Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Employee Engagement On Discretionary Effort And Job Performance In The Cruise Line Customer Contact Center Workplace, Stephen B. Rodoquino Iii

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This nonexperimental, correlational study examined the relation among job fit,

psychological climate, and employee engagement and discretionary effort and job

performance. An Internet-based self-report survey was administered to a sample of 307

cruise line customer contact center reservation agents. The research hypotheses were

evaluated using correlational and hierarchical regression analytic procedures.

Job fit and psychological climate were linked positively and significantly with

employee engagement and employee engagement accounted for significant variance in

both discretionary effort and job performance. In evaluating the discretionary effort

conceptual model, after statistically controlling for gender, ethnicity and amount of job

experience, the results of the …

Examining Emotion-Related Processes In Selective Mutism; Autonomic, Behavioral And Parental Factors, Rachel B. Tenenbaum

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Selective mutism (SM) is associated with considerable individual and family burdens, significant long-term functional impairment, and risk for later psychopathology. However, literature examining the phenomenology of SM has been scant, and it remains unclear which mechanisms are related to the development or maintenance of SM. Multiple theoretical perspectives have been proposed, and it appears that several pathways may be involved and interact to lead to the development of SM. Emotionrelated processes, such as negative emotion reactivity, disruptions in emotion regulation, and parental behavior and emotionality have been proposed to be involved in the etiology and/or maintenance of SM. The present …

Associations Between Adolescent Cannabis Use Trajectories And Anxiety, Jacqueline C. Duperrouzel

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the effects of cannabis use is critical for reducing adverse behavioral, social, and academic outcomes, particularly among adolescent users who are most at risk for cannabis related problems. Although support from both the animal and human literatures suggests the relationship between cannabis and anxiety may be associated with levels of use, much is still unknown. Thus, examining relationships between the most common mental health issue in adolescence and one of the most commonly used drugs is of great public health significance and impact. Prior longitudinal studies assessing effects of cannabis use on anxiety have not evaluated different patterns of …

Taking Apart The Time Machine: Investigating Space-For-Time Substitution Modeling In The Florida Everglades, Theresa Kelly Brown

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Space-for-Time substitution modeling has been used with increasing frequency to identify functional relationships between environmental drivers and ecological responses. I investigated the use of space-for-time substitution as a null model and beta diversity as a validity test for this null model in the Greater Everglades aquatic metacommunity. I began by conducting a literature review and analysis to investigate the suitability of the space-for-time substitution method as a null model. I then analyzed beta diversity of the Greater Everglades aquatic metacommunity through a sums-of-squares approach. Finally, I tested for correlation between the beta diversity analysis and the space-for-time models. Results indicate …

Exemplars Of Error In The Works Of Spenser And Sidney, Rene Ferrer

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to examine how the Elizabethan poets Edmund Spenser and Sir Philip Sidney explored the idea of emulation within the pages of The Faerie Queene and The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia. Specifically, how both poets employed the unorthodox characters of Malbecco and Amphialus within texts meant to pro vide moral instruction to the reader.

This research will be accomplished by examining the philosophical underpinnings relating to ideas about emulation, conducting a thorough close reading of primary texts, and studying scholarly articles relating to Spenser, Sidney, the English Renaissance, and emulation.

This thesis will endeavor to …

Reputation-Aware Trajectory-Based Data Mining In The Internet Of Things (Iot), Samia Tasnim

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Internet of Things (IoT) is a critically important technology for the acquisition of spatiotemporally dense data in diverse applications, ranging from environmental monitoring to surveillance systems. Such data helps us improve our transportation systems, monitor our air quality and the spread of diseases, respond to natural disasters, and a bevy of other applications. However, IoT sensor data is error-prone due to a number of reasons: sensors may be deployed in hazardous environments, may deplete their energy resources, have mechanical faults, or maybe become the targets of malicious attacks by adversaries. While previous research has attempted to improve the quality of …

The Sanctuary Of Acceptance: Love And Identity Through The Letters And Poetry Of John Keats, Amanda Caridad Estevez Ms.

