Digital Commons Network^™

Syntheses Of Aza Analogs Of Kainoids, Mingping Di

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The kainoids are a class of non-proteinogenic pyrrolidine dicarboxylates that exhibit both excitatory and excitotoxic activities. These activities are a result of the ability of the kainoids to act as glutamate receptor agonists by activating ionotropic glutamate receptors. The parent of this group of compounds is x-kainic acid. Kainic acid is isolated from the seaweed Diginea simplex and has been used in Asian countries as a treatment for intestinal worms in children. In addition it is used extensively by neuropharmacologists for the study of glutamate receptors. Several years ago, the world's sole supplier of kainic acid discontinued this product. Since …

A Framework For Transforming, Analyzing, And Realizing Software Designs In Unified Modeling Language, Zhijiang Dong

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Unified Modeling Language (UML) is the most comprehensive and widely accepted object-oriented modeling language due to its multi-paradigm modeling capabilities and easy to use graphical notations, with strong international organizational support and industrial production quality tool support. However, there is a lack of precise definition of the semantics of individual UML notations as well as the relationships among multiple UML models, which often introduces incomplete and inconsistent problems for software designs in UML, especially for complex systems. Furthermore, there is a lack of methodologies to ensure a correct implementation from a given UML design. The purpose of this investigation is …

Natural Organic Matter And Colloid-Facilitated Arsenic Transport And Transformation In Porous Soil Media, Zhangrong Chen

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prediction of arsenic transport and transformation in soil environment requires understanding the transport mechanisms and proper estimation of arsenic partitioning among all three phases in soil/aquifer systems: mobile colloids, mobile soil solution, and immobile soil solids. The primary purpose of this research is to study natural dissolved organic matter (DOM)/colloid-facilitated transport of arsenic and understand the role of soil derived carriers in the transport and transformation of both inorganic and organoarsenicals in soils.

DOM/colloid facilitated arsenic transport and transformation in porous soil media were investigated using a set of experimental approaches including batch experiment, equilibrium membrane dialysis experiment and column …

Spatial Distribution Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In The Shark River Estuary And Implications For Understanding Movement And Feeding Patterns Of Manatees (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris), Virginia C. Cornett

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to 1) characterize the distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Shark River Estuary, 2) determine water quality parameters driving distribution of SAV, 3) document the stable isotopic and elemental content of potential food sources for manatees, and 4) explore the utility of natural variability in isotope ratios of SAV in determining feeding patterns of manatees using isotopic compositions of manatee hairs as analytical tools. The marine/freshwater interface of the estuary was found to be the main factor driving SAV distribution. δ¹³C of manatee hairs showed significant differences between captive (mean …

The Central European Initiative : An Approach To Regional Stabilization And Democratic Consolidation, Astrid Bettina Boening

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how multilateral institutions can contribute to democratization and regional stability. It is a case study of the Central European Initiative (CEI), a regional intergovernmental organization founded by Italy and Austria in 1989 to undertake a regional integration process, and of its role in stabilizing post-communist democracies. Documents were collected at the CEI offices in Trieste, Italy, and interviews conducted with CEI officers, and data obtained from the websites of related organizations and of CEI member countries.

The thesis probes the relevance of concepts derived from theories of international regimes and social constructivism. It shows that the CEI …

Asymptotically Nuisance-Parameter-Free Consistent Tests Of Lp-Functional Form, Jonathan Hill

Economics Research Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

State Legislative Term Limits And The Law Of Unintended Consequences : An Examination Of Member Behavior, Power Structures, And Legislative Organization In Florida, Kathryn Andrews Depalo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The implementation of term limits on state legislators has provided a wealth of data for study. Florida, the second largest state in the Union with term limits, has not been comprehensively studied. This research examines the effects of term limits on electoral competition, member composition, legislator career paths, legislative leadership, and intra- and inter-governmental influences on Florida's legislature. This study looks at the Florida legislature from 1992 when term limits were enacted through 2004, three electoral cycles in which term limits have been in effect. This study uses both quantitative and qualitative data where appropriate. Electoral data is used to …

Leisure Externalities: Implications For Growth And Welfare, Mihaela Pintea

Economics Research Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Bme Annual Report 2005-2006, Department Of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University

Biomedical Engineering Department Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

The Development Of Molecular Markers For Use Across All Plant Species Using Expressed Sequence Tags, Stephanie Douglas

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are over a half a million plant species on earth, and we use them in virtually every aspect of our lives. Little or no genomic information exists about the vast majority of these plants. This study investigated the use of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) to locate highly conserved sequences from which to design a set of universal molecular markers for all plant species. Plant species for this study were chosen to representative of the plant kingdom. This was done by sampling several individuals of at least one species from all of the major terrestrial plant groups.

