Digital Commons Network^™

Breaking The Vapor Barrier And Scale: Revolutionizing Steel Quenching With Ultrasound Technology, Anthony O. Santos

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The quenching process is a fundamental heat treatment used to enhance material properties by heating steel to its austenitizing temperature and rapidly cooling it to form high-strength martensite. However, this process is often hindered by two surface barriers: the Leidenfrost effect (vapor blanket) and oxide scale. These cooling limitations restrict the use of steel in high-performance aerospace applications due to inconsistent material properties and unpredictable engineering properties. This research investigates the use of fully submersible, 50-watt 40 kHz ultrasound technology to improve cooling rates in a Jominy test [4]. Through numerical simulations and experimental validation, the study demonstrates that acoustic …

Optimization Of Post-Processing Methods For Additively Manufactured Metals, Julia R. Carano

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification (UNSM) is a process used to change the surface hardness of flat-faced materials. It is a machining process using a high-powered laser and a blunt-tipped tool at high speeds which aims to improve the uniformity of the surface on most metals. By heating and pressing the surface of the workpiece, the grains of the material become less rounded and more cohesive on a microscopic level. This, ideally, results in a workpiece with improved material properties. The changes were previously observed through hardness testing.

Thermal Radiation Effects On Particles From Plasma Arc Radiation, Reece Davis, Joseph Mcgee

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Understanding the radiation heating and transport of both microparticles and nanoparticles is a phenomenon that is critical for both space and Earth sciences. In space, these particles are heated by plasma arcs within ionized space clouds or solar flares and can be present the path of deep space missions and orbital satellites. While on Earth, processes such as forest fires, nuclear fusion, and microchip manufacturing include the plasma arc heating of particles. These particles lay within the Mie Scattering Regime and Rayleigh Scattering Regime and emit radiation differently based on their diameter. New mathematical and computational modeling has been conducted …

Words Taking Root: The Psychological Effects Of Eco-Poetry On Eco-Anxiety And Connectedness To Nature, Erika Anderson

Psychology | Senior Theses

Eco-anxiety is fear and disorientation about climate change (Budziszewska & Jonsson, 2022) and is related to nature connection and pro-environmental behaviors (PEB; Curll et al., 2022; Jalin et al., 2024). Poetry therapy has aided a patient in developing new perspectives for coping with their eco-anxiety (Raile, 2024), but there is no research on the effects of eco-poetry on eco-anxiety. In the present study, participants read eco-poetry and reported their eco-anxiety, connectedness, and emotions relating to nature. I hypothesize that an optimistic eco-poem will lower eco-anxiety and increase nature connection, and the more participants engage in eco-poetry, the higher their eco-anxiety …

Fitting A Square Peg In A Round Hole – The Regulatory Landscape Of Cryptocurrency, Jaxon Hill

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

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 …

Repurposing Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors For The Discovery Of Novel Antiplasmodial Compounds, Ritam Bhowmik

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Malaria remains a major global health burden with over 282 million cases annually and rising resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies. Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal malaria parasite species in humans, relies on tightly regulated cell cycle progression during replication within red blood cells. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are central regulators of eukaryotic cell division and transcription, and several CDK-like enzymes in P. falciparum, including Pfmrk and PfPK6, are essential for parasite growth and structurally distinct from human kinases. This study evaluated whether commercially available human CDK inhibitors (CDKIs) targeting cancer pathways could be repurposed as novel antimalarial compounds. A library of …

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 …

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 …

Impact Of Lifestyle Factors On Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms And Quality Of Life Among College Students, Lina Saint-Hilaire

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study aims to examine the influence of certain lifestyle factors on the presentation of allergic rhinitis symptoms and the quality of life of college students. Factors of interest include residential setting, household cleaning habits, age of symptom onset, and exposure to household pets. Additional analysis includes assessment of the impact of allergic rhinitis symptoms on sleep. Using a cross-sectional survey design, student responses were self-reported through a paper survey distributed during tabling days at the University of Central Florida (UCF) main campus. Eligible participants had to be 18 years or older and current UCF graduate and undergraduate students. Survey …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Distribution And Morphology Of Catecholaminergic Axons And Terminals In Flat-Mounts Of The Whole Left Ventricles Of Rats: Tracing, Digitization And 3d Scaffold, Emily Liu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cardiac sympathetic innervation plays a vital role in regulating various heart functions, and its remodeling has been linked to a range of cardiovascular diseases. To understand cardiac sympathetic innervation and remodeling, it is important to elucidate the topographical distribution and morphology of sympathetic axons in the whole left ventricle. However, immunohistochemistry (IHC) on whole heart tissues presents challenges due to their thickness, as conventional methods label only small sections. This disrupts tissue integrity and neural connections. To overcome this, we developed a whole flat-mount technique to process the rat heart (ventricle thickness: 3 mm). We performed cardiac sympathetic nerve imaging …

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 …

Volume 27, Issue 2 Front Matter

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

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.

Analysis Of Stem Activities At Preschool And Primary School Levels In The Usa's And Turkiye's Educational Reports Based On The Engineering Design Process, Cetin Kursat Bilir, Mehmet Fatih Öçal, Esra Yilmaz Bilir

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This comparative study examines STEM activities from preschool to grade 4 in the United States and Türkiye using the Engineering Design Process (EDP) framework. Five activities from each country were selected based on national standards (NGSS in the U.S.; Ministry of National Education STEM Standards in Türkiye). Using qualitative content analysis, we examined how each activity reflects the stages of the EDP. The findings highlight ways to strengthen STEM education through design-based learning and offer teachers practical insights for integrating engineering design into early education.

