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2016

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Properties Of Child-Directed Speech In Mothers’ Native And Nonnative Languages: A Comparison Of English Monolingual And Spanish-English Bilingual Mothers’ Talk To 2-Year-Olds, Katherine Alexandra Filippi Shanks Jan 2016

Properties Of Child-Directed Speech In Mothers’ Native And Nonnative Languages: A Comparison Of English Monolingual And Spanish-English Bilingual Mothers’ Talk To 2-Year-Olds, Katherine Alexandra Filippi Shanks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Previous studies have found that bilingual children’s vocabulary development benefits more from child-directed speech from native speakers than child-directed speech from nonnative speakers. The current study compared the native English child-directed speech of 20 English monolingual mothers, the nonnative English child-directed speech of 20 Spanish-English bilingual mothers, and the native Spanish child-directed speech of the same bilingual mothers in terms of three aspects of input previously associated with children’s language development: data-providing properties, topic contingency, and speech function. There were significant differences between native English and nonnative English child-directed speech, and between nonnative English and native Spanish. The results suggest …

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Protective Mechanisms Of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Against Experimental Models Of Stroke, Janet Menzie-Suderam Jan 2016

Protective Mechanisms Of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Against Experimental Models Of Stroke, Janet Menzie-Suderam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Ischemic stroke has a multiplicity of pathophysiological mechanisms. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is an endogenous growth factor that exerts a diverse range of neuroprotection against ischemic stroke. Several lines of evidence demonstrated the contribution of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in apoptotic cell death involving ischemia. Cell culture of undifferentiated PC12 cells were subjected to 10mM glutamate and selected doses of G-CSF (25ng/ml, 50ng/ml, 100ng/ml and 250ng/ml) for 24 hours. Cell viability, expression of the G-CSF receptor and expression level of CHOP were assessed in vitro. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Rats were subcutaneously injected with G-CSF …

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Rapid Analysis Of Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites: Testing An Alternative Method For Analyzing Stress Markers In Chimpanzees, Benni Litman Jan 2016

Rapid Analysis Of Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites: Testing An Alternative Method For Analyzing Stress Markers In Chimpanzees, Benni Litman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

This study explores the application of two methods of spectroscopy; Near Infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR) as alternative approaches for measuring glucocorticoid metabolites in chimpanzee feces. The goals of this study were twofold: The first was to determine if cortisol can be identified within the NIR and/or FTIR spectra of chimpanzee fecal hormone extract in ethanol solution. The second objective was to determine the capability of NIR and FTIR to predict FGM concentrations obtained using standard laboratory methods. Fecal glucocorticoid concentrations measured by Enzyme Immunoassay were used as the reference data of partial least square (PLS) regression …

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Reassessing Consensus: Alejandro O’Reilly’S 1765 Visita And Puerto Rican History, Sean Thomas Mallen Jan 2016

Reassessing Consensus: Alejandro O’Reilly’S 1765 Visita And Puerto Rican History, Sean Thomas Mallen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

King Charles III of Spain implemented a series of Enlightenment reforms throughout his domain following the 1763 defeat of the Seven Years War Among the royal officials sent to enact these reforms in the Caribbean, the Crown dispatched Field Marshal Alejandro O’Reilly to the colony of Puerto Rico Historians have attributed to his 1765 inspection, or visita, and subsequent report, or memoria, the foundations for a turning point in the island’s history Despite the historical consensus that has lauded O’Reilly’s recommendations, this inspector-general does not merit the credit that historians consistently have given him Agrarian and economic patterns such as …

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Salinity Assessment, Change, And Impact On Plant Stress / Canopy Water Content (Cwc) In Florida Bay Using Remote Sensing And Gis, Donna Selch Jan 2016

Salinity Assessment, Change, And Impact On Plant Stress / Canopy Water Content (Cwc) In Florida Bay Using Remote Sensing And Gis, Donna Selch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Human activities in the past century have caused a variety of environmental problems in South Florida. In 2000, Congress authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), a $10.5-billion mission to restore the South Florida ecosystem. Environmental projects in CERP require salinity monitoring in Florida Bay to provide measures of the effects of restoration on the Everglades ecosystem. However current salinity monitoring cannot cover large areas and is costly, time-consuming, and laborintensive. The purpose of this dissertation is to model salinity, detect salinity changes, and evaluate the impact of salinity in Florida Bay using remote sensing and geospatial information sciences (GIS) …

