Katherine Mims Crocker, Katherine Mims Crocker

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

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

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

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

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

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

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

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

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

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

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

Regional Oceanographic Controls On Water Column Nitrogen Fixation In Northern Australian Waters, Douglas G. Capone, Ajit Subramaniam, Yubin Raut, Joseph P. Montoya, Margaret R. Mulholland, Rachel Ann Foster, Miles Furnas, Edward J. Carpenter

OES Faculty Publications

Large blooms of the diazotrophic cyanobacteria, Trichodesmium, have been re-ported along the north coast of Australia and are readily evident in remote sensing images. During a research cruise in November 1999, we sampled from Townsville to Broome, examined Trichodesmium population densities and their rates of carbon and N₂ fixation alongside microscopy-based cell counts of them and other cyanobacte-rial diazotrophs. Additionally, we also enumerated the picophytoplankton community using flow-cytometry, measured bulk chlorophyll concentrations, carbon and N₂ fixation rates, and water column hydrography, enabling comparison of diazotrophic and picophytoplankton functional groups across the system. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis of physicochemical oceanographic …

Using Maximum Entropy (Maxent) Tool In Arcgis Pro For Species Distribution Modelling Of Pseudoscorpions In The Pacific Northwest, Elliot Toshihiro Cochran

Masters in GIS Practicum Reports

The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create Species Distribution Models (SDMs) is rising among many scientific disciplines. Many professionals who were not originally focused on GIS are increasingly becoming more invested in this technology. SDMs are widely used to estimate species’ potential geographic distributions and to evaluate the environmental factors that constrain their ranges. The presence-only maximum entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm implemented in the MaxEnt tool in ArcGIS Pro was used in this project to model habitat suitability for two species of pseudoscorpions, M. pacificus and an undescribed species, in Oregon and Washington. Presence points (of specimen sample locations) …

A New Playbook: The Future Of Collegiate Athletic Unionization In The Modern Administrative Era, Katherine Kennedy

Fordham Urban Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Unequal Shelter: A Constitutional Challenge To The Adams Administration’S Differential Treatment Of Migrants Under New York’S Right To Shelter Laws, Alexandra Arleo

Fordham Urban Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Federalism And Fair Housing: State Innovation Amidst Federal Retrenchment, Paula A. Franzese

Fordham Urban Law Journal

No abstract provided.

From Border-Based To Status-Based Mandatory Immigration Detention, Mary Holper

Fordham Urban Law Journal

No abstract provided.

A Case For Rule 413 And Evidentiary Rule-Bending In Sexual Assault Cases, Emily Gwydir

Fordham Urban Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Psychology Of Deception: Rethinking The Excited Utterance Exception For 911 Calls, Alexandra Spano

Fordham Urban Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Tick Lipocalin Triggers Mammalian Igfbp-3-Mediated Apoptosis In Macrophages And Keratinocytes, Krittika Nandy, P. P. Mahesh, Lichao Liu, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Hameeda Sultana, Girish Neelakanta

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Ticks secrete several molecules, including lipocalins, in their saliva during blood feeding on a vertebrate host. In this study, we provide novel evidence on the role of Ornithodoros turicata americanus tick lipocalin (Otlip) in modulating cytokine expression and in triggering apoptosis in mammalian macrophages and keratinocytes. The cytokine array analysis revealed significantly increased secretion of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) from murine macrophage cell line upon treatment with recombinant Otlip protein (rGST-Otlip) when compared to the secretion noted from cells treated with a control protein (rGST). Similar observation with cytokine protein array analysis was noted when murine macrophages were …

High Temperature Diffraction From Aerodynamically Levitated Materials, Chris J. Benmore, Stephen K. Wilke, David Lipke, Richard Weber

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Aerodynamic levitation combined with laser beam heating has become an established technique for studying the structure of materials at ultra-high temperatures and under non-equilibrium conditions. This article briefly highlights some recent technical and scientific advancements in understanding the relationships between a material's behavior and its structure, investigated using diffraction methods. It focuses on three evolving frontiers: sophisticated sample environments for accessing metastable states and reactive chemistries, high-flux photon and neutron probes to reveal atomic structure, and advanced computational modeling frameworks. Free from contamination, containerless processing (levitation) can minimize heterogeneous nucleation at the interface, enabling access to deeply supercooled melts or …

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 …

Radial And Carotid Arterial Pulse Signals For Assessing Cardiovascular Function At Rest And During Post-Exercise Recovery In A Heart Transplant Patient: A Case Study, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Mamun Hasan, Jennifer F. May, John M. Herre, Leryn Reynolds, Zhili Hao

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Aim: This study investigates the feasibility of using radial and carotid arterial pulse signals to assess cardiovascular (CV) function at rest and during post-exercise recovery in a heart transplant (HTx) patient. Method: Two micro-fabricated tactile sensors were used to simultaneously acquire arterial pulse signals at the radial artery (RA) and carotid artery (CA). Measurements were taken at rest and at multiple time points post-exercise on three subjects: an HTx patient, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; coronary stent) patient and a healthy control. An SDOF-TF-based time-frequency analysis algorithm was applied to extract a comprehensive set of CV parameters, including heart rate …

