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Superresolved Three-Dimensional Analysis Of The Spatial Arrangement Of The Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 (Hiv-1) Envelope Glycoprotein At Sites Of Viral Assembly, Carmen Anne Buttler Jan 2018

Superresolved Three-Dimensional Analysis Of The Spatial Arrangement Of The Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 (Hiv-1) Envelope Glycoprotein At Sites Of Viral Assembly, Carmen Anne Buttler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) replicates by forcing infected host cells to produce new virus particles, which assemble form protein components on the inner leaflet of the host cell's plasma membrane. This involves incorporation of the essential viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) into a structural lattice of viral Gag proteins. The mechanism of Env recruitment and incorporation is not well understood. To better define this process, we seek to describe the timing of Env-Gag encounters during particle assembly by measuring angular positions of Env proteins about the surfaces of budding particles. Using three-dimensional superresolution microscopy, we show that Env distributions …


Rethinking Reintegration And Veteran Identity: A New Consciousness, Jeni Hunniecutt Jan 2018

Rethinking Reintegration And Veteran Identity: A New Consciousness, Jeni Hunniecutt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how Veteran reintegration is a process of identity transformation. Written as a first-person narrative and weaving my own story of Veteran reintegration and identity into the chapters, this purpose of this project is to address two questions: RQ1: Examining my own experiences of separating from the U.S. Military institution, what are some possible Veteran identity tensions that exist in the liminal space of reintegration? And, RQ2: How might the experiences of U.S. Military Veteran reintegration be shaped by an individual's sacred liminal experience of military initial entry training as well as their institutionalized liminal experience of belonging …


The Investigation Of Lactoferrin Nitration: Quantification, Function, And Inhibition, Amani Yahya Alhalwani Jan 2018

The Investigation Of Lactoferrin Nitration: Quantification, Function, And Inhibition, Amani Yahya Alhalwani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein of molecular mass ca. 80 kDa that is predominantly found in mammalian body fluids. Lactoferrin is a multifunctional protein that has a wide range of properties such as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic functions. Tyrosine residues in the protein play a part in many lactoferrin functions. Protein tyrosine nitration modification represents an oxidative and nitrosative stress process which can be caused by the exposure of proteins to oxidants from air pollution or disease. Understanding the way nitrated lactoferrin interacts with the biochemical environment of the body is thus important to the broader goal of …


Adolescent Protective Factors Related To Resilience: Issues Of Academic Self-Efficacy, Parental Involvement, And Special Education Status, Bethdalie Cruz Jan 2018

Adolescent Protective Factors Related To Resilience: Issues Of Academic Self-Efficacy, Parental Involvement, And Special Education Status, Bethdalie Cruz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The predictive value of three constructs was examined in this study in order to explain adolescent self-reported protective factors associated with resilience while moderating for the effects of sex and race. The three constructs included Academic Self-efficacy, Maternal Parental Involvement, and Special Education Identification Status. Participants included 54 adolescents in diverse public middle and high schools, ages 11 to 18. Twenty of these participants were identified as receiving special education services while 34 did not. Results indicated that adolescent perceptions of Academic Self-efficacy significantly predicted protective factors associated with resilience while Special Education Identification Status and Maternal Parental Involvement did …


Potential Relationship Between Vascular Depression And Autobiographical Memory Specificity In An Older Adult Population According To The Car-Fa-X Model, Manuel Herrera Legon Jan 2018

Potential Relationship Between Vascular Depression And Autobiographical Memory Specificity In An Older Adult Population According To The Car-Fa-X Model, Manuel Herrera Legon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vascular depression is a type of depression that has its onset later in life, and it has been associated with cardiovascular or metabolic diseases. Depression can be costly and associated with other health problems, which is why it becomes imperative to uncover the multiple mechanisms of action for depression symptomatology. A proposed mechanism of action for the emergence of depressive symptomatology is poor autobiographical memory specificity according to the CaR-FA-X model. However, it remains unclear whether this mechanism contributes somehow to the vascular depression specific type. The purpose of this research was to determine the potential relationship between the mechanisms …


Young Adult Development And Caregiving: Disposition And Involvement In Care, Nicholas James Jan 2018

Young Adult Development And Caregiving: Disposition And Involvement In Care, Nicholas James

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Caregivers are a diverse group of individuals with a variety of backgrounds and roles; however, research has widely overlooked young adults in this population. This study investigated young adult caregiver circumstance, burden, and use of support services with the purpose of improving future caregiving research and interventions. Study 1 compared burden and circumstance among young, middle aged, and older adult caregivers (N = 285) in addition to developmental indicators among young adults caregiver and demographically matched non-caregiver peers (n = 225). Study 2 surveyed caregivers from each age group (N = 151) on barriers to care, treatment preferences, and interest …


