Digital Commons Network^™

Welcoming 2024: Supporting Students' Well-Being, Eric A Storch, Rick Yang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Maladaptive Behaviors In Disasters: Case Study Evaluation Of Hurricane Hugo, Hurricane Katrina And The Haiti Earthquake, Andrew M Milsten, Christopher S Kang, Ira Nemeth

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Maladaptive behaviors during a disaster refer to actions that do not benefit the individual or society. Quarantelli highlights several maladaptive behaviors myths associated with disasters: widespread antisocial behavior, passivity, role conflict or abandonment, and sudden widespread mental health breakdowns (1). Despite early work reporting these myths, the common perception is that maladaptive behaviors such as rioting, looting, panic, and criminal conduct are prevalent in the wake of disasters. This is despite research by de Ville de Goyet and Arnold which has called on public officials and the media to stop propagating false disaster myths (2, 3). The classic academic response …

Management Advice For Patients With Reflux-Like Symptoms: An Evidence-Based Consensus, A Pali Hungin, Rena Yadlapati, Foteini Anastasiou, Albert J Bredenoord, Hashem El Serag, Pierluigi Fracasso, Juan M Mendive, Edoardo V Savarino, Daniel Sifrim, Mihaela Udrescu, Peter J Kahrilas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Patients with reflux-like symptoms (heartburn and regurgitation) are often not well advised on implementing individualised strategies to help control their symptoms using dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, behavioural changes or fast-acting rescue therapies. One reason for this may be the lack of emphasis in management guidelines owing to 'low-quality' evidence and a paucity of interventional studies. Thus, a panel of 11 gastroenterologists and primary care doctors used the Delphi method to develop consolidated advice for patients based on expert consensus. A steering committee selected topics for literature searches using the PubMed database, and a modified Delphi process including two online meetings …

The Role Of Interpersonal Conflict As A Cause Of Work-Related Stress In Construction Managers In Ireland, Patrick J. Bruce, Victor Hrymak, Carol M. Bruce Dr, Joseph Byrne

Articles

Construction is a project-driven industry that places a high premium on product delivery on time, within budget and to required standards. Modern construction projects have become more complex in nature, the complex relational and lengthy process of designing and building makes construction a process in which conflict is virtually ensured (Jaffar et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2023). These characteristics of the industry contribute to workplace stress. Therefore, it is not surprising that research has confirmed a strong presence of workplace stress within the industry, (Lingard and Francis, 2004; Vaux and Dority, 2020). Many construction managers experience excessive levels of …

The Potential Of Edible Insects As A Safe, Palatable, And Sustainable Food Source In The European Union, Ann D. Conway, Swarna Jaiswal, Amit K. Jaiswal

Articles

Entomophagy describes the practice of eating insects. Insects are considered extremely nutritious in many countries worldwide. However, there is a lethargic uptake of this practice in Europe where consuming insects and insect-based foodstuffs is often regarded with disgust. Such perceptions and concerns are often due to a lack of exposure to and availability of food-grade insects as a food source and are often driven by neophobia and cultural norms. In recent years, due to accelerating climate change, an urgency to develop alternate safe and sustainable food-sources has emerged. There are currently over 2000 species of insects approved by the World …

Queer Baltimore: An Unlikely Home For All, Anna K. Trull

Honors College Theses

At the time Baltimore’s queer community emerged, much of the country did not accept anyone who identified as gay. Appearing during the 1940s, gay bars then paradoxically expanded following the Pepper Hill raid in 1955. The thesis builds upon the work of Lucas Hilderbrand (Duke UP, 2023) and Susan Ferentinos (“Maryland LGBTQ Historic Context Study,” 2020) to argue that the physical infrastructure of gay bars and the neighborhoods that developed around them drove the creation of a public culture in Baltimore out of LGBTQ subcultures. It uses a geospatial database based on oral histories and newspaper archives to analyze neighborhoods …

Developing A Methodology For Evaluating Postural Control And Functional Ability In Children With Cerebral Palsy, Abigail Schoppa

Honors College Theses

Background: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a non-progressive group of disorders that interferes with postural control and gross motor function (GMF). The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology to evaluate and link postural control and functional ability by identifying the best measures to use.

