Digital Commons Network^™

Little Habits, Caitlin Rosolen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Little Habits is a body of work that explores the subject of coping mechanisms and defense mechanisms that manifest as psychological and physiological defenses resulting from long-term chronic stress and complex trauma. Emphasizing the physical tactility of flesh and bodily fluids, the use of soft, pliable natural fibers and glass beads and yarns, are purposefully found woven, entangled, and embedded within and through the reclaimed wood stretchers. Through mixed media installation, the series probes the intimate details of mechanisms in which symptoms of stress and trauma can manifest. Focusing on an overarching survey of maladaptive mechanisms, the work serves as …

Postpartum Depression And The Relation To Maternal Sensitivity In The Context Of Infant Fear, Ainsley Richards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The goal of this research was to examine if postpartum depression and maternal sensitivity are related, and how this relation manifests in mothers’ responses to their infants during unfamiliar mother-child interaction tasks compared to a routine interaction task. Participants included 55 mother-infant dyads. Dyads participated at one of three university sites across the United States. PPD data was collected from mothers when infants were 6 and 12 months old, while sensitivity data was taken when the infant was 12 months old. Results indicate that postpartum depression at 6 and 12 months is not predictive of maternal sensitivity within a non-clinical …

The Effect Of Huntington’S Disease On The Mechanical And Electrical Properties Of Red Blood Cells, Liliana Ponkratova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Huntington’s disease (HD) has an impact on brain tissues and can alter the biochemical properties of the peripheral blood. Evidence in existing literature suggests that peripheral mutant Huntingtin protein may be involved and deteriorate HD. Red blood cells (RBCs), being the most abundant type of cells in the peripheral blood, can show detectable changes in their biophysical properties due to subtle changes in cell membranes. These changes can offer a minimally invasive means to track the progression of the disease. The transgenic line R6/2 is used as the disease model. Utilizing the electro-deformation spectroscopy, we measured membrane permittivity, cytoplasm conductivity, …

Extracting The Future: An Analysis Of Petroculture In Apocalyptic Works, Cailey Poirier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis explores the critique of petroculture seen in mid- and post-apocalyptic literature. Chapter One, “Parable of the Sower: A Pre-Apocalyptic World Planting Petrocultures Destiny” argues Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower critiques American petroculture by demonstrating the destruction and devastation society is heading for under current societal structures. Chapter Two, “The Road: The Crumbling Remains of Petroculture” argues Cormac McCarthy’s The Road critiques American petroculture through its infrastructural collapse. Chapter Three, “‘Covehithe’: A Weird, Post-Apocalyptic Story Birthing the Future of Petroculture” explores how China Miéville’s “Covehithe” employs magical realism to communicate a different view …

Exploring A Modern Deep Learning Technique For Wetland Mapping And Monitoring Using Worldview-2 Satellite Products, Mizanur Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Wetlands play a significant role in the world’s hydrology, climate, and biodiversity. Even with the benefits and values wetlands provide to the environment, they have been undergoing loss and degradation due to natural and anthropogenic processes. To protect wetlands from loss and degradation and to restore their function, it is essential to develop a sustainable wetland monitoring system. One of the key elements of a wetland monitoring system is wetland mapping. This dissertation research developed an object-based deep learning protocol for mapping heterogeneous wetlands with many communities from a high-resolution WV-2 satellite image. To test this developed protocol, an object-based …

The Changing Roles Of Elementary School Principals, Ernie Lozano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The role of the elementary school principal has changed throughout its history. The role has shifted from primarily a managerial role to an instructional leadership role, to the more current role of a multi-faceted operational leader. Recent events, from the Covid-19 pandemic to highly publicized school shootings, has added additional responsibilities to the current role of the principal. The current high-stakes accountability to ensure all students are learning has also added an increased amount of pressure on elementary school principals. The ability to effectively manage both the operational and instructional roles has created stress and anxiety on elementary school principals. …

Mblac1 Knockout Mice: Behavioral Modeling Of A Novel Risk Factor In Alzheimer's Disease, Cara Melillo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) involves progressive cognitive decline, with mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and copper (Cu) imbalance implicated in its pathogenesis. MBLAC1 has been identified as a risk factor for AD in individuals with comorbid cardiovascular disease (AD-CVD). Its C. elegans ortholog, swip-10, regulates Cu ion homeostasis and mitochondrial function. To investigate MBLAC1’s role, we examined behavioral phenotypes in Mblac1 knockout (KO) mice and tested the efficacy of the Cu chaperone elesclomol (ES). Male KO mice exhibited deficits in novel object recognition (NOR), which were rescued by ES treatment. Female KOs showed increased anxiety-like behavior in the Elevated Plus …

Age-Group Differences In Friend Influence Over Academic Achievement And Physical Activity, Laury-Ann Bedard Leclerc

