Rapid Electrochemical Biosensor With Enhanced Accuracy And Repeatability Using Pyrene Nhs Ester Modified 3d Graphene Electrodes, S. Nazir, D. Jenkins, G. Pan

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

A consistent and reproducible chemical modification of the transducer interface is essential to ensure effectiveimmobilization of bioreceptors, thereby improving the sensitivity and reproducibility of biosensors. Althoughnotable progress has been made in fabricating graphene-based biosensors, the effects of surface biofunctionalization on sensing performance remain not fully understood. This study shows that combining threedimensional (3D) graphene foam electrodes with a straightforward, single-step surface biofunctionalizationmethod is key to enhancing the performance of graphene-based biosensors. Specifically, it presents a single-stepapproach to functionalize the 3D graphene foam (Gii-Sens) with 1-pyrenebutyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimideester (Pyrene-NHS ester). Electrochemical techniques, including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulsevoltammetry (DPV), confirmed …

Picturing The Past: The Role Of Photo Cue Visual Perspective On Positive Autobiographical Memory Recall In Dysphoria, Sarah Snow, Zachary Adolph Niese, Julie L Ji

School of Psychology

Positive autobiographical memory plays a key role in emotional well-being and is distorted by cognitive processing biases in dysphoria. This experiment investigated how the visual perspectives (first-person vs. third-person) of personal photographs influence recall of positive memories depending on dysphoria. Eighty-five participants (42 low dysphoria, 43 high dysphoria) submitted photos of positive events from both perspectives. Later, participants recalled these events while viewing either a first- or third-person photo before rating and describing their memory. While first-person photos promoted more recall from an own-eyes vantage point regardless of dysphoria level, dysphoria was still associated with greater observer-like recall, reduced mental …

Numerical Study Of Air Vents Influence On Wave Forces Acting On Box-Type Bridge Girders With Cavities Under Storm Surge, Khalida H. Jihad

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Along with the continuous rise of sea level, direct interaction between elevated coastal structures, such as coastal bridges, and seawater during storm surge, has been shown to potentially cause bridge failures in the past. For example, Hurricane Irma (2017) generated storm surge levels exceeding 2-3 m in portions of South Florida, causing widespread transportation disruption including roadway washouts, erosion, and bridge approach damage along US-1 in Florida Keys. Similar failures have occurred during Hurricane Ivan (2004), where uplift forces displaced spans of the Escambia Bay Bridge, and Hurricane Ian (2022), which caused partial collapse of the Sanibel Causeway when elevated …

Investigating The Effects Of Pressure On Fe And Co Intercalated 2h-Tas2 Through First-Principle Calculations, Ronald E. Putnam Jr.

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Using first-principles methods, we investigate the effects of applied isotropic pressure on the electronic and magnetic properties of intercalated Fe1/3TaS2 and Co1/3TaS2. Fe1/3TaS2 has been shown to be a ferromagnet that undergoes structural and magnetic phase transitions under applied pressure. The magnetic phase transitions are observed to be linked to the structural shift, and a mixture of magnetic phase states is present between 3 GPa and 6 GPa. Co1/3TaS2 was found to be antiferromagnetic, as confirmed by experimental work. One- and two-unit-cell systems of Co1/3TaS2 are analyzed, both showing band splitting that disappears under pressure. The application of pressure forces …

What Novice Educators Find Supportive, Robin M. Bossinger

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Teacher shortages have increased in the past two decades, creating greater emphasis on recruitment, talent development, and retention efforts for educational leaders. Novice educators feature prominently in these considerations. A teacher’s first years can be extremely challenging, and induction, the professional learning experiences specific to early career professionals, is often considered the answer. Despite the seeming ubiquity of induction, there is much variability in interpretation, enactment and outcomes. While it is generally accepted that some induction is better than no induction, new teachers deserve more intentionally designed support.