Conserved sequences are …

South Florida Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Network -1-3/06 Quarterly Report (C-15379), Joseph N. Boyer

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Subdural Electroencephalogram Analysis For Extracting Discriminating Measures In Epileptogenic Data, Mercedes Cabrerizo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation introduces an integrated algorithm for a new application dedicated at discriminating between electrodes leading to a seizure onset and those that do not, using interictal subdural EEG data. The significance of this study is in determining among all of these channels, all containing interictal spikes, why some electrodes eventually lead to seizure while others do not. A first finding in the development process of the algorithm is that these interictal spikes had to be asynchronous and should be located in different regions of the brain, before any consequential interpretations of EEG behavioral patterns are possible. A singular merit …

Do Antidepressants Cure Or Create Abnormal Brain States?, Joanna Moncrieff, David Cohen

School of Social Work

No abstract provided.

Asset Pricing With Incomplete Information In A Discrete Time Pure Exchange Economy, Prasad V. Bidarkota, Brice V. Dupoyet

Economics Research Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Intellectual Property Rights Reforms On The Diffusion Of Knowledge Through Fdi, Ioana Popovici

Economics Research Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Paleoenvironmental Implications Of The Indidura Formation (Cenomanian/Turonian), Northeastern Mexico: A High Resolution Stratigraphic Study, Fabian Duque-Botero

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High-resolution lithostratigraphic data from rock sequences known as the Indidura Formation near Parras de La Fuente, Coahuila, NE Mexico, led to achieve a significant improvement of our knowledge of that Formation. The results of this study indicate for the first time that the sequence at Parras de La Fuente developed from the deposition of calcareous cyanobacterial microspheroids that accumulated under perennial blooms during the Late Cenomanian through the Middle Turonian. Multi-proxy analyses included sedimentological, petrographical, scanning electron microscopy, stable isotope, trace element geochemistry, and paleontological data. The combined results allowed the correlation of δ13C and anomalies in Mo, V, and …

Computational Modeling Of Intermediate Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (Pem) Fuel Cells, Denver Faron Cheddie

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A two-phase three-dimensional computational model of an intermediate temperature (120 - 190 ˚C) proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is presented. This represents the first attempt to model PEM fuel cells employing intermediate temperature membranes, in this case, phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole (PBI). To date, mathematical modeling of PEM fuel cells has been restricted to low temperature operation, especially to those employing Nafion^® membranes; while research on PBI as an intermediate temperature membrane has been solely at the experimental level. This work is an advancement in the state of the art of both these fields of research. With a …

Product Quality Selection And Firm Survival. Evidence From The British Auto Industry, 1895-1970, Yuanyuan Peng

Economics Research Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Revascularization And Cardioprotective Drug Treatment In Myocardial Infarction Patients: How Do They Impact On Patients' Survival When Delivered As Usual Care, Alain Vanasse, Josiane Courteau, Theophile Niyonsenga

All Faculty

Background Randomized clinical trials showed the benefit of pharmacological and revascularization treatments in secondary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI), in selected population with highly controlled interventions. The objective of this study is to measure these treatments' impact on the cardiovascular (CV) mortality rate among patients receiving usual care in the province of Quebec. Methods The study population consisted of a "naturalistic" cohort of all patients ? 65 years old living in the Quebec province, who survived a MI (ICD-9: 410) in 1998. The studied dependant variable was time to death from a CV disease. Independent variables were revascularization procedure and …

Bibliographia Anotada Del Manejo Comunitario De Los Bosques En Mexico, Con Bibliografia Adicional Sobre Los Bosques De Mexico En General (Working Paper No. 2), Rosa E. Cossio, David B. Bray, Simón Bult, Leticia Merino Pérez

LACC Working Paper Series (2001 - )

No abstract provided.

On Optimizing Compatible Security Policies In Wireless Networks, Scott C-H Huang, Kia Makki, Nikki Pissinou

Telecommunications and Information Technology Institute

This paper deals with finding the maximum number of security policies without conflicts. By doing so we can remove security loophole that causes security violation. We present the problem of maximum compatible security policy and its relationship to the problem of maximum acyclic subgraph, which is proved to be NP-hard. Then we present a polynomial-time approximation algorithm and show that our result has approximation ratio for any integer with complexity .

Examining The Process Of Regime Change In The North Atlantic Treaty Organization : The Divide Between Rhetoric And Reality, Barak Carlson

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a product of the Cold War through which its members organized their military forces for the purpose of collective defense against the common threat of Soviet-backed aggression. Employing the terminology of regime theory, the creation of NATO can be viewed as the introduction of an international security regime. Throughout the Cold War, NATO member states preserved their commitment to mutual defense while increasingly engaging in activities aimed at overcoming the division of Europe and promoting regional stability. The end of the Cold War has served as the catalyst for a new period of …

Epidemiology Of Recreational Exposure To Freshwater Cyanobacteria – An International Prospective Cohort Study, Ian Stewart, Penelope M. Webb, Philip J. Schulter, Lora E. Fleming, John W. Burns Jr., Miroslav Gantar, Lorraine C. Backer, Glen R. Shaw