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Reduced Reproductivity And Larval Locomotion In The Absence Of Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase In Drosophila, Diana Singkornrat Jan 2016

Reduced Reproductivity And Larval Locomotion In The Absence Of Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase In Drosophila, Diana Singkornrat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The inevitable aging process can be partially attributed to the accumulation of oxidative damage that results from the action of free radicals. Methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msr) are a class of enzymes that repair oxidized methionine residues. The two known forms of Msr are MsrA and MsrB which reduce the R- and S- enantiomers of methionine sulfoxide, respectively. Our lab has created the first genetic animal model that is fully deficient for any Msr activity. Previously our lab showed that these animals exhibit a 20 hour delay in development of the third instar larvae (unpublished data). My studies have further shown …

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Seeds Of Brightness: Poetic Memory In James Joyce’S Ulysses, Laura Quinlan Dejong Jan 2016

Seeds Of Brightness: Poetic Memory In James Joyce’S Ulysses, Laura Quinlan Dejong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

This dissertation examines the process of “poetic memory” in James Joyce’s Ulysses, a term chosen by Italian philologist Gian Biagio Conte to describe allusive processes in the poetry of classical texts, specifically the epic. Conte examines and classifies the epic codes and norms residing within and constituting the classical epic genre. These change with each successive epic according to the author’s culture. The allusive process enables an author’s dialogue with his or her predecessors, which has implications for the establishment of textual authority. By applying Conte’s system of epic codes and norms toward a reading of Ulysses, it is possible …

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Self-Contained Soft Robotic Jellyfish With Water-Filled Bending Actuators And Positional Feedback Control, Jennifer Frame Jan 2016

Self-Contained Soft Robotic Jellyfish With Water-Filled Bending Actuators And Positional Feedback Control, Jennifer Frame

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

This thesis concerns the design, construction, control, and testing of a novel self-contained soft robotic vehicle; the JenniFish is a free-swimming jellyfish-like soft robot that could be adapted for a variety of uses, including: low frequency, low power sensing applications; swarm robotics; a STEM classroom learning resource; etc. The final vehicle design contains eight PneuNet-type actuators radially situated around a 3D printed electronics canister. These propel the vehicle when inflated with water from its surroundings by impeller pumps; since the actuators are connected in two neighboring groups of four, the JenniFish has bi-directional movement capabilities. Imbedded resistive flex sensors provide …

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Sparse Coding And Compressed Sensing: Locally Competitive Algorithms And Random Projections, William E. Hahn Jan 2016

Sparse Coding And Compressed Sensing: Locally Competitive Algorithms And Random Projections, William E. Hahn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

For an 8-bit grayscale image patch of size n x n, the number of distinguishable signals is 256(n2). Natural images (e.g.,photographs of a natural scene) comprise a very small subset of these possible signals. Traditional image and video processing relies on band-limited or low-pass signal models. In contrast, we will explore the observation that most signals of interest are sparse, i.e. in a particular basis most of the expansion coefficients will be zero. Recent developments in sparse modeling and L1 optimization have allowed for extraordinary applications such as the single pixel camera, as well as computer vision systems that can …

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Stability Analysis Of Geosynthetic Reinforced Msw Landfill Slopes Considering Effects Of Biodegradation And Extreme Wind Loading, Sharmila Pant Jan 2016

Stability Analysis Of Geosynthetic Reinforced Msw Landfill Slopes Considering Effects Of Biodegradation And Extreme Wind Loading, Sharmila Pant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

A numerical investigation was conducted to evaluate the geotechnical safety and slope stability of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills, considering the effects of geosynthetic reinforcements, biodegradation of the waste, and associated changes in material properties, and extreme wind force simulating hurricane conditions. Three different landfill slopes, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 having the height of 122m and width of 2134m, were analyzed using Limit Equilibrium Method (SLOPE/W) and Finite Element Modeling (ANSYS). Techniques developed in this study were used to analyze a case history involving a geogrid reinforced mixed landfill expansion located in Austria. It was found that few years after …

