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Revolutionizing The Way We Hear Music Through Cross-Genre Music Production, Nissi Luvavali Jan 2024

Revolutionizing The Way We Hear Music Through Cross-Genre Music Production, Nissi Luvavali

Theses & ETDs

In my recent music project, I experimented with cross-genre music production by creating an original track that blended elements from multiple genres. I combined live electric guitars with live drums to create a unique sound that was both energetic and melodic. I also merged experimental Djent metal and exotic middle eastern instruments to create a lengthy track that combined multiple styles of metal and electronic instruments. After producing the original track, I decided to create two remixes of famous pieces of classical music, incorporating elements of orchestral music and metal. This allowed me to explore different musical styles and create …

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It’S All Just A Bunch Of Hocus Pocus: Reactions To Artifacts From One’S Own Or Another Religion, Raegan Thompson Jan 2024

It’S All Just A Bunch Of Hocus Pocus: Reactions To Artifacts From One’S Own Or Another Religion, Raegan Thompson

Theses & ETDs

Religiosity can manifest in many ways. This thesis makes a distinction between two different ways of being religious: securely or insecurely. Are these two manifestations related to how people respond to religious artifacts of their own or another religion? Are they related to the personality traits of agreeableness, openness, and narcissism? This thesis addressed these questions by exposing Wiccans and Catholics to a religious artifact and an accompanying story about either its Wiccan or Catholic origins. Participants then completed questions about their response to the artifact, religious security, and openness, agreeableness, and narcissism. The results show that both Wiccans and …

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Ocr Of Greek, Chloe Jones Jan 2024

Ocr Of Greek, Chloe Jones

Theses & ETDs

The goal of this thesis is to create a program which is capable of transliterating Greek manuscripts. An existing Transformer-based Optical Character Recognition (TrOCR) software was identified which is able to be trained on provided datasets. The model requires images of individual lines for its training data. This thesis deals with the effort to convert images which contain one to two pages of a manuscript into a series of images each containing a single line of text. The images are first preprocessed, being binarized and having OpenCV’s morphological filters applied. Using linear regression, it is then determined how many columns …

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Mitigating Affective Political Polarization On Social Media: A Literature Review, Xabier Rezola Jan 2024

Mitigating Affective Political Polarization On Social Media: A Literature Review, Xabier Rezola

Theses & ETDs

The creation of social media and news outlets have triggered an increase in political polarization, more specifically affective polarization. Proliferation of misinformation/disinformation, algorithms pushing people into filter bubbles, selective exposure leading to the development of echo chambers are just some of the ways social media can become extremely unhealthy and give way to high levels of affective polarization. There is no need to fret, not yet, as there are ways to mitigate the issue of affective political polarization, this thesis intends to look at these ways while attempting to answer the question “To what extent does affective polarization exist on …

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A Tight-Knit Community: An Ethnographic Study Of The Social Knitters Of Sarasota, Janie Day Jan 2024

A Tight-Knit Community: An Ethnographic Study Of The Social Knitters Of Sarasota, Janie Day

Theses & ETDs

This thesis presents a multifaceted exploration of those who knit with others and form communities through the knitting hobby. Utilizing ethnographic research from three interconnected knitting groups in Sarasota, Florida, interviews with six knitters, as well as the existing literature on knitting, I look into three major themes. First, I explore the implications surrounding the evolving identity of those who knit through the concepts of “old knitting” and “new knitting” and focus on how the knitters I spoke with perceive their own identity as a knitter. I also write about knitting’s previous confinement to the home and its recent transition …

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Sleep, Sebastian Mark Jan 2024

Sleep, Sebastian Mark

Theses & ETDs

This thesis delves into the realm of sleep issues and disorders, probing the intricacies of optimal sleep patterns and the factors influencing them. At the core of this inquiry lies the persistent question: “If sleep is paramount, why do some people struggle to attain it?” The research goal is to identify the biological and environmental elements that impede a person’s ability to obtain sufficient rest. I collected data about myself every day from January 4th to May 5th, from diary entries and a wristband that tracks physical activity and sleep metrics throughout the day and night. Using statistical analysis and …

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Evaluating Indicators Of Success And Sustainability In Community Forests, Brittney Hall Jan 2024

Evaluating Indicators Of Success And Sustainability In Community Forests, Brittney Hall