Department of Biological Sciences

Background: Case studies and anecdotal reports have documented a range of acute illnesses associated with exposure to cyanobacteria and their toxins in recreational waters. The epidemiological data to date are limited; we sought to improve on the design of some previously conducted studies in order to facilitate revision and refinement of guidelines for exposure to cyanobacteria in recreational waters. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the incidence of acute symptoms in individuals exposed, through recreational activities, to low (cell surface area <2.4 mm2/mL), medium (2.4–12.0 mm2/mL) and high (>12.0 mm2/mL) levels of cyanobacteria in lakes and rivers in southeast Queensland, the central coast area …

Estrogen-Induced Dna Synthesis In Vascular Endothelial Cells Is Mediated By Ros Signaling, Quentin Felty

Environmental Health Sciences

Since estrogen is known to increase vascular endothelial cell growth, elevated estrogen exposure from hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives has the potential to contribute in the development of abnormal proliferative vascular lesions and subsequent thickening of the vasculature. How estrogen may support or promote vascular lesions is not clear. We have examined in this study whether estrogen exposure to vascular endothelial cells increase the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and estrogen-induced ROS is involved in the growth of endothelial cells.

METHODS:

The effect of estrogen on the production of intracellular oxidants and the role of estrogen-induced ROS on …

A Computer Based Approach To Improve The Dietary And Physical Activity Patterns Of A Diverse Group Of Adolescents, Krista Casazza

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Diet and physical activity patterns have been implicated as major factors in the increasing prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity. It is estimated that between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight (CDC, 2000). Moreover, the CDC estimates that less than 50% of adolescents are physically active on a regular basis (CDC, 2003). Interventions must be focused to modify these behaviors. Facilitating the understanding of proper nutrition and need for physical activity among adolescents is the first step in preventing overweight and obesity and delaying the development of chronic diseases later in life …

The Development And Creation Of A Multicultural Entertainment Company, Mileyka Burgos

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis proposed the creation of a multicultural entertainment company. The thesis comprises two components: the development of the entertainment company and the production of a concert. The mission of the private company is to bring together the best of different cultures onto the stage. It aims to craft productions that people would identify with and which would appeal to the diversity of the American landscape.

Along with the development of the entertainment company, a sample concert is suggested. The sample concert implements the concept and methods that makes the company unique in the market.

In conclusion, the thesis aims …

Supplemental Instruction, Study Habits, And The Community College Student, Eileen Garcia

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate if the academic assistance program Supplemental Instruction (SI) facilitates the acquisition of effective study behaviors through strategies that transcend simple double-exposure to the course material. Its advocates claim it increases academic achievement using learner-centered knowledge and acquisition of effective study behaviors. SI sessions are specifically related to particular courses that students are taking. Sessions are facilitated by the SI leader who has taken the subject matter course in the past. Students review the content of the previous subject matter class using collaborative learning strategies coordinated by a SI leader. In addition, the …

Evaluation Of A Mentored Self-Help Intervention For The Management Of Psychotic Symptoms, Willa Jeanne Casstevens

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be promising for the treatment of individuals experiencing psychotic symptoms, who are often diagnosed with schizophrenia. Using a non-random non-equivalent comparison group design (n = 26), this study explores whether an individually mentored self-help and self-paced intervention based upon cognitive behavioral approaches to auditory hallucinations or "hearing voices" makes a significant positive difference for individuals with major mental disorder diagnoses and psychotic symptoms who are residing in the community and receiving community mental health services. The mentored self-help intervention uses a workbook (Coleman & Smith, 1997) that stemmed from the British psychiatric survivor …

Integration Of Colombian Refugees In Costa Rica : An Ethnographic Approach To The Refugees' Legal, Economic, And Social Experiences, Angela P. Bonilla

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study, based on interviews to 17 refugee families, attempts to identify the reasons behind the lack of integration of Colombian refugees in Costa Rica. The model of Immigrant Modes of Incorporation and the studies of Alejandro Portes and Julia Sensenbrenner about the sources of social capital on migrant communities provided the theoretical framework used to identify the roots of the integration challenges. The findings suggest that Costa Rican policies towards the reception and integration of Colombian refugees are exclusionary. The host labor market is marked by sentiments of xenophobia towards the sample population while reported cases of persecution …

Customer Relationship Management : A Content Analysis Of Issues And Best Practices, Samit Chakravorti

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of customer relationship management theory and practice. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a business strategy whereby companies build strong relationships with existing and prospective customers with the goal of increasing organizational profitability. It is also a learning process involving managing change in processes, people, and technology. CRM implementation and its ramifications are also not completely understood as evidenced by the high number of failures in CRM implementation in organizations and the resulting disappointments.

The goal of this dissertation is_ to study emerging issues and trends in CRM, including the effect of computer software and the …