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Speculation about the developmental shifts in the magnitude of peer influence has outstripped empirical research. Friends are assumed to be particularly influential at the onset of adolescence, as adult oversight declines and the salience of peers increases. Few studies, however, have explored age-group differences in the magnitude of friend influence over academic achievement and physical activity. The present longitudinal study compares friendship dyads in late childhood (grades 4-5) versus early adolescence (grades 6-7), describing the strength of their mutual influence across peer- and self-reports of academic achievement and physical activity. Participants included 170 adolescents (99 girls, 71 boys) in 85 …

Integrating Lidar Point Cloud And Imagery Based Building Footprint For 3d Lod Building Reconstruction, Lasithasree Lakshmanan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

3D Building reconstruction is crucial for urban planning, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions on critical issues such as flood risk assessment, urban heat island effects and sustainable infrastructure development. Accurate classification of LiDAR point cloud data is fundamental for identifying building structures and separating them from other elements in complex urban environments. In this study, a deep learning-based approach, RandLA-Net, is employed to classify building points from airborne LiDAR data. This classification process serves as a foundation for generating reliable 3D building models. To enhance classification accuracy, this research integrates building footprints as a reference layer, refining the detection …

Experimental Characterization Of Power Generation Of A Small Wind Turbine With Variable Ducted Geometry, Robert S. Gaudreau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Wind turbines provide renewable energy but must be installed at suitable locations to maximize power generation. Applying duct geometry to wind turbines can increase output power, allowing for the integration into urban applications where space is limited, and visual pollution must be minimized. Therefore, the objective was to determine the change in output power for a wind turbine with variable area ducting comprised of a converging inlet nozzle and a diverging outlet diffuser. Parametric studies of 3D-printed models were conducted in a low-speed wind tunnel at 5 m/s to determine the optimal duct angle and area ratio with the greatest …

Joy In Teaching: Examining Teachers’ Perceived Experiences Of Choice, Self-Efficacy, And Sense Of Belonging, Shellie Hennings-Donow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Teacher joy is a critical yet often overlooked factor influencing teacher retention, instructional effectiveness, and student outcomes. This study explores how teachers describe their experiences of joy in the workplace, focusing on the roles of choice, self-efficacy, and belonging. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and Attribution Theory, this research examines the extent to which teachers’ perceived autonomy, competence, and relational support contribute to teachers’ professional fulfillment. Through qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, this study captures the perceptions of educators across diverse school settings. Findings reveal that teachers experience the highest levels of joy when they have meaningful autonomy …

Ethnozoological Insights For Wildlife Conservation: Exploring Past & Present Uses Of Wild Animals Among Kenya’S Ethnic Groups, Anita Zahra Field

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Kenya’s conservation efforts lack adequate involvement of local communities, who play a vital role as people who use the natural resources. These communities also have limited access to, and benefits from, these resources, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity. Therefore, I used ethnographic interviews to elicit relational values that can potentially increase understanding between all stakeholders. My objective was to explore the historical and contemporary uses of wild animals among diverse ethnic groups, examining any changes over time and identifying the catalysts driving these shifts. I interviewed 30 individuals from 10 ethnic groups in Laikipia, Samburu, Marsabit, and Kwale counties, …

Movie Genre Classification Using Script Texts, Michael Roman Cuomo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Genres are used to classify movies so that they can be grouped with others that have similar themes and structures. These classifications are categories created by humans. In the process of creating a movie, a script is often the first creation to write and share ideas about a topic. The script contains large amounts of text that is used to describe the dialog, setting and direction of the film. Although the script contains important information for the film, the amount of text can present a challenge for machine learning algorithms. Often in studies on film classification, if text is used, …

Assessing Repetitive Loss Factors In Miami-Dade And Broward Counties, Fl, Rebecca Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This dissertation examines repetitive loss factors in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Florida. It focuses on physical building characteristics and socioeconomic characteristics in an historic analysis of claims data from 1977 through 2014. Later, the focus is on predicted areas, or “hotspots” where climate-change induced sea level rise in conjunction with increased storm activity may cause increased flooding in the future. The study employs various statistical models, including Poisson and negative binomial regression modeling, spatial regression modeling and hot spot analysis to analyze FEMA property claims data and socioeconomic indicators.

