Digital Commons Network^™

Review Of Aashtoware Pavement Me Design Version 3.0, Jusang Lee, Jongmyung Jeon, John E. Haddock

JTRP Technical Reports

This study evaluated the differences between AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design (PMED) Version 2.6 and Version 3.0 using representative Indiana pavement structures and traffic conditions. PMED Version 3.0 introduces several major updates, including adoption of the MERRA-2 climate database, revised rigid pavement slab-base interaction models, updated calibration coefficients, and support for Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR)-based asphalt binder grading. Because the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) currently uses PMED Version 2.6 with locally calibrated distress models, evaluation of Version 3.0 was necessary prior to implementation. A total of 114 pavement design files representing full-depth asphalt pavements, asphalt overlay pavements, and Portland …

How Does Economic Policy Uncertainty Affect Individual Contributions To Retirement Accounts?, David I. Becker

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study tests whether Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) is associated with U.S. retirement contributions and whether responses differ across account types. Using annual contribution data for defined contribution plans and Traditional and Roth IRAs with the Baker, Bloom, and Davis EPU index, I estimate multivariate regressions with standard macroeconomic controls and compare contemporaneous and lagged specifications. EPU is positively associated with 401(k) contributions, negatively associated with Traditional IRA contributions in the contemporaneous model, and not statistically significant for Roth IRAs. These results suggest uncertainty may shift how households save for retirement rather than uniformly reducing retirement saving.

Associations Between Oral Hormonal Contraceptive Use, Digestive And Other Health Symptoms In Young Women, Silviana E. Buzatu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Oral hormonal contraceptives (OHCs) are widely used among reproductive-age women; however, their gastrointestinal (GI) side effects remain understudied. The present study examined associations between OHC use, GI, physical, and psychological symptom burden in a large sample of undergraduate women. Participants (N = 669) aged 18 to 25 years were recruited from UCF’s SONA system and classified into three groups based on self-reported contraceptive status: no birth control, combined estrogen–progestin OHC, and progestin-only OHC. Participants completed GI questionnaires, as well as physical and mental health symptoms ones.

Multivariate analyses indicated that overall GI symptom profiles did not differ significantly by birth …

Self-Reported Psychological Effects Of Rock Climbing In Adults On The Autism Spectrum, Brennan Gleason

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Prior research has shown rock climbing to have considerable therapeutic potential through such mechanisms as boosting self-esteem, promoting mindfulness, and creating a supportive social community. (Liu et al., 2022, Osborne et al., 2025). Meanwhile, autistic adults experience mood disorders at a significantly higher rate than the general population; upwards of 54% are diagnosed with a psychiatric condition (Croen et al., 2015). Many of the issues negatively affecting autistic adults align with the benefits of rock climbing, including low self-esteem, inadequate social support, and anxiety.

Objective: This study aimed to find differences in mental health outcomes between autistic adults who …

Health Care Governance And Structural Exclusion In Florida: A Human Rights Analysis Of Access For Latinx Communities, Natalie Medrano

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Access to health care in the United States is a complex system shaped by statutory programs and the discretionary powers of state governance. This thesis examines how Florida’s healthcare system structures access through administrative design, with particular attention to its impact on Latinx communities. Although formally race-neutral, Florida’s reliance on Medicaid non-expansion, managed care delivery, and complex eligibility processes produces systemic barriers that limit access for low-income populations. Drawing on the international right-to-health framework articulated in General Comment No. 14 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, alongside Latinx Critical Race Theory (LatCrit), this study analyzes how …

Transforming Florida Chemistry Education: Exploring Information Literacy Strategies From Singapore, Han N. Le

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study explores the applicability of Singapore’s information literacy (IL) strategies within Central Floridian higher education environments. Singapore’s national IL framework, supported by its Ministry of Education, integrates information and communication technology (ICT), professional development, and lifelong learning initiatives through a standardized, systemwide approach. In contrast, IL instruction in the United States is largely decentralized, often limited to one-time sessions or elective courses. To investigate the feasibility of adapting Singapore’s practices, surveys were distributed to faculty and librarians across Florida’s twelve public universities, yielding responses that highlighted varying levels of IL integration, limited institutional support, and minimal professional training related …