Theses & ETDs

Community forests are forests managed by local communities. They can be beneficial in socioeconomic contexts and can have positive impacts in supporting local biodiversity of plants and animals. Community forests are considered generally effective at countering deforestation and serve as valuable systems for local communities and as a response to climate change. However, the effectiveness of community forestry is dependent on a variety of socio-ecological factors, thus presenting a need for the success and efficacy of community forests to be evaluated and assessed in a rigorous and objective manner. The purpose of this thesis is to identify socio-ecological variables that …

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Enrichment Responses Of Captive Mammalian Carnivores, Megan Nigro Jan 2024

Enrichment Responses Of Captive Mammalian Carnivores, Megan Nigro

Theses & ETDs

This study examines the effects of simple enrichment on the behaviors of animals at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Wildlife Park. Animals included are all non-releasable for various reasons and consist of a Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus), two red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), two gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), two Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi), and a bobcat (Felidae rufus Floridanus). The behaviors of these animals were observed with and without a box. Following a randomized schedule, instantaneous sampling occurred every minute for one hour in the morning and one hour in the a��ernoon over eight days in February 2024. Inac��ve, …

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What Makes This Thesis Philosophy? Exploring Examples Of Systematic Discrimination At Multiple Levels Of Philosophical Discourse, Marshall Bustamante Jan 2024

What Makes This Thesis Philosophy? Exploring Examples Of Systematic Discrimination At Multiple Levels Of Philosophical Discourse, Marshall Bustamante

Theses & ETDs

Philosophy, as a field, has historically struggled to include women at every level. This is problematic; as a field, philosophy must include women in order to be more applicable to more people. I look at two types of discrimination that I think are responsible for the low numbers of women in the field, being discrimination based solely on gender and discrimination based on ideas. Discrimination based on gender can be defined quite simply as discrimination experienced solely on the lines of gender, whereas discrimination based on ideas can either focus on markers of identity, leading to people with those identities …

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Bombazos Y Belonging: Exploring Belonging And Connection Between Latine Students Through Dance At A Pwi, Gabriella Batista Quintana Jan 2024

Bombazos Y Belonging: Exploring Belonging And Connection Between Latine Students Through Dance At A Pwi, Gabriella Batista Quintana

Theses & ETDs

By utilizing dance and performance ethnography in tandem with the practice of bomba (an Afro-Puerto Rican dance, genre, and drum), this thesis seeks to understand the themes of belonging and connection amongst Latine students at New College of Florida, a predominately White institution (PWI). How may dance act as a safe space, or counterspace, for students of marginalized identities to foster a sense of belonging? Can connecting to one another, despite our cultural differences within the Latine diaspora, lend itself to finding “home” in an otherwise hostile PWI? According to this study’s participants, finding familiar aspects of one’s culture amongst …

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Upsides Of Cutting Down On Social Media: Potential Relationships With Self-Esteem, Self-Concept Clarity, And Social Anxiety, Sidny Hall Jan 2024

Upsides Of Cutting Down On Social Media: Potential Relationships With Self-Esteem, Self-Concept Clarity, And Social Anxiety, Sidny Hall

Theses & ETDs

Research on the relationship between social media use and self-esteem has shown mixed effects, some positive and some negative, and highlighted the importance of individual variables in determining the magnitude and direction of the relationship. The current study aimed to examine self-concept clarity and social anxiety as moderators in the relationship between reducing social media use and increasing self-esteem. Hypotheses predicted reducing social media use would increase self-esteem, low self-concept clarity levels would predict a greater increase in self-esteem than high self-concept clarity levels, and high social anxiety levels would predict a greater increase in self-esteem than low social anxiety …

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Exploring The Impact Of Shark Ecotourism On Shark Behavior And Public Perception, Alexia Craig Jan 2024

Exploring The Impact Of Shark Ecotourism On Shark Behavior And Public Perception, Alexia Craig

Theses & ETDs

Shark ecotourism is a popular tourist attraction that is increasing worldwide. Shark ecotourism is a form of tourism that focuses on observing and interacting with sharks in their natural habitats while promoting conservation, education, and sustainable practices. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of shark ecotourism on three specific shark species: whale sharks (Rhincodon typups), grey nurse shark (Carcharias taurus), and white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). This analysis will consider both the potential advantages and disadvantages that stem from behavioral changes linked to ecotourism activities. Moreover, the study aims to evaluate the constructive outcomes of shark ecotourism …

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The Fight Of My Life: Losing Hope And Finding Strength, Leighton Findley Jan 2024

The Fight Of My Life: Losing Hope And Finding Strength, Leighton Findley

Theses & ETDs

No abstract provided.

