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2016

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The Estimation Of Germ Line De Novo Mutation Rates Of Extended Sets Of Y-Str Haplotypes To Aid In The Differentiation Of Male Biological Relatives In Criminal Investigations, Nicole Masker Jan 2016

The Estimation Of Germ Line De Novo Mutation Rates Of Extended Sets Of Y-Str Haplotypes To Aid In The Differentiation Of Male Biological Relatives In Criminal Investigations, Nicole Masker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An important forensic application for Y-chromosome short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) is the identification of male DNA. Since the Y-chromosome is non-recombining and most Y-STRs have slippage mutation rates on the order of 1x10-3 or lower, Y-STR commercial multiplex systems do not yet allow personal individualization. This is problematic in criminal investigations where the persons of interest include males of the same paternal line. In order to obtain discrimination among paternal male relatives, it would be necessary to use a larger number of Y-STRs or a selection of Y-loci with higher slippage mutations with the hope of encountering a germline meiotic …


Weighted Low-Rank Approximation Of Matrices:Some Analytical And Numerical Aspects, Aritra Dutta Jan 2016

Weighted Low-Rank Approximation Of Matrices:Some Analytical And Numerical Aspects, Aritra Dutta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses some analytical and numerical aspects of a problem of weighted low-rank approximation of matrices. We propose and solve two different versions of weighted low-rank approximation problems. We demonstrate, in addition, how these formulations can be efficiently used to solve some classic problems in computer vision. We also present the superior performance of our algorithms over the existing state-of-the-art unweighted and weighted low-rank approximation algorithms. Classical principal component analysis (PCA) is constrained to have equal weighting on the elements of the matrix, which might lead to a degraded design in some problems. To address this fundamental flaw in …


Political, Economic, And Health Determinants Of Tuberculosis Incidence, Ashley Rutherford Jan 2016

Political, Economic, And Health Determinants Of Tuberculosis Incidence, Ashley Rutherford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The epidemiologic transition has shifted major causes of mortality from infectious disease to chronic disease; however, infectious diseases are again re-emerging as a major global concern (Diamond, 1997; Karlen, 1995; McNeil, 1976). This research aimed to identify potential areas of infectious disease influence that are not health-related in order to help governments and policymakers establish new policies, correct current policies, or further address these issues in order to effectively prevent and combat infectious disease. This study employed a retrospective, cross-sectional, non-experimental design via structural equation modeling (SEM) and examined tuberculosis incidence rates at the country-level. Secondary data from open-source, international …


Individual Differences In Trust Toward Robotic Assistants, Tracy Sanders Jan 2016

Individual Differences In Trust Toward Robotic Assistants, Tracy Sanders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work on trust in human-robot interaction describes a series of three experiments from which a series of predictive models are developed. Previous work in trust and robotics has examined HRI components related to robots extensively, but there has been little research to quantify the influence of individual differences in trust on HRI. The present work seeks to fill that void by measuring individual differences across a variety of conditions, including differences in robot characteristics and environments. The models produced indicate that the main individual factors predicting trust in robotics include pre-existing attitudes towards robots, interpersonal trust, and personality traits.


Navigating Sociotechnical Power Structures: Dynamics Of Conflict In World Of Warcraft's Player Versus Player Events, Rachael Root Jan 2016

Navigating Sociotechnical Power Structures: Dynamics Of Conflict In World Of Warcraft's Player Versus Player Events, Rachael Root

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a result of technological advancement and exponential increases in global access, cross-disciplinary research has recently turned to digital online video games. Most anthropological research within this area has centered around player self-identification, gender construction, and gaming communities. Yet many interactions occur at nodes of dynamic conflict where agentic players navigate intersections of power, which are unaddressed in the scholarly corpus. By utilizing ethnographic methods in World of Warcraft's player versus player events, I examine resources, relationships, and tools that underpin player actions and understandings. My findings reveal layered and dynamic patterns of sociotechnical conflict. Players' geographical location impacts access …