A Systematic Literature Review Of The Possible Negative Impacts Of Overconsumption Of Mass Media And Technology On Elementary-Aged Members Of Generation Z (1997–2012) And Generation Alpha (2013–2024), Ashya Y. Warren

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis explores the possible negative impacts of overconsumption of mass media and technology on the elementary-aged members of Generation Z (1997-2012) and Generation Alpha (2013-2024). This research is aimed at establishing the relationship between excessive and uncontrolled exposure to digital media and cognitive, emotional, social, behavioral, and academic difficulties at a critical period of child growth. The purpose of this systematic literature review can be explained by the author's experience with technology overuse and professional interests as a future teacher, who should be prepared to help promote healthy childhood and development. The systematic literature review was based on peer-reviewed …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Nurse-Led Prenatal Education On Maternal Outcomes And Labor Satisfaction, Alexis Boris

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Prenatal education has been a long-time major component of maternal healthcare, which has been known to impact expectant mothers and their level of preparedness during the labor and birthing process. Nurses have historically been key educators in the maternity field, due to their accessibility, education, and holistic approach in the healthcare system. Despite their recognition as vital educators in this field and the importance of maternal prenatal education, maternal healthcare is still affected by many modern-day factors, such as access to healthcare and education, health disparities, and negative childbirth experiences. This integrative literature review aims to evaluate the overall effectiveness …

Slay Her: The Rhetoric Of Violation In Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Lea N. Wright

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This research draws on feminist theory and monster theory to perform a close rhetorical analysis of incidents in the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy) where female characters are violated physically, psychologically, and/or sexually. Buffy is one of the most-analyzed television shows of all time, with a particular emphasis on the show’s engagement with feminism; however, the issue of violation has received little scholarly investigation despite multiple instances of it within the show. Through examining the rhetorical elements (such as dialogue, camerawork, body language, and character response) that surround incidents of violation, this research reveals that Buffy …

Bodies Of Knowledge: The Accuracy Of Medical Anatomical Drawings From The 14th To The 18th Century, Marina G. Mitchell

Honors Undergraduate Theses

From the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries, European anatomical illustration underwent major transformations in response to changing scientific methods, technologies, and visual conventions, reflecting critical transitions in anatomical history. Scientific evolution allowed these images to achieve increasing structural precision and internal detail, though they frequently diverged from anatomical forms as they are understood today. This study examines how anatomical inaccuracies across five centuries emerged not from ignorance, but from deliberate mediation between purpose, observation, pedagogy, artistic convention, and cultural ideology. Through close analysis of works in visual comparison to their modern counterparts, this thesis identifies specific deviations from the twenty-first …

Gen Z Perspectives On Mental Health Service Interaction: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Reddit Discourse, Victor A. Aguiar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Compared to prior generations, Generation Z engages with mental health and mental health service interaction in distinct ways, frequently using social media platforms to share experiences, concerns, and opinions. Previous research has examined mental health discourse on Reddit; however, much of this work relies on inductive thematic approaches and offers limited focus on mental health service interaction and the factors influencing utilization. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study examines how Generation Z discusses mental health service use through online discourse. Public Reddit posts authored by users identifiable as Generation Z, based on self-reported age, school enrollment, …

Social Determinants Of Health Affecting Cardiovascular Health Among South Asian Americans, Ann Mary Thomas

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: South Asian Americans experience disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease, yet the social determinants contributing to these disparities remain understudied.

