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- Title
- IMPACT OF STUTTERING ON COMMUNICATION ATTITUDE AMONG ADULTS WHO STUTTER AND THEIR LIFE PARTNER.
- Creator
-
Panzarino, Randy W, Vanryckeghem, Martine, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study investigates the extent to which the fluent life partners (LPs) of persons who stutter (PWS) understand the effect stuttering has on their partner who stutters' communication attitude. This was accomplished by administering the Communication Attitude Test for Adults Who Stutter (BigCAT; Vanryckeghem and Brutten, 2018), a subtest of the Behavior Assessment Battery (BAB; Vanryckeghem and Brutten, 2018). The BigCAT was administered to 33 PWS and a modified version was administered to...
Show moreThis study investigates the extent to which the fluent life partners (LPs) of persons who stutter (PWS) understand the effect stuttering has on their partner who stutters' communication attitude. This was accomplished by administering the Communication Attitude Test for Adults Who Stutter (BigCAT; Vanryckeghem and Brutten, 2018), a subtest of the Behavior Assessment Battery (BAB; Vanryckeghem and Brutten, 2018). The BigCAT was administered to 33 PWS and a modified version was administered to their LPs via Qualtrics, an online survey software system. Between-group total score comparison revealed no significant difference in total scores, and a low-medium score correlation was evidenced. Within both groups, participants age and gender did not have a significant effect on total scores. The perception of stuttering severity was found to significantly influence BigCAT scores within each group. No differential effect of duration of relationship on score agreement was found to exist. A high Cronbach Alpha coefficient was obtained for both test forms. Between-group item score comparison revealed that only answers on two out of the 34 items differed significantly. They were related to frequency of speech disruption and avoidance of persons, places or situations. Item 24 had a perfect correlation between the two groups and relates to common behaviors PWS exhibit in trying to attain more fluency. Overall, the findings of this study show that LPs of PWS have a general understanding of the impact stuttering has on their partner who stutters' communication attitude.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFH2000465, ucf:45743
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000465
- Title
- REASON LEADS: A RECONCILIATION IN ETHICS.
- Creator
-
Oldham, Stephen, Stanlick, Nancy, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The use of reason appears to lead to divergent conclusions for what is right and what is good in human action. While reason is a central feature in ethical theory, there is a problem when that central feature does not lead to consistent conclusions about how to act in a given situation. Several philosophers have attempted to combine previous moral theories in order to provide a better template for human action. I contend that the use of reason is of vital import when determining the...
Show moreThe use of reason appears to lead to divergent conclusions for what is right and what is good in human action. While reason is a central feature in ethical theory, there is a problem when that central feature does not lead to consistent conclusions about how to act in a given situation. Several philosophers have attempted to combine previous moral theories in order to provide a better template for human action. I contend that the use of reason is of vital import when determining the foundation for moral action and that moral theories, to be consistent with reason, should incorporate aspects of both non-consequentialist and consequentialist ethical theories. I argue that there is a unifying foundation presupposed by the moral theories of both Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill. Through the use of reason the theories of Kant and Mill can be reconciled to show that these theories can be combined when understanding the basic foundation that they share.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFH0004488, ucf:45080
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004488
- Title
- NURSING INTERVENTIONS THAT FACILITATE END-OF-LIFE DECISION-MAKING IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY.
- Creator
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Baeringer, Lauren, Wink, Diane, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Nearly one-third of all pediatric oncology patients die from their disease, so nurses need to have an evidence-based standard of practice to guide their role in end-of-life decision-making. The purpose of this integrative review is to analyze current research on end-of-life decision-making within pediatric oncology to create a practice guideline for nurses working with this patient population. Eleven studies were examined to identify nursing interventions regarding the role of the nurse in...
Show moreNearly one-third of all pediatric oncology patients die from their disease, so nurses need to have an evidence-based standard of practice to guide their role in end-of-life decision-making. The purpose of this integrative review is to analyze current research on end-of-life decision-making within pediatric oncology to create a practice guideline for nurses working with this patient population. Eleven studies were examined to identify nursing interventions regarding the role of the nurse in end-of-life care, the role of the nurse in end-of-life decision-making, parent involvement in end-of-life decision-making, and child involvement in end-of-life decision-making, including the child's ability to participate in end-of-life decision-making. Based on the findings, the researcher identified several interventions that can be used by nurses to facilitate end-of-life discussion and decision-making that includes both parent and, when appropriate, the child.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFH0004443, ucf:45081
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004443
- Title
- SPIRITUAL CARE INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED CANCER RECEIVING PALLIATIVE CARE.
