Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Association Between Depressive Symptoms And Performance On Executive Function Measures In Children, Hillary A. Mangis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A variety of cognitive deficits have been linked to depression. In particular, data exists to suggest that persons with depression are subject to poorer executive function compared to normal controls. Establishing the connection between depression and impaired executive function is particularly important in childhood as a child's daily functioning, including social interactions and academic performance, may be impacted. The purpose of this study was to explore if children with significant symptoms of depression displayed deficits on tasks designed to measure the executive functions of attentional control, information processing and cognitive flexibility (Anderson, 2002) compared to a clinical control group. A …

Preparation And Characterization Of Oil-In-Water Nano-Emulsions Of Trifluoperazine For Parenteral Drug Delivery, Toluwalope Onadeko

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: 1.) To develop and characterize an optimal formulation of oil-in-water nano-emulsions of trifluoperazine for parenteral delivery. 2.) To perform short term stability testing of the optimal formulation and monitor the potency using high performance chromatography (HPLC).

Materials and Methods: Emulsions containing soybean oil, water, trifluoperazine hcl as an amphiphilic drug, phospholipon 90 and Tween 80 as surfactant blend were prepared using the Thin-layer hydration method. Z-average, polydispersity index, zeta potential of emulsions were determined. A fully randomized 2X2X2X2X2 statistical design was developed using JMP software. Optimal formulation was selected based on desirable properties of low z-average and polydispersity index, …

The Efficacy Of Treating Adolescent Depression With Interpersonal Psychotherapy For Adolescents(Ipt-A) In The School Setting, Steven Pasquinelli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Depression affects the lives of an estimated 2 to 8% of adolescents in the United States. This disturbance of mood impacts many facets of the individual's life, including the ability to participate in and benefit from educational experiences. School psychologists are challenged to find effective treatments for adolescents experiencing depression that can be delivered in a school setting. Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A; Mufson, Dorta, Moreau, & Weissman, 2004) has been found effective for adolescents in clinical settings as well as in urban, school-based clinics. Its use as an efficacious treatment with adolescent students in a traditional public school setting …

An Examination Of Racial Differences In Anxiety Disorder Symptom Structure And Trajectories Among Pre-Adolescent Female Youth, Cynthia Altman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although the experience of anxiety among children and adolescents is well documented in the literature, relatively little empirical study has focused on this topic. Existing research is essentially void of studies into gender-specific aspects of anxiety development and maintenance or race-based differences in anxiety symptomatology. The current study sought to fill this gap by examining racial differences in anxiety disorder symptom structure and trajectories among pre-adolescent female youth. Symptom structure was examined among a sample of 570 girls (252 European American, 318 African American) who completed the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) at nine years of age …

Engineering The Mosquito Symbiont Pantoea Agglomerans To Secrete Anti-Plasmodium Inhibitory Proteins, Dawn C. Bisi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The disease malaria originates from the transmission of the parasite Plasmodium to humans by female anopheline mosquitoes. Estimates put the number of deaths at 1-3 million people annually and this number will increase without the establishment of new control strategies. There is currently no vaccine and the effectiveness of insecticides and drugs are thwarted by the gain of resistances for both the insect and parasite. An alternative genetic engineering approach to combating malaria is presented here. The bacterial mosquito symbiont Pantoea agglomerans, which resides in the mosquito gut, was chosen to express anti-Plasmodium effector gene products that are known to …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Traf6 Ubiquitination And Activation, Zhi Qiang Kent Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Receptor Associated Factor 6 (TRAF6) is an intracellular signal transducers, being responsible for mediating many of the activation events initiated by TNF receptor (TNFR) and Toll-like/Interleukin-1 and 18 receptor (TIR) families, in which TRAF6 plays central roles in numerous biological processes including innate and adaptive immunity, osteoclastogenesis and bone development, CD40 signaling, neuronal cell development, and cancer cell progression.