The Mauc Gene Encodes A Versatile Signal Sequence And Redox Protein That Can Be Utilized In Native And Non-Native Protein Expression And Electron Trnasfer Systems, Brian Dow Jan 2016

The Mauc Gene Encodes A Versatile Signal Sequence And Redox Protein That Can Be Utilized In Native And Non-Native Protein Expression And Electron Trnasfer Systems, Brian Dow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The redox-active type 1 copper site of amicyanin is composed of a single copper ion that is coordinated by two histidines, a methionine, and a cysteine residue. This redox site has a potential of +265 mV at pH7.5. Over ten angstroms away from the copper site resides a tryptophan residue whose fluorescence is quenched by the copper. The effects of the tryptophan on the electron transfer (ET) properties were investigated by site-directed mutagenesis. Lessons learned about the hydrogen bonding network of amicyanin from the aforementioned study were attempted to be used as a model to increase the stability of another …


Study Of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Dechlorination By Zero Valent Magnesium With And Without Activated Carbon In Acidified Ethanol-Ethyl Lactate System, Fiona Zullo Jan 2016

Study Of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Dechlorination By Zero Valent Magnesium With And Without Activated Carbon In Acidified Ethanol-Ethyl Lactate System, Fiona Zullo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic chemicals that ca de detected in the environment worldwide. PCBs were banned in the U.S in 1979 owing to their toxicity and persistence in the environment. Today PCBs are classified as human carcinogens and are among the top ten of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) most toxic chemicals. Many researchers have shown soil to be contaminated with PCBs at concentrations as high as 750 ppm. Given the toxicity of PCBs, there is an urgent need to extract and degrade such chemicals from contaminated soil in a cost effective way. Prior work revealed a …


Pyroglutamylated Amyloid Beta Peptides Enhance Non-Fibrillogenic Aggregation Of The Unmodified Peptide, Gregory Goldblatt Jan 2016

Pyroglutamylated Amyloid Beta Peptides Enhance Non-Fibrillogenic Aggregation Of The Unmodified Peptide, Gregory Goldblatt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is accompanied by abnormal extracellular deposition of amyloid b (Ab) peptide. This has led to the amyloid cascade hypothesis, causatively relating Ab with AD. While Ab deposits assume a fibrillar cross-b structure, prefibrillar oligomers of Ab have been identified as the main cytotoxic agents in AD. Pyroglutamylated amyloid beta (AbpE) peptides are N-terminally truncated and pyroglutamylated (at Glu3 or Glu11) Ab molecules that display enhanced cytotoxicity and represent up to 50% of total Ab in AD brains. AbpE significantly enhances the toxicity of unmodified Ab by an unknown mechanism. Although in situ Ab populations are heterogeneous, the …


The Community College Student's Social Construction Of Global Learning In The Florida College System, Jennifer Robertson Jan 2016

The Community College Student's Social Construction Of Global Learning In The Florida College System, Jennifer Robertson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine the Florida community college student's understanding of and engagement in global learning through the lens of constructionist theory. Using a grounded theory methodology, seven students in three Florida community colleges were interviewed to hear in their own words how personal and academic experiences have shaped their interest in other countries, cultures, and current international events. The goal of this study was to explore students' perspectives using the principles of social constructionism and constructivism to create a new model of understanding of global learning. The final results of the study found …


New Student Orientation And First Year Retention Rate Of Associate Degree Nursing Students, Molly Yanni Jan 2016

New Student Orientation And First Year Retention Rate Of Associate Degree Nursing Students, Molly Yanni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to explore the relationship between a program-specific orientation program for associate degree nursing students and first semester course grades, retention, and persistence to graduation. Previous research of orientation programs for associate degree nursing students has proved inconclusive in promoting student success. A significant difference was identified in first semester course grades between the orientation and no orientation groups, with the orientation group having an average lower course grade. The potential for confounding variables was discussed. There were no significant differences found in the relationship between orientation participation and first-year retention rates or orientation participation and persistence …