The first part investigates the relationship between building characteristics and flooding …

Impact Of Data Security Breach On Long-Term Firm Performance, Tim Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Data security breaches continue to be a primary concern for businesses. The possibility of losing sensitive customer data and how that might impact their firm is part of what keeps executives up at night. Past research has largely centered around how a data security breach might impact firm performance as measured by cumulative abnormal returns (CAR), or from an investor’s perspective. This research has produced inconsistent results, with some research efforts showing large negative impacts on market value while others show no impact at all. Through this research effort, I explore possible reasons for these inconsistent findings. Under Interpersonal Gossip …

Education In Death: The Post-Mortem Life Of Academic Collections, Alexis Blanche Bunce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Florida Atlantic University has a skeletal teaching collection made up of nine disarticulated individuals. Like other anatomical skeletal collections housed in universities, FAU’s collection has unknown origins. With the current shift in bioarchaeology, it is important to take any steps necessary towards a more ethical practice and properly answer for the unethical practices that led to countless collections being obtained without consent. Keeping proper documentation should always have been a necessity, but moving forward, instructors can introduce curation taphonomy forms into their routine documentation. I drafted and tested these forms on five of the nine skeletal individuals in FAU’s collection …

Maternal Stress And Infant Anxiety: Examining The Link Through Fear Temperament, Melissa Ayala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This study explored the relationship between maternal stress and infant fear temperament. Infant temperament is important because it allows the caregiver to understand the individual variation in the emotional and social needs of the child. Due to previous research, it can be inferred that maternal stress can influence the development of infant fear temperament. The current study looks at the relationship between maternal stress and infant behavioral fear temperament. In this study there was no relationship between maternal stress and infant behavioral fear when collapsing the across conditions and emotions expressed during the Lab-TAB. However, infants varied in their fear …

#Tribe: A Study On Digital Tribalism In Saudi Arabia, Maha Alrehaili

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This dissertation examines digital tribalism in Saudi Arabia as a lens through which to explore the complex interplay between state, identity politics, and social media in an era of rapid transformation. Amidst ambitious modernization efforts under Vision 2030 and ongoing economic restructuring, the Saudi state has sought to establish a national identity by leveraging tribal heritage. This study investigates how the three major tribes, Harb, Qahtan, and Otaibah, are responding to rapid modernization through an examination of their digital presence on X (formerly Twitter).

Employing a comparative case study design and content analysis of three years of digital activity, this …

Perceptions Of Educational Settings, Taniya Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This study examined the influence of self-monitoring on cognitive performance under stereotype threat in an online academic setting. One hundred thirty-two Black and Hispanic participants completed a series of GRE-style questions following exposure to either a stereotype threat or control condition (Steele & Aronson, 1995). Participants also completed measures of self-monitoring (Gangestad & Snyder, 2000), academic motivation (Pintrich & De Groot, 1990), cognitive load (Kirschner, 2002), self-esteem (Crocker et al., 2003), and ethnic identity. Using multiple regression and mediation analyses conducted in Jamovi, self-monitoring emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictor of test performance. Academic motivation partially mediated this …

Reassessing Pre-Ceramic Mortuary Practices In Florida, John S. Duggan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis synthesizes mortuary practices among Florida’s Paleoindian to Late Archaic populations, from the earliest documented burials to approximately 2,500 BP. While sites like Windover and Little Salt Spring are well-studied, broader burial traditions across the region remain underrepresented. To address this, data from fifteen key sites, chosen for geographic and temporal diversity, were compiled and analyzed. Using an exploratory research design, a descriptive methodological framework was developed to evaluate cemetery types, burial positions, artifact associations, demographic indicators, and spatial orientation. Methodological challenges such as poor preservation, site destruction, and inconsistent documentation are also considered. Findings are contextualized within wider …

Dual Language Programs: An Exploration, Amanda Burke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This research is an exploration into: 1) the utilization of programs that teach students English as a second language in the US, particularly Dual Language programs, 2) a history of research surrounding the formation of an individual or group identity, both overall and through an ESOL lens, and 3) how ESOL instruction in the US may be impacted by certain aspects of this identity construction.

After a review of research, this dissertation analyzes a cohort of students from the Palm Beach County School District who were enrolled in either a Dual Language program or in a “traditional” ESOL program from …

The Rise And Resilience Of Women Of Color Executives In Nonprofit Organizations: A Phenomenological Study Of Systemic Barriers, Support Systems And Leadership Identity, Nicole Edwards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of women of color executive leaders in nonprofit organizations, focusing on perceptions of systemic barriers, support systems, and leadership identity. Using a mixed-methods, phenomenological design, data were collected from 31 women of color (N = 31) through a Likert-type survey and from six women (n = 6) selected for semi-structured interviews.

Quantitative analysis revealed that perceived systemic barriers significantly predicted leadership identity (p = .013), while support systems did not. Further analysis uncovered a significant positive correlation between positional status and perceived support (r = .39, p = .050), indicating …

Social Connections And Bond Pricing, Uliana Filatova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In this manuscript, I present two essays that examine the role of social connections in corporate bond pricing.

