Digital Commons Network^™

Finite Difference Time Domain Analysis Of Fractal Antennas Used In Wireless Communications, Chritz Adenauer Duncan

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The advances in wireless technology and the ever-growing demand for multiband and smaller antennas in wireless communications has led to the field of mathematics known as fractal. The use of fractal geometry in antenna design has created a significant amount of interest within the wireless communications societies and most importantly, antenna design.

This thesis investigates the performance and optimization of fractal antennas used in wireless communications. The principle analytical tool utilized in the study is the Finite Difference Time Domain technique (FDTD). This numerical method was applied to calculate the electromagnetic propagation characteristics of the Sierpinski gasket and Koch snowflake …

Comparison Of Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors In Foreign-Born And United States-Born Afro Caribbean Americans And African Americans In South Florida, Errol Earl Davis

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In a cross-sectional study design, risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) were evaluated in three groups: 66 Afro Caribbeans (FBCA) living in the US for less than 10 years, 62 US-born Afro Caribbean (USBCA) and 61 African American (AA) adults (18-40 years), with equal numbers of males and females in each group. Socio-demographic, dietary, anthropometric and blood pressure data were collected. Fasting blood glucose, blood lipids and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were determined.

The USBCA and AA participants compared to the FBCA participants consumed significantly (p< 0.05) more mean total fat (g) (66.3 ± 41.7 and 73.0± 47.8 vs. 52.8± 32.3), saturated fat (g) (23.1± 14.9 and 24.9± 15.8 vs. 18.6 11.5), percent energy from fat (%) (33.1 ± 6.5 and 31.4 ± 6.4 vs. 29.3 ± 6.8), fat servings (1.8 ± 1.2 and 1.5 ± 1.0 vs. 1.2 ± 0.9), dietary cholesterol (mg) (220.4 ± 161.9 and 244.1 ± 155.0 vs. 168.8 ± 114.0) and sodium (mg) (2245.2 ± 1238.3 and 2402.6 ± 1359.3 vs.1838.0 ± 983.4) and less than 2 servings of fruits per day (%) (86.9 and 94.9 vs. 78.5). These differences were more pronounced in males compared to females and remained after correcting for age. Also, the percentages of USBCA and AA participants who were obese (17.1% and 23.0%, respectively) were significantly (p< 0.05) higher compared to FBCA (7.6%) participants. More USBCA and AA than FBCA individuals smoked cigarettes (4.8% and 6.6% vs. 0.0%) and consumed alcoholic beverages (29.0% and 50.8% vs. 24.2%). The mean hs- CRP level of the AA participants (2.2 ± 2.7 mg/L) was significantly (p< 0.01) higher compared to the FBCA (1.1 1.3 mg/L) and USBCA (1.3 ± 1.6 mg/L) participants.

The FBCA participants had a better CHD risk profile than the USBCA and …

The Design, Implementation And Production Process Of Creating A Viable Series Of Latin Shows In Hollywood, Florida, Cynthia Gredel Berrios

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to design and implement a Series of Latin Shows to be featured at the Satine Restaurant located in The Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, Florida.

Three shows were created: "Electro Tango," "Bossa Nova Jazz," and "Piel Canela Night" to help generate interest for not only the Satine Restaurant but also for the surrounding area. The artistic concept included big bands, costumes, dancers and a DJ.

A production book was created and included the most important aspects of the individual shows such as budgets, costumes, and ground plans, to assure the success of each event. Careful …

Women Graduates' Academic Resilience And Their Personal Strategies For Doctoral Success, Alice S. Culpepper

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores women’s perceptions of what made them successful doctoral students and what strategies they used to cope and succeed in the academic environment of an off-campus program in South Florida. The study’s theoretical framework was built on Bandura’s (1997) theory regarding ways self-efficacy influences choices made and effort expended; and Gilligan (1982), Belenky et al. (1986) and other feminists’ theories concerning how women learn.