Provider Recommendation Of Hpv Vaccination: Bridging The Intention-Behavior Gap, Erica Landis Jan 2016

Provider Recommendation Of Hpv Vaccination: Bridging The Intention-Behavior Gap, Erica Landis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study, guided by preproduction formative research principles, employed in-depth interviews and a brief survey with pediatric healthcare providers (N=15) to investigate the consistency between behavioral intention to strongly recommend the HPV vaccine, and implementation of the actual behavior. Specifically, the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (IMBP) was used as a framework to examine the impact of skills and environmental constraints on that behavioral intention-behavioral performance relationship. Results suggest providers intend to strongly recommend the HPV vaccine at a high level, but actually recommend the vaccine with a slightly lesser frequency. A thematic analysis of interview transcripts yielded a …


Building A Foundation For Goal-Attainment And Problem-Solving In Interdisciplinary Studies: Reimagining Web-Based Core Curriculum Through A Classical Lens, Said Jardaneh Jan 2016

Building A Foundation For Goal-Attainment And Problem-Solving In Interdisciplinary Studies: Reimagining Web-Based Core Curriculum Through A Classical Lens, Said Jardaneh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The core curriculum of interdisciplinary studies undergraduate programs represents interdisciplinarity as a consciously applied process, whether individually or collaboratively, of drawing and integrating insights from various disciplinary perspectives toward complex problem-solving and innovation. At the front-end of these programs students are often introduced to interdisciplinarity through terminology, metaphors, concepts, and context that are intended to familiarize them with the process. This initiation usually precedes what will ultimately entail a limited number of upper-division courses within the several disciplines or areas that will encompass a unique plan of study characterized by its breadth. The philosophy underlying current pedagogy in interdisciplinary studies …


The Impact Of Elementary Mathematics Workshops On Mathematics Knowledge For Parenting (Mkp) And Beliefs About Learning Mathematics, Heidi Eisenreich Jan 2016

The Impact Of Elementary Mathematics Workshops On Mathematics Knowledge For Parenting (Mkp) And Beliefs About Learning Mathematics, Heidi Eisenreich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which parents of first, second, and third grade students who attended a two-day workshop on mathematics strategies differed on average and over time, as compared to parents who did not attend the workshops. The following areas were measured: mathematics content knowledge, beliefs about learning mathematics, ability to identify correct student responses regarding mathematics, ability to identify student errors in solving mathematics problems, methods used to solve problems, and comfort level with manipulatives.


The Reproducibility And Validity Of Using The Dmax Method To Predict Physical Working Capacity At Fatigue Threshold, Joshua Riffe Jan 2016

The Reproducibility And Validity Of Using The Dmax Method To Predict Physical Working Capacity At Fatigue Threshold, Joshua Riffe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although the original (ORG) physical working capacity at fatigue threshold (PWCFT) assessment has demonstrated strong reliability and sensitivity to training and/or nutritional interventions, limitations may exist regarding the method of PWCFT estimation. However, a relatively new mathematical method, called Dmax, has been shown to be objective and reliable when estimating metabolic and neuromuscular fatigue thresholds. To date, however, no study has examined whether the Dmax method for estimating the work rate at PWCFT is similar to the ORG method. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Dmax-EMG method for estimating and tracking …


By Book And School: The Politics Of Educational Reform In France And Algeria During The Early Third Republic, Michael Brooks Jan 2016

By Book And School: The Politics Of Educational Reform In France And Algeria During The Early Third Republic, Michael Brooks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the era of New Imperialism, the newly-formed French Third Republic continued France's civilizing mission both in France and in Algeria. Founded on a series of reforms, republican leaders and educational experts judged primary level education taught in the French language to be the most effective means of uniting a linguistically and culturally diverse population in the metropole. These republican values, based on revolutionary tenet of universality, would help France to sustain a republican regime, would thwart attempts to reestablish monarchical rule, and would teach future French citizens what it meant to be politically active. At the same time, another …


