Digital Commons Network^™

Are Ocular Markers Of Sun Exposure Associated With Skin Cancer? A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study, Gareth Lingham, Vinay Kumar Nilagiri, Holly Brown, Chrianna Bharat, Samantha S.Y. Lee, Maria Franchina, Michael Hunter, Kevin Murray, David Alonso-Caneiro, Catherine M. Olsen, David C. Whiteman, David A. Mackey

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Background: Higher past sun or ultraviolet radiation exposure increases the risk of skin cancer and three common ocular findings: pterygium, conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (CUVAF) and myopia. We investigated whether ocular markers of past sun exposure are associated with a history of skin cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional study of participants who attended the Phase 2 examination of the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study in Western Australia (2016–2022). Myopia was determined from autorefraction and pterygium and CUVAF from photographs of the anterior eye. Past diagnosis of a skin cancer was obtained from linked hospitalisation and cancer registry data (melanoma) or combining linked and …

Am I Top Of The Pops? Does Feedback Of Live Gps Between Sets Of Hurling-Specific Small-Sided Games Improve Subsequent Running And Physiological Performance?, Shane Malone, John Keane, Tom Hargroves, Conor P. Clancy, John David Duggan, Damien Young, Kieran D. Collins

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The investigation aimed to determine if live feedback of team- and player-specific global positioning system (GPS) running performance data between bouts of hurling small-sided games (SSGs) altered the physical and physiological responses during subsequent bouts of SSGs during a 6-week hurling pre-season period. Twenty-four (n = 24) hurling players (age 25.5 ± 3.2 years; height 177.9 ± 3.2 cm; body mass 83.5 ± 4.5 kg) received either feedback or no feedback during hurling-specific SSGs across a 6-week pre-season period. Teams were assigned to two specific groups, a) GPS live feedback or b) no GPS live feedback (control) for each session, …

Optimization Of Probiotic Beverage Made From Sohiong Fruit Using Response Surface Methodology And Artificial Neural Network–Genetic Algorithm Hybrid Model, Roshiya Nongmaithem, Raju Sasikumar, Irengbam Barun Mangang, T. Selva Kumar, Kambhampati Vivek, Amit K. Jaiswal

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

In this study, a probiotic beverage from Sohiong (Prunus nepalensis), an underutilized wild edible fruit rich in phenolics and anthocyanins, was optimized using both Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and an Artificial Neural Network–Genetic Algorithm (ANN–GA) hybrid model. Plackett–Burman screening identified temperature, strain, and inoculum size as significant variables influencing antioxidant response. Subsequent optimization using a Box–Behnken design yielded maximum DPPH scavenging activity of 71.55%, with enhanced total phenolic content (TPC) of 160.00 mg GAE per g, total anthocyanin content (TAC) of 227.85 mg C3GE per 100 mL, and total flavonoid content (TFC) of 183.96 mg QE per 100 mL. The …

Exploring Characteristics And Systemic Health Links In Myopic Australian Adults, Pauline Kang, Gareth Lingham, Angelica Ly, Xianwen Shang, Regan Ashby, Serge Resnikoff, Fiona Stapleton, David Mackey

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Background: Data on myopia prevalence in Australia and associations with common systemic conditions and quality of life are limited. This study aimed to profile Australian adults self-reporting to have myopia, including co-morbidities and quality of life. Methods: This research included participants from the ongoing longitudinal 45 and Up Study. Sex and education data were collected at the baseline survey and additional data from the follow-up Health Compass survey. Responses on self-reported myopia, health and quality of life were analysed with logistic regression to assess the association between myopia and health conditions. Results: Of the 21,384 participant responses, 54.3% self-reported myopia, …

Physique Development And Management Shape Experiences Of Low Energy Availability Risk In Elite Professional Male Rugby Union Players, Gary Sweeney, Siobhain Mcardle, Nessan Costello, Kieran Collins

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study aimed to explore elite male rugby union players’ perceptions and lived experiences of physique development and management in relation to low energy availability risk. Semi-structured interviews (29 ± 8 min) were conducted with 18 players (senior: n = 9; academy: n = 9; mean age: 23 ± 3) across four professional rugby union clubs in Ireland. Through reflexive thematic analysis, the following themes were constructed. Players had limited awareness of low energy availability, yet described experiences consistent with symptoms, including fatigue, low mood and reduced libido. A pervasive physique culture, characterised by body composition ‘ideals’ and weight or …

