Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of Vitellogenesis In The Bonnethead Shark Sphyrna Tiburo, Adrien Kathleen Mowle

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Vitellogenin (Vtg) is a precursor to yolk-proteins produced in the liver of many invertebrates and non-mammalian vertebrates; its synthesis is stimulated by the hormone estradiol (E2). This study is the first to characterize vitellogenin synthesis in a placental viviparous elasmobranch, the yolk-sac placental bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo. This study focused on determining where and when Vtg is produced, as well as what hormonal factors regulate Vtg production. The liver was confirmed as the site of Vtg production via immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactivity was also observed within granulosa cells of ovarian follicles; further experimentation is needed to determine if this is indicative …

The Truth Is Out There: The Use Of Conspiracy Theories By Radical Violent Extremist Organizations, Gregory Rousis

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper sought to examine conspiracy theory (CT) use across three types of groups: radical violent extremists (RVE), non-violent extremists, and moderates. Using the theory of significance quest, or the desire for one’s life to have meaning (Kruglanski, Chen, Dechesne, Fishman, & Orehek, 2009), I sought to determine whether RVE groups were more likely to use CTs, invoke need for cognitive closure (NFCC) via the use of time pressure, elicit anomie, and promote significance quest through violence than the other groups. Using text analysis software, I pulled passages from six groups – two from each level of extremism - that …

High Speed, Micron Precision Scanning Technology For 3d Printing Applications, Nicholas Emord

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Modern 3D printing technology is becoming a more viable option for use in industrial manufacturing. As the speed and precision of rapid prototyping technology improves, so too must the 3D scanning and verification technology. Current 3D scanning technology (such as CT Scanners) produce the resolution needed for micron precision inspection. However, the method lacks in speed. Some scans can be multiple gigabytes in size taking several minutes to acquire and process. Especially in high volume manufacturing of 3D printed parts, such delays prohibit the widespread adaptation of 3D scanning technology for quality control. The limiting factors of current technology boil …

Conscious Conclusions: The Effect Of Positive-Attitude Cues On Teacher Candidate Dispositions About Mathematics, Shelletta Baker

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to use elements for developing teacher identity, personal philosophy, beliefs about teaching and learning, and reflection to frame an examination of the effect of Positive-Attitude Cues (PACs) on teacher candidates’(n = 135) mathematics anxiety and expressive writing. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment (PACs) or control group (No-PAC) and their dispositions about mathematics were examined using the Revised Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS-R); which had a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.96 and an expressive writing task before and after the intervention. A significant main effect of test time showed that participants …

The Perceived Emotional Intelligence Of Elementary Principals And Teachers' Job Satisfaction: Do They Relate?, Charis Lee Swift

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between teacher’s perceptions of their principal’s level of emotional intelligence and teachers’ job satisfaction level. Nine elementary schools within a small rural school district in a southern state were the selected cite for the research. Thirty-nine teachers completed two on-line surveys. One survey was intended to report their perceptions of their principal’s level of emotional intelligence and the second survey was intended to report their level of job satisfaction.

The primary research question was: What is the relation between elementary teachers’ perceptions of their principal’s emotional intelligence and the teachers’ …

The Inevitability Of Decay: Disability In Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man And The Sea, Dominic Robin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

To many, Ernest Hemingway embodies a certain image of "masculinity," one centered around ability and physical performance. Such a narrative ignores the truly complicated and dynamic shape his understanding of the body took. Through an analysis of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, I examine the form this ideology took in his later life, focusing particularly on Hemingway's evolved understanding of the body. Through this research, a more nuanced picture of Hemingway emerges, one that recognizes the complicated and dynamic nature his view of the "able" body took.