A Computational Approach To Graduated Centrifuge Profiles For Partial Gravity Planetary Environments, Cabell W. Jones

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Missions such as NASA’s Artemis and SpaceX’s Starship aspire towards creating permanent settlements beyond Earth. In order to achieve this goal, it must be considered that the gravity present on planetary surfaces such as the Moon (0.165 g) and Mars (0.378 g) may be insufficient to support human physiology for long term habitation. On near-Earth missions, issues such as muscular atrophy, neuro-ocular changes, cardiopulmonary variations, and bone mineral density loss have been observed proportional to the duration spent in microgravity. Further studies have suggested that the severity of these conditions scales linearly with decreasing gravity, meaning that astronaut health can …

Understanding Supply Chain Innovation, Kenneth B. Kahn, David P. Cook

Marketing Faculty Publications

Purpose – Supply chain innovation (SCI) represents a complex construct, capturing the interest of practitioners and researchers alike. There is no commonly accepted definition for the term, field research on the construct appears to be highly fragmented and industry examples demonstrate diverse ways in which it occurs.

Design/methodology/approach – Reviewing definitional literature and top winners of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ Supply Chain Innovation Award, this manuscript identifies salient points about SCI to guide continued research and industry practice.

Findings – Seven points are made about SCI. These pertain to its multiple definitions, technology, relationships, performance outcomes, conceptual …

Ideational Behavior And Occupational Identity Achievement: A Study Of Emerging Adult College Students Preceding Entry Into The Fouth Industrial Revolution Workforce, Carrington M. Faulk, Michael F. Kosloski, Philip Reed

Marketing Faculty Publications

As emerging adults transition into the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) workforce, it is essential to understand the factors that predict successful occupational identity achievement, as automation will impact human occupational identity crises. This descriptive cross-sectional study employed a correlational design to determine the degree to which ideational behavior predicts occupational identity achievement prior to entry into the 4IR workforce. Using a sample of 166 emerging adult college students from a Mid-Atlantic, diverse, four-year university, data were collected using Runco's Ideational Behavior Scale (RIBS) and Melgosa's Occupational Identity Achievement subscale (OIA). Results showed that ideational behavior significantly predicted occupational identity achievement …

Math Anxiety, Math Self-Concept And Math Self-Efficacy: A Study Of The Jingle-Jangle Fallacies, Marsha Natasha Durrant-Walker

Dissertations

Problem

The overlap and lack of clear distinction among the constructs of math anxiety, math self-concept, and math self-efficacy presents issues for research and practice. The literature reveals that math anxiety is closely linked to math self-concept (Klee et al., 2022). Additionally, math self-concept and math self-efficacy often overlap and are not easily distinguishable (Kranzler & Pajares, 1997; Pajares & Miller, 1994; Pajares & Urdan, 1996). Each of these constructs has been shown to play a critical role in student math achievement (Timmerman et al., 2016). -- When constructs are not defined or measured distinctly, inconsistencies may emerge in research …

Exploring Lessons In Research: A Survey On Parental Perceptions Of Reading Opportunities, Laura Kettlehut

Dissertations

Problem

This exploratory study examines how parents’ past reading experiences relate to their perceptions of their children’s current reading opportunities across home and school contexts. Grounded in longstanding literacy research, the study explores how parent‑led, educator‑led, and child‑initiated reading experiences collectively shape children’s literacy development.

Method

Two research questions guided the inquiry: (1) How do parents perceive their own past reading opportunities? and (2) How do they perceive their children’s reading opportunities at home and in school? To address these questions, a 41‑item survey was developed and administered to parents of children enrolled in K–8 schools. The instrument measured two …

A Qualitative Multiple Case Study Exploring Shifts In Thinking Of Principals Through Initiatives To Foster Relational Leadership Conducive To Retaining Teachers In High-Minority, High-Poverty Public Schools, Rita Seay

Dissertations

Problem

The public education system is broken, and teacher shortages have reached a crisis, especially in some specialty fields in United States (Carrillo & Salhotra, 2022; Podolsky et al., 2016). Lately, the teacher workforce has been described as a “leaky bucket” (Podolsky et al., 2016, p. 1). Indeed, the problems are complex in poor socioeconomic communities with racial and ethnic groups of students because teachers struggle to make a difference and, in most cases, fail due to insurmountable situations that are beyond their scope of influence (Rondfeldt et al., 2013). Evidence published that students suffer immensely from a broken, segregated …

Called To Lead: Leadership Journeys And Workplace Experiences Of Women Presidents In Seventh-Day Adventist Institutions, Gary Thurber

Dissertations

Problem

Although women constitute more than half of Seventh-day Adventist Church membership, they remain substantially underrepresented in senior leadership roles across North America. This disparity raises important questions about the historical, theological, organizational, and gender-related factors that shape women’s access to institutional leadership within the denomination. A growing body of scholarship has examined the life experiences of women clergy in the church; however, limited research has explored the experiences of women serving in presidential leadership roles within Seventh-day Adventist institutions.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the experiences of women serving in presidential leadership roles …