Acting as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, TRAF6 catalyzes lysine 63 linked poly-ubiquitination of itself and many other signal transducers upon association with upstream effectors possessing a short TRAF Interaction Motif (TIM) peptide sequence in the NF-KappaB …

Near-Infrared Analysis And Process Control Of Pharmaceutical Pelletization Processes, David J. Wargo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy in the determination of pharmaceutical pellet characteristics and to predict desired process endpoints during fluidized bed drug suspension layering and coating operations. Various strengths of diltiazem HCl pellets were prepared via a tangential-spray rotogranulation process and subsequently coated Eudragit RS30D in a Wurster column. In-line and at-line near-IR process monitoring methods were evaluated. Quantitative calibrations for potency, applied polymer solids and dissolution were developed using several different regression models. Both in-line and at-line determinations of pellet potency were effectively accomplished with average standard errors of prediction of 1.11% and 0.63%, respectively. Near-IR …

Design And Synthesis Of Benzimidazoles As Cdk5 Inhibitors And Progress Toward The Total Synthesis Of Tubulysin D, Shuyan Yi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes the design and synthesis of 1,4,6-trisubstituted benzimidazoles as CDK5 inhibitors and the progress toward the total synthesis of tubulysin D.

Tubulysin is a natural product with potential anti-cancer activity. The two gamma-amino acids in the Tuv and Tup fragments of tubulysin were synthesized. Evans' oxazolidinone chemistry was employed for the stereoselective synthesis of Cbz-beta-homovaline in Tuv fragment. A crystal structure of the Tup fragment was obtained.

Cyclin dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is one of the kinases that can hyperphosphorylate tau. Selective inhibition of the CDK5/p25 complex may be a useful component for Alzheimer's disease therapy. Benzimidazole based …

Psychological Sense Of Community And Retention: Rethinking The First-Year Experience Of Students In Stem, Melissa Dagley Falls

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This investigation looks at the relationship between a STEM learning community's co-curricular activities and students' perceived sense of community (SOC)to determine which activities most influence SOC and, in turn, retention. This investigation shows that SOC can be impacted by a multitude of factors found within the college environment. The most influential of these factors are open acceptance, student academic support services, and residential experiences. Most importantly there were significant differences for African American students participating in the STEM learning community on the measures of SOC, retention, and being on-track in mathematics. Additional data suggested higher levels of being on-track in …

Design, Synthesis, And Characterization Of Novel Hydrophilic Fluorene-Based Derivatives For Bioimaging Applications, Dao Nguyen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this work, hydrophilic fluorene-based derivatives that contain ethylene oxide substituents, have been synthesized and characterized for potential use as new fluorophores for bioimaging applications and for fluorescence sensing of heavy metals. Symmetrical and unsymmetrical fluorene derivatives based on structural types of acceptor-pi-acceptor, acceptor-pi-donor, and donor-pi-donor were characterized by TGA, UV-vis absorption, fluorescence emission, lifetime, anisotropy, and two-photon absorption (2PA) cross section. They were found to possess high thermal stability, high photostability, high fluorescence quantum yields, and generally large two-photon absorption cross sections, making them quite suitable for new probes in single-photon absorption and two-photon absorption fluorescence microscopy imaging. Novel …

Modeling Microbiological And Chemical Processes In Municipal Solid Waste Bioreactor: Development And Applications Of A Three-Pha, Nitin Gawande

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The numerical computer models that simulate municipal solid waste (MSW) bioreactor landfills have mainly two components--a biodegradation process module and a multi-phase flow module. The biodegradation model describes the chemical and microbiological processes of solid waste biodegradation. The models available to date include predefined solid waste biodegradation reactions and participating species. In a bioreactor landfill several processes, such as anaerobic and aerobic biodegradation, nitrogen and sulfate cycling, precipitation and dissolution of metals, and adsorption and gasification of various anthropogenic organic compounds, occur simultaneously. These processes may involve reactions of several species and the available biochemical models for solid waste biodegradation …

