Digital Commons Network^™

Invasion Of Microplastics Into The Reproductive Tissues Of Feral And Domestic Felines, Emma K. Quade

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Although plastics have many useful properties in modern society, once these materials are introduced into the environment, they can cause extensive damage. Following degradation into microplastics (MP), plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, these contaminants can make their way into a variety of different environments and organisms. There are many studies that have investigated the prevalence of MP in marine environments, but fewer studies have looked into terrestrial systems, and even less that have focused on contamination in companion animals. This study sought to investigate the invasion of MP into the reproductive tissues of felines, Felis catus, …

Analyzing Early Medieval Perspectives Of Fetal Development, Nivedha Srinivasan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis examines early medieval perspectives of fetal development by analyzing two manuscripts: British Library, Cotton Tiberius A III and Leiden University, Vossianus lat. Q69. This study will investigate how knowledge of pregnancy was shared throughout England before the establishment of universities. Interest in medieval reproductive language has piqued in importance in recent years, especially due to modern legal debates surrounding reproductive rights. By examining descriptions of the nine months of fetal development in these two manuscripts, as well as in widely known earlier medical texts like Pliny’s Natural History and Vindicianus’ Gynaecia, this research explores how monastic writers in …

Listening To The Cemí: An Exploration Of Taíno Spirituality Culture Through Artifact Analysis And Digital Archives, Jordan G. Richardson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

My research explores the evolution and continuity of Taíno spirituality culture across five centuries through artifact analysis and digital archives. While Spanish imperialism in the 15th century devastated Taíno populations and traditional craft production, I find that Taíno spirituality was not eradicated but rather adapted its mode of expression. The shift in medium from primarily pre- and peri- physical cemí artifacts (carved from wood and stone) to contemporary digital representations (online archives, blog posts, YouTube videos) illustrates two things: a) strategic integration of Taíno technological use to preserve spiritual practices while reestablishing cultural connectivity through education, community, and resistance movements, …

Generating Genomic Resources For The Pink Sundew And Its Specialist Herbivore Moth From A Single Gene To Entire Genomes, Kerissa F. Tarpley

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Genomic resources are critical for the conservation of threatened species, providing valuable insights into genetic diversity, population structure, and adaptive potential. This thesis focuses on two ecologically interconnected species: the carnivorous plant pink sundew (Drosera capillaris) and its specialist herbivore the sundew plume moth (Buckleria parvulus). The sundew and plume moth face an uncertain future as their vital bog habitats continue to disappear. The sundew plays a crucial role in the life cycle of the plume moth, which relies on the sundew during its larval stages for survival. To aid in species detections, I first generated …

Evaluating The Efficacy And Safety Of Inactivated Dengue Vaccines In Vulnerable Populations, Alaa Daghash

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Dengue virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus responsible for over 390 million annual cases worldwide. While there are live-attenuated vaccines available to prevent dengue, none are currently approved for use in the United States, and existing platforms pose significant risks of viral reactivation and antibody-dependent enhancement in vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women, children under the age of nine, and the immunocompromised. This widespread exclusion of vulnerable populations exposes a significant vaccine equity gap in dengue prevention, as the populations most at risk for severe dengue are the same ones who are currently excluded from vaccination. In this study, I conducted …

Individual Differences In Personality Traits And Anthropomorphic Tendencies, Olivia S. Young

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Anthropomorphism is broadly defined as the attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman entities. Those with higher levels of neurodivergent traits, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), may struggle to maintain eye contact with and interpret the emotions of others. Anthropomorphic interaction patterns between both those with and without ASD differ between various entities such as cars, cartoon characters, animals, and humans. Results of this study have implications across domains including human factors, cognitive science, and human-animal interaction. This study employed the use of unique stimuli in combination with various scales to measure personality traits and anthropomorphic tendencies. Participants were asked …