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Synaptic Rearrangements And The Role Of Netrin-Frazzled Signaling In Shaping The Drosophila Giant Fiber Circuit, Brandon N. Lloyd Jan 2016

Synaptic Rearrangements And The Role Of Netrin-Frazzled Signaling In Shaping The Drosophila Giant Fiber Circuit, Brandon N. Lloyd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

In the developing CNS, presynaptic neurons often have exuberant overgrowth and form excess (and overlapping) postsynaptic connections. Importantly, these excess connections are refined during circuit maturation so that only the appropriate connections remain. This synaptic rearrangement phenomenon has been studied extensively in vertebrates but many of those models involve complex neuronal circuits with multiple presynaptic inputs and postsynaptic outputs. Using a simple escape circuit in Drosophila melanogaster (the giant fiber circuit), we developed tools that enabled us to study the molecular development of this circuit; which consists of a bilaterally symmetrical pair of presynaptic interneurons and postsynaptic motorneurons. In the …

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Testing Momentum Enhancement Of Ribbon Fin Based Propulsion Using A Robotic Model With An Adjustable Body, Ian L. English Jan 2016

Testing Momentum Enhancement Of Ribbon Fin Based Propulsion Using A Robotic Model With An Adjustable Body, Ian L. English

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

A robotic ribbon fin with twelve independent fin rays, elastic fin membrane, and a body of adjustable height was developed for this thesis specifically to test the 1990 theory put forth by Lighthill and Blake that a multiplicative propulsive enhancement exists for Gymnotiform and Balisiform swimmers based on the ratio of body and fin heights. Until now, the theory has not been experimentally tested. Proof of such a momentum enhancement could have a profound effect on unmanned underwater vehicle design and shed light on the evolutionary advantage to body-fin ratios found in nature, shown as optimal for momentum enhancement in …

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The American Police Paramilitary Unit: An Analysis Of Swat As An Aggressive Policing Strategy, Brian P. Mello Jan 2016

The American Police Paramilitary Unit: An Analysis Of Swat As An Aggressive Policing Strategy, Brian P. Mello

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

This research study examines the American paramilitary units know as Special Weapons and Tactics. Throughout this thesis, the fundamental and foundational research on police paramilitary units is presented and discussed. Additionally, this paper focuses on trends of militarization in American policing. Mainly, these trends are identified by the tremendous rise and normalization of American paramilitary police units since the internal societal wars of the 1970s. In this study, research is presented on Special Weapons and Tactics team deployments in the state of Maryland. Four years of data are analyzed focusing on proactive search warrant crime deployments from 2010 through 2013. …

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The Effect Of Maximal Aerobic Exercise On Plasma Bdnf And Bdnf Expression In Pbmcs In Obese And Non-Obese Individuals, Arun Maharaj Jan 2016

The Effect Of Maximal Aerobic Exercise On Plasma Bdnf And Bdnf Expression In Pbmcs In Obese And Non-Obese Individuals, Arun Maharaj

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The purpose of this study was to determine if maximal aerobic exercise promotes BDNF expression in obese individuals. Plasma levels and the expression of BDNF in PBMCs were examined. 22 participants (10 obese, 12 non-obese) completed a V02max treadmill test and blood was obtained pre, post, and 1 and 2 hours into exercise recovery. Plasma and PBMCs were isolated and analyzed for BDNF via ELISA and Western blot techniques. A significant effect for time was observed for plasma BDNF (P= <0.00 1 ). Additionally, A significant group-by-time interaction was found from pre-to-RIH for BDNF expression in PBMCs (P= 0.046). Further, significant correlations were found between BMI and waist circumference (r= .91, P< 0.001), WHR (r= .51, P= 0.002) and Pre-to-RlH ratio (r=0.58, P=0.008). Young obese subject's BDNF response to maximal exercise was consistent with previous studies. Post-exercise BDNF expressed in PBMCs were significantly higher than rest suggesting immunological-neuroprotective interactions in the CNS.

