Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of Central Florida

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 3661 - 3690 of 14427

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

An Analysis Of One Medical School's Student Mentoring Practices, Soraya Smith Jan 2020

An Analysis Of One Medical School's Student Mentoring Practices, Soraya Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Mentoring for medical students has been shown to be beneficial for mentees and mentors, aiding in career development, improved academics, and personal benefits like reducing burnout. The provision of mentoring is also an accreditation standard for all allopathic medical schools in the United States. This study examined a mentoring program in one urban medical school during the 2019-2020 academic year. The purpose of this study was to determine participant perceptions of their mentoring experiences and alignment with the qualities of the career and academic advising and mentoring standards identified by the literature, looking specifically at programmatic structure, oversight, integration into …

Go to article

Scalable Communication Frameworks For Multi-Agency Data Sharing, Shafaq Chaudhry Jan 2020

Scalable Communication Frameworks For Multi-Agency Data Sharing, Shafaq Chaudhry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

With the rise in frequency and magnitude of natural disasters, there is a need to break down monolithic organizational barriers and engage with community volunteers. This calls for ease of systems interoperability to facilitate communication, data-sharing and scalability of real-time response, essential for crisis communications. We propose two scalable frameworks that enable multi-agency interoperability and real-time data-sharing. The first framework harnesses the power of social media, artificial intelligence, and community volunteers to form an extended rescue-and-response network that alleviates call center burden and augments the finite capacity of dispatch units. Through an "online 9-1-1" service, affected people can request help …

Go to article

Exploring The Intersection Of Spiritual And Sexual Orientation Identity Development In Lgbt Undergraduate Graduates Of Faith-Based Institutions, Lavina Seawright Jan 2020

Exploring The Intersection Of Spiritual And Sexual Orientation Identity Development In Lgbt Undergraduate Graduates Of Faith-Based Institutions, Lavina Seawright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the intersection and experiences of spiritual and sexual orientation identity development in LGBT graduates of faith-based institutions. Guided by Crenshaw's (1984), framework on intersectionality, this qualitative study was conducted through six in-depth interviews with LGBT graduates of faith-based institutions from Protestant faiths. Collected data was transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi's (1978) process for phenomenological data. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: commitment to religious affiliation; positive campus environment; negative campus environment; and identity congruence and dissonance. Additionally, participants were asked to identify their institutions as liberal, conservative, or neither liberal …

Go to article

Econometric Frameworks For Multivariate Models: Application To Crash Frequency Analysis, Tanmoy Bhowmik Jan 2020

Econometric Frameworks For Multivariate Models: Application To Crash Frequency Analysis, Tanmoy Bhowmik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Econometric crash frequency models are a major analytical tool employed for examining the critical factors influencing crash occurrence. However, there are several methodological challenges associated with existing models suggesting a continual need to develop advanced econometric framework to address these gaps. The current dissertation contributes towards addressing the methodological challenges in crash frequency analysis for analyzing multiple crash frequency variables for the same study unit by proposing advanced econometric approaches. The first part of the dissertation contributes to safety literature by conducting a comparison exercise between the two major streams of multivariate approaches - (1) simulation-based approach and (2) analytical …

Go to article

Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning For Defensive Escort Teams, Hassam Sheikh Jan 2020

Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning For Defensive Escort Teams, Hassam Sheikh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Reinforcement learning has been applied to solve several real world challenging problems, from robotics to data center cooling. Similarly, adaption of reinforcement learning for multi-agent systems facilitated applications such as optimal multi-robot control and analysis of social-dilemmas. In this dissertation, we show that multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithms suffer from several stability issues such as multi-scenario learning, unstable training in dual-reward setting, overestimation bias and value function collapse, and provide solutions to each of these problems respectively. Several contributions of this dissertation have been formalized within the framework of a defensive escort team problems, a scenario where a team of learning …

Go to article

Initiating Change, Connection, And Community, Janine Papin Jan 2020

Initiating Change, Connection, And Community, Janine Papin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Augusto Boal said "Theatre is a form of knowledge; it should and can also be a means of transforming society. Theatre can help us build our future, rather than just waiting for it." I have been a teacher in a private school setting for 27 years. In my work with students, it becomes increasingly important to me that the projects in which I engage become transformative, not only for me and my students, but for my audiences as well. Finding ways that promote awareness of social justice, both locally and globally, has become paramount. My ongoing goal is to inspire …

Go to article

Meroitic Childhood Diet And Weaning At Sai Island, Sudan: A Carbon And Nitrogen Isotopic Study Of Site 8-B-52.B, Brenna Raisor Jan 2020