- Creator
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Ballen-Sanchez, Maria, Conner, Norma, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Title: Spiritual Care Interventions and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care Background: Despite the evidence supporting spiritual care in nursing and an increased quality of life among patients, patients feel that their spiritual needs are not being supported by medical professionals. Nurses agree that the role they play is significant in addressing the needs of cancer patients; however, they feel that they lack the knowledge for addressing spirituality concerns at...
Show moreTitle: Spiritual Care Interventions and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care Background: Despite the evidence supporting spiritual care in nursing and an increased quality of life among patients, patients feel that their spiritual needs are not being supported by medical professionals. Nurses agree that the role they play is significant in addressing the needs of cancer patients; however, they feel that they lack the knowledge for addressing spirituality concerns at the end of life. The purpose of this study is to identify spiritual care interventions that nurses can implement to improve quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care. Method: This literature review consisted of articles retrieved from several databases, including CINAHL, PubMED, and PsychINFO , PsychARTICLES, ATLA Religion databases using the key words "cancer*" and "quality of life" "therapeutic communication", "spirit* therapy", "relaxation therapy", and "self-care". Inclusion criteria consisted of research conducted after the year 2000, peer reviewed work and research studies written in the English language. Results: Results from this literature review include recommended nursing interventions that provide spiritual care to patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care for the purpose of improved quality of life. Spiritual care interventions identified in this study include Meaning Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP), Supportive Group Psychotherapy (SGP), mental relaxation, mental images, TM, art therapy, socializing, communicative acts, aromatherapy, massage, exercise, hatha yoga, meditation, and activities such as gardening, watching TV, resting/sleeping and socializing.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFH0004245, ucf:44925
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004245
- Title
- RISK FACTORS IDENTIFIED IN COLLEGE STUDENTS EXHIBITING SOCIAL PHOBIA.
- Creator
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Wallace, Kasie, McConnell, Daniel, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
College life is a unique experience in the life of many young adults that presents many challenges for which they might not be prepared, including living away from home and adapting to a new social and academic environment. In particular, these experiences may be particularly adverse for students with social phobia and may be predictors of academic and social problems, and may even predict dropout. The purpose of the present research is to identify possible connections between socially phobic...
Show moreCollege life is a unique experience in the life of many young adults that presents many challenges for which they might not be prepared, including living away from home and adapting to a new social and academic environment. In particular, these experiences may be particularly adverse for students with social phobia and may be predictors of academic and social problems, and may even predict dropout. The purpose of the present research is to identify possible connections between socially phobic tendencies and the social, emotional, and overall well-being of college students. Social phobia itself is an unnecessary and overwhelming fear of being scrutinized by others (National Institute of Mental Health 2009). By implementing the use of four psychological tests: the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, College Affiliation Questionnaire, and Life Orientation Test, this research sought to investigate the correlations existing between college students' self-reports on these measures through the use of the UCF Sona system. Students' personal characteristics and demographics were also examined correlationally along with their self-reports on all four measures. A total of 165 participants were used in this study. After gathering descriptive statistics from each test and their demographics, correlations were run between the four tests and then between demographic information and tests. The results showed social phobia having a positive correlation with negative affect and a negative relationship with positive affect. In turn, negative emotion was correlated with a lowered overall life orientation and a more pessimistic mindset. No strong correlations were identified between psychological tests and student characteristics as was previously thought. Overall, there are definite indicators that social anxiety has a negative impact on one's quality of life and emotions, however, more research needs to be done with more diverse sampling and different methodology to see if there is a link between particular student characteristics and prevalence rates of social anxiety within those characteristic subsets.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFH0004562, ucf:45165
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004562
- Title
- THE EFFECTS OF LIFE VALUES AMONG NON-PSYCHEDELIC DRUG USERS AND PSYCHEDELIC DRUG USERS: A COMPARISON STUDY ON LIFE VALUES.