Analyzing The Loss Of Material From A Non-Plastic Oyster Reef Restoration Alternative, Lindsay M. Dolan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Oyster reefs are declining globally due to human impacts such as overharvesting, boat wakes, and climate change. Associated ecosystem services, including water filtration, fish and invertebrates’ habitats, and shoreline erosion protection, are lost when these reefs disappear. Traditionally, restoration efforts employed plastic mesh shell bags filled with recycled oyster shells as they provide recruitment substrate for new oyster spat and wave attenuating properties to protect shorelines. Due to rising concerns over microplastic pollution, non-plastic alternatives are being tested. Alternative restoration material must provide the same benefits to reef formation while maintaining structural integrity long enough for a healthy reef to …

Friends In Niche Places: An Examination Of Anole Abundance And Habitat Use In An Urban Environment Using Point Transect Distance Sampling, Ethan Gau

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Lizards in the genus anolis occupy a wide range of ecological niches, often sharing the same environment due to niche partitioning. In central Florida, the main species of anoles found are the native A. carolinensis and the invasive A. sagrei, two generalist anole species that partition into trunk-crown and trunk-ground niches in each other’s presences respectively. I surveyed the UCF main campus using Apollo Circle as the border for my study area, and I used point sampling to estimate the population abundance and density, while also collecting data on perch substrate, height, and canopy coverage. Population estimates for A. …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Glass-Ceramic Nanoparticles And Nanobubbles For Integration Into Bone Regenerative Biomaterials, Sun Latt

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoporosis affects over 200 million individuals worldwide and is characterized by an imbalance between osteoclastic bone resorption and osteoblastic bone formation, leading to fragility fractures that significantly diminish quality of life. Current clinical bone cements, such as poly(methyl methacrylate), are limited by poor osseointegration, toxic monomers, and an inability to address the underlying pathophysiology of osteoporosis. This work presents the synthesis, characterization, and systematic in vitro evaluation of a sol-gel-derived, magnesium-incorporated glass-ceramic (GC) nanoparticle within the CaO-MgO-SiO₂ system for incorporation into a novel hydrogel bone cement and bioresorbable magnesium implants. XRD confirmed a biphasic amorphous-crystalline diopside composition, and TEM …

Post-Metabolites Of Two Commensal Bacteria Suppress Dna Damage In An Experimental Model Of Acid Reflux Disease, Maanya Pradeep

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Chronic heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects approximately 25% of the US population [1]. Repeated bile acid exposure from the regurgitation of stomach contents leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause oxidative DNA damage and promote genomic instability [2]. Barrett’s esophagus (BE), which can develop as a response to chronic bile acid exposure, increases the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) by 30% to 125% [1].

There are more than 18,000 new cases of esophageal cancer in the United States each year, and while its incidence is relatively low compared to other cancers, its mortality …

The Role Of P2y1 And P2y2 Receptors In Human Neural Stem Cell Proliferation, Daria Sokolova

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) are located in specialized niches of the adult brain and play a vital role in both neurogenesis and neuronal repair. However, declines in NSC proliferation and metabolism associated with age and pathology make these cells less efficient at responding to neurodegenerative disease. Understanding signaling pathways that regulate NSC function is therefore essential for the understanding and development of treatments for these conditions. P2Y receptors are G-protein-coupled purinergic receptors that are activated by extracellular nucleotides and regulate cellular metabolism and proliferation. Among the eight known P2Y subtypes, P2Y1 and P2Y2 have been linked to neuronal signaling …

Magnesium-Based Metal Matrix Nanocomposite Implants And Nanobubble-Based Delivery Systems: Integrated Strategies For Bone Loss Treatment With Cytocompatibility Evaluation, Lucas José Martinho Bizuti