Meroitic Childhood Diet And Weaning At Sai Island, Sudan: A Carbon And Nitrogen Isotopic Study Of Site 8-B-52.B, Brenna Raisor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This research explores the diet and weaning patterns of non-adult individuals from an elite Meroitic (300 BCE – 350 CE) cemetery (8-B-52.B) at Sai Island, Sudan. This was accomplished by conducting stable isotopic analyses of carbon and nitrogen on a sample of 54 individuals. These analyses focused on differences in adult and non-adult diet, non-adult weaning patterns, and intra-elite differences between contemporaneous cemeteries at Sai Island in order to shed light on the patterns of non-adult diet and weaning and the mother-infant dynamic. The non-adult individuals range from 36 weeks gestational age to 16.5 years of age, and the adult …

Go to article

Quantum Biology? From Dna Point Mutations To Fibril Formation In Alzheimer Disease, Eduardo Romero Camacho Jan 2020

Quantum Biology? From Dna Point Mutations To Fibril Formation In Alzheimer Disease, Eduardo Romero Camacho

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In the '60s, Löwdin explored the realm of Quantum Biology. Löwdin defined Quantum Biology as the use of quantum mechanics to study the activity and molecular properties of biologically active molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. This dissertation aims to describe molecules of biological interest such as DNA base pairs and amyloid-beta peptides and treat them using a quantum mechanical approach. We used electronic structure methods to achieve the quantum biological nature of these molecules under our computational power, tools, and techniques. In chapter 2, we present the quantum mechanical description of the spontaneous mutations in DNA base pairs …

Go to article

An Exploratory Case Study Of Teachers' Literacy Orientations And Early Literacy Curricula Preferences, Stacy Escobedo Jan 2020

An Exploratory Case Study Of Teachers' Literacy Orientations And Early Literacy Curricula Preferences, Stacy Escobedo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In this exploratory case study of two Florida charter schools, early literacy teachers' (prekindergarten through third grade; N=9) instructional literacy orientations were explored. The Literacy Orientation Survey (Lenski et al., 1998) was viewed through the lens of early literacy teachers' curricular preferences and practical use of curriculum. Descriptive results were analyzed, indicating that most teachers identified as preferring an eclectic rather than traditional or constructivist approach to instruction. However, one-third of teachers' literacy orientation beliefs and practices were not aligned, meaning what they believed about literacy and what they practiced as teachers (when choice was an option) were incongruent. Additionally, …

Go to article

Transplant Center Criteria And Inequalities Within Transplant Wait Listing Process, Melanie Bergeron Jan 2020

Transplant Center Criteria And Inequalities Within Transplant Wait Listing Process, Melanie Bergeron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

More than 650,000 people per year in the United States are affected by End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (US Renal Data System, 2013). This diagnosis affects many areas of the patient's life and patients have limited options for treatment. Kidney transplantation for patients with ESRD continues to be noted as the most optimal treatment (Rubin & Weir, 2015; Maggiore, et al., 2014; Patzer, Platinga, Krisher, & Pastan, 2014). However, despite this information, utilization of transplantation remains inconsistent and variable in the population. There are many areas of disparities regarding the kidney transplant waitlist including wait times, gaining access to the …

Go to article

Exploring Preservice Teachers' Affective Response To Disruptive Student Behavior In An Immersive Simulation Classroom, Eileen Glavey Jan 2020

Exploring Preservice Teachers' Affective Response To Disruptive Student Behavior In An Immersive Simulation Classroom, Eileen Glavey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This mixed methods study investigated changes in preservice teachers' affective response to disruptive student behavior within the TeachLivE, immersive simulation classroom. Preservice teachers completed two simulation teaching sessions, during which they were exposed to five different disruptive student behavior events in each. All teaching sessions were recorded and post-processed using iMotions Affectiva Affdex software to collect data on preservice teachers' emotion expression and valence during their teaching experiences. At the end of each teaching session, participants completed a self-report survey on their level of stress. Simulated teaching sessions were followed-up with video stimulated recall sessions where participants reflected on their …

Go to article

The Power Color: Does Shared Decision Making Between Physicians And Patients Differ By Race, Vernon Headley Jan 2020