Power Mobility Sensor Data Collection Verified Through Standardized Pediatric Assessments, Ayshka Elise Rodriguez-Velez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The collaboration between the School of Engineering and the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of North Florida has introduced the possibility of creating a new environment for pediatric physical therapy assessments. There are currently no methods for remotely monitoring children with impairments. However, with embedded sensor technology in the form of power mobility and accepted therapy assessment tools, remote monitoring can become a possibility. As a part of this work, a ride-on toy car was developed as a remote monitoring device and a case study with a child with a mobility impairment was used as a proof of …

Implementation Of Cache Attack On Real Information Centric Networking System, Faustina J. Anto Morais

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Network security is an ongoing major problem in today’s Internet world. Even though there have been simulation studies related to denial of service and cache attacks, studies of attacks on real networks are still lacking in the research. In this thesis, the effects of cache attacks in real information-centric networking systems were investigated. Cache attacks were implemented in real networks with different cache sizes and with Least Recently Used, Random and First In First Out algorithms to fill the caches in each node. The attacker hits the cache with unpopular content, making the user request that the results be fetched …

Intellectual Property Policies Concerning Ownership Of Faculty-Created Online Course Materials In Public Higher Education Institutions, Tracey S. Makley

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the key components of the policies that designate ownership of faculty-created online course materials at public higher education institutions that offer distance education in order to establish the key components of those policies and learn how they differ within higher education institutions. The researcher utilized a document analysis procedure with both qualitative and quantitative characteristics to identify the key components of the polices under consideration. The findings of the study demonstrated that there are a wide variety of ownership policies in place, but the content of the policies generally fit into six …

Coupling Radio Frequency Energy Via The Embedded Rebar Cage In A Reinforced Concrete Structure For The Purpose Of Concrete Degradation Sensing, Ryan Campiz

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on utilizing an energy harvesting system in which a dedicated Radio Frequency (RF) power source transmits RF power via rebar in a reinforced concrete column. The RF power is received and decoupled by a receiver, and is then rectified, boosted, and stored as electrical energy in a supercapacitor, later to be used to make measurements, process data, and communicate to the source via rebar. Two design attempts are presented in this study: (a) one uses single line conduction at 2.4 GHz for RF power transfer; (b) the other uses a more conventional two-line conduction at 8.0 kHz …

Establishing Relationships Among Environmental Stressors, Host Immune Status, And Wasting Disease Susceptibility In The Dominant Seagrass Species Thalassia Testudinum, Paige Joy Duffin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A growing body of evidence supports the observation that marine disease outbreaks, especially those caused by opportunistic pathogens, are increasing in frequency and severity. One genus of such pathogens, Labyrinthula, has been identified as the causative agent of seagrass wasting disease, an epidemic that has historically plagued seagrass beds around the world. It is suspected that pathogenicity is intimately linked to the ability of the host to initiate defense responses, but a lack of compelling evidence prevents any meaningful application of preliminary observations. This body of work investigated the roles of host genotype, host immune status, and environmental stressors …

Vertical Distribution Of Meroplankton And Bivalve Competition In A Well-Mixed Estuary, Jennifer M. Raabe

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

If we want to understand how meroplankton utilize the water column and how their vertical distribution may influence horizontal advection, it is important to study their behavior in the various environments where they exist. In a well-mixed system with physical cues dampened, and no vertical layering, these organisms will have to depend on environmental cues such as light, tidal current, and tide cycle, as well as their own swimming ability to migrate vertically. Plankton and water samples were collected at three depths (near surface, midwater, near bottom) during the summers of 2013 and 2014 from sites within the main channel …

Twitter Use During Hurricane Irma: How The Local Government Agencies Amplify And Attenuate Risk Factors For The Vulnerable Populations, Elizabeth Ann Mccarthy

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Twitter has become a popular channel for local governments to explore crisis communication during a hurricane. Local governments use Twitter to distribute crisis messages to the public, and are able to amplify or attenuate risk perception. Many factors attribute to individuals’ risk perception including control, choice, children, novelty, and risk-benefit tradeoff. The Social Amplification of Risk Framework (SARF) provides a guide to understanding the intensifying or weakening of these risk messages. While these crisis messages are directed to the general public, the local governments may be neglecting information for the vulnerable populations. In order to prepare for a hurricane, vulnerable …

Teacher Perspectives Regarding The Pedagogical Practices Most Culturally Responsive To African American Middle School Students, Robert James Mcgill

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines teacher’s perspectives regarding the classroom strategies,

behaviors, and approaches they believed best support the development of African American students. Educator perceptions are valuable to understand because perceptions and attitudes undergird behavior and practices. This study focused on perceptions of teachers toward pedagogical strategies, approaches, and teacher behaviors that perceived to best support African American students because of the persisting achievement gap between African American students and their White, middle class counterparts.

