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A Decision Support Tool For Video Retinal Angiography, Sumit Laha Jan 2018

A Decision Support Tool For Video Retinal Angiography, Sumit Laha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fluorescein angiogram (FA) is a medical procedure that helps the ophthalmologists to monitor the status of the retinal blood vessels and to diagnose proper treatment. This research is motivated by the necessity of blood vessel segmentation of the retina. Retinal vessel segmentation has been a major challenge and has long drawn the attention of researchers for decades due to the presence of complex blood vessels with varying size, shape, angles and branching pattern of vessels, and non-uniform illumination and huge anatomical variability between subjects. In this thesis, we introduce a new computational tool that combines deep learning based machine learning …


Advanced Nanoscale Characterization Of Plants And Plant-Derived Materials For Sustainable Agriculture And Renewable Energy, Mikhael Soliman Jan 2018

Advanced Nanoscale Characterization Of Plants And Plant-Derived Materials For Sustainable Agriculture And Renewable Energy, Mikhael Soliman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The need for nanoscale, non-invasive functional characterization has become more significant with advances in nano-biotechnology and related fields. Exploring the ultrastructure of plant cell walls and plant-derived materials is necessary to access a more profound understanding of the molecular interactions in the systems, in view of a rational design for sustainable applications. This, in turn, relates to the pressing requirements for food, energy and water sustainability experienced worldwide. Here we will present our advanced characterization approach to study the effects of external stresses on plants, and resulting opportunities for biomass valorization with an impact on the food-energy-water nexus. First, the …


Bio-Inspired Visual Servo Control Of A Picking Mechanism In An Agricultural Ground Robot, Sinem Gozde Defterli Jan 2018

Bio-Inspired Visual Servo Control Of A Picking Mechanism In An Agricultural Ground Robot, Sinem Gozde Defterli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For a recently constructed disease detection agricultural ground robot, the segregation of unhealthy leaves from strawberry plants is a major task of the robot's manipulation subsystem in field operations. In this dissertation, the motion planning of a custom-designed picking mechanism in the ground robot's subsystem is studied in two sections. First, a set of analytical, suboptimal semi-analytical and numerical algorithms are studied to solve the inverse kinematics problem of the handling mechanism in firm circumstances. These premeditated approaches are built on the computation of the joint variables by an identified 3D position data of the target leaf only. The outcomes …


Investigation Of A Self-Powered Fontan Concept Using A Multiscale Computational Fluid-Structure Interaction Model, Kyle Beggs Jan 2018

Investigation Of A Self-Powered Fontan Concept Using A Multiscale Computational Fluid-Structure Interaction Model, Kyle Beggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) occurs in about 1\% (40,000) of newborn babies each year in the United States alone. About 10.9\% (960) of whom suffer from Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) - a subset of CHD where children are born with a single-ventricle (SV). A series of three surgeries are carried out to correct HLHS culminating in the Fontan procedure where venous flow returns passively to the lungs. The current configuration for the Fontan results in elevated Central Venous Pressure (CVP), inadequate ventricular preload, and elevated Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR) leading to a barrage of disease. To alleviate these complications, …


Psychophysiology Meets Computer Science: Predicting The Magnitude Of Participant Physiological Response With Machine Learning, Avonie Parchment Jan 2018

Psychophysiology Meets Computer Science: Predicting The Magnitude Of Participant Physiological Response With Machine Learning, Avonie Parchment

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present inquiry uses methods from psychophysiology and machine learning to reduce overall error in classification models. The field of psychophysiology, though rooted in decades of experimentation, has never reached the same level of precision as some aspects of medical inquiry. In fact, while some medical regression models, when determining some way to classify a patient's illness based on certain symptoms, can result in highly significant results with large effect sizes, equal levels are virtually unheard of in psychophysiology. The present investigation attempts to unravel some part of this mystery and determines some possible reasons for the difficulty in finding …


Applied Software Tools For Supporting Children With Intellectual Disabilities, Ahmad Abualsamid Jan 2018

Applied Software Tools For Supporting Children With Intellectual Disabilities, Ahmad Abualsamid

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We explored the level of technology utilization in supporting children with cognitive disabilities at schools, speech clinics, and with assistive communication at home. Anecdotal evidence, literature research, and our own survey of special needs educators in Central Florida reveal that use of technology is minimal in classrooms for students with special needs even when scientific research has shown the effectiveness of video modeling in teaching children with special needs new skills and behaviors. Research also shows that speech and language therapists utilize a manual approach to elicit and analyze language samples from children with special needs. While technology is utilized …