The first essay examines the effect of interlocking connections between investment banks and corporate executives or directors on bond underpricing and underwriting fees. Interlocking is associated with more accurate bond pricing, reflected in significantly lower excess initial returns on newly issued bonds. Specifically, interlocking reduces underpricing by 6.25-14.01 basis points, saving, on average, up to $935,000 per issuance cost. The reduction in underpricing is most pronounced for high-yield bonds and bond IPOs, where the financial expertise of interlocked investment banks is particularly …

Interleukin-1 Type I Receptor Implicated In Emergence And Severity Of Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures In A Transgenic Mouse Model Of Adult-Onset, Progressive Epilepsy:, Tashi Dillon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Interleukin-1 β (IL- 1β) is a proinflammatory cytokine with proconvulsive properties that is elevated in epilepsy. The hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) buffers hyperexcitability, and deficits in granule neuron gating contribute to epileptogenesis. Excess brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may drive hyperexcitable circuit assembly, promoting a seizure-producing breakdown of the gating function. We use a transgenic mouse model of forebrain BDNF (TgBDNF) overexpression that exhibit spontaneous generalized tonic/ clonic seizures (GTCSs) at ~3 months, which progress as evidenced by prolonged periods of post-generalized EEG suppression (PGES). This is accompanied by hippocampal hypertrophy and brainstem cell loss. A strain globally lacking IL-1 …

Microplastics In Coastal Sediments, Halaina Hahn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Marine and coastal sediments are considered to be sinks for plastic pollution. The dispersal of microplastics through ocean dynamics (winds, waves, currents, and tides) may be dependent on the type of microplastic and sedimentation of the coastal environment. Coastal tourism significantly contributes to the sources of plastic, especially in the state of Florida. Microplastic pollution impacts all facets of the environment impacting ecosystem services, wildlife, and human health. However, few studies have been conducted to quantify the abundance and type of microplastics found in coastal sediments under different seasonal conditions. This project aimed to evaluate the abundance of microplastics in …

Do Marketers Need To Know? How Firms' Newfound Quest For Customer Data Is Eroding Firm Performance, Victor Garcia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Firms today spend more than 30 billion dollars on marketing data. This obsession with data has been propelled by a firm's ongoing need to better understand its consumers and, in turn, drive positive firm performance. While the relationship between brand equity and firm performance has been confirmed for the last two decades, this study explores how data collection negatively moderates the existing relationship by testing multiple variables of privacy risk. This theoretical paper with a pilot study explores how the conflicting balance of shareholder theory and stakeholder theory can lead firms towards data collection practices that indirectly diminish the firm’s …

Anthropogenic And Natural Influences On Beach Geomorphology And Coastal Resiliency, Leanne Hauptman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Beaches are complex, dynamic systems that provide important habitat, protection from storm impacts, support tourism, and provide numerous benefits to the economy. Coastal erosion is a natural phenomenon but is becoming a growing problem due to factors such as rising sea levels, intensity of major storms, lack of sand input from rivers, and anthropogenic activities. Florida's 825 miles of sandy beaches are experiencing accelerated erosion and adaptive management practices are needed to ensure sufficient sediment remains in the littoral system. Beach geomorphology and sedimentology research is critical to understand complex coastal processes to improve coastal management strategies for the resiliency …

Assessment, Modeling, And Advanced Applications Of Marine Energy Systems, Sasha Ivana Fung

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) technologies, particularly Ocean Current Turbines (OCTs) and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), offer promising pathways for sustainable power generation in tropical and subtropical regions. This dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation into the resource potential, modeling, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, and application-driven evaluation of these systems for green hydrogen production and offshore aquaculture.

A novel HIL testbed was developed using a dynamometer and OPAL-RT real-time platform to emulate OCT dynamics under measured ocean current conditions. This setup enabled advanced testing of variable-speed and blade-pitch control strategies. Coupled with a PEM electrolyzer model, the system achieved instantaneous hydrogen production …

Does Federal Funding Address Fundamentals? Examining The Equity Effects Of Title I On Student Achievement, Veda Hudge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This dissertation examines the equity effects of Title I funding on student achievement in Broward County Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in the United States. Title I, established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, aims to address educational disparities by providing financial resources to schools that serve economically disadvantaged students. Despite over five decades of federal intervention, significant achievement gaps persist, particularly among marginalized populations. This study investigates the effectiveness of Title I funding in improving student outcomes in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics during the period 2016–2020.

Using a quantitative research …

Effects Of Crevice Corrosion On Metal Adhesive Performance And Shear Strength In Marine Environments, Westin Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Corrosion is a leading challenge that engineers and researchers face when working in marine environments. Annually, corrosion costs an estimated $2.5 trillion globally and can lead to environmental damage and pose a threat to public safety. This thesis investigates the effects of crevice corrosion on the performance of different epoxy adhesives when mated with stainless steel to determine if using epoxy is a viable option for the development of systems operating in marine environments. To accomplish this, metal-to-metal lap shear samples were created using Araldite 2015-1, Plexus MA560-1, Plexus MA310, and Plexus MA8120 epoxies and different preparation methods. These samples …