Rethinking Dfw In Gateway Mathematics: Preserved, Disrupted, And Dissipated Momentum Pathways To Student Retention, John Alan Nunnery, Charles Mathies

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This study examines how disaggregated first-year mathematics outcomes, including failure, low-passing grades, course withdrawal, and no attempt at a credit-bearing mathematics course, are associated with second-year retention at a large, diverse, urban public university. The study extends academic momentum theory by positing and operationalizing preserved (marginal passing), disrupted (failure or withdrawal), and dissipated (non-enrollment) as qualitatively distinct momentum states rather than a single condition. Using a segmented binary logistic regression model with more than 26,000 first-time, full-time students across ten entry cohorts (2012–2021), we estimate differences in retention by mathematics outcome, course type, and cohort context. Results show a pronounced …

Teachers' Perspectives On Inclusive Education For Children With Special Needs, Abakah Francis, Ava-Gay Annakaye Morgan, Emmanuel Ogheneovo Sodje, Francis Dugbartey, Gabriel Lagbel, Okezie Chika Chibundu

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Inclusive education is widely recognized as a key approach to ensuring equitable access to quality education for children with special needs, requiring teachers to possess adequate knowledge, skills, and supportive resources. In the Nigerian context, particularly in private schools, gaps in teacher training, limited resources, and insufficient institutional support continue to hinder the effective implementation of inclusive education practices. This study investigates teachers' perspectives on inclusive education for children with special needs in Nigerian private schools. The primary purpose is to assess teachers' understanding of inclusive education, their familiarity with effective teaching strategies, and their preparedness to implement inclusive practices. …

The Presidential Address To The Association For Career And Technical Education Research: Cte Research Ecosystem Growing Scholars And Workforce Capacity, Michelle E. Bartlett

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Career and Technical Education (CTE) research has advanced knowledge, strengthened communities, informed policy, and expanded pathways to opportunity for decades. As ACTER begins a new chapter, we are invited to imagine the future of our field beyond a linear pipeline. We can embrace a view of CTE research as a living ecosystem that grows talent, supports collaboration, and sustains discovery over time. This presidential address emphasizes three priorities for that future: applied research that reaches practice, mentorship that nurtures the next generation of scholars, and partnerships that ensure knowledge becomes action. By centering learners and communities in our work, we …

Partnerships Establishing And Sustaining High-Quality Youth Pre-Apprenticeship: Exploring Key Roles And Skills, Russel L. Parker, James E. Bartlett Ii, Michelle E. Bartlett

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This study examined the partners, roles, structures, and skills needed to develop and operate successful youth pre-apprenticeship programs for CTE programs and explored how they were evaluated. The purpose of the study is to provide insights for CTE leaders on developing and sustaining youth pre-apprenticeship programs, pathways to apprenticeships to offer youth career opportunities and livable wages without attending four-year colleges. This study highlights the roles partners play in successful youth pre-apprenticeship programs, emphasizing collaboration between education, industry, and communities. It identifies collaborators serving business functions such as leadership, marketing, finance, human resources, customer service, general management, public relations, and …

Infusing Authenticity Into A Service-Learning Program: Examining Long-Term Impacts On Professional Development, Mohan Yang, Jonathan Harbor, Belle Li, Jacqueline Nikiema

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Purpose

The employability of postgraduate students remains a critical concern in higher education, as postgraduate programs, particularly at the doctoral level, traditionally focus on disciplinary and research competencies. This leads to a lack of adequate preparation for employment, especially for non-academic roles. This study examines the long-term impacts of an authentic service-learning program on trainees' professional lives, with a particular emphasis on academia. This addresses the need for insight into the long-term impacts of initiatives that enhance postgraduate programs with opportunities for students to acquire transferable competencies prior to entering employment.

Design/methodology/approach

We adopted a narrative inquiry approach to investigate …

Religious Riders And The Sherman Act, Bailey Sanders

Faculty Scholarship

Can corporations engage in anticompetitive behavior on the basis of religious belief? While the answer may seem like an obvious no, in fact this question has largely been overlooked. It has hovered at the margins of the debate over religious exemptions: Proponents of religious exemptions have essentially argued that there is no harm in providing such exemptions to businesses because a competitive market will ensure consumers who might be denied services or goods by a religious firm can still obtain those goods and services elsewhere. But what if religiously minded businesses act in ways that are specifically designed to limit …

Are Private Equity Funds Liable For Anticompetitive Acquisitions?, Aslihan Asil, Paulo Henrique Alcantara Ramos, Amanda Starc, Thomas Wollmann

Faculty Scholarship

Private equity acquisitions grew tenfold over the past two decades. Over the same period, their focus shifted from financial engineering to industry consolidation, raising antitrust concerns. Heightening these concerns, privately backed acquisitions of competitors historically escaped detection by federal antitrust authorities in their incipiency because they fell below the reporting thresholds of the Premerger Notification Program. However, academic studies and agency investigations are now unearthing these transactions. Most salient is a recent complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission challenging a series of acquisitions stretching back ten years.

In the wave of litigation that is likely to follow this “groundbreaking” …