The Power Color: Does Shared Decision Making Between Physicians And Patients Differ By Race, Vernon Headley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Objective: Shared Decision-Making (SDM) as a clinical approach allows patients and physicians to discuss the best treatment options for the patients' improved health outcomes. Over the past two decades, SDM has improved the quality of health by reassuring patients that they have a voice when considering treatment options. The objective of this study is threefold: to examine parents' perceptions of engaging in SDM with their physicians about their treatment options; to engage in the SDM process when their children's mental health conditions were the subject of SDM; and to assess the comfort level of parents engaging in SDM, based upon …

Go to article

Using Project-Based Learning As A Tool For Teaching Mathematics In Urban Elementary Schools, Bernadette Jaster Jan 2020

Using Project-Based Learning As A Tool For Teaching Mathematics In Urban Elementary Schools, Bernadette Jaster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the lived experiences and views of fourth- and fifth-grade math teachers who implemented project-based learning (PBL) addressed the needs of their at-risk students in urban schools. The researcher examined the use of PBL in mathematics-impacted instruction, seeking to understand teacher beliefs related to the influence of exposure to PBL experiences on students' academic outcomes. When deliberately planned and embedded into teaching, the implementation of PBL helps students retain content, improve attitudes about learning, and improve their ability to collaborate with others (Cervantes et al., 2015). A literature review was conducted to …

Go to article

A Nested Pcr Strategy For Recovering Highly Discriminatory Y-Str Dna Profiles From Trace Male Dna Samples, Anna Kimball Jan 2020

A Nested Pcr Strategy For Recovering Highly Discriminatory Y-Str Dna Profiles From Trace Male Dna Samples, Anna Kimball

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

DNA profiling is an effective method of identifying individuals in forensic casework. In sexual assault cases in particular, male donor DNA can be genotyped using Y chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) analysis even in the presence of significant levels of female DNA. The recently released recommended national standard for sexual assault evidence collection from the victim is within 5 days after the sexual assault, with the probability of obtaining a male DNA profile diminishing significantly thereafter due to degradation and/or loss of sperm. The present study was designed to develop a method of obtaining a highly probative DNA profile with …

Go to article

Estimation And Clustering In Network And Indirect Data, Ramchandra Rimal Jan 2020

Estimation And Clustering In Network And Indirect Data, Ramchandra Rimal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The first part of the dissertation studies a density deconvolution problem with small Berkson errors. In this setting, the data is not available directly but rather in the form of convolution and one needs to estimate the convolution of the unknown density with Berkson errors. While it is known that the Berkson errors improve the precision of the reconstruction, it does not necessarily happen when Berkson errors are small. Furthermore, the choice of bandwidth in density estimation has been an open problem so far. In this dissertation, we provide an in-depth study of the choice of the bandwidth which leads …

Go to article

Social Support And Mental Health Outcomes Of Lgb People Of Color, Jessica Ruiz Jan 2020

Social Support And Mental Health Outcomes Of Lgb People Of Color, Jessica Ruiz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people of color (LGB PoC) continue to remain an understudied population. Research supports that LGB PoC may experience greater negative health consequences compared to LGB racial/ethnic majority populations. Social support, including family and peer support, is often associated with positive health outcomes for sexual minorities of all backgrounds. The present study sought to evaluate differences between types of social support, including what occurs when one is faced with significant loss of support (i.e., family support). Comparisons between groups sought to determine whether alternative systems of support (i.e., peer social support) buffers against the negative impact of …

Go to article

Non-Linear Inverse Liquid-Solid Chromatography As A Methodology To Characterize Drug Concentration Losses To Polymeric Materials Used In Body-On-A-Chip Devices For Drug Discovery, Mark Schnepper Jan 2020

Non-Linear Inverse Liquid-Solid Chromatography As A Methodology To Characterize Drug Concentration Losses To Polymeric Materials Used In Body-On-A-Chip Devices For Drug Discovery, Mark Schnepper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Body-on-a-chip and human-on-a-chip systems are currently being used to augment and could eventually replace animal models in drug discovery and basic biological research. However, hydrophobic molecules, especially therapeutic compounds, tend to adsorb to the polymer materials used to create these microfluidic platforms, which may distort the dose-response curves that feed into Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) models which translate preclinical data into predictions of clinical outcomes. Adsorption of hydrophobic molecules to these polymer materials needs better characterization. Inverse Liquid-Solid Chromatography paired with a numerical optimization based on the Langmuir model of adsorption was used to characterize the adsorption isotherm parameters of selected drugs …

Go to article

An Investigation Of Postsecondary Education Program: Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Anna Schoenfeld Jan 2020

An Investigation Of Postsecondary Education Program: Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Anna Schoenfeld