Assessment Of Information Security Culture In Higher Education, Henry Glaspie Jan 2018

Assessment Of Information Security Culture In Higher Education, Henry Glaspie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Information security programs are instituted by organizations to provide guidance to their users who handle their data and systems. The main goal of these programs is to protect the organization's information assets through the creation and cultivation of a positive information security culture within the organization. As the collection and use of data expands in all economic sectors, the threat of data breach due to human error increases. Employee's behavior towards information security is influenced by the organizations information security programs and the overall information security culture. This study examines the human factors of an information security program and their …


Examining Changes In Bat Swing Kinematics In Various Regions Of The Strike Zone In Collegiate Baseball And Softball Players, Caleb Williams Jan 2018

Examining Changes In Bat Swing Kinematics In Various Regions Of The Strike Zone In Collegiate Baseball And Softball Players, Caleb Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) there are over 50,000 men and women who compete in collegiate baseball and softball. These individuals spend hours improving their ability to swing a bat with the hope of improving his or her batting performance during a game situation typically off a tee in a position of their own choosing. However, during a game situation an athlete may swing a bat through his or her strike zone depending upon the pitch thrown by an opposing pitcher. The strike zone is defined as the space over home plate in a region that is …


The Identification And Segmentation Of Astrocytoma Prior To Critical Mass, By Means Of A Volumetric/Subregion Regression Analysis Of Normal And Neoplastic Brain Tissue, Lyn Higgins Jan 2018

The Identification And Segmentation Of Astrocytoma Prior To Critical Mass, By Means Of A Volumetric/Subregion Regression Analysis Of Normal And Neoplastic Brain Tissue, Lyn Higgins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the underlying cause of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is presently unclear, this research implements a new approach to identifying and segmenting plausible instances of GBM prior to critical mass. Grade-IV Astrocytoma, or GBM, is an aggressive and malignant cancer arising from star-shaped glial cells, or astrocytes, where the astrocytes, functionally, assist in the support and protection of neurons within the central nervous system and spinal cord. Subsequently, our motivation for researching the ability to recognize GBM is that the underlying cause of the mutation is presently unclear, leading to the operative that GBM is only detectable through a combination of …


Digital Citizenship Tools For Cause-Based Campaigns: A Broadened Spectrum Of Social Media Engagement And Participation-Scale Methodology, Jennifer Miller Jan 2018

Digital Citizenship Tools For Cause-Based Campaigns: A Broadened Spectrum Of Social Media Engagement And Participation-Scale Methodology, Jennifer Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Digital Citizenship Tools for Cause-Based Campaigns: A Broadened Spectrum of Social Media Engagement and Participation-Scale Methodology develops and applies two new tools for understanding, measuring, and recursively adjusting small to medium-size social media-based philanthropic campaigns to better foster participation and engagement—in other words, democratic digital citizenship. First, a theoretical model is offered broadening current binary conceptions of success and failure or impact of campaigns, situating specific participant actions in social media on a spectrum. Then, from that model, a new methodology is provided to measure participation and engagement generated by campaign posts. Recommendations are also offered for recursively adjusting campaign …


Restoring Cholesterol Homeostasis In Familial Hypercholesterolemia Cell Line Model, Lubna Hindi Jan 2018

Restoring Cholesterol Homeostasis In Familial Hypercholesterolemia Cell Line Model, Lubna Hindi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder that results in elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This increase in serum cholesterol level has been shown to result in premature coronary artery disease (CAD) with devastating symptoms from a young age. Today, the prevalence of heterozygous FH (HeFH) and homozygous FH (HoFH) is estimated to be 1 in 320 and 1 in 160,000 people, respectively. FH is referred to as an underdiagnosed disease due to the large number of mutations that continues to grow. These mutations often exist in one of or a combination of three genes: low-density lipoprotein …


Visionary Ophthalmics: Confluence Of Computer Vision And Deep Learning For Ophthalmology, Dustin Morley Jan 2018

Visionary Ophthalmics: Confluence Of Computer Vision And Deep Learning For Ophthalmology, Dustin Morley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ophthalmology is a medical field ripe with opportunities for meaningful application of computer vision algorithms. The field utilizes data from multiple disparate imaging techniques, ranging from conventional cameras to tomography, comprising a diverse set of computer vision challenges. Computer vision has a rich history of techniques that can adequately meet many of these challenges. However, the field has undergone something of a revolution in recent times as deep learning techniques have sprung into the forefront following advances in GPU hardware. This development raises important questions regarding how to best leverage insights from both modern deep learning approaches and more classical …