Objective: This systematic review examines the role of social determinants of health (SDOH) in shaping cardiovascular outcomes among South Asian Americans.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science using predefined search terms related to South Asian populations, cardiovascular health, and SDOH. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 reporting guidelines, and study screening and management were performed using Covidence. A total …

Socioeconomic Stressors And Their Association With Anxiety And Depression In Undergraduate And Graduate Students, Shreyaashri Selvakumar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Socioeconomic status (SES) is a social determinant of mental health that may influence the prevalence of anxiety and depression in undergraduate and graduate students. Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often encounter financial, academic, and social stressors, which may contribute to poorer mental health outcomes. This study investigates the association between SES-related factors and symptoms of anxiety and depression in undergraduate and graduate students. Data were collected from a large national survey of students in various degree programs and included measures of financial circumstances, food and housing insecurity, access to mental health services, and other demographic variables. Symptoms of depression and …

Perceptions Of Illicit Drug Use And Perceived Drug Misuse Risks Among Individuals With Military Experience, Emilia Havlicek

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study investigates perceptions of illicit drug use and perceived drug misuse risks among individuals with military experience in the United States, highlighting how military service shapes attitudes toward substance misuse. Using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this research examines the influence of military status, combat exposure, PTSD, gender, and sociodemographic factors on perceptions of drug-related risk. Findings indicate that while most individuals perceive illicit drug use as highly risky, important differences exist among subpopulations, particularly female veterans, who are more likely to perceive lower levels of risk. The study explores how military culture, …

Neighborhood-Level Social Vulnerability And Cognitive Outcomes In Older Adults With Solid Tumors, Ahmed Qaedi, Ariann Nassel, Mackenzie Fowler, Elizabeth Baker, Smith Giri, Gabriela Oates, Grant Williams, Noha Sharafeldin

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2026 research poster

Powered By People: Staffing And Capacity In Library Publishing Programs, Michelle Brailey, Melissa Chim, Lauren Collister, Heather Hankins, Alyssa Huffman, Bailey Lake, Barbara Loomis, Miranda Phair, Anita Walz

LPC Publications

This report is comprised of the results of the LPC’s Staffing Survey where respondents answered questions related to staffing and capacity within their library publishing programs.

Exploring The Role Of Dialogue In Student Development And Knowledge Generation, Alison Warren

Indiana STEM Education Conference

In classrooms where students are given the space to engage in dialogue, ask questions, and negotiate ideas, science learning comes to life. Providing opportunities for students to negotiate ideas publicly, through dialogue, then privately, through writing has the potential to maximize student idea generation. Although dialogue is widely recognized as important for engagement and communicating ideas, it has also been framed as an epistemic tool. However, the role of dialogue as a sense-making process or epistemic tool, and its relationship to other forms of language, remains under-explored. This study addresses this gap by investigating the role of dialogue and how …

Investigating The Interaction Of Gram-Positive Lactobacillus Species With Mucin In The Context Of Barrett's Esophagus, Ritisha Suresh

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) can progress to the precancerous Barrett’s Esophagus (BE) condition, in which the normal esophageal squamous epithelium is replaced with a columnar epithelium containing goblet cells. Mucins, sticky substances, are secreted in response to bile acid exposure during reflux episodes to protect the esophageal epithelium. Goblet cells secrete these mucins, which can also scaffold microbial colonization. Probiotic Lactobacillus bacteria can use glycosidase enzymes to process mucin and metabolize them into their component sugars (glycans). This project aims to identify the role of the Lactobacillus-mucin interaction in BE, as glycan availability could confer an advantage to Lactobacillus …

Investigating Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Cardiometabolic Outcomes Among Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: An Umbrella Review, Gianna C. Santoni

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinological disorders affecting women of reproductive age. Due to the possibility of a genetic component affecting women with PCOS, evidence supports varying health outcomes among racial and ethnic groups. This literature aims to answer the question: Does the prevalence of cardiometabolic outcomes differ among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome across racial/ethnic groups? This umbrella review was conducted in accordance with JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and PRIOR reporting guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO (CRD420261303872) before completion. PubMed, MEDLINE via EBSCOhost, and Web of Science via EBSCOhost were searched from …