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The Expression And Analysis Of A Lysine-Rich Wound-Response Protein In Tomato Plants., Noah Kaplan Jan 2016

The Expression And Analysis Of A Lysine-Rich Wound-Response Protein In Tomato Plants., Noah Kaplan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Understanding the genetic regulation of the response to wounding and wound healing in fruiting plants is imperative to maintaining agricultural sustainability, preserving the quality of food supplies, and ensuring the economic viability of agriculture. Many genes are known to be induced by wounding, providing both structural repair and defense. The KED gene in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) has been shown to be induced by wounding. We have identified its homologue gene in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) that we named SlKED. We have analyzed gene expression pattern of SlKED through tomato growth and development and in response to wounding as well as hormonal …

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The Impact Of “Real World” Experiences Through Academic Service Learning On Students’ Success Rate, Attitudes, And Motivation In Intermediate Algebra At A Public University, Mario J. Toussaint Jan 2016

The Impact Of “Real World” Experiences Through Academic Service Learning On Students’ Success Rate, Attitudes, And Motivation In Intermediate Algebra At A Public University, Mario J. Toussaint

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

A report issued in 2012 by the United States Government Accountability Office (US Government Accountability Office, 2012) concluded that the United States is not producing enough graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to meet the demands of its economy. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (2001), fewer than fifty percent of students nationally possess a solid command of mathematical content. This study tested whether the insertion of Academic Service Learning (ASL) into intermediate algebra courses improved students’ performance, their motivation to learn the subject, and attitudes towards mathematics learning. ASL is an educational strategy that integrates …

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The Role Of Chemical Cues In Locating Pelagic Sargassum By The Associated Fish Stephanolepis Hispidus, Derek Cox Jan 2016

The Role Of Chemical Cues In Locating Pelagic Sargassum By The Associated Fish Stephanolepis Hispidus, Derek Cox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The ecosystem created by pelagic Sargassum is important in the life histories of a number of economically and ecologically important associated organisms. Fishes play a vital role in this food web and nutrient flow within these systems, but it is unknown how they locate these floating habitats. This study examined the role of natural chemical cues from Sargassum patches and the synthetic chemical Dimethylsulfonionpropionate (DMSP) for an associated fish, the planehead filefish (Stephanolepis hispidus) and a control fish species not associated with Sargassum, the masked goby (Coryphopterus personatus). Choice trials with a Y-maze apparatus determined that S. hispidus responded significantly …

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The Relationship Between The Self-Efficacy Of Monolingual And Bilingual Undergraduate College Students And Their Academic Achievement In Science And Math., Rina Pomerantz Jan 2016

The Relationship Between The Self-Efficacy Of Monolingual And Bilingual Undergraduate College Students And Their Academic Achievement In Science And Math., Rina Pomerantz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Almost twenty-one percent of the United States population spoke a language other than English in 2011. Furthermore, there has been a dramatic increase in the enrollment of students of Hispanic and other ethnic backgrounds in U.S. post-secondary institutions between 1976 and 2013 (from 4% to 16%) (National Center for Education Statistics NCES, 2016). Until now, no systematic research has focused on the differential effects of selfefficacy on academic achievement in monolingual and bilingual undergraduate college students. The present study aimed to investigate this relationship, as well as contribute additional insight on whether the academic self-efficacy of monolingual and bilingual undergraduate …

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The Occurrence Of Vibrio Vulnificus, V. Parahaemolyticus And V. Cholerae In The Indian River Lagoon, Florida, With Implications For Human Health, Gabrielle M. Barbarite Jan 2016

The Occurrence Of Vibrio Vulnificus, V. Parahaemolyticus And V. Cholerae In The Indian River Lagoon, Florida, With Implications For Human Health, Gabrielle M. Barbarite

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Vibrio bacteria are emerging pathogens responsible for 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the United States each year. Infections are directly linked to the marine environment and are acquired by consuming contaminated seafood or exposing wounds during aquatic activities. Florida has the highest national incidence of vibriosis, with 20% of its cases reported from the Indian River Lagoon region, a popular recreation destination. This study utilized a combination of cultivation and molecular techniques to investigate the local distribution of V. vulnificus, V. parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae in this local waterway. The targeted species were found in an array of samples …

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The Terror Of Utopia: Examining Doubles As The Source For Cognition In Margaret Atwood’S Fiction, Rosemary Toulas Jan 2016