This study sought to reexamine assumptions about induction, adding to the literature …

Exploring The Undergraduate Student Perceptions Of Sense Of Belonging At Their University: A Q-Methodological Approach, Jose Acevedo

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

       The transition to higher education is a significant life event requiring substantial social, academic, and psychological adjustment, during which a powerful sense of belonging is critical for student success and retention. While traditional models of student retention often prioritize support services and academic integration, they frequently overlook the intricate relational dynamics and deeply personal subjective experiences that shape belonging. This research utilized Q methodology to explore the multifaceted ways undergraduate students at the University of North Florida (UNF) understand and prioritize the determinants of institutional belonging. Guided by an integrated conceptual framework of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Self-Determination Theory, Social …

Finding Community: Addressing Doctoral Student Loneliness And Fostering Belonging In Higher Education, Sydney Hamrick

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Doctoral students often experience loneliness, isolation, marginalization, and other challenges related to belonging. While prior research has connected belonging to persistence, well-being, and academic success, little is known about doctoral students’ lived experiences of belonging and loneliness. This hermeneutic phenomenological study, grounded in Max van Manen’s Phenomenology of Practice, guided by the Sense of Community Theory and informed by a Transformative Worldview, explored how institutional, structural, relational, and personal factors shaped doctoral students’ experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological approach informed by van Manen’s lifeworld existentials, including lived relation, lived space, lived …

Teacher Judgment In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence: Collaborative Inquiry Into Generative Ai For Udl-Aligned Instructional Planning In Elementary English Language Arts, Melissa G. Metz

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This action research study explores how teacher-facing generative artificial intelligence (GAI), specifically Google Gemini, can support educators in UDL-aligned instructional planning within a Title I elementary school. Although AI is often discussed in terms of student-facing applications, less is known about how GAI can assist teachers with lesson planning, differentiation, and the demands of sustaining inclusive Tier I instruction. Guided by a conceptual framework integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and technology integration perspectives, the study engaged four educators in collaborative inquiry through AI Visioning Workshops, reflections, interviews, and planning artifacts.

Data were analyzed through iterative coding, analytic memoing, and …

Implementing Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support For School-Based Mental Health Services: An Explanatory Case Study Of An Elementary School, Laura Acker

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative explanatory case study examined how school-based mental health services (SBMHS) are implemented within an elementary school’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and sensemaking theory, the study examined how educators and school-based professionals interpret and enact their roles in supporting student mental health within educational contexts. Data were collected through interviews with five MTSS team members and analyzed using a combination of deductive and inductive coding. Results showed that mental health implementation is not a fully integrated system of supports but rather a process shaped by roles and relationships influenced …

The Un-Bridged Pipeline: Leading And Preparing Women Of Color To Senior-Level Higher Education Administration, Jacqueline D. Slater

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite increased educational attainment among Black women, representation in senior‑level leadership positions within higher education remains limited. This qualitative study examines the experiences of Black women who serve or have served in senior‑level academic administrative roles and explores how those experiences inform guidance, preparation, and decision‑making for future Black women leaders. The study focuses on practical barriers, workplace realities, and strategies that shape leadership entry, advancement, and retention.

Using a descriptive case study design, five Black women with professional experience as presidents, provosts, vice provosts, and academic deans participated in semi‑structured interviews lasting 45 to 75 minutes. Purposeful sampling ensured …

The Composition Of Gases From A Diffusion Flame Above Longleaf Pine Needle Fuel Beds, David R. Weise, Thomas H. Fletcher, Timothy J. Johnson, Weimin Hao, Russell G. Tonkyn, Catherine A. Banach, Javier Palarea-Albaladejo, Mahsa Alizadeh, Stephen Baker

Faculty Publications

The gas and tar composition of a wildland fire diffusion flame from longleaf pine needles is currently relatively unmeasured and more data are needed to fill in the gap between pyrolysis data and smoke plume data, thus improving physical and chemical modeling of wildland smoke formation. A pilot experiment to measure light gas and tar composition of such a flame is described for three flame zones: persistent flame (flame base), intermittent flame, and smoke plume. Flame gases from 24 experimental fires were collected in canisters and analyzed for CO2, CO, H2, CH4, and C2 to C7 hydrocarbon gases. Other light …

Experimental Investigations Of Cataract-Related Visual Degradation, Intraocular Lens Optics And Dynamic Stability, Sherrie Choy

School of Health Professions Theses

Cataract commonly occurs in older adults and is associated with degraded vision, impaired mobility and increased risk of falls. Cataract surgery restores transparency of the optical media by replacing the natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Modern toric and aspheric IOLs can improve optical quality and refractive outcomes; yet their potential impact on dynamic balance and fall risk is not well understood. This thesis used an experimental research methodology to examine how controlled changes in visual quality, arising from simulated cataract and from differences in IOL design, toric alignment and aberration profile, influence dynamic stability and gaze behaviour, …