Tariffs And The Progressive Fiscal Constitution, Lawrence J. Liu, Alex Zhang

Faculty Articles

For more than a century, progressive taxation has constituted the American fiscal state. A resurgent and expanding tariff regime, however, threatens that commitment to progressive distribution. Given the ongoing popularity of tariffs, this Article examines how they might be designed and administered in a way that mitigates their regressive distributive impact. The Article thus develops and assesses proposals to (1) vary tariff burdens in accordance with the consumption of imported goods, (2) reduce income- or payroll-tax burdens on lower-income households, and (3) earmark tariff revenue for specified spending programs. Although none is perfect, we seek to articulate possibilities and highlight …

Data And Code For: Combined Effects Of Forest Fire And Climate Warming On Seasonal Snow In The Western Oregon Cascades, Joseph D. Vigil

Environmental Science and Management Datasets

This dataset supports a study examining the combined effects of forest fire and climate warming on seasonal snow in the Breitenbush watershed of the western Oregon Cascades. The archive includes daily SnowModel snow water equivalent outputs for forested, current post-fire, mid-century, and end-century climate scenarios; field meteorological and manual snow observations; station metadata; modified SnowModel code used to represent post-fire snow-albedo decay; and R code used to calculate snow metrics and statistical comparisons reported in the associated manuscript. Derived results and documentation are included to support reproduction of the primary analyses.

Using Low-Cost Sensors For Source Attribution And Health Assessment: An Air Quality Study In Brownsville, Texas, Sai Deepak Pinakana, Kabir Bahadur Shah, Daniel Jaffe, Juan L. Gonzalez, Owen Temby, Gabriel Ibarra-Mejia, Amit U. Raysoni

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Air quality monitoring remains a challenge in areas lacking or having sparse federal monitoring infrastructure, posing significant barriers to public health research. This study demonstrates the usage of low-cost sensors in addressing gaps in air quality monitoring, source attribution, and health risk assessment in a Brownsville, TX neighborhood impacted by emissions from a barite and celestite mineral processing unit. PM2.5 concentrations were measured using PurpleAir sensors deployed across three residential locations, with the site nearest to the processing unit recording a 24-h averaged PM2.5 concentration of 25.12 μg/m3—approximately 2.79 times higher than the nearest Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) …

Academic.Journey_Scan30, Fcrh Honors Program

Exhibit '75 Years of the Honors Program

A booklet depicts the trajectory of Honors students’ academic journeys, detailing coursework opportunities, students’ experiences from study abroad, and Honors Program traditions from year to year.

Sustainable Healthcare In Action: Six Practice Changes That Make A Difference, Christine Catling, Carol Crevacore, Melisa Young, Wayne Varndell, Jack Cornish, Sue Sheppard-Law, Elaine Correia Moll

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Problem: Planetary health, linking the well-being of human populations with the stability of Earth's natural systems, is increasingly recognised as essential for all organisations. Healthcare is a major contributor to environmental harm, responsible for an estimated 4.4% of global net emissions. As a result, healthcare workers have an important role in driving sustainable, low-waste practices within clinical settings. Aim: This paper outlines six practical, evidence-informed changes that can be introduced within healthcare organisations: adopting reusable tourniquets, reducing unnecessary glove use, recycling medication blister packs, promoting reusable nappies, using reusable or compostable blueys, and reintroducing stainless steel holloware. Discussion: These examples …

The Role Of Games In Hospitality Management Education, Arghavan Hadinejad, Samira Zare

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Building upon game-based learning, this study compares hospitality students’ cognition, metacognition, engagement, satisfaction, and performance in a course across two academic terms at an Australian university. One term featured teaching content without any games while the second term incorporated gamification. A quasi-experimental design was used in which surveys, interviews and students’ evaluation reports were utilized. Students demonstrated more favorable cognitive thoughts, and higher levels of engagement and satisfaction in the gamified course. Students’ performance in assessments across the two courses as well as their metacognition were found to be similar. This study presents a game effectiveness matrix with Kahoot as …