Econometric Modeling Analysis Of Public Transit Ridership: Application For Orlando Region, Moshiur Rahman Jan 2018

Econometric Modeling Analysis Of Public Transit Ridership: Application For Orlando Region, Moshiur Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Policy makers are considering several alternatives to counter the negative externalities of personal vehicle dependence. Towards this end, public transit investments are critical in growing urban regions such as Orlando, Florida. Transit system managers and planners mostly rely on statistical models to identify the factors that affect ridership as well as quantifying the magnitude of the impact on the society. These models provide vital feedback to agencies on the benefits of public transit investments which in turn act as lessons to improve the investment process. We contribute to public transit literature by addressing several methodological challenges for transit ridership modeling. …


Olfaction, Memory, And Presence In Warfighters: Do The Scents Of War Matter?, Benson Munyan Jan 2018

Olfaction, Memory, And Presence In Warfighters: Do The Scents Of War Matter?, Benson Munyan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Exposure therapy (EXP) is a first-line intervention for combat-related PTSD. EXP works by repeatedly exposing the patient to the feared stimuli, situation, or physical sensations in the absence of actual danger until the stimuli no longer evoke maladaptive responses. Over the past decade, multiple technologies have been introduced to augment the EXP process by presenting multi-sensory cues (e.g., sights, smells, sounds) to increase patients' sense of presence. Exploratory research has only broadly examined the effect of odorants on the patient's sense of presence during simulated exposure tasks. This study hypothesized that those with autobiographical memories similar to the virtual …


An Analysis Of Terrorism And Mental Health In Mass Shootings As Perceived By The Media, Amairini Sanchez Jan 2018

An Analysis Of Terrorism And Mental Health In Mass Shootings As Perceived By The Media, Amairini Sanchez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Public mass shootings are the rarest type of mass murder in the United States. Nevertheless, the media tends to focus on mass murders that appear to be the most newsworthy. The most sensational mass murders are those that have the highest victim count, that target perfect victims, and that occur in a public location. Terrorism and mental health are two separate frames that are often used by the media when reporting a mass shooting event. This creates a lack of accurate reporting that displays a distorted image of mass shootings and affects the public's perception. This study evaluated frames used …


Domestic Stalking, Violation Of Protective Orders, And Homicide In Chicago: The Influence Of Social Disorganization And Gender Inequality, Sarah Sacra Jan 2018

Domestic Stalking, Violation Of Protective Orders, And Homicide In Chicago: The Influence Of Social Disorganization And Gender Inequality, Sarah Sacra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Domestic violence has been considered a serious issue for many decades. This problem manifests itself physically, sexually, and emotionally and can affect anyone. However, most of the domestic violence literature focuses specifically on physical intimate partner violence. Various theoretical frameworks have been utilized to explain the occurrence of domestic violence including social disorganization theory and gender inequality. These explanations are limited, however, with the former primarily extended to physical assault and the latter focusing on violence against women. This study is important as it extends our knowledge of how these two perspectives can be applied to domestic violence through the …


A Study Of Confidence In Individuals Who Actively Work With Returning Military Personnel, Ladonna Slayter Jan 2018

A Study Of Confidence In Individuals Who Actively Work With Returning Military Personnel, Ladonna Slayter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to explore if training significantly increased community workers' perceived level of confidence and their ability to provide services to returning military personnel in two locations. To measure community workers' perceived level of confidence, participants N = 143 (n = 63 Norfolk, VA) and (n= 80 Fayetteville, NC) responded to an instrument containing 40 items. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the study variables. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare the reliability of means between the groups from 2011 to 2012 (i.e., pre-intervention to post-intervention). A Bonferroni Correction was applied to control the familywise …


A Joint Econometric Approach For Modeling Crash Counts By Collision Type, Tanmoy Bhowmik Jan 2018

A Joint Econometric Approach For Modeling Crash Counts By Collision Type, Tanmoy Bhowmik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, there is growing recognition that common unobserved factors that influence crash frequency by one attribute level are also likely to influence crash frequency by other attribute levels. The most common approach employed to address the potential unobserved heterogeneity in safety literature is the development of multivariate crash frequency models. The current study proposes an alternative joint econometric framework to accommodate for the presence of unobserved heterogeneity – referred to as joint negative binomial-multinomial logit fractional split (NB-MNLFS) model. Furthermore, the study undertakes a first of its kind comparison exercise between the most commonly used multivariate model (multivariate …