From Platelets To Particles: Optimizing Extracellular Vesicle Isolation In A National Blood Centre, Y. Chintala, A. Waters, F. Mcgrath, A. Lorusso, C. Wynne, S. Meaney

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Background and Objectives: Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (PEVs) are submicron, membrane-bound particles released upon platelet activation, with a recognized role in haemostasis, inflammation and immunoregulation. PEVs remain insufficiently characterized in blood products. This study compared four isolation methods to evaluate their impact on PEV yield, purity and characteristics, aiming to identify a practical approach for transfusion service workflows. Materials and Methods: PEVs were isolated from expired single-donor aphaeresis platelet concentrates (n = 12) using methods based on different isolation principles: ultracentrifugation (UC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), mixed size/charge separation (hybrid) and an affinity-based spin column method (affinity). Size, number and biochemical …

Justifying The Fourth Amendment, Daniel Epps

Vanderbilt Law Review

Why does the Fourth Amendment belong in the Constitution? This question is not whether society should impose some legal restraints on government searches and seizures. Rather, why should such protections reside in our national charter, superior to other forms of law and insulated from change via ordinary majoritarian political processes? Despite major disputes about the Fourth Amendment's content, Fourth Amendment theorists rarely ask this question. Almost all agree that the Fourth Amendment's constitutional protections are critically important-even if no one can agree exactly what those protections are.
This Article seeks a justification for the Fourth Amendment-the reason why search-and-seizure protections …

Inorganic Nanoparticle-Bacteria Interaction Systems: Mechanistic, Functional And Agricultural Applications, Gouri Nilakshika Atapattu, Michelle Giltrap, Furong Tian

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

BackgroundInorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are capable of interacting with bacteria. Due to this interaction, the cell exterior and interior of bacteria maybe altered. As a result, bacterial growth inhibition might occur due to the antimicrobial properties exerted by inorganic nanoparticles. Inorganic nanomaterials with antimicrobial activity have been discussed within the literature under the food, pharmaceutical, biomedicine and agriculture sectors. Currently, nanoparticle-mediated control of plant bacterial pathogens is advancing in agriculture.AimThis review aims to highlight the potential of bacteria-inorganic nanoparticle systems in agriculture and how they may yield agricultural benefits beyond antimicrobial activity.MethodsWe analysed literature published between 2020 and 2024 on how …

Standard Textualism, James A. Macleod

Articles

For as long as legal scholars have been writing about the rules-versus-standards distinction, textualism has been understood to produce characteristically rule-like law. This Article argues for the opposite view. Far from generating the “law of rules” that Scalia famously envisioned, the rule of modern textualism produces a law of standards—much more so than anybody, proponent of textualism or critic, appears to have recognized.

Two aspects of today’s textualism produce this result. The first is its emphasis on ordinary language and communication. Modern textualism typically produces standards because ordinary language and communication are typically standard-like. The second is modern textualism’s drive …

Trophy Assets, Aneil Kovvali

Articles

Rich people like to own things that make them look cool. When the thing in question is a car, house, or boat, the implications are limited. But sometimes very rich people own assets that are more important. Within media, Elon Musk acquired Twitter, Jeff Bezos ac-quired the Washington Post, and Patrick Soon-Shiong acquired the Los Angeles Times. There has also been a craze for aerospace: Musk with Space X, Bezos with Blue Origin, Richard Branson with Virgin Galactic, and going back further, Howard Hughes with Hughes Aircraft Company. It is often difficult to understand the behavior in purely finan-cial terms, …

Democratizing Restitution: Trust As An Equitable Approach To Competing Claims On Cultural Heritage Objects, Britta Redwood

Articles

As formerly colonized states began to win their independence in the mid-twentieth century, a growing chorus of voices called on museums in London, Paris, Berlin, and other European cities to return objects taken during the colonial period. Having largely ignored these requests until recently, museums throughout Europe and the United States have begun negotiating returns of these objects to their rightful owners. There is a growing recognition among Western cultural institutions that continuing to hold cultural heritage objects taken under conditions of coercion or violence is morally untenable. More recently, some scholars have argued for a human rights approach to …

I Think I Can: The Role Of Racial Socialization And Self-Efficacy On Racial Minorities’ Stereotype Threat And Academic Achievement, Dan'n Tima

