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Creating An Archive from Colonial Records: Representations of the Caribbean in British Periodicals, 1750-1930
No full textThe periodization of Caribbean literature is a highly contested topic. Much of this periodization problem relates to the question of what should be included in this category of Caribbean literature, a question that became particularly pertinent during the postcolonial era. Many studies of Caribbean literature have traced its supposed origins to the period of the early to mid-twentieth century when many Caribbean territories were well on their way to postcolonial independence while disregarding works produced during the colonial period as they were considered to favor colonialism. Through examining how Caribbean literature appeared in the pre-1950 period, research conducted for the Printed Matters: Representations of the Caribbean website project and used in this thesis engages with the challenge of exposing critical views through addressing both Indigenous and Black Caribbean voices and anti-colonial sentiment. While the project aims to expand into global periodicals, my research focuses on the ways in which the Caribbean was represented in British periodicals, bringing attention to a topic that has received barely any scholarship. We aimed to prove that Indigenous Caribbean writers and Black Caribbean writers had a voice in these periodicals even if their voice was mostly overlooked during the colonial era. I argue that literature composed in the pre-1950 period and published in these British periodicals should be acknowledged as Caribbean literature, regardless of the fact that we primarily found white settler colonial authors. To portray this representation, this thesis takes an innovative approach by examining forty-five of the articles featured on the website dated between 1750 and 1910 and five additional articles dated between 1910 and 1930. Articles collected often incorporated various genres such as novels, poems, and short stories. These articles contribute to Caribbean literature because they portray that not all pre-1950 Caribbean literature was necessarily entirely pro-colonial in its discourse
Chromatographic developments for the analysis of toxic organic chemicals in the environment and food samples
No full textAs awareness grows about compounds harmful to human health, the need for sensitive detection methods at low concentration levels becomes increasingly critical. Chromatography is a powerful analytical technique that enables the separation of complex mixtures, allowing for the simultaneous analysis of multiple analytes—even at trace levels. This dissertation applies chromatography in two distinct contexts: (1) Investigating the sorption of polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs) onto nylon microplastics; and (2) Detecting illegal dyes in various food matrices.
Microplastics have emerged as significant vectors for transporting pollutants into aquatic ecosystems. Due to their hydrophobic nature, many organic pollutants readily sorb onto microplastics in these environments. Among these pollutants, PASHs are particularly concerning due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. These compounds have been detected in environmental water sources at concentrations as low as 40–60 pg/mL. This study demonstrates that solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) can effectively detect PASHs at these low concentrations. The sorption behavior of three selected PASHs onto nylon microplastic pellets was examined, revealing that all three compounds sorbed onto the pellets and followed pseudo-second-order kinetics.
Like PASHs, synthetic dyes pose health risks to consumers, including children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates approved color additives under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. However, illegal dyes—often more harmful than their legal counterparts—are still found in food products. Due to the diversity of dye structures and food matrices, different dye classes often require distinct separation and detection strategies, complicating the analysis and extending processing times. In this work, we developed a method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to simultaneously analyze four dye classes. A single extraction method was applied across various food samples to determine the presence of any targeted illegal dyes
Youth Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors: The Role of Affect, Interpersonal Stress, and Parenting
No full textSelf-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) are associated with numerous adverse consequences, including an increased risk of suicide, for youth populations (Castellví et al., 2017; Kiekens et al., 2018). This study developed a more nuanced understanding of the factors associated with SITBs by examining proximal intrapersonal (i.e., daily youth negative affect) and interpersonal (i.e., daily youth interpersonal conflict) factors on youth SITBs utilizing experience sampling methods (ESMs). This study also examined how specific modifiable characteristics (i.e., parent-youth attachment and parental reflective functioning) may moderate these proximal associations. Results from a series of multilevel, mixed-effects negative binomial regression analyses conducted on a sample of parent-youth dyads (n = 24) revealed significant direct associations between both proximal intrapersonal and intrapersonal factors and youth SITBs. Significant main effects were seen between daily youth negative affect and daily youth interpersonal stress with peers, though no such significant effects were seen between daily youth positive affect and daily youth interpersonal stress with family. Regarding moderation effects, significant moderation effects of secure attachment on the association between both daily youth interpersonal stress with family, daily youth interpersonal stress with peers, and youth SITBs were seen. Results also showed significant moderation effects of parental reflective functioning on both daily youth interpersonal stress with family, daily youth interpersonal stress with peers, and youth SITBs. Overall, these findings add support to current comprehensive models of SITB in youth populations and highlight the need for a more multifaceted approach to prevention and intervention efforts that focus on both intra- and interpersonal factors that may more immediately influence youth SITBs, as well as on modifiable characteristics, such as parent-youth attachment and parental reflective functioning
Investigating Soil CO2 Flux Among Varying Soil Types during Inundation Conditions
No full textLand use change has contributed to the increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) release, exacerbating global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. CO2 is also naturally produced in the soil via microbial respiration which breaks down soil organic matter (SOM). Several studies have investigated factors affecting CO2 flux from soils, but few have compared CO2 flux from a range of soil types under controlled conditions with varying water levels. This study subjected intact soil cores from six different soil types to varied periods of inundation and dry events using the same water and timing. During each event, CO2 flux rates were measured from each soil core with an infrared gas analyzer, and SOM content was quantified post experiment. CO2 flux for all soils increased with higher SOM and decreased with increasing clay content. The two soils containing medium SOM, regardless of clay content, had higher CO2 flux rates on average during dry down events. The average CO2 flux was 78% lower during inundated conditions, regardless of SOM, suggesting decreased microbial respiration during anaerobic conditions. Understanding the relationship between SOM, inundation, and CO2 flux can aid in establishing best management practices to reduce GHG emissions
AI-Integrated Cross-Disciplinary Liberal Arts Colloquium
Get PDFWhat began organically as an AI-focused collaboration between faculty in different disciplines along with researchers in the college’s Center for Instructional Innovation, has evolved into college-wide pedagogical workshops and the development of a studio model that affects courses, programs, and paradigms for faculty scholarship.
