been increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. The rise has been attributed to various factors, including increased condomless sexual acts due to the high uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. To address this concerning trend, post-exposure prophylaxis with doxycycline (Doxy-PEP) has emerged as a potential biomedical intervention. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Doxy-PEP in preventing bacterial STIs among MSM in Central Florida, a region with rising STI rates. A de-identified dataset from Pineapple Health Clinic in Orlando, …

Sexual Assault Disclosure: The Role Of Survivor And Disclosure Recipient Race & Ethnicity, Nola J.A. Browne

Honors Undergraduate Theses

To date, most research on sexual assault disclosure has utilized samples composed predominately of White women (Fedina et al., 2018). As a result, there is a need for research that examines sexual assault disclosure within racially and ethnically diverse samples. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine whether survivors’ race/ethnicity is related to whether they disclose their sexual assault to others of the same and different races and ethnicities. The study recruited undergraduate college students from the UCF Psychology Department Sona System to complete an online survey that assessed history of sexual assault and disclosure of sexual assault …

Antagomir Treatment For Deep-Space Simulated Changes In The Liver Of Mice, Natalie P. Hayslip

Honors Undergraduate Theses

With the start of NASA’s Artemis program, astronauts will soon leave the protection of Earth’s magnetosphere. Previous studies have established a theme of liver dysregulation associated with the harmful radiation and microgravity experienced in deep space. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of many of the pathologies observed during and after spaceflight, including hepatic fibrosis, making them strong potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effects of simulated microgravity, galactic cosmic radiation (GCR), and solar particle events (SPE) on miRNAs and mRNAs involved in the TGF-β signaling pathway, a key regulator of fibrosis, senescence, and …

Handheld X-Ray Fluorescence (Hhxrf) As A Non-Destructive Method For Trace Element Analysis Of Ancient Maya (Pre-Conquest 800 Bc - Ad950) Teeth From Altun Ha, Belize, Griffon G. Binkowski

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In anthropology, elemental analysis of bone and teeth can provide significant details about an individual’s life history, such as diet, toxicity exposure, residency, and migration patterns. Intra-individual comparisons can help to gather information about a single individual’s life, while inter-individual comparisons can help illustrate a community’s life history during these periods. However, current methods of elemental analysis commonly involve the destruction of skeletal samples, which can damage a collection’s integrity and be perceived as disrespectful by descendant communities. Preliminary research has validated handheld x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (HHXRF) as an accurate and reliable method of analysis appropriate for determining the elemental …

Subjectivity In Circulation: Jean Baudrillard And The Image As Objective Reality, Jacob Crawley

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to examine Jean Baudrillard’s theory of the image in both historical and philosophical terms and propose that his understanding of the image as disconnected from any sort of objective reality is an important starting point for further discussion of the photographic image. This thesis seeks to answer the question – how does Baudrillard’s theory of the photographic image shape our contemporary understanding of images, and what are the implications of his removal of the referent to reality within photographic images on mass culture, society, and the current state of image creation? This paper seeks …

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: An Anthropological Exploration Of Overdose Prevention Experiences And Perceptions Among People Who Use Drugs In Orlando, Florida, Maria De Los Angeles Ocando Monaco

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The ongoing overdose problem in the United States, particularly exacerbated by the widespread use of fentanyl, and polydrug use, represents a critical public health challenge. This thesis explores how people who use drugs (PWUD) in Orlando, Florida, are responding to the overdose problem in their community. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted at a syringe services program in Summer 2023, I argue that PWUD in Orlando actively take measures to prevent overdose and overdose deaths but are faced with many obstacles that challenge their overdose prevention efforts. I examine overdose narratives of PWUD to show how factors preventing effective overdose prevention …

The Impact Of Homelessness On Identity In Lgbtq+ Youth Of Color, Isabeau Tyndall Ms.

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study explores the impact of homelessness on the identity formation of LGBTQ+ youth of color. This group of people is overrepresented within the unhoused community, and unfortunately, under-studied, especially within the qualitative data sector. A literature review found primary themes of identity formation, intersectionality, and discrimination and stigma. In addition to exploring the impact of housing instability on the identity formation of LGBTQ+ youth of color, this study emphasizes the significance of intersectionality in understanding their experiences. By noting the overlap of multiple marginalized identities such as race, sexual orientation, and gender identity, this research illuminates the unique challenges …

On The Rocks: The Association Between Dating And Alcohol Consumption Among Young Adults, Hannah Ettele

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Alcohol consumption is becoming an increasing concern among young adults. In 2018, approximately one-third of young adults in the United States reported binge drinking within the past month (Patrick et al., 2020). This peak in binge drinking during young adulthood raises concerns about physical and mental health. There are also societal implications of alcohol consumption, such as drunk driving, that are particularly evident among this age group (Stewart, 2023). As proposed by the Social Learning Theory (SLT) of alcohol use, there are many factors that motivate young adults to drink (Britton, 2004). Some engage in alcohol consumption to cope with …