The Impact Of Advanced Placement (Ap) Participation And Success On School-Wide Student Achievement, David Christiansen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate two research questions concerning: (a) the relationship between the percentage of students within a high school who participated in the Advanced Placement program and the school-wide student achievement of a high school and (b) the relationship between the percentage of students within a high school who successfully performed in the Advanced Placement program and the school-wide student achievement of the high school. It was determined in this study that there was a statistically significant relationship between Advanced Placement (AP) student participation and school-wide student achievement and there was a statistically significant relationship …

Finders Keepers: A Comparative Study Investigating Teaching The Florida Research Process Finds Model Through Three Different Approaches At The Elementary School Level, Karen Serrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The children's taunt "Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers" gives new credence to the information search process at the elementary school level. Children keep what they find, claim it as their own, and accept information without discernment or critique. This study examines the effectiveness of teaching information literacy skills through three different approaches. The first curricular approach uses direct instruction to teach children how to do research using the Florida Research Process FINDS Model. The second approach pairs the FINDS Model with a unit of study that is related to classroom curriculum. The third approach examines the FINDS Model in conjunction with …

A Systematic Analysis To Identify, Mitigate, Quantify, And Measure Risk Factors Contributing To Falls In Nasa Ground Support Ope, Joylene Ware

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the research was to develop and validate a multifaceted model such as a fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model that considers both qualitative and quantitative elements with relative significance in assessing the likelihood of falls and aid in the design of NASA Ground Support Operations in aerospace environments. The model represented linguistic variables that quantified significant risk factor levels. Multiple risk factors that contribute to falls in NASA Ground Support Operations are task related, human/personal, environmental, and organizational. Six subject matter experts were asked to participate in a voting system involving a survey where they judge risk …

Analysis And Design Of Wide-Angle Foveated Optical Systems, George Curatu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of compact imaging systems capable of transmitting high-resolution images in real-time while covering a wide field-of-view (FOV) is critical in a variety of military and civilian applications: surveillance, threat detection, target acquisition, tracking, remote operation of unmanned vehicles, etc. Recently, optical foveated imaging using liquid crystal (LC) spatial light modulators (SLM) has received considerable attention as a potential approach to reducing size and complexity in fast wide-angle lenses. The fundamental concept behind optical foveated imaging is reducing the number of elements in a fast wide-angle lens by placing a phase SLM at the pupil stop to dynamically compensate …

Noninvasive Physiological Measures And Workload Transitions:An Investigation Of Thresholds Using Multiple Synchronized Sensors, Lee Sciarini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine under what conditions multiple minimally intrusive physiological sensors can be used together and validly applied for use in areas which rely on adaptive systems including adaptive automation and augmented cognition. Specifically, this dissertation investigated the physiological transitions of operator state caused by changes in the level of taskload. Three questions were evaluated including (1) Do differences exist between physiological indicators when examined between levels of difficulty? (2) Are differences of physiological indicators (which may exist) between difficulty levels affected by spatial ability? (3) Which physiological indicators (if any) account for variation in …

Scheduling And Resource Management For Complex Systems: From Large-Scale Distributed Systems To Very Large Sensor Networks, Chen Yu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we focus on multiple levels of optimized resource management techniques. We first consider a classic resource management problem, namely the scheduling of data-intensive applications. We define the Divisible Load Scheduling (DLS) problem, outline the system model based on the assumption that data staging and all communication with the sites can be done in parallel, and introduce a set of optimal divisible load scheduling algorithms and the related fault-tolerant coordination algorithm. The DLS algorithms introduced in this dissertation exploit parallel communication, consider realistic scenarios regarding the time when heterogeneous computing systems are available, and generate optimal schedules. Performance …

The Effects Of Urbanization On The Structure, Quality, And Diversity Of Cypress Plant Communities In Central Florida, Courtney Knickerbocker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The integrity of wetland ecosystems is largely determined by hydrological functionality, degree of connectivity to like ecosystems, and permeability to external influence. Land use changes in upland areas adjacent to wetland ecosystems may influence hydrology and connectivity while introducing novel biotic and abiotic materials. There is an increasing trend toward the use of remote assessment techniques to determine the degree of impact of external influences on adjacent wetlands. Remote assessment and predictive capabilities are provided by indices such as the Landscape Development Intensity Index (LDI) (Brown and Vivas 2005) which may be beneficial in determining site condition, and which have …