- Creator
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Peng, Lin, Saunders, William, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The intent of this study was to compare life value differences using the Life Values Inventory. Differences among non-psychedelic users and psychedelic users were examined. Participants, ranging from age 18 to 48 from the University of Central Florida (UCF), a large state university, were recruited on a voluntarily basis. This was primarily done through online message board, the Sona System, and classroom announcements. The study was presented through the Sona System provided by UCF. In...
Show moreThe intent of this study was to compare life value differences using the Life Values Inventory. Differences among non-psychedelic users and psychedelic users were examined. Participants, ranging from age 18 to 48 from the University of Central Florida (UCF), a large state university, were recruited on a voluntarily basis. This was primarily done through online message board, the Sona System, and classroom announcements. The study was presented through the Sona System provided by UCF. In addition, all participants were students of the university. Results indicated significant differences among three out of 14 life values measured. The three life values that were shown to be significantly different among the non-psychedelic users and psychedelic users were: 1) concern for others, 2) loyalty to family or group, and 3) responsibility. In addition, the life value of spirituality was only found to be marginally significant.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFH0004599, ucf:45227
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004599
- Title
- ASSESSING ADULT ATTITUDES TOWARD END-OF-LIFE ISSUES AND ADVANCED DIRECTIVES AFTER IMPLEMENTING AN EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION IN A WORKPLACE SETTING.
- Creator
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Tolbert-Jones, Marchina, Chase, Susan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Purpose: There is a lack of discussion regarding end-of-life care planning which results in low advanced directive execution (AD) rates. This can lead to decision making by family, friends, and the health care team on behalf of patients whose end-of-life care wishes are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention in the work setting to increase end-of-life discussions and the execution of advanced directives. Methods: A descriptive...
Show morePurpose: There is a lack of discussion regarding end-of-life care planning which results in low advanced directive execution (AD) rates. This can lead to decision making by family, friends, and the health care team on behalf of patients whose end-of-life care wishes are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention in the work setting to increase end-of-life discussions and the execution of advanced directives. Methods: A descriptive design was used in an occupational workplace setting at a local bottling company after appropriate IRB approval was obtained. An educational intervention based on the Five Wishes document was presented in an occupational health setting covering all shifts and employment categories. A pre-program questionnaire measured a lack of knowledge and understanding of end-of-life planning and advanced directives. A post-program questionnaire measured the increase in knowledge and understanding of end-of-life planning and advanced directives. A focus group was conducted with audio recording to describe personal experiences. The quantitative analysis used statistical procedures to describe and synthesize data and content analysis was conducted on the focus group data. Results: A sample of 78 participants was used to gather the quantitative data. Of the total participants, an overwhelming majority were male with ethnic backgrounds evenly represented. Most of the participants either were married and either were drivers, salespeople, or warehouse workers. More participants indicated no religious affiliation than any other affiliation, and the majority of participants indicated that they had a high school diploma. When questioned about their 1) knowledge of advanced directives, 2) whether or not they would consider executing an advanced directive, 3) whether or not they were likely to discuss end-of-life care with other, 4) whether they would be comfortable having someone make end-of-life decisions on their behalf, and 5) whether or not they believed that advanced directives were important, the majority of participants indicated that they strongly agreed or agreed. However, none of the participants had executed an advanced directive. Only 10.3% of participants had ever discussed ADÃÂ's with a healthcare provider. When the same participants were asked the same questions after the education portion of the study, data analysis of the pre- and post-program questionnaire mean scores, revealed a significant increase in scores on questions 1,2 and 3 (p <.05), and no significant increase on question 4 and 5 (p > .05). The implication of these findings suggest that an education intervention program in a workplace setting significantly increases end-of-life discussions and advanced directive execution rates. The Jones model of end-of-life education intervention and interpretation of the study are presented. Limitations of the study, as well as implications for nursing professionals and health care providers that will improve patient outcomes are presented. Discussion/Implication: The study shows that workplace education regarding Advanced Directives can lead to increase end-of-life discussions and increase advanced directive execution rates. Therefore, this education program at a worksite merits further research and may serve as a model program for other worksite settings.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003275, ucf:48564
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003275
- Title
- QUARTER LIFE CRISIS OR HOW TO GET OVER COLLEGE AND BECOME A FUNCTIONING MEMBER OF SOCIETY.