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Integrative Arts: They’Re Everywhere, Phynyx Soltis-Tatro Jan 2024

Integrative Arts: They’Re Everywhere, Phynyx Soltis-Tatro

Theses & ETDs

Frequently throughout human history, we question the nature of prominent concepts and ideas present in our lives. One such concept is that of the nature of art. Throughout my education, starting in high school and continuing at New College, I have been pursuing the notion of integrative and interconnected artistic ideals. While this has been a growing and ongoing study, the process came into focus last year during the conception of my fully original stage musical. This musical is called Symphony of A Survivor, and creating it provided me with an opportunity to experience the complexity of art firsthand. During …

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Birthmarks: Exploring Cultural Connections In Adult Asian American Adoptees, Celeste Kadzis Jan 2024

Birthmarks: Exploring Cultural Connections In Adult Asian American Adoptees, Celeste Kadzis

Theses & ETDs

The purpose of this thesis is to explore how transracial Asian American adoptees relate to their cultural heritage. To understand this I ask: 1) What are the different perspectives that adoptees choose to culturally reconnect to their cultural heritage? 2) What are the reasons why they might choose to or not choose to connect to their heritage? 3) How do adoptees wrestle with and reflect on their upbringing, transition into adulthood, and respond to current events? 4) How can public awareness of cultural diversity within the Asian American adoptee experience be increased? To answer these questions, I conducted ethnographic research …

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Crocodiles And Correspondence: Exploring Form In Qiu Miaojin's Literary Works, Carleigh Shourds Jan 2024

Crocodiles And Correspondence: Exploring Form In Qiu Miaojin's Literary Works, Carleigh Shourds

Theses & ETDs

The thesis explores the unique narrative structures in Qiu Miaojin's literary works, focusing on Notes of a Crocodile and Last Words from Montmartre. It delves into the epistolary form used in Last Words from Montmartre, illustrating how this method effectively communicates the narrator’s deepest self-reflections and societal critiques. Additionally, the thesis analyzes Notes of a Crocodile, highlighting the use of the notebook format that allows the narrator to confront and navigate personal and societal challenges. The thesis argues that Qiu’s narrative techniques are instrumental in enhancing the thematic depth of her works, which address issues of identity, alienation, and societal …

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Effects Of Covid-19 On The Pc And Pc Games Market: An Analysis Of Time Use, Zachary East Jan 2024

Effects Of Covid-19 On The Pc And Pc Games Market: An Analysis Of Time Use, Zachary East

Theses & ETDs

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, society became increasingly reliant on the internet and digital media due to the increasing need for remote work and learning, as well as entertainment. In this thesis, I present evidence in support of the hypothesis that the conditions of the early pandemic created an increased interest in personal computers (PCs) and a subsequent increase in PC gaming. This is supported by a mix of outside evidence and a visual analysis of data provided by the American Time Use Survey using Python and several of its visualization libraries. I also outline my creation …

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The Importance Of Lived Experiences: My Journey In Dance, Statistics, And Pedagogy, Olivia Nelson Jan 2024

The Importance Of Lived Experiences: My Journey In Dance, Statistics, And Pedagogy, Olivia Nelson

Theses & ETDs

This thesis aims to study my training in dance, theatre, and statistics as performance. The goal is to cover aspects of my life that led me to where I am today. From dancing at a small studio in a town no one has heard of, to performing a dance routine in a community theatre performance, as well as other performance training and experiences. I have gained a lot of valuable knowledge and techniques. In theatre, I immersed myself in a play as an ensemble member and took hands-on classes in college to gain theatrical experience as well. Additionally, I was …

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Early Environmental Progressive Pedagogical Practices, Alexandra Gates Jan 2024