Analysis Of The Physical Forcing Mechanisms Influencing Salinity Transport For The Lower St. Johns River, Derek Giardino

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this thesis is the forcing mechanisms incorporated with salinity transport for the Lower St. Johns River. There are two primary analyses performed: a historical data analysis of primary forcing mechanisms to determine the importance of each individual influence, and a tidal hydrodynamics analysis for the Lower St. Johns River to determine the required tidal constituents for an accurate resynthesis. This thesis is a preliminary effort in understanding salinity transport for the Lower St. Johns River for engineering projects such as the dredging of navigation canals and freshwater withdrawal from the river. The analysis of the physical forcing …

Nutrient And Pathogen Removal In A Subsurface Upflow Wetland System Using Green Sorption Media, Zhemin Xuan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to environmental health and nutrient impact concerns, the conventional on-site sewage collection, treatment, and disposal systems are no longer able to meet the nutrient reduction requirements for wastewater effluent and may represent a large fraction of pollutant loads. The loads include not only nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), but also pathogens such as fecal coliform and E. coli which indicate the presence of other disease-causing bacteria flowing into aquatic system that adversely affect public health. A subsurface upflow wetland, which is an effective small-scale wastewater treatment system with low energy and maintenance requirements and operational costs, fits the current …

The Effects Of Suicide Terrorism In Afghanistan And Iraq On Us Policy And Military Strategy, Michelle Whalen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The international political landscape of the 21st century is strewn with terrorist groups that choose to act violently in order for their political messages to be heard. Around the world groups have been formed to defend their ideologies and fulfill their political agendas through acts of terrorism. The Baader-Meinhof Gang [also known as the Red Army Faction], the Weather Underground, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Hezbollah, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, HAMAS, and the Irish Republican Army have existed for many decades. They represent only a small handful of terrorist groups that have kidnapped, targeted public institutions with …

Mediating Effects Of Parents' Attributions In The Relationship Between Children's Temperament And Parenting Stress, Melissa Middleton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To examine the relationships among children's temperament, parents' attributions, parenting stress, and children's behavior problems, the current study investigates the responses of parents who are raising children between the ages of 3- and 6-years. Each parent completed the Dimensions of Temperament Scale-Revised for Children (Windle & Learner, 1986), the Parenting Locus of Control Scale-Short Form (Rayfield, Eyberg, Boggs, & Roberts, 1995a), the Parent Attribution Test (Bugental, 1998), the Child Trait Rating Scale (Sacco, Johnson, & Tenzer, 1993), the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (Abidin, 1995), and the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2000, 2001). Using correlational and regression analyses, results …

Perceived Parental Characteristics And Neighborhood Support: How Do They Relate To Adolescents' Externalizing Behavior Problem, Rachel White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Externalizing behavior problems are related to many problematic outcomes for children and adolescents in their home, school, and community settings. Given the ramifications of difficulties related to externalizing behavior problems, the present study examines the relationships among adolescents' externalizing behavior problems, characteristics of adolescents' families, and their perceived neighborhood support in a sample of adolescents who are in the Sixth through Eighth Grades. As part of this study, adolescents were assessed one time in their school setting with a set of brief questionnaires. In particular, adolescents completed measures assessing their levels of externalizing behavior problems, characteristics of their families, their …

The Influence Of Graphic Organizers On Students' Ability To Summarize And Comprehend Science Content Regarding The Earth's Changing Surface, Patricia Goss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research project was to determine how my practice of using graphic organizers during instruction influenced my students' ability to summarize and comprehend significant fifth grade Earth Science content regarding the Earth's changing surface. A secondary purpose was to determine the students' perceptions of how concept mapping assisted in making connections to understand the fifth grade Earth Science content regarding the Earth's changing surface. The three processes used to collect data for this research were concept maps, focus groups and the pre- and post-test results. The themes that emerged were the ability to describe, categorize and …

