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Living In Fear: Be Empathetic (LIFE)-Tool Kit
No full textOpen source materials to immerse learners in rural and public health experiences are needed to ensure the new work force is equipped to care for a variety of people in differing circumstances. Public health remains a vital yet underemphasized component within healthcare education, specifically nursing education. This often limits opportunities for students to develop the skills necessary to become strong advocates for equity and systemic change. A
This project emerged from a commitment to provide experiential opportunities replicating the communities we serve. A Empathy Walk and LIFE Clinic (Díaz et al., 2025) was created as a strategy designed to engage healthcare students, with a focus on nurses, in the complexities of social determinants of health and the lived realities of vulnerable communities. An interprofessional immersive experience was created.
The high fidelity, high technology simulation allowed learners the opportunity to be fully immersed in a simulated environment. Programmatic evaluation utilized the SET-M Tool (Leighton et al., 2015). Initial evaluation supported the continued use of this initiative in promoting professionalism, deepening empathy, and preparing future healthcare providers for community-engaged practice. This work represents a step toward transforming nursing education, one that aligns with the national call to action to eliminate disparities and empower healthcare providers to be leaders in public health advocacy
Kingdom of Dreams and Magic: Musical Representations of Theme Parks in Japanese Media
No full textIn Japanese anime and video games, Disneyland-esque theme parks present a fascinating nexus between virtual and real worlds. Culturally, Tōkyō Disneyland represents a world of magic, dreams, and pure fantasy, providing an apt setting for anime and game scenes. Japan’s flourishing leisure industry during the 1980s bubble economy (バブル景気, baburu keiki) introduced theme parks across Japan to drive tourism to countryside towns. After the bubble economy burst in the 1990s (失われた10 年, ushinawareta jūnen), many theme parks went out of business and becameabandoned places (廃墟, haikyo). Thus, the abandoned – even haunted – theme park became an established trope in the Japanese cultural imagination.Musically, the theme park topic typically resembles main street or parade music, with common musical characteristics including ‘oom-pah’ or waltz beat, two-beat bass, calliope organ, brass fanfare, glockenspiel/celesta/toy piano, simple major-mode harmonies, and lively melodies. Four categories of musical theme park representation – evoking, inflecting, distorting, and irony – theorize whether music references the theme park music topic and whether it affirms or subverts its typical mood of joy and wonder. Four case studies illustrate these approaches:● Persona 5: ‘Destinyland’ evokes Disney Main Street Electrical Parade music; Digital Devil Saga: ‘Point 136’ distorts theme park music to underscore a post-apocalyptic, abandoned Destinyland.● Aggretsuko: Season 1, Episode 9 features a musical duet evoking the conventions of Disney’s animated movie musicals (e.g. ‘A Whole New World,’ ‘I See the Light’).● Kirby and the Forgotten Land: ‘Wondaria Remains’ and ‘The Wondaria Dream Parade’ evoke main street and parade music; ‘Welcome to Wondaria’ and ‘Circuit Speedway’ are inflected by the timbre, instrumentation, and harmony of theme park music.● Cowboy Bebop: Episode 20 scores Space Land using distortion and irony, employing either sound design alone or a grotesque calliope waltz during the battle against Pierrot Le Fou
A New Dawn of Joy: How Joy is Cultivated among Black Transgender and Nonbinary Young Adults in Florida
No full textThe state of Florida had a record-breaking number of implemented and proposed policies between 2023-2024 that impacted transgender and nonbinary individuals. Black transgender and nonbinary people are particularly impacted by these policies due to the compounded effects of their race and gender identity. Nonetheless, despite the growing literature on Black transgender and nonbinary individuals, a lack of research exists examining positive aspects of intersectional experiences among Black transgender and nonbinary individuals. This qualitative study shifts away from deficit centered frameworks by investigating how Black transgender and nonbinary young adults in Florida cultivate joy in their lives. This study uses a subsample of Black participants from the U=CARE study, a mixed-methods study of healthcare experiences of racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse transgender and nonbinary young adults in Florida. Data consist of in-depth interviews with 30 Black transgender and nonbinary (11 transgender men, 9 transgender women, and 10 nonbinary) young adults aged 18-26. Driven by a social-ecological model and an intersectionality framework, the study analyzes the social processes that facilitate the cultivation of joy among Black transgender and nonbinary young adults in the specific context of living in Florida. Participants cultivated joy through social processes of receiving positive affirmations, exercising agency, engaging in mental escapism, and nurturing social relationships. These findings show that Black transgender and nonbinary young adults in Florida are able to cultivate joy in the face of sociopolitical challenges