Early Environmental Progressive Pedagogical Practices, Alexandra Gates

Theses & ETDs

Through a culmination of personal experience, it became clear that there was a great need for improved environmental education as global climate change and associated environmental degradation continue to rapidly worsen. In this, for education to be practical and accessible it needed to be geared towards public education, thus giving as many students the tools for a sustainable future. This thesis aims to work through education to foster environmental consciousness from an elementary age level, continuing beyond to create environmentally and socially responsible adults. In order to accomplish that goal this thesis begins with a literature review section to gain …

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Post-Traumatic Growth From Primary And Secondary Trauma By Finding Meaning Within Narrative, Shelby Nagle Jan 2024

Post-Traumatic Growth From Primary And Secondary Trauma By Finding Meaning Within Narrative, Shelby Nagle

Theses & ETDs

The present research focuses on lived and inherited trauma through analysis of self-report skills such as mentalization, cognitive emotion regulation, and demonstration of narrative construction. What is the relationship between caregiver trauma and scores of mentalization and cognitive emotion regulation? How does attachment play a role in the way an individual can identify benefits from inherited and lived trauma? Is identifying benefits associated with reduced depression and anxiety symptoms? To answer these questions, narratives were gathered within a survey constructed of self-report inventories and free-response questions. Data analysis determined a positive correlation between participants’ scores of parental trauma and scores …

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Marine Protected Areas: A Comparison Of The National Marine Sanctuaries Act And The Antiquities Act Through An Interdisciplinary Lens, Meilah Wimbush Jan 2024

Marine Protected Areas: A Comparison Of The National Marine Sanctuaries Act And The Antiquities Act Through An Interdisciplinary Lens, Meilah Wimbush

Theses & ETDs

Marine ecosystems are under threat by anthropogenic stressors such as pollution, increased endangerment of biodiversity, and exploitation of natural resources. Through the creation of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (1972) and the Antiquities Act (1906), numerous marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established for long-term protection of these crucial habitats. This thesis examines both forms of legislation through the use of two case studies alongside the approach of comparing the cases through a conservation versus preservation framework. The case studies helped determine different patterns and trends that resulted from each respective legislation which was then used to defend which environmental …

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The King Penguin: Growth In Writing, Isaac Tellechea Jan 2024

The King Penguin: Growth In Writing, Isaac Tellechea

Theses & ETDs

This thesis is composed of two sections: a collection of original short stories and poetry titled The King Penguin and a subsequent reflection on the creation of these works. The project as a whole serves as a space for an aspiring writer to execute an original literary idea and learn from the experience. The King Penguin attempts to de-automate the reading process by deviating from the traditional left-to-right structure of text, using multimedia components as a way to encourage the reader to engage with the works actively. The reflection focuses primarily on the intentions behind certain decisions made throughout the …

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Waterproofing: A Translation And Analysis Of The Works Of Mikhail Zoshchenko, Brendan Mcmahon Jan 2024

Waterproofing: A Translation And Analysis Of The Works Of Mikhail Zoshchenko, Brendan Mcmahon

Theses & ETDs

In this work I give a cursory examination as to the metaphysical and existential strains underlying Zoshchenko's works. I aim to look into the idea of newly created modes of being and the necessities of being in a newly formed context by examining the unique style and content of Zoshchenko's work. Following this are a selection of nine translated short works by Mikhail Zoshchenko

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Impact Of Human Population On Zoonotic Disease Transmission: A 22-Year Review (2000-2022) Of Rabies, Lyme Disease, And Hansen’S Disease In Florida, Margaret Kahl Jan 2024

Impact Of Human Population On Zoonotic Disease Transmission: A 22-Year Review (2000-2022) Of Rabies, Lyme Disease, And Hansen’S Disease In Florida, Margaret Kahl

Theses & ETDs

The Earth thrives under One-Health, a balance between humans, other animals, and environmental health. Zoonotic diseases can impact this equilibrium. In this retrospective review, I explore the impact of human population growth on zoonotic disease transmission, focusing on rabies, Lyme disease, and Hansen’s disease incidences in Florida from 2000-2022. While existing literature acknowledges various drivers that influence zoonotic disease transmission rates, limited attention has been directed toward the specific correlation with human population growth. Correlation and regression analyses were applied utilizing surveillance data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health, alongside demographic data …

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Quantification Of Serum Dna In Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Proton Radiation Therapy, Ayse Cemek Jan 2024

Quantification Of Serum Dna In Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Proton Radiation Therapy, Ayse Cemek