Passive Voice Usage In Undergraduate Stem Textbooks, Huiyuan Luo Jan 2018

Passive Voice Usage In Undergraduate Stem Textbooks, Huiyuan Luo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study, a corpus-based quantitative analysis, investigated the use of passive voice in terms of percentage (percentage of total passive usage), constructions (the most commonly used passive forms), and dispersion (the verbs that tended to be associated with passive usage) in college STEM textbooks, more specifically in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The corpus consisted of twenty textbooks with over 1 million running words selected from the textbooks' chapters. By identifying the main verbs and passive verbs used in the textbooks, the percentage of passive voice usage was calculated. The statistical difference of passive constructions between disciplines was examined …


A Complex Calculus: How Message Format And Processing Route Coordinate To Influence Hpv Vaccination Message Persuasiveness Among Young Adults, Laura Boutemen Jan 2018

A Complex Calculus: How Message Format And Processing Route Coordinate To Influence Hpv Vaccination Message Persuasiveness Among Young Adults, Laura Boutemen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may lead to cancer and genital warts yet can be prevented by a safe and effective vaccine recommended for individuals up to 26 years old. HPV vaccination rates remain low among college aged adults that represent a catch-up population still eligible to receive the HPV vaccine. This present study is a theory-based investigation employing the Heuristic Systematic Model to explore the effect of message format and processing route on attitude and behavioral intention in the context of HPV vaccination. Undergraduate students aged 17-26 years old (N = 261) from various majors (e.g., STEM, social sciences, humanities) …


Mechanism Design Of A Compact 4-Dof Robotic Needle Guide For Mri-Guided Prostate Intervention, Shihao Zhang Jan 2018

Mechanism Design Of A Compact 4-Dof Robotic Needle Guide For Mri-Guided Prostate Intervention, Shihao Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the past several MRI compatible robotic needle guide devices for targeted prostate biopsy have been developed. The large and complex structure have been identified as the major limitations of those devices. Such limitations, in addition to complex steps for device to image registration have prevented widespread implementation of MRI-guided prostate biopsy despite the advantages of MRI compared to TRUS. We have designed a compact MRI-guided robotic intervention with the capability to have angulated insertion to avoid damage to any anatomical feature along the needle path. The system consists of a novel mechanism driven Robotic Needle Guide (RNG). The RNG …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Successful Women In Science Fields, Jonathan Hall Jan 2018

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Successful Women In Science Fields, Jonathan Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Girls and women face several forms of gender-based biases and discrimination in the science community. These issues create difficult circumstances for them to develop positive science identities. Since these difficult circumstances exist, science education and sociology researchers have used a deficit model to learn about their experiences, achievements, and attitudes. Understanding the experiences of successful women in science offers insight into how women can navigate the challenges presented by the science community and how science educators can support them. However, research studies that explore the experiences of successful women in science are scant. Therefore, the objective of this study was …


App-Ily Ever After - Self-Presentation And Perception Of Others On The Dating App Tinder, Johnathan Dunlop Jan 2018

App-Ily Ever After - Self-Presentation And Perception Of Others On The Dating App Tinder, Johnathan Dunlop

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Location-based real-time dating (LBRTD) apps have become an increasingly common way for people to broaden their social network and meet others for the purposes of dating, friendship, and more. This investigation focused on Tinder, presently the most widely-used LBRTD app. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-three current and recent Tinder users to gain insight into their self-presentation strategies and impressions of others on the app. The questions concentrated around four major topic areas: use of photos, use of bio text, perception of others, and real or imagined deception. A grounded theory approach was used to frame the data. From this, …


Role Of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (Snps) In Ptpn2/22 And Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis (Map) In Rheumatoid Arthritis And Crohn's Disease, Robert Sharp Jan 2018

Role Of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (Snps) In Ptpn2/22 And Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis (Map) In Rheumatoid Arthritis And Crohn's Disease, Robert Sharp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Both genetic pre-disposition and potential environmental triggers are shared between Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Crohn's disease (CD). We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the negative T-cell regulators Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Nonreceptor type 2 and 22 (PTPN2/22) lead to a dysregulated immune response as seen in RA and CD. To test the hypothesis, peripheral leukocytes samples from 204 consented subjects were TaqMan genotyped for 9 SNPs in PTPN2/22. The SNPs effect on PTPN2/22 and IFN-y expression was determined using RT-PCR. Blood samples were analyzed for the Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) IS900 gene by nPCR. T-cell proliferation and response …


Cavity-Coupled Plasmonic Systems For Enhanced Light-Matter Interactions, Abraham Vazquez-Guardado Jan 2018