Adherence And Compliance With Exercise Training In Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Rates And Correlates From The Cogex Trial, Cogex Research Team, Robert W. Motl, Andrew Argie, Roberto S. Hernandez, Brian M. Sandroff, Maria Pia Amato, Giampaolo Brichetto, Jeremy Chataway, Nancy D. Chiaravalloti, Gary Cutter, Ulrik Dalgas, John Deluca, Rachel Farrell, Peter Feys, Massimo Filippi, Jennifer Freeman, Matilde Inglese, Cecilia Meza, Maria A. Rocca, Amber Salter, Anthony Feinstein

School of Health Professions

Background: There is limited understanding of adherence and compliance rates for exercise training(ET) in people with progressive multiple sclerosis(PMS).Objectives: This secondary, exploratory data analysis examined rates of adherence and compliance for continuous, moderate intensity training and high-intensity intervaltraining(HIIT) and possible correlates among people with PMS from the CogEx trial.Methods: CogEx was a multi-site, multi-arm, randomized, double-blinded, and shamcontrolled trial undertaken by 11 sites in six di8erent countries. Participants(N=311) wererandomized into one of four conditions with di8erent combinations of ET and cognitive rehabilitation, including respective sham conditions, delivered twice weekly over 12 weeks.The analysis focused on adherence and compliance rates and …

Rethinking Remimazolam: Reconciling Regulatory Positioning With Clinical Reality, Theodora Wingert, J Robert Sneyd

More Faculty of Health Research

Goyal and colleagues share a large United States health system’s experience of 9431 cases of real-world remimazolam use, offering insight into current practice patterns, recovery times, and accurate adverse event rates. The authors report rapid recovery after remimazolam, including shorter time to post-anaesthesia care unit discharge readiness and faster return to baseline on the Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale following flumazenil administration, with a critical event rate of 0.7%. Interesting practice patterns were observed, including frequent co-administration with other anaesthetics rather than as a sole agent. Although only licensed for procedural sedation in the United States, the authors reported extensive use of …

Mapping The Role Of Occupational Therapy Within Primary Care Services: A Scoping Review, Katie-Mai Davies, Alison Warren, Sam Wakley

School of Health Professions

Introduction:Occupational therapy is named a key profession within primary care, with growing demand due to an ageing population and increase of people living with long-term conditions. Despite this, occupational therapy within primary care remains an evolving, under researched area of practice. This scoping review explored the role of occupational therapy within primary care including the populations and interventions currently provided.Methods:The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews was followed with systematic searches conducted across CINAHL, PubMED and AMED databases with grey literature also sourced. The findings are presented in tabular format and analysed using descriptive statistics and frequency counts …

Defining Consensus‐Based Components For Integrating Dietitians Into Primary Dental Care For Paediatric Populations: A Delphi Study, Lauren Hallewell, Raul Bescos, Zoe Brookes, Robert Witton, Patricia Casas‐Agustench

School of Health Professions

Background: Diet is a modifiable risk factor linking oral and systemic health, contributing to dental caries and weight-related outcomes (including underweight, overweight and obesity) in the paediatric population. However, dietary advice provided by dental professionals in primary dental care is often brief and sugar-focused, representing a missed opportunity to address shared risk factors. Integrating dietitians into primary dental care may support more holistic paediatric preventative care. Objective: To develop expert consensus on the components required to integrate dietitians into primary dental care to address diet as a common risk factor in paediatric oral health and weight-related outcomes. Methods: A three-round …

The Southeastern Librarian 73(4) Winter 2026 (Full Issue)

The Southeastern Librarian

No abstract provided.