The study included data obtained from individual, semi-structured interviews with 10 participants, documents spanning the 10 years of the program and interviews with founding faculty members. For each, academic resilience was built on (a) …

A Comparison Of The Kodaly Method And The Traditional Method To Determine Pitch Accuracy In Grade 6 Choral Sight-Singing, Merissa Amkraut

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine which of the two methods is more appropriate to teach pitch discrimination to Grade 6 choral students to improve sight-singing note accuracy. This study consisted of three phases: pre-testing, instruction and post-testing. During the four week study, the experimental group received training using the Kodaly method while the control group received training using the traditional method. The pre and post tests were evaluated by three trained musicians. The analysis of the data utilized an independent t-test and a paired t-test with the methods of teaching (experimental and control) as a factor. Quantitative …

The Phonological Analysis Of Bilingual Creole/English Children Living In South Florida, Carolyn F. Beaubrun

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gather normative data regarding the phonological system of bilingual Creole-English children ages three and five and to compare performance to norms for English speaking children. The forty participants lived in Miami and represented low socio-economic groups.

Participants were assessed using the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation-2 and a Haitian Creole Picture Naming Assessment. The results indicated that the percentage of correct phonemes in Creole (M=91.6) were not significantly different when compared to the correct production of the same phonemes in English (M=92.8). Further analysis revealed that the accuracy of all phonemes was higher for …

The Acculturation Of Middle Income Hispanic Households, Cecilia Maria Alvarez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research on the consumer behavior of the Hispanic population has recently attracted the attention of marketing practitioners as well as researchers. This study's purpose was to develop a model and scales to examine the acculturation process of Hispanic consumers with income levels of $35,000 and above, and its effects on their consumer behavior. The proposed model defined acculturation as a bilinear and multidimensional change process, measuring consumers' selective change process in four dimensions: language preference, Hispanic identification, American identification, and familism. A national sample of 653 consumers was analyzed. The scales developed for testing the model showed good to high …

Design And Development Of A One-Degree-Of-Freedom Force-Reflecting Manual Controller Prototype For Teleoperation, Chandrasekar Reddy Puligari

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present research is carried out from the viewpoint of primarily space applications where human lives may be in danger if they are to work under these conditions. This work proposes to develop a one-degree-of-freedom (1-DOF) force-reflecting manual controller (FRMC) prototype for teleoperation, and address the effects of time delays commonly found in space applications where the control is accomplished via the earth-based control stations. To test the FRMC, a mobile robot (PPRK) and a slider-bar were developed and integrated to the 1-DOF FRMC. The software developed in Visual Basic is able to telecontrol any platform that uses an SV203 …

Cross Sections And Rosenbluth Separations From Kaon Electroproduction On Protons Up To Q²=2.35 (Gev/C)², Marius Coman

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The kaon electroproduction reaction H(e, e'K⁺)Λ was studied as a function of the four momentum transfer, Q², for different values of the virtual photon polarization parameter. Electrons and kaons were detected in coincidence in two High Resolution Spectrometers (HRS) at Jefferson Lab. Data were taken at electron beam energies ranging from 3.4006 to 5.7544 GeV. The kaons were identified using combined time of flight information and two Aerogel Čerenkov detectors used for particle identification. For different values of Q² ranging from 1.90 to 2.35 GeV/c² the center of mass cross sections for the …

Effects Of Pubertal Status And Timing On Externalizing Behavior Problems And Anxious/Depressed Symptoms In A Sample Of Adolescent Girls Of Color, Rona Carter

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Empirical research has shown that pubertal development is closely linked with adolescent externalizing (e.g., aggressive) and internalizing (e.g., anxiety) problems. In most studies, pubertal timing, pubertal status, or both, are used to examine this link. The present study adds to the existing literature by examining the link between puberty and adolescent behavior problems in a sample of predominantly urban African American adolescent girls. One hundred and seventeen adolescent girls of color, aged 11-18 (M = 14.72 SD = 1.44), and their primary caregiver participated in this study. Sixty-eight percent were African American, 22.2 % were Hispanic/Latina, and 9.4% were Haitian. …

Causal Attributions For Success Or Failure By Passing And Failing Students In College Algebra, Georgina Cortés Suárez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Success in mathematics has been identified as a predictor of baccalaureate degree completion. Within the coursework of college mathematics, College Algebra has been identified as a high-risk course due to its low success rates.