Sub-cycle nonlinear optics in solids
No full textThe rapid advancement of digital electronics and telecommunication systems necessitates processing information at increasingly higher speeds. However, modern semiconductor technology faces fundamental physical limitations in transistor miniaturization and clock frequency due to quantum mechanical constraints. To overcome these barriers, ultrafast optoelectronics, leveraging light-matter interactions, offers a promising alternative. Light, as the fastest carrier of information, enables signal processing at frequencies far beyond conventional semiconductor technology. Advancements in laser technology have enabled stable and reliable ultrashort light pulse sources, lasting only a few femtoseconds at optical wavelengths. When utilized for signal processing, they could enable clock frequencies over 1000 times higher than current semiconductor technologies. This dissertation focuses on developing few-cycle laser sources in the mid-infrared (MIDIR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectral ranges using a Yb:KGW driving laser and designing and demonstrating a TIPTOE-based waveform characterization technique. The first part involves developing a sub-three-cycle MIDIR source using multiplate glass compression of a two-stage OPA (Light Conversion -ORPHEUS) output, with its waveform measured via a CMOS-based TIPTOE technique. This source and method are used to study sub-cycle nonlinearity in low- and high-bandgap semiconductors (Si and ZnO). The second part develops a few-cycle NIR source using a two-stage hybrid nonlinear compression approach: a gas-filled multipass cell and a hollow-core fiber, generating sub-10-fs pulses. For waveform characterization, the TIPTOE technique is extended using an AlGaN photodiode, providing real-time laser field oscillation measurements. This system is further applied to study vibrational nonlinearity in fused silica. iv This work advances ultrafast pulse generation and measurement techniques, enabling the study of light-matter interactions in sub-femtosecond time scale and paving the way for next-generation ultrafast optoelectronic technologies
Stress-Strain-Strength Behavior of Florida Sands and Silty Sands
No full textUnderstanding the mechanical response of granular materials is fundamental to geotechnical engineering design. The presence of fines significantly influences the stress-strain-strength behavior, particularly when the material response is controlled by fines content. In this study, Florida sands were initially characterized by their grain distribution and particle morphology, while natural fines were evaluated according to their plasticity characteristics. Two materials were selected for detailed investigation: clean sands and a sand-fines mixture containing 20% fines, representing the threshold between coarse- and fine-dominated behavior. Constant rate of strain (CRS) consolidation tests were performed in both materials to study compressibility and effect of strain rate. Both materials exhibited isotache behavior with minor deviations in compressibility curves following abrupt changes in strain rate. In addition to the consolidation stage, samples were also subjected to creep and relaxation stages for different void ratios, stress levels, and strain rates. The creep analysis showed that the twenty percent addition of fines was the transitional FC that separates the behavior from coarse to fine dominated. Compressibility under pseudo K0-consolidations was studied using a triaxial apparatus and compared against CRS results. During consolidation, shear wave velocity measurements using bender elements were employed to monitor the evolution of the maximum or small-strain shear modulus (G0), while K0 conditions were assessed by controlling the radial strains. Once a desired in situ conditions were reached, samples were subjected to fully drained creep to minimize rate effects and simulate aging. Subsequent sample shearing under drained and undrained conditions allowed determination of critical state lines in stress space and log(p’)-e space. Liquefaction potential was also studied with empirical methods alongside an evaluation of brittleness. Small strain behavior was explored through axisymmetric stress probing of both materials. The analysis revealed two distinct yield limits for both materials at strain levels smaller than the conventional yield strains
Characterization, Imaging, and Modeling of Thermal Dynamics and Failure Mechanisms of Quantum Cascade Lasers
No full textAs advancements in Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) technology continue to push the upper limits of continuous-wave performance, effective thermal management remains at the forefront of design considerations. The compact and highly tunable active region that has made QCL technology so attractive also imposes challenges to heat dissipation during continuous wave operation. To address this ongoing challenge, this work demonstrates a set of characterization and modeling techniques which can be used to interrogate different aspects of the thermal and structural properties of QCLs. Emphasis is placed on a suite of electron microscopy techniques and their role in providing a window into large and nanoscale defects in QCLs, both pre-existing and operationally induced.