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Since 2008, the number of students with intellectual disabilities and the number of postsecondary education programs supporting students with intellectual disabilities have drastically increased on college campuses in the United States. The purpose of this document analysis qualitative research was to explore the publicly available information provided by universities with Postsecondary Education Programs (PSP) that have Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS) accreditation and receive Transition Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) grant funding. K. Patricia Cross's Chain-of-Response (COR) model was the conceptual framework used to frame this andrological inquiry. Lack of information, as identified by Cross (1981) …

Go to article

Interdisciplinary Cybersecurity For Resilient Cyberdefense, Rachid Ait Maalem Lahcen Jan 2020

Interdisciplinary Cybersecurity For Resilient Cyberdefense, Rachid Ait Maalem Lahcen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Cybersecurity's role is to protect confidentiality, integrity, and availability of enterprise assets. Confidentiality secures data from theft, integrity mitigates modification of data in a malicious way, and availability assures continuation of systems' access and services. However, achieving these goals is difficult due to the mushrooming of various cyber attackers that come from individuals or state actors with motives ranging from ideological, financial, state-sponsored espionage, revenge, or simple curiosity and boredom. The difficulty also lies in the complexity of the cyber layers that are not well studied. Layers that interconnect and require effective communication and collaboration. This effectiveness is still lacking …

Go to article

The Impact Of Faculty Socialization On Teaching Practices Of Postsecondary Physics Instructors, Claudine Mclaren Turner Jan 2020

The Impact Of Faculty Socialization On Teaching Practices Of Postsecondary Physics Instructors, Claudine Mclaren Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This research investigates faculty socialization of college physics instructors and its effect on teaching practice. Results of two studies—a statistical analysis about professional characteristics and teaching practice and an ethnography about culture, professional roles, and teaching practice—are integrated to inform our understanding of the impact of socialization on teaching practice. These findings have the potential to improve institutional and organizational faculty development, as well as improve individual teaching practice and, by extension, student persistence and success. Exploratory factor analysis, latent class analysis, and multiple analysis of variance were used to examine cross-sectional survey data collected from 1,176 postsecondary physics instructors …

Go to article

The Implementation Of An Interdisciplinary Literacy Approach To Examine Effects On Writing Self-Efficacy In A Fourth Grade Classroom, Chelsea Wharin Jan 2020

The Implementation Of An Interdisciplinary Literacy Approach To Examine Effects On Writing Self-Efficacy In A Fourth Grade Classroom, Chelsea Wharin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This qualitative action research examines the effects, if any at all, the implementation of an interdisciplinary literacy unit in a fourth-grade classroom had on students' perceived writing self-efficacy. This study aims to inform the teacher-researcher to make actionable changes to current teaching. Additionally, this study continues the research and discussion surrounding how educators and stakeholders approach instruction. This research required participants to complete a pre-writing self-efficacy survey, participate in an interdisciplinary literacy unit and then complete a post writing self-efficacy survey. The interdisciplinary literacy unit took place during the distance learning environment that was a result of the global pandemic, …

Go to article

The Impact Of Athletic Coaches' Ethical Behavior On Postcompetitive Athletes, Charles Bachand Jan 2020

The Impact Of Athletic Coaches' Ethical Behavior On Postcompetitive Athletes, Charles Bachand

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Much of the literature regarding abuse in athletics has focused on the effects these actions have on the athletes both short and long term. In relation to ethics, such research has been primarily focused on how ethics effects all aspects of athletics. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine if factors that cause coaches to victimize athletes are related to a lack of ethical understanding. This qualitative phenomenological research design was used to highlight emerging themes revealed during the study. Thirteen purposely selected individuals, labeled as athlete, athlete/coach, or coach, participated in one-on-one semi structured interviews. The participants' …

Go to article

Statistical And Stochastic Learning Algorithms For Distributed And Intelligent Systems, Jiang Bian Jan 2020

Statistical And Stochastic Learning Algorithms For Distributed And Intelligent Systems, Jiang Bian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In the big data era, statistical and stochastic learning for distributed and intelligent systems focuses on enhancing and improving the robustness of learning models that have become pervasive and are being deployed for decision-making in real-life applications including general classification, prediction, and sparse sensing. The growing prospect of statistical learning approaches such as Linear Discriminant Analysis and distributed Learning being used (e.g., community sensing) has raised concerns around the robustness of algorithm design. Recent work on anomalies detection has shown that such Learning models can also succumb to the so-called 'edge-cases' where the real-life operational situation presents data that are …

Go to article

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Traits Of Personality, And Performance On Occupational Therapy Fieldwork, Kimberlea Dudzinski Jan 2020