Research in the field of attribution theory and academic achievement suggests a relationship between a student’s attributional style and achievement. Theorists and researchers contend that attributions influence individual reactions to success and failure. They also report that individuals use attributions to explain and justify their performance. Studies in mathematics education identify attribution theory as the theoretical orientation most suited to explain academic performance in mathematics. This …

A Study Of Gas Holdup Properties Of Selected Non-Newtonian Simulants, Milena Abarca

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) needs a design basis to properly design a PJM and ventilation systems for the Waste Treatment Plant vessels. In order to meet DOE's needs for proper ventilation and PJM design technologies, Florida International University's Hemispheric Center for Environmental Technology (FIU-HCET) has studied the properties for gas holdup in selected non Newtonian fluids with physicochemical properties comparable to nuclear waste.

The primary purpose of this research was to study the holdup properties of selected non - Newtonian simulants and quantify the level of gas holdup in selected simulants using continuous argon injection in five gallons …

A Novel Neural Network Based System For Assessing Risks Associated With Information Technology Security Breaches, Monica Dezulueta

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Security remains a top priority for organizations as their information systems continue to be plagued by security breaches. This dissertation developed a unique approach to assess the security risks associated with information systems based on dynamic neural network architecture. The risks that are considered encompass the production computing environment and the client machine environment. The risks are established as metrics that define how susceptible each of the computing environments is to security breaches.

The merit of the approach developed in this dissertation is based on the design and implementation of Artificial Neural Networks to assess the risks in the computing …

The Therapeutic Effects Of Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-Iii Assessment Feedback, Andrea Allen, Andrea Allen Keener

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A study was conducted to test the therapeutic effects of assessment feedback on rapport-building and self-enhancement variables (self-verification, self-discovery, self-esteem), as well as symptomatology. Assessment feedback was provided in the form of interpretive information based on the results of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory- III (MCMI-III). Participants (N = 89) were randomly assigned to three groups: a Feedback group, a Reflective-Counseling group, and a No-Feedback group. The Feedback group was provided with assessment feedback, the Reflective-Counseling group was asked to comment on the meaning of the taking the MCMI-III, the No- Feedback group received general information about the MCMI-III. Results …

An Examination Of Bernard Connor's The History Of Poland (1698) And Its Depiction Of The Political, Religious, And Cultural History Of The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, John Paul Bardunias

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Connor was an Irish-born member of seventeenth-century English medical society who made an impact on medicine through his use of anatomy. This forward-thinking scientist also worked as a court physician for the Polish king John III Sobieski (1629- 1696) and published a history of that country.

This thesis will examine Bernard Connor's 1698 publication The History of Poland to show that the Commonwealth was considered a vision of a progressive European parliamentary government that could serve as a model for a struggling English parliamentary government, thus supporting Larry Wolff and Maria Todorova's vision of the later eighteenth-century creation of …

Cytotoxicity And Drug Potentiating Activity Of Phenylheptatriyne, Rachel Arrasmith Gray

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the toxicity of the phototoxin, phenylheptatriyne (PHT) to acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells (ALL) under attenuated light conditions and when exposed to ultraviolet-A light (UVA). The potential of PHT to increase sensitivity of ALL cells to the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride also was evaluated. An in vitro multi-drug resistance model was used consisting of the parental cell line CCRF-CEM and its p-glycoprotein (pgp-170) expressing variant CEM/VLB₁₀₀. Cytotoxicity was measured using the tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay and the annexin-V-FITC / propidium iodide (PI), flow cytometric assay. The results indicate …

Occupational Therapists' Attitudes Toward Family-Centered Care, Elise M. Bloch

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine pediatric occupational therapists attitudes towards family-centered care. Specific attributes identified by the literature (professional characteristics, educational experiences and organizational culture) were investigated to determine their influence on these attitudes. Study participants were 250 pediatric occupational therapists who were randomly selected from the American Occupational Therapy Association special interest sections.