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Racial minority students continue to experience disparities in educational outcomes, leading to research interest in factors that may mitigate the effects of negative racialized experiences in academic contexts. Racial socialization—messages individuals receive about race throughout development—has been linked to positive academic and psychological outcomes in younger populations; however, its relevance for college students remains less understood. The present study examined whether racial socialization predicted academic achievement among Black and Latino undergraduate students and whether it moderated the relationship between stereotype threat and academic achievement. It was further hypothesized that self-efficacy would mediate the relationship between stereotype threat and academic achievement. …

Humanizing Education Through Subject-Centered Instruction: A Mixed Methods Case Study Of Engagement And Achievement In An Exploring Hip-Hop As Literature English Elective, Alicia Hyman-Peters

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how humanizing education through relationally-driven, subject-centered teaching affects student engagement, literacy, and achievement in an Exploring Hip-Hop as Literature English elective at a diverse high school in Northeast Florida. Drawing on Freire’s concept of humanization, Noddings’ Ethic of Care, Palmer’s focus on subject-centered learning, and the culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogies of Ladson-Billings, Paris, and Alim, the research investigated how humanized education restores meaning and connection to learning. Using a Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Design, data from thirty students were gathered through surveys, participation and assignment records, standardized assessments, interviews, focus groups, and classroom observations. Quantitative findings …

Student And Faculty Outcomes And Experiences In High School Career And Technical Education: A Vocational Program Evaluation, Ayana E. Moore

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive program evaluation of vocational schools in Duval County, with the goal of laying the groundwork for assessing effectiveness of vocational education. This study utilized exploratory mixed-methods approach, gathering quantitative and qualitative data about high school graduation rates, career readiness, college enrollment, experiences, and satisfaction levels from students and faculty at fully accredited vocational high schools. By synthesizing findings from existing literature and analyzing data, the study sought to elucidate the impact of vocational high school programs and offer insights into the benefits and areas for improvement in vocational programs. Ultimately, the research aims to inform …

Influence Of A Structured Strength Program On Sport-Related Outcomes In Female Lacrosse Players, Taylor R. Howard

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Per the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), approximately 30,000 individuals participate in collegiate lacrosse in the United States, roughly 13,000 being women. Participation beyond the NCAA has increased substantially in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA), the Women’s Club Lacrosse Association (WCLA), and high school programs nationwide.  As women’s lacrosse continues to grow, strength and conditioning programs at the collegiate level have become pervasive to enhance athletic performance. However, limited research exists examining the impact of strength training on physical performance in women’s lacrosse.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions Of Professional College Consultants Regarding The History And Future Of College Acceptance Inequity, Kimberly A. Spencer

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While inequities in college admissions processes in the United States have long been discussed, there have been seismic changes in policies during the last decade with increased competition for limited spots, significant cultural and political shifts affecting higher education, and the effects of the pandemic all further contributing to what has become a very complicated process. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to explore the perceptions of professionals working as Independent Educational Consultants counseling students through the college admissions process to gain insight into how the system is functioning for all students from those working closely with both …

The Journey Of High School Teachers Evolving Into Career Educators, Diane B. Ried

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Teacher attrition has been a major challenge in the United States for decades, but more so after covid. This case study explored and expanded the understanding of the different levels of environmental impact on high school teacher retention in a Florida high school as they evolved into career educators. The present study used Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) Ecological Systems Theory to examine the teacher’s retention in a county in northcentral Florida. In order to better understand the experience of career development, this study used Savickas’ Career Construction Theory (2019). This case study investigated strategies, supports, and diversity related initiatives impacting a …

Mechanical Behavior Of Additively Manufactured Ti-6al-4v Eli Parts: Effects Of Laser Parameter Selection, Samuel Lopez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) of TI-6AL‑4V Extra‑Low Interstitial (ELI) enables complex geometries for fatigue‑critical medical device applications, yet fatigue performance remains sensitive to process‑induced defects. This work investigates the effect of laser process parameter selection on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and fatigue behavior of TI- 6AL‑4V ELI fabricated via laser powder bed fusion (L‑PBF) using a Renishaw RenAM system. The influence of laser parameters was isolated by holding powder chemistry, build orientation, scan strategy, sub‑transus annealing, and post‑processing constant between a non‑optimized baseline and an optimized parameter set selected based on tensile performance.