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I propose to explain how it is that the life and work of John Keats assists us in answering the question of how we create ourselves through the presence of others. I aim to do this through an analysis of the work that his relationship with Fanny Brawne inspired. In doing so, I hope to prove that romantic love creates a sort of metaphysical sanctuary for us to inhabit as we shift through the various incarnations of our identity throughout our lives. By synthesizing the theories of phenomenology and transgression, I hope to demonstrate how Keats’ rapid …

Individual Level Factors Associated With Hiv Care Continuum Metrics Among Mash Cohort Participants From 2009-2014, Kristopher Myers

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation assessed the following: 1) the individual-level factors’ individual, syndemic, and interactive associations with retention in HIV care; 2) the individual-level factors’ individual, syndemic, and interactive associations with adherence among retained persons; and 3) the individual-level factors’ individual, syndemic, and interactive associations with viral suppression among retained persons. In the first study, Non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity was associated with improved retention (OR=2.44, 95%CI: 1.06–5.75, p≤0.05). “Black-Hispanic” and “Other” racial/ethnic identities were associated with increased retention among participants (OR=4.84, 95%CI: 1.16–25.79, p≤0.05 and OR=7.24, 95%CI: 1.54–54.05p≤0.05, respectively). The interaction between depressive symptoms and alcohol use disorder was significantly and negatively associated …

Characterizing Elasmobranch Species Diversity, Occurrence And Catches In Small-Scale Fisheries Of The Caribbean, Camila Cáceres

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although 95% of fishers are artisanal, little is known about the magnitude of their catches and impacts on marine ecosystems at a global scale. I used a rapid assessment framework to study elasmobranch occurrence, elasmobranch fisheries, and use in coastal small-scale fisheries in the Caribbean, combining observational data and fisher’s knowledge. A total of 800 Baited Remote Underwater Videos were deployed in addition to 660 interview surveys that were collected in Colombia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Tobago and the Florida Keys. In Colombia, I compared elasmobranch and teleost species richness and relative abundance within four coral reef habitats, where species targeted by …

Perception Of Travel Motivation And Intention For Chinese Cruise Travelers: Toward An Integrated Model, Tianyu Pan

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the decision-making process and predicting cruise consumers behavior are critical. This study develops and tests a structural equation model (SEM) using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Motivation – Satisfaction Theory to explain Chinese consumers travel motivation and behavioral intention in the cruise industry. Nine hypotheses were proposed regarding the relationships between second-order factor Motivation, travel satisfaction, and the original TPB constructs. Results of the study demonstrated that the integrated model fits the data relatively well, exploring the driving factors of Chinese consumers to participate in cruise travel. The path weight of every hypothesis is significant, and all …

Trajectory Privacy Preservation And Lightweight Blockchain Techniques For Mobility-Centric Iot, Abdur Bin Shahid

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Various research efforts have been undertaken to solve the problem of trajectory privacy preservation in the Internet of Things (IoT) of resource-constrained mobile devices. Most attempts at resolving the problem have focused on the centralized model of IoT, which either impose high delay or fail against a privacy-invading attack with long-term trajectory observation. These proposed solutions also fail to guarantee location privacy for trajectories with both geo-tagged and non-geo-tagged data, since they are designed for geo-tagged trajectories only. While a few blockchain-based techniques have been suggested for preserving trajectory privacy in decentralized model of IoT, they require large storage capacity …

Charged Fusion Product Plasma Diagnostics In Spherical Tokamaks, Alexander Netepenko

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Charged fusion products from the D(d,p)t reaction, protons (p) and tritons (t), can be detected to obtain time and position dependent information on the fusion reaction profile in plasmas heated with neutral particles beams. We have developed a prototype instrument consisting of charged particle detectors with ion-implanted-silicon surface barrier detectors. Each detector is combined with two replaceable collimators in such a way that it can accept protons and tritons emitted from a well-defined area inside the plasma. The detectors thus provide curved views across the plasma volume.