- Creator
-
Anderson Jr., Patrick, Rushin, Pat, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
As a writer, I feel like dealing with conflict in real life is the best way to deal with conflict in my fiction. Quarter-Life Crisis or How to Get Over College and Become a Functioning Member of Society, while a fictional novel, is very much about many of the conflicts I've experienced over the past few years. Sean Easton is a twenty-five year old college graduate living in Miami, trying to balance out his life in a world that doesn't make as much sense to him as it did when he first...
Show moreAs a writer, I feel like dealing with conflict in real life is the best way to deal with conflict in my fiction. Quarter-Life Crisis or How to Get Over College and Become a Functioning Member of Society, while a fictional novel, is very much about many of the conflicts I've experienced over the past few years. Sean Easton is a twenty-five year old college graduate living in Miami, trying to balance out his life in a world that doesn't make as much sense to him as it did when he first graduated college, happy and looking forward to the future. Suffering through the aftermath of a major breakup as well as the death of his best friend, Sean is in the midst of a year-long alcohol binge when we are introduced to him, a period of time characterized by sporadic bouts of self-loathing interlaced with sardonic internal dialogue directed towards the world at large. Sean's story eventually intersects with the second protagonist in Quarter Life Crisis, Lauren Ellis. Lauren is a twenty-four year old college dropout turned pharmacy technician. When we are introduced to her, Lauren's life is characterized by her child-Justin-and her husband Rick. Rick's a mechanic, and he, Lauren, and their son are all living a comfortably mundane life until the day Lauren comes home to find Rick having sex with eighteen year old Natalie, Justin's babysitter. From there, Lauren's entire life is thrown into disarray, forcing her to confront desires and dreams she had previously filed away in the mental category of "lost." Together, Sean and Lauren represent a large portion of our society, a generation of individuals entering their mid- and late-twenties in the new millennium. Many of them have been told to dream big and aim high throughout their entire lives, that the next four years will be the best of their lives. And then the next four years. A few of us fulfill these dreams. Most don't, and in a time when acquiring a college degree has become more an expectation than an accomplishment, Sean Easton and Lauren Ellis are two of many that are defined by their uncertainty as to where their place in society is. Quarter Life Crisis follows their journey from complete uncertainty to little less uncertain, bringing their lifelong dreams into direct conflict with what they are actually capable of achieving. Though the circumstances of Sean and Lauren's shifts in character are both distinct, their mentality and outlook on love and life are similar. In the end, they both find a balance that gives them hope for happiness which, they both realize, is the most they can really get in the long run. The underlying theme of Quarter Life Crisis or How to Get Over College and Become a Functioning Member of Society is that college has become a fixture in American upbringing. The novel isn't saying this is a good or bad thing, just that it is something that hangs over everybody in the current generation's heads growing up, whether they attend college or not. The novel is an attempt to examine how people function in the new millennium after reaching the point in their life when college is no longer a factor, when they are thrown into the real world and told to fend for themselves. It's the story of how two people end up doing exactly that, and the hellish process they go through to get to that point.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003985, ucf:48671
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003985
- Title
- AN UNCERTAINTY QUANTIFICATION OF THE VARIATION OF INTERNAL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS AND THE EFFECT ON AIRFOIL LIFE.
- Creator
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Marsh, Jan, Kapat, Jayanta, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Uncertainty in accurately knowing applied internal heat transfer coefficients inside of a cooling passage can lead to variability in predicting low cycle fatigue life of a turbine vane or blade. Under-predicting a life value for a turbine part can have disastrous effects on the engine as a whole, and can negate efforts in innovative design for advanced cooling techniques for turbine components. Quantification of this fatigue life uncertainty utilizing a computational framework is the primary...