Methods: For this study, children between the ages of 12 and 22 who have CP and a Gross Motor Function Classification System level I to III were recruited. They performed a series of gross motor tests from the BOT-2 while standing on a force plate to record their center of pressure (COP) movement. Several …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Individuals With Aphasia: Effects On Quality Of Life And Communication, Kaci L. Gammon

Honors College Theses

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) help people with aphasia (PWA) manage their communication symptoms and become more independent by supporting them linguistically and emotionally. During COVID-19, speech and language services were not as readily available to PWA due to quarantine restrictions resulting in isolation within this population. Individuals with aphasia had to redirect and find a new way to function daily. This study explored factors that affected quality of communication and quality of life for PWA during the pandemic, including technology, living situation, timing of stroke, and speech-language pathology services. Through an online survey, PWA from across the country expressed how their …

"Fulfil In Beauty My Imperfect Prayer": Mythologization In Santayana's Aesthetics Of Religion, India M. Johnson-Mccauley

Honors College Theses

This thesis addresses George Santayana’s theories of art and religion in the context of turn-of-the-century religious thought and introduces the concept of the mythologization of religion. Santayana, the Spanish-American turn-of-the-century philosopher, poet, and novelist, took a naturalist, pragmatist, and religious non-realist approach to understanding the world that prompted works regarding the nature of art, The Sense of Beauty (1896), and the nature of religion, Interpretations of Poetry and Religion (1900). Within these two works, Santayana proposes a theory of aesthetics and a theory of religion that seem to function in tandem with each other. According to his theories, art, particularly …

Intercultural Competence And Personality In Study Abroad Students, Wilkes W. Jones

Honors College Theses

This study aimed to replicate and extend on previous research demonstrating that international study-abroad experiences can alter a plethora of culturally related views and attitudes associated with intercultural competence. Moreover, studying abroad has been shown to make students more knowledgeable of, compassionate toward. and skilled when working with people from other cultures. Additionally, previous research has provided evidence that some Big Five personality traits can predict scores on intercultural competence measures, suggesting that some individuals may be more open to the potential benefits of studying abroad more than others. For this study, I hypothesized that from before to after studying …

Catherine De’ Médicis: Seeking Strength In Schism?, Melissa E. Cuzzo

Honors College Theses

Throughout history Catherine de’ Médicis has been seen as Machiavellian and deceitful. However, what has been largely ignored is that her style of governance has been based on that of male sovereigns before her. Her goal was to keep the Valois line intact in a time of upheaval. The actions in which the queen mother participated in were an attempt to quell dissent within France and to reinforce the social order of the Ancien Régime. This paper will argue that while Catherine de’ Médicis governmental strategies were not dissimilar to previous years, her authority was undermined by her gender, alien …

A More Modern Prometheus: What Frankenstein Tells Us About Genetic Modification, Allison M. Ambrose

Honors College Theses

Mary Shelley’s famous novel, Frankenstein, is often hailed as the first true science fiction novel. In my thesis, I use the premonitive lens towards creation of life provided in Frankenstein to evaluate the morality of genetic modification of children. CRISPR-Cas9 is quickly emerging as the most important development in reprogenetic technology of our time, and many argue for its merits as a method of designing our children. I argue against this trend of “designer babies,” specifically raising questions about the soundness of modifying non-disease traits in future children and encouraging a more cautious attitude in both the scientific and philosophical …

Audience Perceptions Of Social Issues In Contemporary Theatre, Gabrielle Reilly

Honors College Theses

The following study identified ways in which social issues were present in contemporary theatre and the subsequent productions designed for an audience ranging in identifying demographics through a collegiate production of Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood. Participants involved in the show through technical roles or onstage roles (N - 6) were interviewed about their experiences with the social issues presented in the play prior to and as a result of their involvement. Participants that were in attendance of the show over the course of four production dates (N - 67) were anonymously surveyed and answered questions on …

Understanding Sport Coaches’ Responses To Injury, Ashanti Robinson

Honors College Theses

Injury is an inevitable part of any sport an athlete decides to take part in. Many things go along with injury, but one of the biggest factors is the one directly responsible for the success of the athlete: the coach. The purpose of this study was, based on a systematic review of the literature, to better understand what part coaches play in the fear of athletic injuries including their responses and the rationale for those responses. The study was conducted by cross-referencing multiple articles across different databases and systematically examining the different studies to further understand the fear of injury …

A Philosophical Look Into The Morality And Legality Of Abortion, Alexis J. Agnew

Honors College Theses

In his Nicomachean Ethics, Greek philosopher Aristotle posits an understanding of ethics and how human life is characterized by the “good.” Aristotle argues that (I) ethics involve humans possessing a rational capacity and specific function; (II) ethics are habitual, and the “doctrine of the mean” is used to gauge proper action; and (III) justice is linked to virtue. A moral issue that can be analyzed through Aristotle’s Ethics, as well as works of contemporary philosophers, is abortion. Abortion has been a controversial topic and has been brought before the Supreme Court to determine its morality and legality. Using …

The Effect Of Lighting In Higher Education Classrooms On College Students, Caitlin M. Nelms