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis intends to investigate the development of different multimodal therapeutic strategies for combating bone loss. Most specifically, this paper will emphasize the utilization of Magnesium-Based Metal Matrix Nanocomposite Implants (MMNC) and Nanobubble-Based Delivery Systems as options for future treatment focus. The effects of biodegradable magnesium implants were evaluated for cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility via Hematoxylin and Eosin, and Masson’s Trichrome staining, as well as radiological images. The Nanobubble-Based Delivery System is being developed and optimized as a delivery system to target osteoclast activity. This paper focused on optimizing experimental parameters, which include Rotational speeds for nanobubble stimulation under microgravity conditions …

Creation And Representation: Rhetorical Effectiveness Of Audience Construction Within The Deaf Vlogging Community, Imani Rodriguez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Diverse minority groups use YouTube as a platform to share stories, grow brands, and develop communities online. While previous research has investigated Deaf-focused videos on YouTube, past focus has been on video genres, creator purpose, and how content engages with existing representation and stigma (Hibbard & Fels, 2011; Li et al., 2022; Souza et al., 2023; Martzos et al., 2021; Oliveira et al., 2021; Parton, 2016). There has also been research on how online communities can initiate open conversation for many minority groups that may not be possible due to location, disability, or censorship (Case, 2012).

This research focuses on …

From Lap To Map: How Musical Scale, Place, And Play Drive The Interconnected Mario Kart World, Cameron Cummins

Honors Undergraduate Theses

With their deserts, castles, and ghost houses, the environments of Super Mario games are colorful, whimsical, and charming, but why are they so compelling, and what happens when our analysis of these environments extends beyond individual levels to expansive game worlds? Drawing on Cresswell’s theory of place (2014) and recent work on musical place-building in Mario Kart 8 (Heazlewood-Dale, 2024), I propose a spectrum between localized and globalized scale in games. As game environments become increasingly globalized, the music may be similarly altered to account for this shift in scale. Consequently, players may then encounter a broader, less musically congruent …

Effect Of Plant-Based Vs. Standard American Diet On Cardiovascular Parameters In College Students, Timothy J. Horanic

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines how adherence to different dietary patterns—specifically a plant-based diet compared to the standard American diet—can influence physiological indicators tied to cardiovascular health, including heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Among these markers, HRV is considered especially sensitive to autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation and may offer earlier insight into physiological stress or dysfunction than HR or BP alone. Although nutritional habits are widely believed to impact heart health, few investigations have focused on how specific long-term diets affect autonomic and cardiovascular metrics in healthy, college-aged adults. This study aims to investigate if …

Convergencias Y Divergencias: Un Estudio Comparativo De Lenguas Y Literaturas Española Y Portuguesa En España Durante La Temprana Edad Moderna Europea, Eduardo A. Rodrigues D'Abruzzo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines the literary and linguistic relationships between Spain and Portugal during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries through literary works and their translations. A period characterized by the Iberian Union, vernacularization, and the consolidation of early modern literary systems. It explores the interaction of Spanish and Portuguese texts within a shared yet asymmetrical cultural space shaped by translation, genre adaptation, and hierarchies of linguistic prestige. The research employs comparative textual analysis grounded in historical sociolinguistics, philology, and translation studies. Key works analyzed include Alfonso X’s historiography, Francisco Rodrigues Lobo’s Corte na aldeia and its Spanish translation, and Luís de …

Vibration-Based Control Of Nonlinear Dynamic Systems, Ossyris N. Bury

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis investigates vibration-based stability as a mechanism for achieving self-stabilizing nonlinear dynamic motion in engineered systems. Inspired by biological hovering flight, in which periodic wing motion can passively enhance stability, the study explores how controlled oscillations can be used to stabilize otherwise unstable mechanical configurations. The research centers on a simplified dynamic model based on the Kapitza pendulum, an inverted pendulum with a vertically oscillating base, which serves as a foundation for understanding vibration-induced stabilization. Analytical modeling using Lagrangian mechanics is employed to derive the governing equations of motion and identify the excitation conditions required for stable inverted behavior. …