Evaluating The Integration Of Chlorine Dioxide Into A Coagulation, Sedimentation, And Filtration Process Treating Surface Water, Martin Coleman Jan 2018

Evaluating The Integration Of Chlorine Dioxide Into A Coagulation, Sedimentation, And Filtration Process Treating Surface Water, Martin Coleman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Methods of optimizing the coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration (CSF) process at a conventional surface water treatment plant (WTP) were conducted to investigate opportunities for the reduction of disinfection by-product (DBP) precursor material. The research had two primary components: (1) optimize coagulant dosage and associated operating pH and (2) investigate pretreatment oxidation with chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and potassium permanganate (KMnO4). To accomplish the first component, jar tests were conducted at various pH and aluminum sulfate (alum) dosages to model current and potential treatment conditions during the CSF process at a WTP. Isopleths were developed to examine the removal efficiencies of …


Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigating Using Recycled Concrete Aggregate Coated With Fixed-Quat., Ikenna Ezeodurukwe Jan 2018

Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigating Using Recycled Concrete Aggregate Coated With Fixed-Quat., Ikenna Ezeodurukwe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human activities generate surplus nutrients which may lead to algal bloom events in water resources along with serious ecological problems and thus substantial economic losses. Particularly, harmful algal blooms (HABs) represent toxic cyanobacterial blooms which produce cyanotoxins. The primary concerns of HABs are the exposures to a wide variety of cyanotoxins via ingestion of contaminated drinking water, inhalation during recreational activities, and consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish. However, conventional physical and chemical methods are not always possible to efficiently handle these HABs events. It is urgent to develop viable and rapid solutions to control HABs in field and mitigate …


Assessing The Suitability Of The Division Exercise Training And Review System (Dxtrs) To Support Sustainment Training, Jacob Naylor Jan 2018

Assessing The Suitability Of The Division Exercise Training And Review System (Dxtrs) To Support Sustainment Training, Jacob Naylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The military has used simulations to train Soldiers for several decades. Army Commanders use live, virtual and constructive training to prepare troops for combat and to improve their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) skillset. During training and other military operations, the Army Battle Command Systems (ABCS) provide Army commanders with a Common Operational Picture (COP) which typically includes a real-time status of personnel, supplies, munitions, and equipment. In 2016, the Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) divested the Battle Command Sustainment Support System (BCS3) due to data latency issues. The sustainment Warfighting Function (WfF) used BCS3 as a dual-purpose system for real …


Understanding How, Where And How Much Freight Flows Using 2012 Commodity Flow Survey Data, Nowreen Keya Jan 2018

Understanding How, Where And How Much Freight Flows Using 2012 Commodity Flow Survey Data, Nowreen Keya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, with increased economic globalization, growing e-commerce and internet based shopping, freight movement patterns are undergoing a transformative change. The shipment size distribution is moving towards a higher share of smaller size shipments affecting transportation mode and vehicle type requirements. In addition, freight transportation mode is closely affected by the destination location (and its attributes). In our dissertation, we contribute to freight research by developing a comprehensive framework to examine the how, where and how much freight flows in US. Specifically, we study the following dimensions of freight flow: (1) transportation mode, (2) mode and shipment weight choice …


Treatment Of Leachate Organic Matter Through Sunlight Driven Processes, Duncan Lozinski Jan 2018

Treatment Of Leachate Organic Matter Through Sunlight Driven Processes, Duncan Lozinski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ability to manage leachate during post-closure care (PCC) of a landfill may be increasingly difficult as leachate organic matter (LOM) becomes recalcitrant when a landfill ages, requiring advanced and costly treatment technologies. This research investigated the ability to treat LOM through sunlight driven processes, with a focus on photolysis, to provide insight to landfill owners and operators on the potential of wetlands treatment as a means for reducing long-term risks and costs associated with leachate treatment during PCC. The study was completed in eight batch tests, where leachate was exposed to natural sunlight in central Florida for a period …


Hierarchical Corridor Safety Analysis Using Multiple Approaches, Saif Alarifi Jan 2018

Hierarchical Corridor Safety Analysis Using Multiple Approaches, Saif Alarifi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traffic crashes are a major cause of concern globally. Extensive efforts from transportation professionals have been made to investigate new methods to identify the contributing factors to crashes at various locations on the road network. Corridors, among other road network's components, play a vital role in moving people and goods between primary zones in different areas, and the safety and operational improvements of them have been the focus of many studies since they carry the most traffic on the road network. Corridors contain mainly intersections and segments, and previous corridor studies have focused on a sole type of road entity. …