Optical microscopy showed the optimized condition exhibited improved …

Effects Of Pressure-Based Virtual Reality Training On Mental Toughness In Athletes, Rylee J. Aspinwall

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Athletes often underperform in high-pressure situations due to challenges in emotional regulation rather than deficits in physical skill. Mental toughness, broadly defined as the ability to maintain performance under stress, is a key determinant of athletic success but remains difficult to train using traditional methods. Virtual reality (VR) offers a controlled and immersive environment for simulating competitive pressure; however, its application for training mental toughness remains limited. The present study examined the effects of pressure-based VR training on psychological and physiological responses in collegiate baseball and softball athletes. Participants completed up to eight VR training sessions under either high-pressure or …

A Comparative Evaluation Of Data Imbalance Handling Techniques In Machine Learning Models For One-Year Mortality Prediction In Liver Cirrhosis, Sumiya Hasan Trisha

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Liver cirrhosis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, making one-year mortality prediction a clinically relevant problem. Using a liver cirrhosis dataset as the motivating application, this thesis evaluates five machine learning classifiers—Logistic Regression, Random Forest, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost—under five class-imbalance handling strategies: Baseline learning, Random Oversampling, SMOTE-NC, ADASYN, and Cost-Sensitive Learning. Hyperparameter tuning was conducted using randomized search, and predictive performance was assessed over 200 iterations of Monte Carlo Cross-Validation using Accuracy, Precision, Recall, Fl-score, and ROC-AUC.

The results suggest that imbalance-handling strategies can materially affect predictive performance, particularly recall. Because the outcome of interest is death within …

Ridit-Based Adaptive Allocation In Two-Stage Clinical Trials With Binary Outcomes, Dewan Fahim

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores better ways to assign patients to treatments in clinical trials with binary outcomes, such as success or failure. Adaptive methods are used to learn from early results and adjust treatment assignments during the trial, helping more patients receive better performing treatments while maintaining reliable conclusions. We focus on trials comparing multiple treatments using a two-stage design. In the first stage, several treatments are tested to identify the most promising one; in the second stage, that treatment is compared with a control. Unlike traditional equal assignment, we use adaptive allocation in the second stage to make better use …

A Comparative Study Of Classification Methods For Healthcare Analytics, Xueting Zhao

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a comparative study of logistic regression, Linear Discriminant Analy- sis (LDA), and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) for binary classification in healthcare analytics, integrating theoretical derivation, simulation, and real-data application. A facto- rial simulation study crosses the covariance structure (equal vs. unequal), predictor correla- tion (ρ ∈ {0, 0.5, 0.9}), dimensionality (p ∈ {2, 5, 10}) and sample size (n ∈ {50, 100, 200}) across 54 scenarios with 1,000 Monte Carlo replicates each. Three main findings emerge. Logistic regression and LDA are nearly interchangeable when the assumption of equal-covariance holds. QDA achieves substantially better discrimi- nation when class-specific …

Parental Distress, Coercive Control With Food, And Child Self-Regulation, Kattie Nguyen

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self-regulation is the management of one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to adapt to a situation (Smith-Donald et al., 2007). During infancy and toddlerhood, parents foster self-regulation through co-regulation (e.g., sensitivity, responsiveness), helping children manage their emotions, behaviors, and thoughts (Butler & Randall, 2013). Parents who experience distress (e.g., depression, stress, anxiety) are more likely to use less responsive and harsher, controlling practices like coercive control. Coercive control with food is a practice where parents use food as threats or bribes to control their child’s emotions and behaviors (Vaughn et al., 2016). The present study examined the associations between parental distress, …

What They Learn, What They Use:  A Narrative Inquiry Into Teacher Candidates’ Application And Perceptions Of Their Professional Learning Experiences, Shaundricka Medlock

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The landscape of teacher preparation is shifting toward clinically rich, practice-based models designed to bridge the longstanding gap between theoretical coursework and the realities of classroom teaching. Despite these reforms, many teacher candidates continue to face challenges in transferring what they learn in teacher preparation programs into effective instructional practice. This disconnect raises concerns about the coherence, responsiveness, and equity of current clinical preparation models, particularly in their ability to prepare future educators for diverse and high-need learning environments. This narrative inquiry study explores how elementary teacher candidates experience and apply professional learning experiences during a year-long internship in a …