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Traits Of Personality, And Performance On Occupational Therapy Fieldwork, Kimberlea Dudzinski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This mixed methods study explored the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), traits of personality, and performance on occupational therapy (OT) fieldwork. The purpose of this study was to determine whether EI or personality was predictive of student performance during the clinical portion of the academic program. In the first phase of this two-part study, 42 students enrolled in an OT program participated in two measures: The Genos EI (short form), and the Big Five Inventory. Student scores on these two measures were correlated with scoring on the AOTA Level II Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE) form. In the second phase of …

Go to article

Multi-Element Multi-Datastream Visible Light Communication Networks, Sifat Ibne Mushfique Jan 2020

Multi-Element Multi-Datastream Visible Light Communication Networks, Sifat Ibne Mushfique

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Because of the exponentially increasing demand of wireless data, the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum crunch is rising rapidly. The amount of available RF spectrum is being shrunk at a very heavy rate, and spectral management is becoming more difficult. Visible Light Communication (VLC) is a recent promising technology complementary to RF spectrum which operates at the visible light spectrum band (400 THz to 780 THz) and it has 10,000 times bigger bandwidth than radio waves (3 kHz to 300 GHz). Due to this tremendous potential, VLC has captured a lot of interest recently as there is already an extensive deployment …

Go to article

Online Education Implementation Processes And The Preparedness Of Mid-Level Enrollment Management Practitioners To Develop Quality Services For Fully Online Students, Chiquita Lane Jan 2020

Online Education Implementation Processes And The Preparedness Of Mid-Level Enrollment Management Practitioners To Develop Quality Services For Fully Online Students, Chiquita Lane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

According to Zawacki-Richter, Backer, and Vogt (2009), literature focusing on student services falls into three general categories: learning theories and attrition research, student needs and satisfaction, and models for best practices. Research addressing the specific training needs of student affairs practitioners responsible for implementing and managing student support services for online students is not a major area of focus (Moore & Kearsley, 2012). Therefore, unlike the faculty and technology subsystems, the student affairs subsystem has not become securely anchored in delivering services to fully online students (Crawley & Howe, 2016; Moore, 2013; Moore & Kearsley, 2012). The lack of research …

Go to article

The Relationship Between Familism And Social Distancing Behaviors During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Thien-An Le Jan 2020

The Relationship Between Familism And Social Distancing Behaviors During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Thien-An Le

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Transmission of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) occurs efficiently and from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, therefore making it highly infectious. As such, social distancing is generally recommended to mitigate the speed of transmission and decrease incidence, hospitalization, and mortality rates. Consistent with other chronic medical conditions, COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting Hispanic/Latinx and black populations. One inherent cultural concept, familism, might also serve to inhibit adherence to social distancing guidelines. Thus, the current study contributes to the growing literature on COVID-19, specifically examining barriers underscoring health disparities. This study evaluated Attitudinal Familism (AFS) and Behavioral Familism (BFS) as predictors of adherence of social …

Go to article

Reconstruction Of Bacterial Strain Genomes From Shotgun Metagenomic Reads, Xin Li Jan 2020

Reconstruction Of Bacterial Strain Genomes From Shotgun Metagenomic Reads, Xin Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

It is necessary to study bacterial strains in environmental samples. The environmental samples are mixed DNA samples collected from the ocean, soil, lake, human body sites, etc. In a natural environment, they provide us new insights into the diversity of our earth. As for bacterial strains on or inside human bodies, to select the proper treatment for diseases caused by bacterial strains, it is critical to identify the corresponding strains and reconstruct their genomes. However, it is a challenge to do so with the DNA from a large number of unknown microbial species mixed together in an environmental sample. The …

Go to article

Taking Inventory, Constance Owens Jan 2020

Taking Inventory, Constance Owens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

"Taking Inventory" is a biography about my mother, whose life spanned decades filled with hope, heartbreak, loneliness, and adversity. Weaving together micro-essay and prose poetry set at the merger of her adulthood and my childhood, this mixed genre collection examines the many ways her life influenced mine. The triptych structure of the book moves backwards in time, exploring the relationship between my mother and the world she navigated, beginning with the final stages of her life, moving through a turbulent mid-life, and ending with the young woman affected by a world war, an alcoholic father, and a devoutly religious mother. …

Go to article

Policies For Collection Services At The Ucf Libraries, Ying Zhang Jan 2020

Policies For Collection Services At The Ucf Libraries, Ying Zhang

Libraries' Documents

No abstract provided.

Go to article

First Prev Next Last