Honors College Theses

Classroom lighting design is important for student learning outcomes, and can have a negative effect on the physiological states of students. Interior lighting design needs to include appropriate layers of artificial and daylighting. Previous models have shown that artificial lighting can be altered to give off the same effect of natural daylight. Studies have also shown that natural lighting has a positive effect on the productivity of students in a classroom environment. Data was collected by surveying students in a classroom with no natural lighting to see how they felt in the room and if they have any lighting recommendations …

The Biobehavioral Effects Of Embryonic Exposure To Neural Inflammation And Oxidative Stress In Zebrafish, Dalton J. Anderson

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research is to improve understanding of the neurodevelopmental effects of embryonic exposure to elevated inflammation and oxidative stress induced by the antipyretic drug acetaminophen (APAP). Our study was the first to examine the interactive effects of APAP and inflammation in zebrafish embryos and how the treatments affect brain development and larval behavior. Experimental groups of zebrafish larvae were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation, APAP, or LPS + APAP and larval behavior was analyzed using Ethovision automated behavioral tracking software. We also measured changes in whole-brain Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (GSK3B) and GSK3B phosphorylation, …

The Impact Of Technological Innovation On Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Communities, Mickayla Cooper Kwakye-Ndlovu

Honors College Theses

Over the past couple of decades, significant shifts have occurred in technological development. Among these advancements, the smartphone has emerged as an integral part of people’s daily lives, serving as a powerful tool for accessibility and global connectivity. This literature review explores the ways in which everyday communication technology is utilized by Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals and examines the impact of its development on these communities. The goal of the work is to investigate how the evolution of modern smartphones contributes to breaking down communication barriers for DHH communities. This review focuses on smartphone features that enhance …

What Corporate Factors Explain Variation In How Individuals Value Dei In The Beauty Industry?, Hannah Bolar

Honors College Theses

The beauty industry is known for its multi-billion dollar market, such as skincare, makeup, and haircare. As an employee in famous beauty stores, Ulta and Sephora, over the last five years, a bigger discussion has been brought to the table, being Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) . The scope of my study is to shed light and address what factors beauty industry corporations factor in and how customers view and value DEI in the beauty industry; in which my methods of surveying and focus groups support my claim that internal and external factors do play a role. My results found …

Exploring Social Inclusion And Community Participation Opportunities For Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Arilyn Jewel Baldowski

Honors College Theses

Social Inclusion and community participation among adults with developmental disabilities (DD) have remained critically underexplored, despite their essential role in promoting equal opportunities and access to fulfilling lives. This study addressed a significant gap in the literature by investigating the experiences of individuals within the population. The research aimed to explore social inclusion and community participation opportunities on adults with DD. Participants were recruited through an organization that offers residential camp programs to adults with developmental disabilities, and an online survey was used to collect data on the availability of opportunities, the extent of involvement, and the perceived impacts on …

Xenophobia, The Global War On Terror, And Refugee Policy In The United States, Canada, And Western Europe, Chloe Lopez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Xenophobia has oscillated in intensity in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe since the late eighteenth century. This pattern of fear of immigrants and refugees being harbingers of violence and criminal activity establishes itself throughout the modern history of the United States, Canada, and Western Europe despite much evidence to the contrary. In the twentieth century, the prevailing argument surrounding the creation of xenophobia centered around economics. This divergence from twenty-first century patterns can be attributed to the Global War on Terror increasing alienation of refugees and immigrants through mythmaking and the structural securitization of immigration in the United …

Examining Teachers' Perceptions Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices And The Impact On The Academic And Social-Emotional Success Of Black And Brown Boys In Voluntary Prekindergarten Classrooms: A Qualitative Study, Stephanie Gomez Jackson

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) teachers’ perspectives regarding the theory of culturally responsive pedagogy. This study also sought to understand how teachers implement culturally responsive teaching practices in VPK classrooms and their perceptions of how culturally responsive teaching impacts the academic and social-emotional success of Black and Brown male students. The study was conducted using a qualitative, phenomenological methodology. Gay’s (2018) pillars of culturally responsive teaching were used as the conceptual framework to explore the cultural characteristics, experiences, and perspectives of voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) teachers. Data collection tools included (1) two recorded semi-structured interviews, …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Title I Elementary School Principals And Youth Mental Health: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Marva Mckinney

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) investigates how individuals make meaning of their social and personal environments. The primary questions that guide the exploration of the principals’ perspectives for this study include “How do Title 1 elementary school principals describe their leadership experiences in relation to student mental health challenges?”, “How do these experiences shape their perceptions of youth mental health within their schools?”, and “How do Title 1 elementary school principals understand the impact of external factors on their ability to address youth mental health challenges?”. According to Rousmaniere (2013, pp. 19–55), the principal has the most complex role in …