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy was used as the theoretical framework for this study as it describes approaches to teaching students from historically marginalized groups in ways that …

A Study Of State College Faculty Trust In Immediate Supervisors, Anna Byrd

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study investigated faculty trust in their immediate supervisors (academic deans and faculty chairs) in a state college setting. A survey instrument created for this study was based on existing research on trust in schools by Bryk and Schneider (2002) and Tschannen-Moran and Hoy (1998), as well as research on trust in corporate setting. The study’s purpose was to determine the types and frequencies of interactions between community college faculty and deans/faculty chairs – i.e., faculty immediate supervisors – that are related to higher levels of faculty trust. Also investigated were the relationships between faculty trust and demographic characteristics …

An Integrated Closed Convergent System For Optimal Extraction Of Head-Driven Tidal Energy, Michelle Ann Vieira

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the demands for energy increased with the global increase in population, there is a need to create and invest in more clean and renewable energy sources. Energy derived from the movement of the tides is an ancient concept that is currently being harnessed in a handful of large tidal range locations. However, the need to move from fossil fuel driven energy sources to those that are clean and non-polluting is a priority for a sustainable future. Globally, hydropower potential is estimated to be more than 16,400-Terawatt hours annually. Given that the electricity consumption worldwide was at 15,068-Terawatt hours in …

Towards Designing Energy Efficient Symmetric Key Protocols, Sai Raghu Talluri

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Energy consumption by various modern symmetric key encryption protocols (DES,

3-DES, AES and, Blowfish) is studied from an algorithmic perspective. The work

is directed towards redesigning or modifying the underlying algorithms for these

protocols to make them consume less energy than they currently do. This research

takes the approach of reducing energy consumption by parallelizing the

consecutive memory accesses of symmetric key encryption algorithms. To achieve

parallelization, an existing energy complexity model is applied to symmetric key

encryption algorithms. Inspired by the popular DDR3 architecture, the model assumes

that main memory is divided into multiple banks, each of which can …

The Microstructural Annealing Response Of Cold Gas Dynamically Sprayed Al 6061, Clayton Andrew Cushway

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Cold-Gas Dynamic-Spray process also known as Cold Spray (CS) has been researched for three decades. The CS process is a solid-state deposition technique via supersonic velocity of powder particles at a temperature significantly below the melting point of the spray material. This thesis presents background on the overall CS process parameters, and additional information on the microstructural and mechanical properties of typical Cold Sprayed materials.This Thesis primarily presents a study on the microstructural annealing response of CS Al 6061. It should be noted that for this study, the term “annealing” is used in the sense of the classical metallurgical …

On The Effectiveness Of An Iot - Fog - Cloud Architecture For A Real-World Application, Nathan Wheeler

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fog Computing is an emerging computing paradigm that shifts certain processing closer to the Edge of a network, generally within one network hop, where latency is minimized, and results can be obtained the quickest. However, not a lot of research has been done on the effectiveness of Fog in real-world applications. The aim of this research is to show the effectiveness of the Fog Computing paradigm as the middle layer in a 3-tier architecture between the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Cloud. Two applications were developed: one utilizing Fog in a 3-tier architecture and another application using IoT and …