The Role Of Tactical Nuclear Weapons In American China Policy: 1950-1963, James Poppino Jan 2016

The Role Of Tactical Nuclear Weapons In American China Policy: 1950-1963, James Poppino

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study demonstrates that tactical nuclear weapons occupied a central and essential role in US military policy for confronting the Peoples Republic of China between 1950 and 1963. Historians seldom look at tactical nuclear weapons as a separate and distinct component of American foreign policy and generally place these weapons as a subset of a strategic doctrine directed at the Soviet Union. When examined as a separate component of military policy, however, tactical nuclear weapons proved to be indispensable tools for the American leadership to deal with the complex relationship between the United States, the People's Republic of China and …


Perceived Readiness To Transition To Adult Health Care For Youth With Cystic Fibrosis And Congruence With Their Caregivers' Views, Valerie Lapp Jan 2016

Perceived Readiness To Transition To Adult Health Care For Youth With Cystic Fibrosis And Congruence With Their Caregivers' Views, Valerie Lapp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Youth with cystic fibrosis must gradually assume considerable self-care management skills in order to optimize longevity and quality of life, and healthcare providers and caregivers play a role in youth gradually assuming these skills. The purpose of this study was to determine how youth with cystic fibrosis perceive their self-care management skills required for transition to adult healthcare, the relationship between age and skill acquisition, youth and caregiver congruence on perceived transition readiness, and frequency of transition discussion with provider. In this descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design, 58 youth ages 14-22 rated their skill ability in managing cystic fibrosis using the …


Preschool Attendance: A Parental And Teacher Perspective Of Barriers And Behaviors Using Grounded Theory Research, Anne Meoli Jan 2016

Preschool Attendance: A Parental And Teacher Perspective Of Barriers And Behaviors Using Grounded Theory Research, Anne Meoli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Preschool children from single-parent households with lower socioeconomic status (SES) are absent from preschool at rates higher than any other group. Some children are chronically absent, missing more than 10% of the school year. The phenomenon of preschool attendance related to behaviors, practices, and parental decision making associated with health and illness in lower SES households has not been previously studied using grounded theory methodology. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore decision making related to supporting attendance in a preschool of 67 children (aged 3 to 4 years) with primarily low-income, single parents and preschool teachers …


Public Opinion And The President's Use Of Executive Orders: Aggregate- And Individual-Level Analyses Across Time, Brett Jones Jan 2016

Public Opinion And The President's Use Of Executive Orders: Aggregate- And Individual-Level Analyses Across Time, Brett Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Presidential approval ratings are a political resource that presidents and their advisors hope to influence through strategic action in order to achieve their policy goals (McAvoy 2008, 284). Through 1999, scholarly literature had largely ignored the president's use of unilateral powers. Since Moe and Howell (1999a, 1999b), however, the literature on the unilateral presidency has expanded rapidly. Despite the rapid growth of literature examining the unilateral presidency, and 45 years of presidential approval ratings literature, literature examining the link between the president's use of unilateral powers and subsequent presidential approval ratings is virtually nonexistent. Existing research has not statistically examined …


Declarative Memory, Theory Of Mind, And Community Functioning In Schizophrenia, Andrew Deptula Jan 2016

Declarative Memory, Theory Of Mind, And Community Functioning In Schizophrenia, Andrew Deptula

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive impairments are highly prevalent in individuals with schizophrenia and are now considered hallmark features of the disorder. Over the past decade, considerable evidence has demonstrated the functional significance of social and nonsocial cognitive impairments in individuals with schizophrenia. However, the nature of the relationship between specific domains of social and nonsocial cognition and how they relate to functional outcome in this population is less clear. In particular, declarative memory impairment has been suggested to have critical consequences for the everyday life of individuals with schizophrenia and may play a role in their social integration difficulties. Preliminary evidence also indicates …