Cavity-Coupled Plasmonic Systems For Enhanced Light-Matter Interactions, Abraham Vazquez-Guardado

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Light-matter interaction is a pivotal effect that involves the synergetic interplay of electromag- netic fields with fundamental particles. In this regard localized surface plasmons (LSP) arise from coherent interaction of the electromagnetic field with the collective oscillation of free electrons in confined sub-wavelength environments. Their most attractive properties are strong field en- hancements at the near field, highly inhomogeneous, peculiar temporal and spatial distributions and unique polarization properties. LSP systems also offer a unique playground for fundamental electromagnetic physics where micro-scale systemic properties can be studied in the macro-scale. These important properties and opportunities are brought up in this work …


Necessary Conditions For Open-Ended Evolution, Lisa Soros Jan 2018

Necessary Conditions For Open-Ended Evolution, Lisa Soros

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Evolution on Earth is widely considered to be an effectively endless process. Though this phenomenon of open-ended evolution (OEE) has been a topic of interest in the artificial life community since its beginnings, the field still lacks an empirically validated theory of what exactly is necessary to reproduce the phenomenon in general (including in domains quite unlike Earth). This dissertation (1) enumerates a set of conditions hypothesized to be necessary for OEE in addition to (2) introducing an artificial life world called Chromaria that incorporates each of the hypothesized necessary conditions. It then (3) describes a set of experiments with …


Exploring Fpga Implementation For Binarized Neural Network Inference, Li Yang Jan 2018

Exploring Fpga Implementation For Binarized Neural Network Inference, Li Yang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Deep convolutional neural network has taken an important role in machine learning algorithm. It is widely used in different areas such as computer vision, robotics, and biology. However, the models of deep neural networks become larger and more computation complexity which is a big obstacle for such huge model to implement on embedded systems. Recent works have shown the binarized neural networks (BNN), utilizing binarized (i.e. +1 and -1) convolution kernel and binarized activation function, can significantly reduce the parameter size and computation cost, which makes it hardware-friendly for Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) implementation with efficient energy cost. This thesis …


Behavioral And Disease Ecology Of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus Polyphemus) Post Exclusion And Relocation With A Novel Approach To Homing Determination, Johnathan Napier Jan 2018

Behavioral And Disease Ecology Of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus Polyphemus) Post Exclusion And Relocation With A Novel Approach To Homing Determination, Johnathan Napier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the wake of human expansion, relocations and the loss of habitat can be stressful to an organism, plausibly leading to population declines. The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a keystone species that constructs burrows it shares with 362 commensal species. Frequent exclusions and relocations and long generation times have contributed to G. polyphemus being State-designated as Threatened in Florida. Prior studies have indicated that G. polyphemus may possess homing behavior and thus be able to counteract stressors due to relocation and exclusion. I radiotracked a cohort of G. polyphemus for 11 months following excavation, relocation, and exclusion due to …


Aging Well: How Subjective Age, Playfulness, And Depression Influence Quality Of Life Among Older Adults, Yvette Saliba El Habre Jan 2018

Aging Well: How Subjective Age, Playfulness, And Depression Influence Quality Of Life Among Older Adults, Yvette Saliba El Habre

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Given the growing population of aging adults, there is a need for research examining factors that enhance quality of life for older adults (QoL; Colby & Ortman, 2014). Changes in health, relationships, support systems, and social identity are inevitable throughout the lifespan. Therefore, research focused on lessening the negative effects of changes due to aging while also improving QoL is warranted. As such, the aim of the current research study was to examine the extent to which subjective age (SA; how old or young an individual feels), playfulness (PF; "the ability to frame or reframe everyday situations to experience them …


A Multisystem Approach For The Characterization Of Bacteria For Sustainable Agriculture, Briana Lee Jan 2018

A Multisystem Approach For The Characterization Of Bacteria For Sustainable Agriculture, Briana Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The chemical, physical, and biological properties of bacteria developing resistance have been explored in animal based bacteria while plant bacteria have been largely neglected. Thus, the ability to probe changes in stiffness, adhesion, binding interactions and molecular traits of bacteria causing plant diseases is of great interest to develop a new generation of more potent, yet sustainable, pesticides. Our study aims to investigate the physical and chemical properties of bacterial systems, in particular their cell walls. Building upon this fundamental understanding of the cells, we also investigate the physicochemical responses associated to multivalent nanoparticle-based bactericide treatments on bacterial systems identified …


Risk Factors Associated With The Arrest For Adolescent To Parent Abuse, Coleen Cicale Jan 2018