Accessibility Services And Support In Small And Rural Academic Libraries, Robert M. Amerson, Deborah Tritt Harmon

The Southeastern Librarian

This exploratory study examines how small and rural academic libraries support students with disabilities. While grounded in a professional commitment to equitable service, these libraries often face challenges, such as limited staff, aging infrastructure, and stagnant funding. Survey results from 38 librarians reveal a strong dedication to accessibility, despite institutional constraints. Respondents identified barriers, such as insufficient training, inadequate resources, and minimal collaboration with campus disability offices. However, many also reported implementing personalized, student-centered services and cited the advantages of flexibility and close student relationships in small academic settings. The findings underscore the need for tailored support, increased training opportunities, …

Critical Connections: The University Of Tennessee And Oak Ridge From The Dawn Of The Atomic Age To The Present, Camille Mccutcheon

The Southeastern Librarian

Lee Riedinger, Al Ekkebus, Ray Smith, and William Bugg

Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2024

ISBN: 9781621906544

488 pp. $39.95 (Hbk)

Improving Efficiency In Noma Schemes Having Inter-User Interference Using Mechanism Design, Zory Marantz

Publications and Research

Modern wireless systems utilize non-orthogonal multiple access to increase their rate capacities; however, the efficiency of the individual utility defined in bits per Joule has yet to be considered. Multiple variations of non-orthogonal multiple access have the interference of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio as a function of the received power from multiple other users due to code implementations that are non-orthogonal or non-ideal cancellation in successive-interference-cancellation methods. Game theoretic concepts are used to improve user bits-per-Joule performance. Previous solutions increment transmit power and are not based on closed form systematic methods. The mechanism design presented here led to a non-cooperative Nash …

Reclaiming Agency: Ai Hallucinations And Translingual Interrogations In The City Tech Writing Center,, Joseph Franklin, Anna Laura Falvey

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Ancient Wisdom & Its Cultural Relevance: Reimagining Deeper Learning In Science Classrooms Through The Lens Of Yoga And Vedānta, Raaghav Pandya

Publications and Research

Contemporary calls to reconceptualize how science is taught and understood have brought deeper learning to the forefront of education at-large for its emphasis on critical perspectives, creativity, and student-centered inquiry. Yet this paper argues that its prevailing framework remains constrained by Cartesian dualism, a materialist foundation that disassociates the individual from self, other, and nature, and falls short of addressing the mental health, environmental, and cultural challenges facing youth today. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a complementary convergence between deeper learning and the contemplative traditions of Yoga and Vedānta, whose ancient paradigms of self-inquiry, interconnectedness, and well-being offer …

Role Conflict And Role Ambiguity Amongst U.S. Black Women In Executive Leadership: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Alyssa D. Claybrooks

Theses and Dissertations

Many Black women in executive leadership roles in corporate and/or business settings are being undermined, underpaid, overworked, and excluded despite their tenure or executive-level positions. This qualitative phenomenological study explored role conflict and role ambiguity experienced by Black women serving in executive leadership roles in corporate or business settings in the United States. The lived experiences, as described in narrative accounts, provided a platform for Black women to voice their stories, struggles, triumphs, and aspirations and offer insights into the broader context of role conflict and role ambiguity for Black women in executive leadership. The theoretical underpinnings of role theory, …

Flood-Regime Shifts Across The Lower Midwest, Usa: Identifying Patterns Through Flood Magnitude–Frequency Analysis And Clustering, Kaiser Mostafiz

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Flood regimes describe how flood behavior changes in magnitude, recurrence, and occurrence through time. Changes in these flood characteristics can affect flood hazards, river systems, infrastructure, and floodplain management. This thesis examines flood-regime change across the Lower Midwest, focusing on Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri from 1961 to 2020. Records from 1,452 U.S. Geological Survey gaging stations were initially compiled, and 208 stations were retained after screening for record availability and analytical consistency. Flood-regime change was evaluated between two 30-year study periods: Period 1 (1961–1990) and Period 2 (1991–2020). The analysis combined Log-Pearson Type III flood-frequency analysis using L-moments in …

Healthcare Students' Perspective On The Clinical Placement Learning Environment: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Third- And Fourth-Year Students At A College Of Health Sciences In The Uae., Wuni Abdul Razak, Fatima Alrayssi, Arwa Alkarbi, Latifa Al Saedi, Suliman Salih, Ajnas Alkatheeri, Mohamed Hassaneen, Mohd Nazmi Nordin, Mbambo Collen, Emne Hammoud, Shaik Balkhis Banu, Monika Sachdeva, Noon Kamil