Interactive Amusement Park Queues: Examining The Indirect Effect Of Task Work Load On Guests' Perception Of Wait Duration Through Task Immersion, Jonathan Ledbetter Jan 2016

Interactive Amusement Park Queues: Examining The Indirect Effect Of Task Work Load On Guests' Perception Of Wait Duration Through Task Immersion, Jonathan Ledbetter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the increasing attendance across amusement and theme parks worldwide, it is not surprising that minimizing the impact of large crowds and long attraction waits on the guests' experience has received much focus by park operators in recent years. Although effective in the short term, attempting to eliminate or reduce wait times by simply increasing capacity cannot be sustained long term. A recent trend in amusement park design is to theme the queue with interactive elements to engage guests and occupy their wait time with the intent of making the wait queue part of the attraction itself. Much of the …


Dynamical Formation Of Protoplanetesimals, Akbar Whizin Jan 2016

Dynamical Formation Of Protoplanetesimals, Akbar Whizin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The seeds of planetesimals that formed in the gaseous protoplanetary disk (PPD) have many barriers to overcome in their growth from millimeter to meter-sized and larger bodies. Centimeter-sized aggregates are weakly bound and self-gravity is almost non-existent so surface forces play a critical role in holding small loosely-bound rubble-piles together. Their orbital motions and effects form disk processes impart relative velocities leading to collisions so understanding the macroscopic disk environment is also necessary. To this end we analyze the dynamics of particles in Saturn's F ring as an analogue to understanding the orbital evolution of proto-planetesimals embedded in a PPD. …


Supporting Situation Awareness Through Robot-To-Human Information Exchanges Under Conditions Of Visuospatial Perspective Taking, Elizabeth Phillips Jan 2016

Supporting Situation Awareness Through Robot-To-Human Information Exchanges Under Conditions Of Visuospatial Perspective Taking, Elizabeth Phillips

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The future vision of military Soldier—robot teams is one in which Soldiers and robots work together to complete separate, but interdependent tasks that advance the goals of the mission. However, in the near term, robots will be limited in their ability to successfully perform tasks without, at least, occasional assistance from their human teammates. A need exists to design, in robots, mechanisms that can support human situation awareness (SA) regarding the operations of the robot, which humans can use to provide interventions in robot tasks. The purpose of the current study was to test the effects of information exchanges provided …


From The Yellow Peril To The Model Minority: An Experimental Survey Examining Racial Attitudes Towards Asian Americans, Jenny Nguyen Jan 2016

From The Yellow Peril To The Model Minority: An Experimental Survey Examining Racial Attitudes Towards Asian Americans, Jenny Nguyen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Attitudinal research continues to show a more liberal trend in racial attitudes of Whites towards Blacks across a spectrum of issues (i.e. interracial marriage, residential integration, etc.) leading some to believe that we are moving into a post-racial society. However, a growing body of research has brought into question this utopian post-racial assertion. While Whites express support for racial equality in principle, they vehemently oppose race-targeted policies aimed to address racial inequality. This principle-policy gap has been consistently associated with persistent racial resentment; thus, contradicting the notion that of a post-racial era. Existing attitudinal research is often limited to the …


Juvenile-Perpetrated Homicide And Family Disorganization, Brittany Murray Jan 2016

Juvenile-Perpetrated Homicide And Family Disorganization, Brittany Murray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Juvenile-perpetrated homicide is a complicated and sensitive topic in the literature. Uncovering the potential influences on a juvenile is arguably important for recognizing the trends in juvenile behavior and the devastating consequences of some of this behavior. Family disorganization, a component to social disorganization as proposed by Elliott and Merrill (1934), explained that families with higher levels of social disorganization (as measured by factors such as poverty, welfare, and residential mobility) are expected to have higher numbers of juvenile delinquents. Using this theoretical frame, data from 1984-2006 on juvenile-perpetrated homicide in 91 of the largest cities in the United States …