Risk Factors Associated With The Arrest For Adolescent To Parent Abuse, Coleen Cicale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored risk factors associated with the arrest for adolescent to parent abuse (ATPA) when compared to arrest for a similar violent misdemeanor against a non-parent. The phenomenon of ATPA is widely under-researched and there is little in terms of prevention policy or treatment. Using 18,548 risk assessment screens performed with adolescents (12-17) arrested in Florida for a violent misdemeanor, and guided by previous literature and social ecological and social bond theories, this analysis explored the relationship between risk factors (categorized as individual characteristics, beliefs, behavior, commitment and involvement and attachment) and arrest for ATPA versus arrest for a …


Understanding The Perceived Experiences Of Goal Setting Of Mothers Of Preschool Children: A Narrative Analysis, Dawn Eckhoff Jan 2018

Understanding The Perceived Experiences Of Goal Setting Of Mothers Of Preschool Children: A Narrative Analysis, Dawn Eckhoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mothers are often asked to use goal setting to help their children achieve optimal health. Before mothers can be successful, they must grasp the meaning and process of goal setting. Currently there is a glaring lack of published research regarding how goal setting is understood and experienced by mothers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the self-described understanding and experiences of mothers, regarding goal setting for their preschool children. Narrative Inquiry was used to explore mothers' experiences with goal setting. A purposive sample of mothers with children in a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program were recruited from the central …


Subjective-Objective Discrepancies Among Patients With Sleep Complaints In The Patient-Centered Medical Home, Keri Bayley Jan 2018

Subjective-Objective Discrepancies Among Patients With Sleep Complaints In The Patient-Centered Medical Home, Keri Bayley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sleep misperception – the discrepancy between objective and subjective measures of sleep – has been shown to be prevalent among patients with insomnia and may be a promising target for sleep intervention. This study examined sleep misperception in a diverse outpatient medical sample using consumer-grade wearable actigraphs (i.e., Fitbit Charge HR™). Forty-four self-identified problem sleepers aged 20 to 79 participated in the study. Participants completed sleep diaries for one week while also tracking their sleep using the Fitbit Charge HR™. After receiving a personalized sleep report based on these data, participants repeated another week of sleep assessment. Sleep misperception was …


Interpersonal Behavior Traits And Their Relationship To Administrator-To-Teacher Feedback: A Quantitative Study, Robert Walker Jan 2018

Interpersonal Behavior Traits And Their Relationship To Administrator-To-Teacher Feedback: A Quantitative Study, Robert Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore what, if any, relationship exists between the interpersonal behavior traits held by administrators and the quality of the feedback they provide to teachers. The Interpersonal Behavior Survey (IBS) was used to develop interpersonal behavior profiles for all the school-based administrators from a moderately sized school district who consented to participate in the study. Additionally, the comments submitted as feedback to teachers by the participating administrators were reviewed and scored using a rubric. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine what, if any, relationship exists between the traits measured by the IBS and …


Black Males In Programs For High Achievers At A Community College: Exploring The Qualitative Nature Of Academic Success, Gerald Jones Jan 2018

Black Males In Programs For High Achievers At A Community College: Exploring The Qualitative Nature Of Academic Success, Gerald Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Most of the literature concentrating on Black males, focuses on retention problems that have gone unresolved. The purpose of this study was to explore qualitatively the nature of the academic success of Black males in programs for high achievers at a community college. A detailed literature review was completed, focusing on educational themes such as motivation, high achievers, persistence, and honors programs. The theoretical framework used was GRIT developed by Duckworth (2007). The researcher used a six-step process as suggested by Moustakas (1994) to determine results. In addition, interviews were conducted with seven Black males who were defined as high …


The Effect Of Registered Nurse Supply On Population Health Outcomes: A Distributed Lag Model Approach, Carla Jackie Sampson Jan 2018

The Effect Of Registered Nurse Supply On Population Health Outcomes: A Distributed Lag Model Approach, Carla Jackie Sampson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Registered nurses (RNs) are essential to providing care in the healthcare system. To date, research on the relationship between healthcare provider supply and population health has focused on physician supply. This study explored the effect of RN supply on population health outcomes in the U.S. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study of U.S. counties and county equivalents using national data. Seven population health outcomes (total and disease specific mortalities and low infant birth weight rate) were the response variables. The predictor variable, RN supply, and some control variables were anticipated to have an asynchronous effect on the seven outcome variables …


Pg-Vtv Biogenesis Requires Atp To Facilitate Phosphorylation Of Syntaxin 17, Anika Saxena Jan 2018