Can Guided Inquiry Based Labs Improve Performance In Data Analysis And Conclusion Synthesis In Sixth Grade Life Science?, Melonie Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Desiring to examine the performance of science process skills such as data analysis and conclusion synthesis in sixth grade Life Science students, I used an inquiry strategy called "guided inquiry" in a series of six laboratory assignments during the normal county-mandated order of instruction for Life Science. I based my analysis upon these laboratory exercises, a survey of student attitudes towards science done before the study began and after the study completed, an assessment of inquiry understanding done before and after the study was finished, routine material tests, and a science final class evaluation done after the study was finished. …

Retrocyclin, A Potent Hiv-1 Entry Inhibitor, Nitya Venkataraman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human immununodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is the leading cause of death due to viral infections worldwide. In the absence of an effective vaccine or consistent male condom use, there is a clear need for female-controlled preventatives such as topical vaginal microbicides. Recent attention has been focused on developing natural antimicrobial peptides, as anti-retroviral microbicides. Increasing evidence suggests that cationic antimicrobial peptides such as defensins are effective HIV-1 inhibitors. Human alpha- and beta-defensins contribute substantially to innate immune defenses against microbial and viral infections. Certain nonhuman primates also produce theta-defensins – 18 residue cyclic peptides that are potent HIV-1 entry inhibitors. …

Gold Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Property Study And Applcications For Biomolecular Detection And Photothermal Therapy, Xiong Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a systematic study on gold nanoparticles: from their chemical synthesis, modification of surface functionalities, optical properties studies with emphasis on the absorption and scattering properties, to applications of gold nanoparticles in biomolecular detection, imaging and photothermal therapy. In chapter 2, we studied the kinetics of gold nanoparticle growth under Brust-Shiffrin reaction conditions. In chapter 3, we further examined the reaction mechanism and growth kinetics of gold nanoparticles using oleylamine as both a reducing reagent and particle growth passivation ligand. From these two projects, important understanding was revealed on gold nanoparticle formation and growth mechanism. Chapter 4 describes …

Native Fire Regime As A Reference For Establishing Management Practices, Brean Duncan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Our understanding of natural fire regimes in human-dominated landscapes is limited. Fire regimes operating in the pyrogenic ecosystems of Florida have been altered by fire suppression and fuel fragmentation. This is especially true of North Merritt Island, Florida, where human impacts have led to an incomplete knowledge of current fire regimes. We know that growing season fires frequently occurred within general return intervals and that many native terrestrial species require fire to remain viable. A 20-year plus period of fire suppression caused structural and compositional changes to vegetation/fuels that led to catastrophic fires and the decline of native species populations …

Bacterial Selenoproteins: A Role In Pathogenesis And Targets For Antimicrobial Development, Sarah Rosario

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Selenoproteins are unique proteins in which selenocysteine is inserted into the polypeptide chain by highly specialized translational machinery. They exist within all three kingdoms of life. The functions of these proteins in biology are still being defined. In particular, the importance of selenoproteins in pathogenic microorganisms has received little attention. We first established that a nosocomial pathogen, Clostridium difficile, utilizes a selenoenzyme dependent pathway for energy metabolism. Following this initial characterization, we demonstrate that this pathway is linked to production of toxins by this organism. Finally, we show that interruption of selenium metabolism is a viable pathway for development of …

Mcp-1 And App Involvement Of Glial Differentiation And Migration Of Neuroprogenitor Cells, Emmanuel Vrotsos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neuroprogenitor cells are an important resource because of their potential to replace damaged cells in the brain caused by trauma and disease. It is of great importance to better understand which factors influence the differentiation and migration of these cells. Previously it has been reported that neuroprogenitor cells undergoing apoptotic stress have increased levels of Amyloid precursor protein (APP) and increased APP expression results in glial differentiation. APP activity was also shown to be required for staurosporine induced glial differentiation of neuroprogenitor cells. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine that is expressed during inflammatory. The binding of MCP-1 to …