The Terror Of Utopia: Examining Doubles As The Source For Cognition In Margaret Atwood’S Fiction, Rosemary Toulas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Much has been written about the effectiveness of speculative fiction, especially utopian works. In this thesis I will examine the source of fear in Margaret Artwood’s works The Handmaid’s Tale and Oryx and Crake using Sigmund Freud’s “The Uncanny” to illustrate the terror of doubles as they appear in the novels. The terror in The Handmaid’s Tale comes from the descriptions of distorted physical environments, while the horror in Oryx and Crake emanates from the familiar yet twisted animals and characters found inside the corporate compounds. Through the recognition of these doubles as uncanny, Atwood’s work moves readers to cognition …

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Through The North Door: The Invocation Of Invitational Rhetoric In Wiccan Rituals, Kayleigh Howald Jan 2016

Through The North Door: The Invocation Of Invitational Rhetoric In Wiccan Rituals, Kayleigh Howald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Wiccan witchcraft, a contemporary religion, frequently suffers from misunderstandings; the worst of which, arguably, being that it thrives in a postfeminist society. Although it remains unclear why witches, despite their specific traditions, would not immediately embrace feminism, this study claims that whether practitioners agree or disagree, they are performing feminism. In this study, I argue that Wiccan rhetoric (both discursive and non-discursive) functions epistemically to encourage feminist values. The thesis analyzes three typical forms of Wiccan rhetoric using Sonja K. Foss and Cindy L. Griffin’s approach of invitational rhetoric and the values of equality, immanent value, and self-determination.

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Wading Bird Prey Production And Prey Selection In A Dynamic Wetland, Jessica A. Klassen Jan 2016

Wading Bird Prey Production And Prey Selection In A Dynamic Wetland, Jessica A. Klassen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Anthropogenic impacts, such as habitat destruction and spread of exotic species, are contributing to the sixth major extinction event in Earth’s history. To develop effective management and conservation plans, it is important to understand the ecological drivers of at-risk populations, assess the ability of a population to adapt to environmental change, and develop research methods for long-term ecosystem monitoring. I used wading birds nesting in the Florida Everglades, USA as a model system to address the challenges of managing and monitoring populations within an ecosystem greatly impacted by anthropogenic activities. Specifically, my project investigated 1) the prey selection of wading …

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Verb Memory And Text Comprehension, Lamiya Khan Jan 2016

Verb Memory And Text Comprehension, Lamiya Khan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Kersten, Earles, and Berger (2015) reported a distinction between two kinds of motion representations. Extrinsic motions involve the path of a person or object, with respect to an external frame of reference. Intrinsic motions involve the manner in which the various parts of a person or object move. They found that intrinsic motions are encoded and remembered with the corresponding actor performing the motions in a unitized memory representation. Extrinsic motions are encoded as separate memory representations, making them more difficult to accurately associate with the correct actor. In the proposed experiment, I will examine the generality of this distinction …

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Wading Bird Reproductive And Physiological Responses To Environmental Disturbance In A Managed Lake Ecosystem, Jennifer E. Chastant Jan 2016

Wading Bird Reproductive And Physiological Responses To Environmental Disturbance In A Managed Lake Ecosystem, Jennifer E. Chastant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Wetlands are some of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on earth. Water-level fluctuations determine the ecological function of shallow lakes and wetlands. Currently, anthropogenic modification to water-level fluctuations is the leading source of ecological degradation in lake and wetland ecosystems worldwide. I used wading birds nesting in Lake Okeechobee, as a model system to address the challenges of environmental restoration within an ecosystem greatly impacted by anthropogenic activities. Specifically, I 1) identified environmental factors most important for predicting the number of wading bird nests, 2) tested the assumptions of both the match-mismatch and the threshold hypothesis by modeling the …

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Women’S Plasticity During Childhood And Their Influence On Rape-Avoidance Behaviors, Sammy Penaloza Jan 2016

Women’S Plasticity During Childhood And Their Influence On Rape-Avoidance Behaviors, Sammy Penaloza