Theses & ETDs

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for men worldwide. According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2020 alone, 3,343,976 men were diagnosed with PCa in the United States, with an estimated death rate of 34,700 per year, and the estimated number of new diagnosed cases being 288,300 in 2023. Currently, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is the main method of screening for PCa: a blood sample is taken to measure levels of a protein that is generated by both healthy and cancerous cells of the prostate gland. However, the PSA test is not PCa-specific, but instead prostate …

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With The Flowers: A Collection Of Music Throughout My Time At New College, Samuel Worthington Jan 2024

With The Flowers: A Collection Of Music Throughout My Time At New College, Samuel Worthington

Theses & ETDs

“With the Flowers” is a collection of works throughout my time at New College (2021-2024) that I sought to pair with various types of drawing and photography work to emphasize this spontaneity, as well as a longing for what I and many others once had here. These techniques include: the use of nostalgic and gloomy chord progressions to portray this feeling of longing, rhythmic variance and syncopation to maintain momentum and spontaneity within the track, downsampling the original audio or midi to produce a glitchy feeling, duplication and trial and error with mixing of audio and midi tracks, drawing and …

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Network Effects And Economic Growth The Role Of Arts Clustering In Sarasota, Darwin Tepe Jan 2024

Network Effects And Economic Growth The Role Of Arts Clustering In Sarasota, Darwin Tepe

Theses & ETDs

An analysis of Sarasota's arts organizations reveals that Arts clustering is a critical factor in its urban economic and social advancement, offering a blueprint for economic development in similarly specialized regions. Sarasota is identified as demonstrating the specialist view of urban development, where its clustered arts organizations reap and produce network effects, enhancing both the city's cultural draw on tourists and its economic welfare. Additionally, previously published literature which aims to quantify Sarasota's arts exports is expanded upon. Sarasota's Arts cluster generates additional economic activity beyond what has been previously quantified, indicating the arts as a higher yielding asset than …

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How Has Sociality Shaped The Cetacean Brain? A White Matter Tractography Analysis, Isabelle Origlio Jan 2024

How Has Sociality Shaped The Cetacean Brain? A White Matter Tractography Analysis, Isabelle Origlio

Theses & ETDs

Dolphins and whales have long fascinated the public and scientists alike. Although there is interest in unraveling the mystery of dolphin and whales’ large brains and complex behaviors, cetacean brains have been studied relatively little. Different species of cetaceans demonstrate wide ranging patterns of social organization, which provide an opportunity to investigate the neural correlates of social behaviors. This study examined the amygdala of four dolphin and whale species to investigate the link between connectivity in this brain region and social behaviors. Connectivity of the amygdala was found to vary with social complexity of the species. Pilot whales are the …

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Cracked Reality: The Theater Of Chaos And Accessibility In Academia: Building A More Inclusive And Less Intimidating Environment, Remy Katz Jan 2024

Cracked Reality: The Theater Of Chaos And Accessibility In Academia: Building A More Inclusive And Less Intimidating Environment, Remy Katz

Theses & ETDs

Absurdist humor and horror is the only way to survive in the nonsensical world. Situational comedy, irony, and the macabre; this is the essence of the world of spontaneity. My work is fueled by the need to provoke unsettling emotions, leaving audiences to sit and digest feelings of discomfort and joy in the catharsis of humor. I mean, what’s more funny than watching someone have a mental breakdown? Like, come on, you’re not special, all of us are freaks. SO, I’m a bit of a freak. I like building on ideas as I produce art, feeding my emotions into all …

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The Next Generation Of Blue: Health And Autonomy Of Young Adults In A Blue Zone Region, Isadora Vitkus Jan 2024

The Next Generation Of Blue: Health And Autonomy Of Young Adults In A Blue Zone Region, Isadora Vitkus

Theses & ETDs

This thesis focuses on young adult perspectives amidst the data of successful aging and longevity of nonagenarians and centenarians in the world’s five Blue Zones. With lacking data on how the Blue Zone Power 9 principles are affecting young adult lives in Blue Zone regions, this thesis assessed the presence of and usage of the Power 9 principles in the studied young adult population. Chronic disease is also on the rise in several countries, and the imminent threat of disease for many young adults is overbearing. The stress that this worry brings can often lead to heightened cortisol levels in …

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