Proactive Safety Reasoning In Human-Robot Collaboration In Disassembly Through Llm-Augmented Stpa And Fmea, Morteza Jalali Alenjareghi, Fardin Ghorbani, Samira Keivanpour, Yuvin Adnarain Chinniah, Sabrina Jocelyn

Études primaires

Disassembly tasks in human–robot collaboration (HRC) environments present safety challenges due to hazardous materials, control system variability, and physically demanding operator tasks. To address these challenges, we propose an AI-augmented risk assessment framework integrating System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). This framework is implemented in four configurations: Term Frequency– Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF), Fine-tuned Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and RAG with a structured Knowledge Graph (KG) built from safety standards. The system supports real-time, standards-compliant safety reasoning by generating interpretable, context-specific recommendations. We evaluate these configurations across GPT-3.5 TURBO, GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and …

Analysis Of The Functional And Acoustical Comfort Of Earplugs Experienced By A Group Of Workers In Canadian Companies And Identification Of The Influencing Variables, Bastien Poissenot-Arrigoni, Olivier Doutres, Alessia Negrini, Djamal Berbiche, Franck Sgard

Études primaires

Earplugs are essential for hearing protection in noisy workplaces, but their effectiveness depends heavily on user comfort, which influences proper and consistent use. This study explores functional and acoustical comfort experienced by 173 workers across Canadian companies, each testing different ’disposable or reusable’ earplug models over seven weeks. Comfort is assessed using detailed questionnaires covering six subdimensions: ease of insertion and removal, noise protection, impact on work, and discomfort related to internal and external noise perception. Linear mixed-effects models are applied within a triad framework encompassing person-, earplug-, and environment-related characteristics in order to identify those with a significant influence …

A Scalable Magnetic Field Mapping Approach For Pouch-Type Lithium-Ion Batteries, Luiz G.C. Melo, Chun H. Law

Études primaires

Ensuring safety in energy storage systems increasingly relies on advanced diagnostic tools, among which magnetic field mapping plays a critical role. This work aims to develop and validate a high-sensitivity magnetic field sensor array for accurate field mapping and preliminary battery diagnostics. We present a 4 × 4 array of magnetic sensors integrated with a calibration procedure to ensure accurate output. The system was experimentally tested by characterizing the magnetic field generated by two planar copper conductors. Finite element simulations were performed for comparison and validation. Experimental measurements exhibited strong agreement with the simulation results, confirming the reliability of the …

If Only Pickups And Vans Could Fly: Vehicle Maintenance And The Challenge Of Safely Lifting Large Vehicles On A Two-Post Lift, Damien Burlet-Vienney, Sylvie Beaugrand, Maud Gonella, Bertrand Galy, Élise Ledoux

Études primaires

The use of automotive lifts requires mechanics to work under or near a multi-ton load. Based on consultation with stakeholders, pickups and vans appear to pose problems when raised using two-post above-ground lifts (2PAG lifts), the most common type of automotive lift in garages. The aim of this study is therefore to highlight the work activity performed by mechanics when raising pickups and vans on 2PAG lifts and to describe the factors they take into account to ensure vehicle stability. Data collection took place under actual conditions in five garages. A total of 108 lifting situations were filmed and analyzed, …

Lung Inflammation From Daily Exposure To Airborne Particulate Matter In A Trade School, Kynda Tinawi, Céline Plante, Alan Da Silveira Fleck, Édith Giasson, Isabelle Valois, Caroline Couture, Eva Suarthana, Maximilien Debia, Audrey Smargiassi

Études primaires

Background Workers are exposed daily to various airborne chemical agents, however, associations between daily exposures to particulate matter and lung inflammation in occupational settings have been little explored. Objective To estimate the association between daily occupational exposure to respirable (PM4 and PM2.5), ultrafine particles, their oxidative potential, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide within apprentices in a school of construction trades. Methods We used a repeated measures design over 5 consecutive days in 56 apprentices from 3 construction trade sectors (bricklaying, welding, and carpentry). Fractional exhaled nitric oxide was measured each day post-work. Personal and work area daily PM4 were collected …