Lessons from these collaborations inform understandings of how key features of liberal arts education can be supported through intentional AI-integration within a Cross-Disciplinary Liberal Arts Colloquium. More specifically, this colloquium offers recommendations on adapting a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and reflective studio model to in-person, online, and hybrid educational environments facilitated through a Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) frame work (Mishra, P., & Koehler, M. J., 2006)
A Look into the Creative School for Children!
No full textAs students who are part of the LEAD Scholar’s Academy, we had to do a service learning project for our LEAD class. This project consisted of doing a culture audit for a non-profit organization. We chose to do it with the Creative School for Children at UCF. We volunteered over 90 hours as a group, working with the kids during their outside time, creating meaningful interactions with them and making sure they were safe. We played fun games and did fun activities with them like tag and hide-and-seek, drawing with chalk, and reading books. This experience taught us how to create meaningful relationships with the children, while simultaneously making sure we were teaching them boundaries and how to communicate with one another. We also learned how to participate in a collaborative environment with the teachers, helpers, and the children themselves.https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hip-2025spring/1022/thumbnail.jp
learning assistant for general chemistry 1
No full textI was an LA this semester for gen chem 1. I took chm 249 with Dr. Donnelly where we learn useful strategies to be a successful LA. This project talks about what worked for me as an LA this semester.https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hip-2025spring/1005/thumbnail.jp
Empowering Communities in Crisis: The REACH Hub as an Emergency Management Lifeline in Orlando
Get PDFThis service-learning engagement with the REACH (Resilience, Education, and Advocacy Center for Hazard Preparedness) Hub project was conducted as part of PAD6397: Managing Emergencies and Crises course at the University of Central Florida. It explores the intersection of academic knowledge, community resilience, and equitable emergency management through the REACH Hub which a solar-powered, mobile infrastructure developed in collaboration with UCF researchers, the City of Orlando and other local partners. Designed to serve vulnerable communities during and beyond disasters, the REACH Hub provides critical resources such as power, internet access, refrigeration, and educational outreach. The project aligned closely with course objectives, applying key concepts like the Whole Community Approach, hazard mitigation strategies, and ethical leadership in crisis contexts (FEMA, 2011; Waugh, 2023). Through this initiative, experienced the full cycle of service learning—from investigation and preparation to action, reflection, and demonstration culminating in meaningful community impact and personal growth (Bringle & Hatcher, 1996). The REACH Hub increased local capacity for disaster resilience and served as a platform for civic engagement and STEM education. This project highlights the transformative potential of integrating coursework with community-centered practice, fostering both academic excellence and a deeper sense of civic responsibility.https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hip-2025spring/1055/thumbnail.jp
Unmasking the Global Crisis of Misinformation: Its Devastating Impact on Leadership and Public Health
Get PDFWith the advancement of information access, the global community faces the growing dilemma of misinformation. The sources we rely on such as news, social media, and other media platforms play a critical role in our daily decisions, particularly in health and politics. Moreover, research has shown that misinformation has contributed to significant events such as election crises and the global pandemic. The purpose of this project is to address the global crisis of misinformation on leadership and Public health. The aim is to understand the causes and effects of this dilemma while determining more effective solutions that can create a safe, informed, and unified community. Through this project, I have learned many ways in which one can engage in leadership. This includes serving in organizations geared towards community enrichment, taking the initiative to engage in student leadership roles, and in my case, engaging in research to promote societal wellness and benefits
Bilingual Education and Academic Performance
No full textBilingual education plays a crucial role in fostering cognitive benefits and promoting academic success, especially in multilingual societies. However, disparities in access to quality bilingual programs and inconsistent policies have led to inequities, particularly affecting Latinx and immigrant communities (Baker, 2011; Gándara & Contreras, 2009). Historical policies, limited funding, and misconceptions about bilingualism have hindered progress (Crawford, 2004). To address these challenges, recommendations include expanding dual-language immersion programs, and securing equitable funding through policy reforms (Baker, 2011; Gándara & Contreras, 2009). A sustained commitment to these efforts is essential to overcome systemic barriers and provide equal educational opportunities for all students (Cummins, 2001)