Participants received a mail packet with three instruments to complete and mail back within 2 weeks. The instruments were (a) the Professional Attitude Scale (b) the Professional Characteristics Questionnaire, and (c) the Family-Centered Program Rating Scale. There was a 50% return rate. Data …

Acculturation And Hispanic Identity/Ethnicity As A Predictor Of Change On The Brief Situational Confidence Questionnaire, Simy Benchimol

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether level of acculturation among Hispanic adolescent males (n = 174) influenced treatment outcome in a substance abuse program, specifically on the Brief Situational Confidence Questionnaire (BSCQ) which measures relapse confidence. It was hypothesized that lower levels of acculturation were likely to be predictive of positive change, whereas higher levels of acculturation were likely to be predictive of no change or negative change. It was found that adolescents changed over time in BSCQ scores regardless of which acculturation variable was measured. Contrary to expectations, for those adolescents placed in family treatment, place …

A Pilot Study Examining The Difference In Community Mental Health Services Users' Symptomatology And Concordance With Medication Regimens After Completion Of The Quarto Adherence Therapy Intervention, Stephanie Hall Ford

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A randomized, experimental pilot study of QUATRO Adherence Therapy examined differences at baseline and follow up in the dependent variables of severity of psychiatric symptomatology and medication concordance as measured by the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale and the Personal Evaluation of Transitions in Treatment for subjects with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder at a community mental health center. The sample was 23 subjects. A questionnaire developed for the study collected data at follow-up. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, /-tests, and repeat Anova to compare groups and determine significance of change following completion of the intervention. Program evaluation was positive. …

Feasts Of Power : How Food Reveals Eve's Influential Role In John Milton's Epic Poem, "Paradise Lost", Jeanne M. Ali

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This writing explores how food in Paradise Lost reflects Eve's power in the story of man's (and woman's) fall from grace. Critics often emphasize Adam in Paradise Lost; however, I challenge the notion of the first man as the most influential character of the poem. By examining Eve's role and her abilities with food, one sees the first woman as a well-rounded, complete being, albeit the first to succumb to temptation. Notwithstanding her transgression, -- certainly no trivial act of disobedience -- Eve should be viewed at least as Adam's equal, if not his superior. Her uncanny understanding of matters …

Distribution And Occurrence Of Inorganic And Organic Contaminants In Sediments And Whole Fish Tissue Of Everglades And Biscayne National Parks, Adolfo M. Fernandez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study provides a detailed survey of the presence, concentration levels, and spatial distribution of organic and inorganic contaminants in sediment and tissue samples collected within Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. The results of these analyses revealed elevated concentrations of arsenic, and lead and chromium in Everglades National Park (ENP) sediments exceeding Potential Effects Levels (PEL) in 9, 5 and 5% of sediment samples and concentrations of nickel exceeding Threshold Effects Levels (TEL) in 5% of samples. In Biscayne National Park, arsenic exceeded TEL in 4400 of sediment samples. Organic analyses of ENP sediments revealed elevated concentrations of DDT and …

Teachers' Knowledge, Awareness, And Pedagogy Of Global Education In Secondary Schools, Abubakar Sadiq Abdullahi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Professor Mohammed K. Farouk, Major Professor In 1979, the Florida State Board of Education approved the teaching of global education in the state of Florida. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that contributed to teachers' global knowledge, global mindedness, and pedagogy in global education. The Hanvey model of teaching from a global perspective was the theoretical framework for the study.

A total of 90 secondary teachers from Miami-Dade County Public Schools were randomly selected and placed in three groups: Globally Oriented Social Studies Program (GOSSE), Non-Globally Oriented Social Studies Program (non-GOSSE), and Teachers Who Teach Other …

"Across The Colour Wall:" Gullah Linguistic And Literary Representations In Dubose Heyward's Porgy, Charlene Eberly

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine a classic text - DuBose Heyward's Porgy (1925) - associated with Southern Literature in relation to its connections to the Gullah culture and language. Close critical scrutiny was made of the 1925 text, two early manuscripts, manuscript fragments, revisions, research notes, and other personal papers from Heyward's estate. Access to these papers helped establish his influences and motivations in writing Porgy.

Employing both linguistic and literary analyses, the findings establish the verisimilitude of Heyward's representation of the Gullah language, rhetorical patterns, culture, beliefs, and practices, linking Porgy to a Gullah literary …

The Impact Of Looping Of Fourth Grade Students On Their Reading Achievement, Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the effects of looping (staying with the same teacher for two grade levels) on the reading achievement of fourth graders within a large, urban, multicultural school. Looping was expected to have a positive effect on reading achievement and reading qualities. Additional benefits, such as its effect on anxiety levels and self-concept were also assumed to accrue from looping.