Pg-Vtv Biogenesis Requires Atp To Facilitate Phosphorylation Of Syntaxin 17, Anika Saxena

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The uptake of cytotoxic free fatty acids (FFA) and their conversion to physiologically expedient triglycerides (TAG) which are later on assimilated to very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) is of utmost value among the multifarious tasks performed by the liver. Inflated concentration of VLDL in the blood stream directly correlates with the reinforcement of atherosclerosis. VLDL is synthesized in the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to the Golgi where it encounters several alterations. It is then enclosed in distinct post-Golgi VLDL transport vesicles (PG-VTVs) and released into the blood. The data generated in our lab has proved the requirement of …


Small Nothings, Leah Washburn Jan 2018

Small Nothings, Leah Washburn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Small Nothings is a collection of ten short stories exploring the connection between place, friendship, and family. Set in Missouri's capital, a variety of characters grapple with different types of separation and loneliness. Couples struggle with emotional distance, children try to reconnect with their parents, and an old woman faces the loss of her independence. Through small conflicts and choices, these stories revolve around isolation, disconnection, and absence. How do missing presences affect family and friendship? How do people deal with change through everyday choices?


Whetting Their Appetite: A Spatial Analysis Of Seasonal Flooding And Raised Field Agriculture In The Llanos De Mojos, Bolivia, Samuel A. Martin Jan 2018

Whetting Their Appetite: A Spatial Analysis Of Seasonal Flooding And Raised Field Agriculture In The Llanos De Mojos, Bolivia, Samuel A. Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Llanos de Mojos, a region of the southwestern Amazon, is a seasonally flooded savannah located in the Beni department of Bolivia. The area sustained a significant pre-Columbian population up to the arrival of Jesuit missionaries in the late 17th century. Local communities constructed agricultural landscape modifications to help cultivate crops such as maize, manioc, and sweet potato. Raised fields contributed to soil nutrient intensification and helped to manage flooding. This study examines the relationship between 40,766 raised agricultural fields which were digitized by the Proyecto SIG Arqueologico del Beni using Google Earth and maps of surface flood coverage. Flood …


I'M Not Your Waifu: Sexual Harassment And Assault In Cosplay, Anime & Comic Conventions, Alexandria Ellsworth Jan 2018

I'M Not Your Waifu: Sexual Harassment And Assault In Cosplay, Anime & Comic Conventions, Alexandria Ellsworth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women face sexual harassment and sexual assault far too often with one in every six women sexually assaulted during their life (Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998). In the anime and comic community, women face sexual assault and harassment, often in open public spaces, due to these spaces being labeled as men's (Cote, 2015; Fox & Potocki 2015; Rodriguez 2015; Schott & Horrell 2000). Policies such as Cosplay is not Consent (Facebook, 2018) are not upheld or enforced by anime and comic conventions. Policies that are enforced, have clear and concise wording, and are enforced by staff and volunteers, who have been …


Development Of A Functional In Vitro 3d Model Of The Peripheral Nerve, Wesley Anderson Jan 2018

Development Of A Functional In Vitro 3d Model Of The Peripheral Nerve, Wesley Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Peripheral neuropathies, affect approximately 20 million people in the United States and are often a complication of conditions such as diabetes that can result in amputation of affected areas such as the feet and toes. In vitro methodologies to facilitate the understanding and treatment of these disorders often lack the cellular and functional complexity required to accurately model peripheral neuropathies. In particular, they are often 2-D and functional readouts, such as electrical activity, are limited to cell bodies thereby limiting the understanding of axonopathy which often characterizes these disorders. We have developed a functional 3-D model of peripheral nerves using …


Role Of Mycobacterium Avium Paratuberculosis (Map) And Tnfsf15 Snps On Tl1a In Cd, Sayf Al-Deen Hassouneh Jan 2018

Role Of Mycobacterium Avium Paratuberculosis (Map) And Tnfsf15 Snps On Tl1a In Cd, Sayf Al-Deen Hassouneh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Like Ligand 1a (TL1A) is a cytokine encoded by Tumor Necrosis Factor Super Family 15 gene (TNFSF15) gene mostly in endothelial cells which binds to T-cells and foments the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1b, IFN- γ and IL-13. TL1A level is elevated in inflammatory diseases including Crohn's Disease (CD). Although Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in TNFSF15 have been reported in CD, no studies have investigated the effect of these SNPs on TL1A, inflammation, and susceptibility to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection. MAP is a strong candidate in CD pathogenesis. This study is designed to …