Being-Online: Towards A Phenomenological Account Of Virtual Place And Narrative Selfhood, Ben Runey

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to explore and explicate a phenomenology of virtual place by investigating how environments motivated by computers and smart devices appear within lived experience as well as how these virtual places found and mediate interpretative narratives of self-identity. Many individuals today spend vast portions of their waking hours concerned with or engaged within virtual domains. While contemporary scientific research aims to uncover the effects of this on human psychology, physiology, and social structures, phenomenology must be utilized to reveal the existential, lived dimensions of virtual places. This investigation will be founded upon, but not limited …

“Mother Earth” Faces Sexism” (The Relationship Between Gender, Sexism, And Politics To Climate Change Recognition), Sierra E. Nichols

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Climate change is a prominent scientific and political issue today. Research has shown women to be uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and subject towards political opinions that can be rooted in sexism. This study aims to draw a correlation between these factors. It provides an overview of the topic of climate change and women’s linkages with the environment through the topic of ecofeminism. It analyzes the topic of sexism and analyzes research surrounding different types of sexism: hostile, benevolent, and modern sexism. It discusses how studies that have categorized climate change as a gendered issue, climate change …

To Print A Remake: An Analysis Of Hollywood Remakes And Their Cultural Value, Connor F. Seaton

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In recent years, audiences and movie critics have expressed concern that Hollywood’s growing reliance on remakes, sequels, franchises, and similar adaptations has led to a broader worry that originality is fading from modern cinema and that the industry is instead focused on using adaptations to maximize profits. Although adaptation is often seen as a commercially driven framework for reproducing existing intellectual property in a new media format, this thesis argues that it should be recognized as an autonomous cultural category with its own artistic, historical, and social significance and merit. By analyzing adaptation scholarship and reviewing its complex historical development, …

Designing Rhetorical Education For Online Audiences, Nicholas Dixon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This project demonstrates a multimodal education for online audiences through the creation of a YouTube video, What is Rhetoric?   The literature from composition, education, and media asserts that online multimodal media is useful for idea production, civic discussion, and learning. This project follows the idea that online multimodal digital media are valuable forms for meeting audiences with access to rhetorical knowledge, both within academic institutions and in the education of public audiences. In Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture, Henry Jenkins highlights the challenge online participants face in recognizing the ways media shapes perceptions of the world (xii). Rhetoric is …

Analysis Of Alternative Gene Splicing Of Natural Killer Cell Exhaustion Markers During Siv Infection, Soledad B. Zayas

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Natural killer cells play a critical role in the innate immune response against Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus infections. During HIV/SIV infection, NK cells undergo functional impairment characterized by an imbalance between activating and inhibitory surface receptors. The upregulation of inhibitory receptors, TIGIT and TIM-3, has proven to contribute to NK cell exhaustion during different retroviral infections. Although alternative splicing regulates immunity related genes, its role in TIGIT and TIM-3 expression during SIV infection remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize alternative splicing patterns of TIGIT and TIM-3 and evaluate transcript variant expression during SIV infection in …

The Environmental Impact On The Development Of Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy, Victoria C. Reynolds

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The objective of this study was to examine potential associations between environmental factors and the progression of Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (EDM). While environmental contributions to neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly recognized in human patients, little is known about their role in EDM. A comprehensive literature review highlighted the lack of research in this area. Data for this study were collected by Dr. Amy Johnson at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. The two main areas studied were a horse’s lifestyle (specifically turnout conditions) and their geographical proximity to chemicals (pesticides, airborne neurotoxins, and water contaminants). Statistical analysis revealed there was …

Mycoethics: Reverence For Life In Light Of Modern Science, Charis E. Meyers

Honors Undergraduate Theses

There is a 21^st century wave of passion surrounding fungi and mycology, and it’s becoming louder and louder. The mycoenthusiasts themselves have a uniquely inspired ethical system born out of their science, and my aim is to both formally introduce their position, including many unspoken foundations, and defend its potential. I call this position mycoethics and attempt to collect it from the scattered tidbits in mycological media. I first identify its historical precedent, then spend a length of time establishing where its sense of goodness comes from, postulating it as a utilitarian offspring of Albert Schweitzer’s reverence for life. …