The Effect Of Coercive Control With Digital Devices On Emotion Regulation In Preschool-Age Children: An Experimental Approach, Gina Burroughs

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The experiment was an investigation on the differences in child emotion regulation between two groups during a disappointing gift task. Fifteen four-to-five-year-olds were randomly assigned to either receive coercive control with a digital tablet or an emotion-coping intervention. All children received a disappointing gift a second time as emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reframing, self-soothing, comfort-seeking) were recorded. A χ² test revealed a nonsignificant difference between frequency of post-manipulation emotion regulation strategies. Three cognitive-reframing subtypes were coded and an independent-samples t-test revealed between-group differences approaching significance, suggesting that adults can teach cognitive reframing to this age range. Additional analysis revealed …

Experimental Validation Of Optical Wireless Communication And Power Transfer For Uav Applications, Fnu Dhruv

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have revolutionized emergency response, disaster assessment, and search-and-rescue operations. However, their operational efficacy is fundamentally constrained by limited battery endurance and the susceptibility of traditional radio-frequency communication to disruption in adverse weather. To address these limitations, this thesis proposes and experimentally validates a novel architecture integrating Free-Space Optical (FSO) communication with Simultaneous Lightweight Information and Power Transfer (SLIPT). This system utilizes a split-beam configuration to concurrently enable high-bandwidth data transmission and optical energy harvesting to replenish the UAV's battery pack. The research was conducted in three progressive phases. Initially, system feasibility was established through rigorous optical …

Widowed And Wounded? Exploring The Health Impacts Of Adverse Childhood Experiences In Later Life Widowhood, Sierra Wickline

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Losing a spouse is considered one of the most stressful life events that disproportionately affect older individuals. Exposure to traumatic events at an early age can change the body’s response to subsequent stressors across the lifespan. These physical changes often impact people’s health. Utilizing data from the Health and Retirement Study, the current study aimed to investigate the link between: adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and three indicators of health: inflammation (i.e., c-reactive protein [CRP], reflecting immune functioning), as well as self-reported depressive symptoms and physical health, among people who have lost a spouse. Participants included 97 widowed individuals aged 68 …

A Stability Analysis Of The Phase-Lock Equations, Brian M. Sunguza

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ginzburg and Landau have provided a set of equations that relate superconductivity to magnetic fields. Through a transformation process, Zhan has derived what are now called the phase-lock equations. A stability analysis of the spatially-independent phase-lock equations is the purpose of this presentation. This simplification is significant since it allowed for the analytical determination of equilibria, their stability, and the influence of a periodic forcing function. Through the use of an original code, numerical simulations are shown to corroborate the analytical results described above.

This analysis includes novel Lyapunov functions that allowed for the analytical determination of the instability region. …

When The Why Is Greater Than The What: "Exploring School Deans' Discipline Decision Making: A Grounded Theory Investigation Into Disciplinary Practices & Policies At The School Level", Lashawn S. Russ-Porterfield

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This constructivist grounded theory study investigated how school deans interpret and enact disciplinary decision-making within the complex social, organizational, and policy environments of contemporary secondary schools. Despite increasing advocacy for restorative and non-exclusionary disciplinary approaches, exclusionary practices—such as out-of-school suspension—remain prevalent, often contributing to disproportionality and adverse student outcomes. The purpose of this study was to generate a grounded theory explaining how contextual, relational, and structural factors shape deans’ decisions when selecting between exclusionary and restorative responses to student behavior.

Twenty-one deans from secondary schools in north Florida participated in semi-structured interviews. Data collection and analysis followed Charmaz’s (2014) constructivist …

The Effects Of Weathering On The Very High Cycle Fatigue Behavior Of Aluminum 6061-T6, Rama Albatesh

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Aluminum 6061-T6 is commonly used in structural and transportation applications due to its strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and ease of manufacturing. In many practical situations, components made from this alloy experience cyclic loading while exposed to environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature changes, and ultraviolet radiation. These factors can affect surface integrity and fatigue performance, especially in the very high-cycle fatigue (VHCF) regime.

This study aims to explore how accelerated weathering impacts the ultrasonic fatigue behavior of Aluminum 6061-T6. First, assess the material through tensile testing to determine its mechanical properties. Then conducted microstructural analysis using optical microscopy, scanning electron …