Combining the data of all six detectors allows one to study changes in …

Utilizing Multi-Criteria Analysis And Analytical Hierarchy Process To Facilitate Everglades Restoration Decision-Making, Chloe C. Vorseth

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Greater Everglades Ecosystem (GEE) restoration is a complex undertaking, with a variety of potential outcomes and trade-offs impacting numerous stakeholders. This study utilizes a strategy for facilitating GEE restoration that is based in social science principles and informed by stakeholder opinion, ecologists, and biological modeling techniques. Information in this study was gathered through the use of an online survey involving stakeholder preferences for GEE restoration outcomes. Results revealed that sample stakeholders weighed the outcome of improving seasonal flow of water highest, followed by reducing polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee, then increasing water storage for human use, and lastly restoring the …

Student Affairs Professionals In Higher Education Institutions Who Participate In Study Tours: A Qualitative Study, Michelle M. Castro

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As colleges and universities are internationalizing their curriculum, there is a growing need for student affairs professionals to also become aware of and be familiar with internationalization and to become players in the global society. The present study focused on 12 participants who are currently student affairs professionals. The research focused on gaining an understanding and awareness of the role that international study tour experiences have on the professional and personal development of student affairs professionals. A qualitative research design was used for the study. Kolb’s Experiential Learning theory was used as the conceptual framework to explain the participants' experiences …

Malware Analysis For Evaluating The Integrity Of Mission Critical Devices, Robert Heras

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rapid evolution of technology in our society has brought great advantages, but at the same time it has increased cybersecurity threats. At the forefront of these threats is the proliferation of malware from traditional computing platforms to the rapidly expanding Internet-of-things. Our research focuses on the development of a malware detection system that strives for early detection as a means of mitigating the effects of the malware's execution.

The proposed scheme consists of a dual-stage detector providing malware detection for compromised devices in order to mitigate the devices malicious behavior. Furthermore, the framework analyzes task structure features as well …

Proper, Politic, And Fetishized Object: Representations Of Body In The Fiction Of Edgar Allan Poe, Courtney Glass

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis involves a close-reading of how Edgar Allan Poe writes the body and how bodies operate as discursive spaces to explore identity, sexuality, gender, and society and are constructed and deconstructed. Consideration is given to how Poe challenges, destabilizes, and problematizes notions of the body exacerbated by abnormal bodies absenting themselves via death, decay, or prosthetics and the meaning that is gathered around either their conjunction or disjunction.

The introduction gives an overview of relevant Poe criticism and a rationale for this project. Chapter II explores how Poe’s treatment of the body-proper and identity in “How to Write a …

Examining The Cultural Intelligence And Perceptions Of Educational Decision-Makers: Factors That Relate To Decision-Making For Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students Who May Have Disabilities, Annela Costa

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to explore the cultural intelligence of educational decision-makers and their perceptions of the importance of factors that relate to pre-referral/referral and eligibility determination processes for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students who may have disabilities. Participants (n=120) included teachers, school psychologists, and local education agents. The results revealed that individual-level factors predicted the cultural intelligence of educational decision-makers. Participants perceived factors related to pre-referral/referral processes to be more important in decision making when compared to factors related to eligibility determination; yet, participants self reported feeling more confident in making decisions involving eligibility determination. …

Structural Basis For Chloroperoxidase Catalyzed Enantioselective Epoxidations And Mechanisms Of Selected Anticancer Drug Induced Apoptosis, Yongjian Guo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chloroperoxidase (CPO), a member of the heme peroxidase family, has diverse catalytic activities toward a broad range of substrates. In addition to catalyzing halogenation reactions involved in the biosynthesis of halogen-containing compounds, CPO also catalyzes reactions typical of traditional heme peroxidases, catalases, and cytochrome P450 enzymes. Despite the powerful and versatile catalytic activity of CPO, its applications have been thwarted by the difficulty in regenerating the active enzyme and substrate (peroxide) induced protein inactivation. To overcome these shorting comings of the protein, we investigate the fabrication and characterization of chloroperoxidase (CPO) and glucose oxidase (GOx) on the surface of MGO. …

How Does The Work Of The Negro Youth Study (1937-1941) Fit Into The History Of The Social Sciences?, Randall Haines Kaufman

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Through a historical analysis[1] this dissertation addresses how the work of the Negro[2] Youth Study (NYS) fits into the historical development of sociology during the early Civil Rights Movement (CRM). Secondarily, the dissertation addresses the silence surrounding NYS and its place in Black Sociology.