Parent Perceived Stress And Child Temperament: Qualities That Facilitate Or Impede Child Developmental Outcomes, Rebekah Faith Klempin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Effective parent-child relationships contribute to the development of well-adjusted children. Taxing personal and situational factors encumber a caregiver’s capacity for responsivity with his or her child. The purpose of the present study was to identify interpersonal factors that impact child outcomes in low socioeconomic status family populations. Data was collected in northeast Florida Head Start centers from 219 low income, at-risk caregivers and their children ages one and a half through almost five. Parents completed questionnaires on parent perceived stress, child temperament, and child developmental outcomes. Hierarchical regression was used to assess the influence of child temperament and parent perceived …

Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy-Parameters And Correlations Of Postoperative Pain Management, Gregor F. Raschke, Winfried Meissner, Andre Peisker, Gabriel Djedovic, Ulrich M. Rieger, Arndt Guentsch, Marta Gomez-Dammeier, Stefan Schultze-Mosgau

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives

Postoperative pain management is of utmost interest for patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. Currently, there is a lack of information regarding process and outcome parameters of postoperative pain management after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy.

Materials and methods

In a prospective clinical study, 31 adults were evaluated on the first postoperative day following bilateral sagittal split osteotomy using the standardized questionnaire of the Germany-wide project Quality Improvement in Postoperative Pain Management (QUIPS). It allows a standardized assessment of patients’ characteristics, pain parameters, outcome, and pain therapy process parameters.

Results

Pain management consisted mainly of premedication with midazolam, sufentanil, and metamizol intraoperatively; …

The Efficacy Of Commercial Tooth Storage Media For Maintaining The Viability Of Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts, W. Lee, Sheila E. Stover, Morteza Rasoulianboroujeni, K. Sherman, Farahnaz Fahimipour, E. Dashtimoghadam, C. Zito, Hossein E. Jazayeri, Lobat Tayebi

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Aim

To evaluate Save‐A‐Tooth (SAT), EMT Toothsaver (EMT) and Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) for their influence on the viability and proliferative capacity of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLFs).

Methodology

Primary HPDLFs were seeded into 96‐well cell culture plates and exposed to SAT, EMT, HBSS and water (negative control) for 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h at room temperature (22 °C). After each exposure time, cell viability was measured through quantifying adenosine triphosphate (ATP) using a luminescent dye. The proliferative capacity was also quantified using the PrestoBlue assay after 12 or 24 h storage in each medium. The …

Writing Activism: Indigenous Newsprint Media In The Era Of Red Power, Elizabeth Best

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis reconstructs Indigenous activism in the era of Red Power, 1972-1976, by examining three newspapers, the Native Youth Movement (NYM), The Native Voice (TNV) and The Native People (TNP). By linking these newspapers, the overarching themes of 1970s Indigenous activism are explored in order to understand the social conditions faced by young Indigenous people. Through a content analysis of these newspapers, the author examines questions such as: what were the living conditions of Indigenous people during the 1970s? What mattered most to the journalists and editors of these papers? What did Indigenous grassroots activism in Western Canada look like …

Do Socially Anxious Individuals Lack Behavioural Mimicry? Examining The Relationships Among Social Anxiety, Self-Focused Attention And Mimicry, Kayleigh Abbott

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation examines behavioural mimicry – defined as the unintentional alteration of one’s behaviour to match that of an interaction partner – within individuals with high social anxiety. Reduced mimicry behaviour among individuals with high social anxiety has been demonstrated in past research using a virtual environment and interaction partner (Vrijsen, Lange, Becker, & Rinck, 2010; Vrijsen, Lange, Dotsch, Wigboldus, & Rinck, 2010). The following studies further examined the relationship between high social anxiety and mimicry behaviour in several contexts. In Study 1 (N = 81), the Automatic Imitation Task (AIT) was used to examine motor resonance, the tendency …

Molecular Characterization Of The Mummichog (Fundulus Heteroclitus) Ovarian Steroidogenic Pathway And Implications For Exogenous Estrogen Effects During Follicular Development, Thiviya Kanagasabesan