One investigation combines advanced spectroscopy with thermal modeling to directly measure the active region temperature during CW operation and determine the cross-plane thermal conductivities of different QCL designs, providing insights into how such design considerations ultimately influence QCL performance. Cathodoluminescence imaging is then demonstrated as a nondestructive approach to epitaxial material quality assessment in QCLs grown on different substrates. Another study characterizes the degradation of long wave Buried Heterostructure QCLs through electron microscopy, successfully identifying the origins of failure and providing insights into the mechanisms that cause it. Finally, this methodology is refined in a comparative electron microscopy analysis of Ridge-Waveguide QCLs, which also introduces Cathodoluminescence Imaging to further characterize the origin and propagation of defects. Collectively, these studies provide effective tools for QCL characterization, while also providing insights into the specific mechanisms of failure in a subset of devices. This work ultimately aims to contribute to guiding future QCL design strategies for improving the reliability and performance of these devices
Domain-Constrained Clustering: A Two-Stage Framework for Muscle Fiber Type Identification
No full textThis dissertation introduces a novel Two-Stage Clustering Framework for the automated identification of human skeletal muscle fiber types using fluorescence microscopy image intensity data. By integrating two complementary clustering methods, this framework overcomes the subjectivity and labor-intensive nature of traditional manual methods, offering an objective and efficient solution for large-scale muscle physiology research. The initial framework combined Density Peaks Clustering (DPC) with a Gaussian Mixture Model employing a t-distribution (GMM-t). This version was validated by comparing its clustering results with manual counts at the individual subject level. We successfully applied this framework in two published studies \cite{brennan2020,hinkley2023}, demonstrating its practical impact in muscle physiology research. However, challenges with data quality emerged due to diverse data generation methods across different laboratory configurations, requiring fine-tuning of the original model for such data. These issues motivated further refinements to develop a more robust model. To enhance robustness, a simulation study evaluated clustering algorithms for detecting linear patterns in fluorescence intensity data. The study identified the constrained Linear Grouping Algorithm (cLGA), which we developed by modifying the original Linear Grouping Algorithm (LGA) by adding domain-specific angular constraints, as outperforming other methods, particularly in noisy scenarios with overlapping clusters. Based on these findings, the refined Two-Stage Clustering Framework was developed. In the first stage, DPC isolates Type I fibers and noise, as in the original version. In the second stage, cLGA identifies Type IIa, IIx, and hybrid IIa+IIx fibers. The framework was validated against manual counts, achieving higher accuracy and consistency. Extensive testing confirmed its robustness across different preprocessing methods, including transformation, outlier removal, and subsampling. This work provides a robust statistical framework for identifying muscle fiber types, supporting muscle physiology research by reducing reliance on manual methods and enabling more objective studies
Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Functional Heart Failure Outcomes
No full textGlobally, Heart Failure (HF) is a significant cause for concern. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is an emerging therapy for patients with HF. It involves the activation of efferent vagal signals, which result in the release of acetylcholine (ACh). In practice, VNS has obtained relatively mixed results in clinical trials so far. In order to ascertain the extent of the effects VNS has on functional clinical outcomes, this meta-analysis consolidates studies that involve patients with Heart Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) and Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). Outcomes were measured through the change in mean heart rate (HR) and six-minute walking distance in meters (6MWD) as well as the improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Electronic databases were searched methodically for VNS studies conducted on patients with HF that include a functional metric of clinical outcome. The data suggested a 56% greater likelihood of improvement in NYHA class compared to sham stimulation and a statistically significant mean improvement in 6MWD over the course of six months, indicating that VNS may offer long-term functional benefits for patients with HF. The data did not support any significant change in HR (neither short- nor long-term) or 6MWD in the short-term
The Intersection of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mental Health: A Focus on College Students
No full textRising prevalence rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), changes in diagnostic criteria, and increased public awareness have all contributed to the growing population of college students with ASD. However, many individuals - commonly referred to as the “lost generation” - go undiagnosed, due to experiencing negative interactions with mental health professionals. As a result, these individuals are not given the proper support and interventions required for a successful transition into adulthood, and often face heightened social isolation, academic problems, mental health challenges compared to their neurotypical peers. A combination of these factors can lead to increased suicidal ideation (SI) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).
This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of ASD among college students in Florida who either had a formal diagnosis or self-identified with this disorder. Specifically, this study assessed whether diagnostic status was associated with mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, SI and NSSI, which are commonly reported among individuals with ASD but may be intensified in those who lack a formal diagnosis. Participants completed an online survey assessing self-reported ASD characteristics, depressive and anxiety symptoms, SI, and NSSI behaviors.
Findings revealed that over half of the sample met the AQ-10 cutoff for significant autistic traits, and all participants met the clinical criteria for depression. Nearly 90% of the sample met the criteria for anxiety, and over 50% reported a history of NSSI. All participants endorsed SI, with several reporting experiences with SI nearly “every day”. No significant differences in mental health outcomes were found between formally diagnosed and self-identified groups, including frequency and domains of NSSI. This study utilizes the Research Domain Criteria’s (RDoC) framework, offering a comprehensive approach to understanding the intersection between ASD and NSSI behaviors
UCF PEGASUS PLAN - 5th Grade - Early American Inventions
No full textDuring this unit, students will trace early American inventions\u27 effects on the early United States and the business productivity of that era. Students will complete primary source analyses on the different inventions, take guided notes in a foldable on each invention, and participate in a collaborative project where students will create a PowerPoint on a particular early American invention in order to demonstrate proficiency in this unit