As the Depression deepened, educators worried about another “lost generation” of young Americans.[3] In response, The American Youth Commission in 1935, followed by the NYS in 1937, sought solutions. In particular, the NYS represents a moment in social sciences, started in the 19^th century, or a moment when social sciences become a …

The Applications Of Intumescent Technologies In Support Of D&D Activities Across The Doe Complex, Joshua Alan Nunez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nuclear facilities in the process of Deactivation and Decommissioning (D&D) face several enormous challenges. Decommissioning is only part of the final shutdown process of a nuclear facility. The majority of the DOE facilities, like most industries, face fire hazards or extreme heat conditions. This study aims to research, test, and validate the operational performance of commercially available polyurethane expanding intumescent foams as potential fixatives for immobilizing residual contamination while preserving fire resiliency. Due to the novelty of this unique problem set and approach, existing international standards (ASTM/NIST/etc.) were reviewed for best-fit platforms with which to build testing protocols from. Once …

Molecular Mechanism Of Dream Dimerization And Interactions With A Non-Physiological Ligand Zn2+., Maria D. Santiago Estevez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonist Modulator (DREAM) belongs to the family of neuronal calcium sensor proteins and it is involved in several processes in the brain.

Zinc has been shown to bind to recoverin, with submillimolar affinity. Based on the high sequence homology between the NCS family, it is proposed that DREAM can also serve as an intracellular target for Zn²⁺. Fluorescence and CD studies confirm that zinc binds to DREAM with a of K_d = 4 µM, triggering changes in the proteins’ tertiary structure.

The calcium association to DREAM leads to the formation of a Ca^{2+ …}

After Deterrence: Policy Choices During Crises Of Conventional And Nuclear Direct Deterrence Failure, Yang Gyu Kim

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite a plethora of research on the conditions of successful deterrence, the literature has been remarkably silent on the aftermath of its possible failure. Especially in the situation of direct deterrence where the defender’s people and territory are at stake, the defender experiences tremendous pressure and stress when a challenger defies the former’s threat. Due to the high interest at stake, direct deterrent threat is regarded as the most credible type of deterrence and, according to the literature, is most likely successful. How could an intrinsically credible threat fail? What should the defender do when direct deterrence fails and its …

Shipbuilding, Forest Resource Exploitation, And Environmental Change In Cuba In The Early Eighteenth Century, 1700-1763, Jason M. Daniel

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the construction of Spanish naval warships in Havana, Cuba, between the accession of the Bourbon family to Spain’s throne in 1700 and the end of the Seven Years’ War in 1763. The rapid increase in timber consumption after the Royal Havana Company gained the obligation for shipbuilding in 1741 led to significant changes in the social and environmental landscape. This dissertation concludes that Cuba’s maritime industries under royal authorities and the Royal Havana Company were the product of deliberate and centralized Spanish reforms that had demonstrable and measurable consequences on the island.

This period of shipbuilding consumed …

Synergistic Activation Of Inspiratory Muscles By An Adaptive Closed-Loop Controller, Rabeya Zinnat Adury

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During diaphragmatic pacing reverse recruitment of muscle fibers causes muscle fatigue. Current diaphragmatic pacing paradigms also do not permit sigh-like behavior. In spontaneously breathing anesthetized rats, studies were carried out to determine if synergized pacing of external intercostal muscles and the diaphragm would increase the efficiency of diaphragm stimulation and thus a) achieve the desired ventilatory breath volume profile with reduced diaphragm muscle fatigue, and/or b) be able to elicit sigh-like behavior by periodically increasing stimulation. Under combined inspiratory muscle stimulation, a fatigue index calculated for the diaphragm muscle (n=6 rats) was significantly lower (p<0.05) than in the …