Security Of Autonomous Systems Under Physical Attacks: With Application To Self-Driving Cars, Raj Gautam Dutta Jan 2018

Security Of Autonomous Systems Under Physical Attacks: With Application To Self-Driving Cars, Raj Gautam Dutta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The drive to achieve trustworthy autonomous cyber-physical systems (CPS), which can attain goals independently in the presence of significant uncertainties and for long periods of time without any human intervention, has always been enticing. Significant progress has been made in the avenues of both software and hardware for fulfilling these objectives. However, technological challenges still exist and particularly in terms of decision making under uncertainty. In an autonomous system, uncertainties can arise from the operating environment, adversarial attacks, and from within the system. As a result of these concerns, human-beings lack trust in these systems and hesitate to use them …


Cost And Environmental Impacts Of Leachate Nitrogen/Phosphorus Management Approaches, Alaa Alanezi Jan 2018

Cost And Environmental Impacts Of Leachate Nitrogen/Phosphorus Management Approaches, Alaa Alanezi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Landfill leachate is a challenging wastewater to discharge into municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the most common approach for leachate management, due to the presence of contaminants that may affect the performance of the treatment plant. Treatment, disposal, and transportation of leachate are expensive and therefore a concern. Currently, sidestream treatment is becoming increasingly common in WWTPs prior to returning the liquid to the plant influent. For this research, a new treatment scheme is introduced combining centrate and leachate to reduce contaminants, recover phosphorous and nitrogen through struvite precipitation, and reduce energy requirements through anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox). By combining …


Nondestructive Testing Methods Aided Via Numerical Computation Models For Various Critical Aerospace Power Generation Systems, Peter Warren Jan 2018

Nondestructive Testing Methods Aided Via Numerical Computation Models For Various Critical Aerospace Power Generation Systems, Peter Warren

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A current critical necessity for all industries which utilize various equipment that operates in high temperature and extreme environments, is the ability to collect and analyze data via non destructive testing (NDT) methods. Operational conditions and material health must be constantly monitored if components are to be implemented precisely to increase the overall performance and efficiency of the process. Currently in both aerospace and power generation systems there are many methods that are being employed to gather several necessary properties and parameters of a given system. This work will focus primarly on two of these NDT methods, with the ultimate …


Disinfection By-Product Reduction Study Of A Small Central Florida Public Water System, Paul Staubus Jan 2018

Disinfection By-Product Reduction Study Of A Small Central Florida Public Water System, Paul Staubus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The disinfection of water for potabilization has proven to be one of the most significant public achievements of the 20th century. Although chemical disinfectants are successfully utilized to inactivate acute pathogenic organisms, they may react with natural organic matter (NOM) to produce potentially-harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs). As a result, the United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates DBPs such as total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). The research herein is focused on the formation, removal, and control of TTHMs and HAAs in a small public water system (PWS) in Polk County, Florida (County). Pilot-scale tests were implemented to determine the …


Explore Contributing Geometric Factors And Built-Environment On Bicycle Activity And Safety At Intersections, Scott Castro Jan 2018

Explore Contributing Geometric Factors And Built-Environment On Bicycle Activity And Safety At Intersections, Scott Castro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study attempts to explore all factors associated with bicycle motor-vehicle crashes at intersections in order to improve bicycle safety and bicycle activity. Factors such as exposure (bicycle and vehicle volumes), existing facilities (bike lanes, sidewalks, shared-use paths), geometric design (# of lanes, speed limit, medians, legs, roadway conditions), and land-use were collected and evaluated using Poisson, Zero-Inflated Poisson, and Negative Binomial models in SAS 9.4 software. Increasing the bicycle travel mode can have positive lasting effects on personal health, the environment, and improve traffic conditions. Deterrents that keep users from riding bicycles more are the lack of facilities and …


Accommodating Exogenous Variable And Decision Rule Heterogeneity In Discrete Choice Models: Application To Bicyclist Route Choice, Bibhas Dey Jan 2018

Accommodating Exogenous Variable And Decision Rule Heterogeneity In Discrete Choice Models: Application To Bicyclist Route Choice, Bibhas Dey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The thesis contributes to our understanding of incorporating heterogeneity in discrete choice models with respect to exogenous variables and decision rules. Specifically, we evaluate latent segmentation based mixed models that allow for segmenting population based on decision rules while also incorporating unobserved heterogeneity within the segment level decision rule models. In our analysis, we choose to consider the random utility framework along with random regret minimization approach. Further, instead of assuming the number of segments (as 2), we conduct an exhaustive exploration with multiple segments across the two decision rules. Within each segment we also allow for unobserved heterogeneity. The …