Mixed Reality Experiences In The M.Ed. Educational Leadership Program: Student Perceptions, Hilary Buckridge Jan 2016

Mixed Reality Experiences In The M.Ed. Educational Leadership Program: Student Perceptions, Hilary Buckridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to ascertain the perception of students in the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program of mixed reality experiences using TeachLivE™ in preparation for the challenges of school leadership. Specifically, the study analyzed the use of mixed reality virtual practice with immediate coaching and feedback in the preparation of educational leadership masters' level students before they engaged in real time communications with parents and teachers. The study encapsulates the perceptions of the master's degree in educational leadership students through the following research questions: (a) To what extent, if any, do Educational Leadership M.Ed. students believe the …


Inclusion: A Question Of Practice, Stance, Values And Culture, June Sellers Jan 2016

Inclusion: A Question Of Practice, Stance, Values And Culture, June Sellers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Exclusionary practices based on a deficit perspective of disability are not supported by law and are inconsistent with the rigorous standards for teaching, learning, and accountability in our public schools. Moreover, consequences of failed change will continue to have significant negative effects on the performance of educational organizations. The purpose of this mixed-methods phenomenological research (MMPR) study was to explore the lived experience of teachers who identify as champions of inclusion, including their views, perceptions and appraisal of the status of inclusion in a large urban school system. The research questions were designed to generate insight and recommendations for establishing …


Practicing Teachers' Beliefs Regarding Racially, Culturally, Ethnically, And Linguistically Diverse (Rceld) Students In A Title I Secondary-School Environment, Lisa Sabino Jan 2016

Practicing Teachers' Beliefs Regarding Racially, Culturally, Ethnically, And Linguistically Diverse (Rceld) Students In A Title I Secondary-School Environment, Lisa Sabino

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Based on school-level data that included disparities in discipline rates, Title I status, teacher attrition, and teachers' statements, I designed a dissertation in practice to understand practicing teachers' personal and professional diversity beliefs regarding racially, culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse (RCELD) students in a Title I, secondary-school setting. Four hypotheses concerning type of secondary degree, years of experience, subjects taught, and racial or ethnic background were tested. Pohan and Aguilar's (2001a) Teachers' Belief Survey was administered to 59% of the GHS staff in order to measure the personal and professional beliefs of practicing teachers. I used descriptive and parametric tests …


Role Of Klf8-Cxcr4 Signaling In Breast Cancer Metastasis, Debarati Mukherjee Jan 2016

Role Of Klf8-Cxcr4 Signaling In Breast Cancer Metastasis, Debarati Mukherjee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) has been strongly implicated in breast cancer metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study we report a novel signaling from KLF8 to C-X-C cytokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) in breast cancer. Overexpression of KLF8 in MCF-10A cells induced CXCR4 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. This induction was well correlated with increased Boyden chamber migration, matrigel invasion and transendothelial migration (TEM) of the cells towards the ligand CXCL12. On the other hand, knockdown of KLF8 in MDA-MB-231 cells reduced CXCR4 expression associated with decreased cell migration, invasion and TEM towards CXCL12. …


What's Your Focus? The Impact Of Regulatory Focus On Resource Acquisition., Regan Stevenson Jan 2016

What's Your Focus? The Impact Of Regulatory Focus On Resource Acquisition., Regan Stevenson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Entrepreneurs need resources. Previous research has established that entrepreneurs send signals of "quality" to potential resource providers in order to obtain resources. However, a behavioral research approach would contend that resource acquisition depends on much more than venture quality signals. In this dissertation, I extend beyond the signaling paradigm and investigate the resource acquisition process using a framework contingent on entrepreneur signals, resource provider dispositional differences, and their interactive effects. Specifically, I leverage regulatory focus theory and regulatory fit theory to augment and move beyond the signaling theory approach. Methodologically, I undertake two studies. The first study uses archival field …