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Evolutionary theory predicts that sexual coercion and rape are likely to occur in any species in which males are more aggressive, more eager to mate, more sexually assertive, and less discriminating in choosing a mate (Thornhill & Palmer, 2000). McKibbin and Shackelford (2011) state that males of many species have evolved strategies to sexually coerce and rape females. It is for this reason that researchers have speculated that several female traits or behaviors evolved to reduce the risks of being raped (McKibbin & Shackelford, 2011). The rationale behind the proposed experiment examined whether parents’ childrearing practices and women’s plasticity during …

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Creating A Religious Divide: Journeys Through Hell In British And American Science Fiction, Advitiya Sachdev Jan 2016

Creating A Religious Divide: Journeys Through Hell In British And American Science Fiction, Advitiya Sachdev

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Science fiction, like any other genre, is sub-divided into categories. Yet scholars in the field have long debated the existence of multiple, regional sf genres. The most critiqued of these classifications is between sf produced in Britain, and America. Though Britain remains the birthplace of sf, American author have undoubtedly left a mark on the genre. Scholars mark this difference in the writing styles and themes of authors in these regions. To examine this difference, I analyze two authors that have worked on a common theme: religion and in particular, the concept of hell. Evaluating the arguments put forth by …

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Complexity And Blocked Trial Presentation In A Novel Verb Generalization Task, Rita Pruzansky Jan 2016

Complexity And Blocked Trial Presentation In A Novel Verb Generalization Task, Rita Pruzansky

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The current study examined the role of complexity and initial variability of exemplars during learning in verb generalization. Children and adults learned two novel verbs in the context of two novel creatures across two sessions. After a second training session, participants completed a generalization task during which they were required to identify the verbs when presented with seven novel creatures of varying levels of complexity. Performance was compared across age group and condition. Participants who initially learned the verbs in the context of a single, simple exemplar demonstrated a higher proportion of correct responses than participants who initially learned the …

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Design And Deployment Analysis Of Morphing Ocean Structure, Yanjun Li Jan 2016

Design And Deployment Analysis Of Morphing Ocean Structure, Yanjun Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

As humans explore greater depths of Earth’s oceans, there is a growing need for the installation of subsea structures. 71% of the earth’s surface is ocean but there are limitations inherent in current detection instruments for marine applications leading to the need for the development of underwater platforms that allow research of deeper subsea areas. Several underwater platforms including Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs), and wave gliders enable more efficient deployment of marine structures. Deployable structures are able to be compacted and transported via AUV to their destination then morph into their final form upon arrival. They …

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Determining The Effects Of Fire On Ridge Shape Complexity In The Central Everglades, Jacob Dombrowski Jan 2016

Determining The Effects Of Fire On Ridge Shape Complexity In The Central Everglades, Jacob Dombrowski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Self-organized spatial patterning of microtopographic features is a trademark characteristic of the Everglades landscape. Anthropogenic modifications to Everglades’ hydrology have reduced and degraded pattern, where ridges occur at higher elevations and spread into open water sloughs under dryer conditions. Wildfire is an important ecological force in the central Everglades and may maintain ridge-slough patterning through reducing ridge size and complexity, and thus preserve habitat heterogeneity. To investigate fire as a patterning mechanism in the central Everglades I examined the shape complexity and area distribution of ridges along a chronosequence of time since fire. Shape complexity did not change following fire, …

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Discovery Of Loxosomella Vivipara (Entoprocta: Loxosomatidae) In The Marine Sponge Hippospongia Cf. Gossypina (Porifera: Spongiidae) In The Florida Keys, Rachel Plunkett Jan 2016

Discovery Of Loxosomella Vivipara (Entoprocta: Loxosomatidae) In The Marine Sponge Hippospongia Cf. Gossypina (Porifera: Spongiidae) In The Florida Keys, Rachel Plunkett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Populations of a marine invertebrate symbiont were found on the outer surface and internal spaces of a keratose sponge from a shallow bay in the Florida Keys in May 2014. A total of 24 specimens of the seagrass and reef-dwelling sponge were collected between May 2014 and August 2015 to provide material to identify both host and symbiont, and elucidate information on the nature of the association. Based on a morphological analysis via light microscopy, histology, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and 99% similarity in aligned partial sequences from 28S and 18S nuclear ribosomal genes (rDNA), the symbiont was identified …

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