Mechanical Behavior Of Ternary Metallic Glasses And Their Composites, Xue Liang

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The vast demands for advanced materials have been putting tremendous pressure on materials scientists and engineers to discover and produce novel lighter and stiffer materials. This dissertation is devoted to the development and fundamental understanding of the strength and the structures within Aluminum ternary metallic glasses (MGs) and their composites, which have a low density and promising high strength. The dissertation focuses on the following content: The multi-objective optimization algorithm predicted the Al_16.5Ni₈Ce_75.5 ternary metallic glass composition with an improved glass-forming ability (supercooled liquid region ∆����=29K), based on the provided dataset. Inoue Criteria can predict …

Algorithms And Circuits For Analog-Digital Hybrid Multibeam Arrays, Paboda Viduneth A. Beruwawela Pathiranage

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fifth generation (5G) and beyond wireless communication systems will rely heavily on larger antenna arrays combined with beamforming to mitigate the high free-space path-loss that prevails in millimeter-wave (mmW) and above frequencies. Sharp beams that can support wide bandwidths are desired both at the transmitter and the receiver to leverage the glut of bandwidth available at these frequency bands. Further, multiple simultaneous sharp beams are imperative for such systems to exploit mmW/sub-THz wireless channels using multiple reflected paths simultaneously. Therefore, multibeam antenna arrays that can support wider bandwidths are a key enabler for 5G and beyond systems.

In general, N- …

Conservation And Management Of Arapaima Spp. In The Colombian Amazon, Ana A. Rojas

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In order to conserve megafaunal, charismatic freshwater fish species, an interdisciplinary, translational ecology approach is needed. This thesis explores trends in conservation of the pan-Amazonian Arapaima spp., with two major components. First, I examined research trends on Arapaima over the last 50 years by categorizing articles by theme and geography. My results showed that aquaculture and biology were dominant themes, with most research conducted in the Brazilian Amazon. Second, I conducted field research in the Colombian Amazon to examine perceptions of Arapaima management at various geographic and political scales. One important finding was the crucial role of communities and small-scale …

Coupling Telemetry And Stable Isotope Techniques To Unravel Movement: Snook Habitat Use Across Variable Nutrient Environments, Cody W. Eggenberger

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Habitat selection by organisms can be driven by a number of factors, including the availability of resources. In particular, nutrient enrichment can alter the quality of landscapes, and thus the availability of resources, with implications for consumer movement and habitat use. In coastal ecosystems, eutrophication can affect the production and distribution of resources, and thus the behaviors and space use of consumers. In this study, I coupled acoustic telemetry methods and stable isotope analyses (SIA) to examine the effects of nutrient enrichment on the movement, habitat use, and resource use of Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis), a valuable recreational …

Workplace Incivility Toward Individuals With Disabilities, Secure Attachment Style, And Mental Health: Focus On Mediator And Moderator Effects, Mia Heikkila

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the value of workplace civility, civility has been replaced by social exchanges that include statements and behaviors deemed largely unacceptable and undeniably rude. One type of rude behavior that appears innocuous is called workplace incivility, yet incivility disturbs efficient functioning among employees, intensifies work stress, and poses a grave financial hazard to an organization. Literature expressly on incivility toward individuals with disabilities is virtually non-existent, although emerging literature reveals that employees with disabilities are at a greater risk of experiencing workplace mistreatment vis-à-vis employees without disabilities. This quantitative study investigated the role of workplace incivility with respect to individuals …

Consequences Of Non-Physiological Ligands Binding To Dream On Its Secondary And Tertiary Structures And Interactions With Intracellular Partners., Samiol Azam

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Downstream regulatory antagonist modulator (DREAM) is 29 kDa neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) protein which is expressed in the hippocampus of the brain. DREAM is a multifunctional protein which is involved in a wide spectrum of biological processes, including regulation of potassium current in brain, modulation of pain, presenilin-1 processing, regulation of memory and learning. Exposure to toxic metals such as Pb2+ and Cd2+ have been associated with different types of neurodegenerative diseases. However, how these toxic metals induce neurotoxicity remains an active area of research. In this study, utilizing a combination of spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques, we demonstrated binding of …