Transformer-Enabled Deep Reinforcement Learning For Coverage Path Planning, Daniel B. Tiu

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coverage path planning (CPP) is the problem of covering all points in an environment and is a well-researched topic in robotics due to its sheer practical relevance. This paper investigates such an offline CPP problem where the primary objective is to minimize the path length to achieve complete coverage. Furthermore, the literature suggests that taking turns leads to a higher energy use than going straight. To this end, we design a novel objective function that aims to minimize the number of turns as well. We have proposed a deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based framework that uses a Transformer model. Unlike state-of-the-art …

Power Of Partnership: The Effects Of Parent Training In Aided-Language Input On The Use Of Core Vocabulary Boards In The Homes Of Preschool Children: A Program Evaluation, Stephanie Jean Smith

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems play a crucial role in enhancing communication, language development, and learning for children with complex communication needs (CCN). Research suggests that AAC can significantly improve interaction with communication partners and mitigate risks in various developmental areas such as functional communication skills, speech, social engagement, and academic participation.

Early intervention is paramount for children with CCN to foster speech and language development, enabling them to express needs, interact socially, and lay the groundwork for future language skills. Introducing AAC systems early on and ensuring frequent exposure are essential for natural integration. Parents and caregivers must …

Functional Investigation Of Shaggy, An Inhibitor Of Canonical Wnt Signaling, In The Tardigrade Hypsibius Exemplaris, Raul A. Chavarria

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tardigrades have a highly simplified anteroposterior (AP) axis. The mechanisms that regulate the development of this secondarily simplified AP axis are not known. In many animals, the canonical Wnt (cWnt) signaling pathway regulates primary axis establishment through antagonistic interactions with inhibitors of cWnt signaling. This study investigated the roles of shaggy, an inhibitor of cWnt signaling, in regulating development in the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris. Gene expression patterns of shaggy and other components of the cWnt signaling pathway were analyzed alongside markers of anterior and posterior identity using Hybridization Chain Reaction in situ in H. exemplaris. RNA interference …

Examining Potential Causal Associations Of Sedentary Time And Physical Activity With Heart Failure Using Subjective And Objective Measures: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis, Jessica Geller

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the causal relationship between both subjectively and objectively measured sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) with heart failure (HF) risk, utilizing Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach.

Methods: The present MR used genetic instruments identified for self-reported ST and PA extracted from 51 genome wide association studies (GWAS), encompassing data from 703,901 individuals. The GWAS identified 89 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with leisure screen time. Eleven loci were reported to be associated with moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). From another GWAS examining accelerometer-based activities, three loci were found to …

A Clustering-Based Approached To Analyze Impacts Of Digital Divide On Undercounting Issues In Census In Florida, Partha Protim Datta

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

According to the US Census Bureau 2020 data, Florida is one of the six states where the population was undercounted. The census in the US is conducted every ten years and plays a pivotal role in shaping government representation, resource allocation, policy making and federal assistance distribution. Consequently, undercounting of population impacts demographic equality, potentially leading to inequitable distribution of resources. The state of Florida will lose billions of dollars by the end of the decade due to this undercounting issue. So, it is an important task to find the proper reason and sources of undercounting in Florida. The US …

Moving Beyond The Barriers: Understanding How Youth Development Professionals Advocate For Disability Inclusion Within Mentoring Programs, Genelle C. Thomas

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite the proven youth development benefits of mentoring programs, youth with disabilities are often excluded from these opportunities. Fortunately, training and certification programs exist to support organizations in improving disability inclusion strategies and practices. Despite these opportunities, organizations still regularly struggle with making meaningful changes in this area. Therefore, it is important to understand how graduates of these training and certification programs experience facilitators and barriers to disability inclusion, what advocacy strategies they leverage to address these barriers, and how they impact their organizations to become more inclusive of youth with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to further …

Anomaly Detection Approaches Of Energy Storage Systems Using Kalman Filter And Machine Learning Techniques, Phadungsak Tubuntoeng

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The increasing prevalence of cyber-attacks poses a significant concern, particularly within critical infrastructures like the power system. Such attacks have the potential to cause substantial impacts on essential services, economic stability, and national security. Energy storage systems (ESS) are integral components of the power grid and are particularly vulnerable to cyber threats. These vulnerabilities can be exploited through various means, including two-way communication, web portals, and remote access.

Given the critical nature of ESS, the ability to detect and mitigate malicious cyber-attacks is imperative. Various methods can be employed for cyber-attack detection, including signature-based, anomaly-based, and behavior-based approaches. In this …