Report On The 2025-26 Survey Of Applied Legal Education, David A. Santacroce, Robert R. Kuehn, June T. Tai, Sarah Boonin

Other Publications

This report summarizes the results of the Center for the Study of Applied Legal Education’s (CSALE) 2025-26 Survey of Applied Legal Education. The 2025-26 CSALE Survey is CSALE’s seventh triennial survey of law clinic and field placement (i.e., externship) courses and educators. The results provide insight into the state of experiential legal education in areas like program design, capacity, administration, funding, and pedagogy, and the role of clinic and field placement educators in the legal academy. Law schools, legal educators, scholars, and oversight agencies rely on CSALE’s data. The 2025-26 CSALE Survey is composed of two parts. A Survey of …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Combined B-Mode Ultrasound, Color Doppler And Strain Elastography In Assessment Of Cervical And Axillary Lymph Nodes, Marwa Mostafa, Nihal M. Batouty, Amani Ezzat Mousa

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Lymphadenopathy is a common condition caused by many benign and malignant disorders; therefore, determining their nature is important in clinical setting. The objective of research is to assess diagnostic accuracy of B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler, and strain elastography in lymph nodes evaluation with pathological correlation and to determine cut-off value of strain ratio that differentiates benign from malignant nodes.

Methods: All patients underwent ultrasound examination, Doppler study and strain elastography in supine position using a high-frequency probe (6.2-12 MHz). Out of 80 enrolled patients, only 53 were subjected to biopsy from the lymph nodes, then their pathological results …

How Nature Affects Perceptions Oaf Architectural Details In Office Settings, Autumn R. Hurd

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The importance of nature in our everyday lives has been well documented and researched. Theories such as the Biophilia Hypothesis, Stress Reduction Theory, and Attention Restoration Theory each attempt to explain why nature influences psychological states. The present research examined the influence of nature in office settings, such that offices with real nature would be seen as more appealing. It was hypothesized that participants would view offices with real plants and nature within or near the settings would be seen as more appealing as compared to similar offices with either AI-Generated nature or no nature within or near the office …

Soil Texture Does Not Affect Multi-Mutualist System Benefits In Prairie Legumes, Ambrose O. Cook

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Interpreting Anti-Boycott Laws In The Shadow Of The First Amendment, Joseph A. Tomain

University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy

Thirty-eight states have enacted “anti-BDS” laws. These laws require people or entities doing business with the state to certify that they do not participate in the Boycott Divestment Sanction movement against Israel. Typically, these laws define boycott as a “refusal to deal, terminating business, or other actions” that limit commercial relations with Israel or Israeli entities. It is highly contested in the courts and commentary whether these anti-boycott laws violate the First Amendment. Assuming arguendo that the “refusal to deal” and “terminating business” clauses do not implicate the First Amendment, that leaves the residual clause. At least one court and …

Positive Developmental Cascades, Melody R. Altschuler, Xiaoran Tong, Punit Shah, Edelyn Verona, Julianne M. Bowling, Robert F. Krueger, Roman Kotov, Jordan H. Mcallister, Michaela Voit, Sachina Paudel, Scott C. Leon, Shashwat Kala, John S. Lyons

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

Background: Strength development in children across a range of psychiatric diagnoses may reduce needs for mental health, social, and functioning support over time. A strength-based adjunct to child and adolescent mental health may foster the developmental context most helpful for achieving desired outcomes with positive developmental cascading effects. Methods: We longitudinally examined changes across 5 years in the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment in 2- to 18-year-old children (N = 30,103) from a public mental health system. Results: First, children who began with a greater number of strengths consistently had fewer support needs, not only at entry but …