Health Professions Education

Purpose: This study evaluates the clinical placement learning environment from the standpoint of Year 3 and Year 4 healthcare students in the UAE. Methods: The perspectives of healthcare students on clinical learning environments were studied using the validated Undergraduate Clinical Education Environment Measure (UCEEM). Third- and fourth-year (fifth-year pharmacy students inclusive) undergraduate healthcare students (radiography and medical imaging, emergency health, midwifery, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and psychology) (n=647) at a United Arab Emirates university were invited to participate in the study. The UCEEM contains 25 items under two overarching aspects, experiential learning and social engagement, with four subscales: learning opportunities at …

The Role Of Application Questions In Identifying Underrepresented Applicants In A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study, Michael Bourassa, Allison Bourassa, Saurabh Mehta

Health Professions Education

Purpose: The underrepresentation of U.S minority groups in the physical therapy profession remains a persistent challenge, with student enrollment in U.S doctoral education programs being the main pipeline to increase representation within U.S healthcare fields. This study aims to examine the association between non-academic application questions and applicant diversity in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Methods: The main outcomes measured in this study include demographic and cognitive variables, as well as non-academic application questions, for a single DPT program admissions cycle. Demographic variables include race, gender, and age, while cognitive variables include GRE scores and GPA. General non-cognitive question …

Effectiveness Of 3d-Printed Models In Undergraduate Dental Endodontic Education: A Systematic Review., Razi Jalali, Shankargouda Patil, Frank W Licari, Kamran H Awan, Shilpa Bhandi

Health Professions Education

Purpose: With the development of flexible polymers and stereolithography, 3D printed models have been proposed for dental education to overcome the shortcomings of extracted natural teeth and artificial resin blocks. This review aimed to systematically review the literature available for the effectiveness of the use of 3D printed tooth models for undergraduate endodontic education. Methods: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar electronic databases were searched. Clinical studies with full-text articles available in the English language were selected. Data extraction, risk of bias assessment using the ROBINS-I tool, and assessment of the …

Exploring Job Stressors And Burnout Among Core Faculty In Entry-Level Physical Therapist Education Programs: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study, Jj Ferguson, Adam Fritsch, Jodi L. Young

Health Professions Education

Purpose This study explored burnout among core faculty in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs, identifying its most prevalent aspects and key organizational correlations. Methods A convergent parallel mixed-methods design integrated quantitative data from the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Educators Survey and the Areas of Worklife Survey with qualitative data from semi-structured interviews. Data were collected concurrently, analyzed independently, and merged during interpretation. Quantitative analyses used multiple linear regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Results Eighty-one faculty completed the survey and 20 participated in interviews. Emotional exhaustion emerged as the most prevalent burnout dimension, with 51.9% reporting moderate to high levels. …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of The Well-Being Through Occupational Participation (Wbop) Intervention In Promoting Well-Being In Occupational Therapy Students From A Philippine University: A Convergent Mixed-Methods Study, Elena Wong Espiritu, Maria Concepcion Dc. Cabatan, Guia Allyza D. Rabacca, Marlowe Eriberto P. Acuña Jr, Jay Allen B. Villon, Peñafrancia E. Ching

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Filipino occupational therapy students experience decreased well-being during their educational experience. However, there is a limited amount of literature describing their well-being and a scarcity of culturally specific interventions to promote student well-being. The Well-Being Through Occupational Participation intervention is an evidence-based, manualized program consisting of a variety of occupation-based activities. The objective of this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a modified version of the intervention in promoting undergraduate Filipino occupational therapy student well-being.

Methods: A convergent mixed-methods approach was used, specifically longitudinal survey for the quantitative design and qualitative descriptive for the qualitative design. Data was …

Development Of A Faculty-Led Program To Improve Npte Readiness, Yaqiong Wang, Marlon Addison, Michael Hauber, Rachel Mcgraw, Karen Bock, Brendon Stewart

Health Professions Education

Purpose. The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is a multiple-choice examination that Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students must pass to obtain licensure as physical therapists in the United States. Recent national data show a concerning decline in first-time pass rates, dropping from 91% in 2020 to 82% in 2025.¹ This downward trend is also reflected at our university. These findings underscore the need for effective strategies to enhance NPTE preparation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to: 1) Describe a scaffolded model of faculty-guided exam preparation, designed to enhance students’ success on the NPTE during the months …