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study investigated ovarian development in Fundulus heteroclitus (mummichog), through molecular characterization of key mediators in the ovarian steroidogenic pathway; these included ovarian StAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein), cytochrome P450 enzymes, estrogen receptors (ERα, ERβ1 and ERβ2), and gonadotropin receptors (FSHr and LHr); additionally, hepatic vitellogenin (VTG1) and ERs, and brain P450 aromatase (P450arom; CYP19b) were studied. Fish were staged into cortical alveolus, vitellogenic, early mature, late mature, and ovulating stages of maturation; blood (plasma), ovary (tissue and isolated ovarian follicles per stage), liver, and brains were collected. Testosterone (T), 17β-estradiol (E₂) and maturation inducing steroid (MIS), measured …

The Hold Me Tight Program For Couples Becoming Parents: A Mixed Methods Study, Debbie Wang

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

ABSTRACT

Attachment theory has made substantial contributions to the understanding of close relationships. The purpose of this study was to inquire whether an attachment-informed psychoeducational program is a feasible and effective intervention for couples expecting their first child. The overarching question was: Is an attachment-informed relationship enhancement program, such as Hold Me Tight^® (HMT), helpful to couples in strengthening their relationship and increasing their confidence in becoming first-time parents? The research question was addressed using a mixed-methods approach.

In the first phase, the Hold Me Tight^® program developed by Dr. Sue Johnson was modified for use with couples …

Shame In The Presence Or Absence Of God In Stephen Ministry, Richard Tamas

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This hermeneutical phenomenological study explores the lived experience of shame in relation to the presence or absence of God in the caregiving process of Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministers are trained Christian caregivers who walk side-by-side with those who are struggling in a congregation. Stephen Ministers are trained by Stephen Leaders who have completed the Stephen Ministry Leadership training program. A concern for an assurance of quality of care led to the research question: what is the lived experience of unacknowledged or unprocessed shame in the presence or absence of God experienced by Stephen Ministers who offer Christian care? The foundations …

Evidence For Extra-Gastric Expression Of The Proton Pump H+/K+ -Atpase In The Gills And Kidney Of The Teleost Oreochromis Niloticus, Ebtesam Barnawi

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

It is well known that stomach acid secretion by oxynticopeptic cells of the gastric mucosa is accomplished by the H⁺/ K⁺-ATPase (HKA), which is comprised of the HKα1 (gene: atp4a) and HKβ (gene: atp4b) subunits. However, the role of the HKA in extra-gastric organs such as the gill and kidney is less clear especially in fishes. This pump may contribute to active ion and/or acid-base regulation either through direct ion transport or through secondary transport proteins against unfavorable concentration gradients via the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis. In the present work I have demonstrated …

Emerging Adults' Parent-Child Privacy Management Surrounding Topics Of Career, Religion, And Politics, Maria Butauski

Iowa Journal of Communication

Guided by communication privacy management theory (Petronio, 2002), this study highlights the role of emerging adults' perceptions of parents' behaviors in discussions of career, religion, and politics in their management of the parent-child privacy boundary. Parental behaviors perceived as supportive were associated with more openness and less topic avoidance when discussing career, religion, and politics. However, parental behaviors perceived as interference or neglect were associated with less openness and more topic avoidance across the topics addressed Findings and directions for future research are discussed

The Role Of Channel Fens In Permafrost Degradation Induced Changes In Peatland Discharge At Scotty Creek, Nt, Lindsay Elena Stone

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Permafrost degradation in the peat-rich southern fringe of the discontinuous permafrost zone is producing substantial changes to land cover with concomitant expansion of permafrost-free wetlands (bogs and fens) and shrinkage of forest supported by permafrost peat plateaus. Predicting discharge from headwater basins in this region depends on understanding and numerically representing the interactions between storage and discharge within and between the major land cover types, and how these interactions are changing. To better understand the implications of land cover change on wetland discharge, the hydrological behaviour of a channel fen in the headwaters of Scotty Creek, Northwest Territories, Canada, dominated …