A causal-comparative design was employed. Four existing classrooms consisting of eighty-one fourth grade students comprised the treatment and comparison groups. The two "looping" treatment groups consisted of students who had the same teacher for their third and fourth grade …

Navigating The Past, Envisioning The Future : Octavia Butler's Heroines, Dixie-Ann Belle

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I examined three novels by African American science fiction novelist Octavia Butler: Kindred (1979), Parable of the Sower (1994), Parable of the Talents (1998) and Dawn (1987). I analyzed Butler's belief that society has become too firmly attached to old customs and belief systems, initiating destructive, self-defeating cycles in our history. She looks to African American females to take up leadership roles and exact radical change to ensure society's continued survival as well as progress, acceptance and autonomy within our communities. I also established Butler's significant contributions to the African American literary canon as she examines the …

Double Diffusive Convection During Solidification Of Ammonium Chloride - Water (Nh4cl-H20) Mixture In A Trapezoidal Cavity, Ravi Kumar Duggirala

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effect of the initial concentration of ammonium chloride (sub eutectic: C < 19.8 wt. % and eutectic C_e= 19.8 wt. %) and boundary temperatures (T_cold = -30 ⁰C to -10 ⁰C) on the solidification process is examined. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is used in this study to measure the velocity fields in the melt during the solidification process. The distributions of temperatures at discrete locations in the solution and the boundary walls were measured. This study focuses on the solidification of an ammonium chloride-water (NH₄Cl- H₂O) solution in a trapezoidal cavity with one and two inclined cooling …

An Indexing Structure And Application Model For Vehicles Moving On Road Networks, Xiangyu Ye

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Moving objects database systems are the most challenging sub-category among Spatio-Temporal database systems. A database system that updates in real-time the location information of GPS-equipped moving vehicles has to meet even stricter requirements. Currently existing data storage models and indexing mechanisms work well only when the number of moving objects in the system is relatively small. This dissertation research aimed at the real-time tracking and history retrieval of massive numbers of vehicles moving on road networks. A total solution has been provided for the real-time update of the vehicles’ location and motion information, range queries on current and history data, …

Reading Comprehension And Mathematical Concept Acquisition Through The Use Of Math Stories With Bilingual Children, Chan-Ho Chae

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Math storybooks are picture books in which the understanding of mathematical concepts is central to the comprehension of the story. Math stories have provided useful opportunities for children to expand their skills in the language arts area and to talk about mathematical factors that are related to their real lives. The purpose of this study was to examine bilingual children's reading and math comprehension of the math storybooks.

The participants were randomly selected from two Korean schools and two public elementary schools in Miami, Florida. The sample consisted of 63 Hispanic American and 43 Korean American children from ages five …

Modification Of A Novel Polymer With Potential Use In Artificial Heart Valves : Effects On Hemocompatibility And Mechanical Properties, Tejas Dilipkumar Choksi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Platelet mediated thrombosis has been a major source of mortality and morbidity in cardiovascular device patients as the device surface upon contact with blood induces surface thrombosis. Two specific objectives of this thesis are: 1) Identify the effect of phospholipid modification on Quatromer and 2) Identify the most effective modification technique that will inhibit the surface induced thrombosis and enhance the long-term blood compatibility of Quatromer. Six different phospholipids were grafted in the Quatromer and the role of each of the modified substrates was evaluated in terms of mechanical properties and hemocompatibility. The surface analysis studies showed a significant decrease …

The Impact Of Migration And Intergenerational Changes On The Cuban Family In The United States, Darna Aybar Guardia

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines changes in the Cuban family in the United States produced by time, migration, and the rise of new generations. The thesis will use a data set extracted from the 5% Public Use Microdata Series (PUMS) of the U.S. Decennial Census of Population for the years 1970, 1980 and 1990. Contingency table analysis and comparison of means were used to examine various family-related variables. The analysis points to changes in the traditional Cuban family towards less traditional family arrangements. The multigenerational feature of the Cuban household has diminished as the elderly have become independent and are more likely …