Green Energy Innovation As A Theme For Integrated Stem Curriculum In K-8 Out-Of-School Learning, Humphrey Chinenye Ochulor, Paul Asunda, Swagata Sarkar, Comfort Temitope Aje, Deepanshu Gupta

Indiana STEM Education Conference

In this project, we developed a theme of Green Energy Innovation (GEI) for K-8 integrated STEM (iSTEM) out-of-school learning that includes scientific concepts, engineering design, mathematical measurement, and data collection. Anchored in engineering design (English, 2016), the researchers designed a curricular unit that included simple and complex solar car models. The researcher-designed solar car prototypes serve as STEM kits that support students’ iSTEM-based engineering design activities.

More Than A Design Task: How Questions Shape Student Attention And Learning, Isaiah Kent-Schneider

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Incorporating engineering design activities into education has the potential to transform learning and students' educational experiences. However, when teachers implement engineering design without asking purposeful questions to focus students' attention, students tend to focus on the task but miss out on the intended learning of underlying science and math concepts. This research brief provides practical examples of questions teachers can use to focus student attention during engineering design activities.

Impact Of Senescence On Breast Cancer Outcomes, Gracie Sous

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cellular senescence is a biological process in which damaged cells exit the cell cycle while remaining metabolically active and accumulating within tissues. Senescence plays a complex role in breast cancer progression, largely through the secretion of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors. These factors include a broad range of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and signaling molecules that can influence the tumor microenvironment.

Studies suggest that senescence may significantly promote cancer metastasis. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the genes involved in cancer progression and to improve understanding of how SASP is regulated, which is critical for improving breast cancer outcomes. The central …

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 …

Rac1 Gtpase Regulates The Scfβtrcp-Mediated Degradation Of Claspin And The Cellular Response Of Pancreatic Cancer Cells To Gamma Rays, Neha Chaudhary, Tabbatha N. Somers, Surinder K. Batra, Ying Yan, Michel M. Ouellette

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) are lethal tumors exhibiting resistance to most cancer therapeutics, particularly DNA-damaging agents. The

METHODS: Western blot analyses were used to assess the impacts of Rac1 inhibition on the components of the ATR/Chk1 cascade.

RESULTS: Here, we show that Rac1 inhibition disrupts ATR/Chk1 signaling by promoting degradation of Claspin, a key component of the fork protection complex needed for the Ser345-phosphorylation of Chk1 by ATR. In PDACs and normal pancreatic ductal cells, Rac1 inhibition (via inhibitors or siRNA) decreased Claspin protein levels without affecting its mRNA, reflecting a >3-fold reduction in Claspin's half-life. Claspin contains a …

Extracellular Vesicles In Prostate Cancer: Current Understanding And Future Perspectives, Balaji Perumalsamy, Parthasarathy Seshacharyulu, Raghupathy Vengoji, Nicole Shonka, Benjamin A. Teply, Surinder K. Batra, Sakthivel Muniyan

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Exosomes are nanoscale, lipid bilayer extracellular vesicles (EVs) actively secreted by cells under both physiological and pathological conditions. As key mediators of intercellular communication, exosomes carry a diverse array of molecular cargo, including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and metabolites, which can influence the function of recipient cells. Based on evidence from 2016–2025 across PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.org, this review consolidates current understanding of exosome biology in prostate cancer (PCa). We discuss exosome biogenesis, molecular cargo composition, and their functional roles in tumor progression, angiogenesis, immune evasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance of PCa. We emphasize the biomarker potential …

Mucin 5ac Modulates Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity Through Epigenetic Reprogramming Of Precursor Cells, Rachel J. Kehrberg, Namita Bhyravbhatla, Zahraa Wajih Alsafwani, Xiaoqi Li, Gopalakrishnan Natarajan, Imran Khan, Randall E. Brand, Maneesh Jain, Surinder K. Batra, Sushil Kumar

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is characterized by extensive desmoplasia, with heterogeneous cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) as a major component. However, the contribution of distinct precursor cells to CAF heterogeneity remains poorly defined. This study investigated the role of Muc5ac in modulating CAF heterogeneity by maturing precursor cells, including adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs), bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs), and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), into different CAF subsets. RNA sequencing of precursor cells treated with conditioned media from Muc5ac-proficient or -deficient cancer cells revealed distinct transcriptional profiles. Muc5ac significantly modulated the expression of Dnmts and Tets in AD-MSCs, promoting the acquisition of extracellular matrix …

Pancreatic Cancer Detection Consortium Biomarker Bakeoff: A Phase Ii Blinded Biomarker Validation And Panel Discovery Study, Ann L. Oberg, William R. Bamlet, Grant Izmirlian, Seetharaman Balasenthil, Surinder K. Batra, Masataka Hayashi, Daniel S. Herman, Michael A. Hollingsworth, Maneesh Jain, Ann M. Killary, Brianna M. Krusen, Suyu Liu, Shounak Majumder, Gopalakrishnan Natarajan, Subrata Sen, Lynette M. Smith, Sudhir Srivastava, Brian M. Wolpin, Kenneth S. Zaret, Michael G. Goggins

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

PURPOSE: The Pancreatic Cancer Detection Consortium (PCDC) performed a blinded Early Detection Research Network-defined phase II biomarker bakeoff study of blood-based biomarker panels. The aims were to evaluate panel performance, to compare the panels' performance with that of cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) alone, and to evaluate the performance of new combinations of the individual biomarkers.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Ten biomarkers representing eight biomarker panels and CA19-9 were evaluated using plasma, serum, and germline DNA from 140 stage I to IV pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases and 140 controls from three tertiary care institutions, with controls frequency matched to cases on age …

Iv Contrast For Mri And Ct In Patients With Kidney Disease, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways (Formally Known As Care Process Models)

No abstract provided.