Show moreUncertainty in accurately knowing applied internal heat transfer coefficients inside of a cooling passage can lead to variability in predicting low cycle fatigue life of a turbine vane or blade. Under-predicting a life value for a turbine part can have disastrous effects on the engine as a whole, and can negate efforts in innovative design for advanced cooling techniques for turbine components. Quantification of this fatigue life uncertainty utilizing a computational framework is the primary objective of this thesis. Through the use of probabilistic design methodologies a process is developed to simulate uncertainties of internal heat transfer coefficient, which are then applied to the aft section of a non-rotating turbine blade component, internally cooled through a multi-pass serpentine channel. While keeping all other parameters constant internal heat transfer coefficients are varied according to a prescribed uncertainty range throughout the passages. The effect on the low cycle fatigue life of the airfoil is then evaluated at three discrete locations: near the base of the airfoil, towards the tip, and at mid-span. A generic low cycle fatigue life prediction model is used for these evaluations. Even though the probabilistic design process uses independent random numbers to simulate the variation, in reality, heat transfer coefficients at points located closely together should be correlated. For this reason, an autocorrelation function is implemented. By changing the value of this function the strength of the correlation of neighboring internal heat transfer coefficients to each other over a certain distance can be controlled. In order to test the effect that this correlation strength has on the low cycle fatigue life calculation, low and high values are chosen and analyzed. The magnitude of the prescribed uncertainty range of the internal heat transfer coefficient variation is varied to further study the effects on life. Investigated values include 5%, 10% and 20% for the straight ribbed passages and 10%, 20%, and 40% for both the tip and hub turns. As expected there is a significant dependence of low cycle fatigue life to the variation in internal heat transfer coefficients. For the 20/40% case, variations in life as high as 50-60% are recorded, furthermore a trend is observed showing that as the magnitude of the uncertainty range of internal heat transfer coefficients narrows so does the range of the low cycle fatigue life uncertainty.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003496, ucf:48975
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003496
- Title
- Amenities Provided as Predictors of Job Satisfaction Among Entry-Level, Live-on/Live-in Housing and Residence Life Professionals.
- Creator
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Getka, Kristen, Cintron Delgado, Rosa, Boyd, Tammy, Owens, James, Novak, Jeffrey, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Job satisfaction of entry-level student affairs professionals has been an issue of interest to researchers and practitioners alike since at least the 1980s. A high turnover of housing and residence life live-on and live-in (LO/LI) professionals has led to a curiosity for the reason. Investigation into job satisfaction of these professionals is an ideal way to determine ways to help retain LO/LI professionals and enhance their overall job satisfaction. In this study, the personal demographics,...
Show moreJob satisfaction of entry-level student affairs professionals has been an issue of interest to researchers and practitioners alike since at least the 1980s. A high turnover of housing and residence life live-on and live-in (LO/LI) professionals has led to a curiosity for the reason. Investigation into job satisfaction of these professionals is an ideal way to determine ways to help retain LO/LI professionals and enhance their overall job satisfaction. In this study, the personal demographics, institutional demographics, and amenities provided to entry-level housing and residence life professionals holding LO/LI positions, and what impact, if any, they had on job satisfaction were examined. Job satisfaction was measured by two separate means, both based on the theoretical framework, the Job Characteristics Model. A web-based survey was distributed to approximately 9,000 members of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International, asking for all LO/LI professionals to complete the survey. Personal demographics slightly affected job satisfaction, and institutional demographics were not related to job satisfaction. Amenities were the strongest predictors of job satisfaction among the three areas examined. Specific amenities such as meal plans, reserved parking, and flexible work hours had a more significant impact on job satisfaction than others.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004494, ucf:49263
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004494
- Title
- Evolution Through the Search for Novelty.
- Creator
-
Lehman, Joel, Stanley, Kenneth, Gonzalez, Avelino, Wiegand, Rudolf, Hoffman, Eric, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
I present a new approach to evolutionary search called novelty search, wherein only behavioral novelty is rewarded, thereby abstracting evolution as a search for novel forms. This new approach contrasts with the traditional approach of rewarding progress towards the objective through an objective function. Although they are designed to light a path to the objective, objective functions can instead deceive search into converging to dead ends called local optima.As a significant problem in...
Show moreI present a new approach to evolutionary search called novelty search, wherein only behavioral novelty is rewarded, thereby abstracting evolution as a search for novel forms. This new approach contrasts with the traditional approach of rewarding progress towards the objective through an objective function. Although they are designed to light a path to the objective, objective functions can instead deceive search into converging to dead ends called local optima.As a significant problem in evolutionary computation, deception has inspired many techniques designed to mitigate it. However, nearly all such methods are still ultimately susceptible to deceptive local optima because they still measure progress with respect to the objective, which this dissertation will show is often a broken compass. Furthermore, although novelty search completely abandons the objective, it counterintuitively often outperforms methods that search directly for the objective in deceptive tasks and can induce evolutionary dynamics closer in spirit to natural evolution. The main contributions are to (1) introduce novelty search, an example of an effective search method that is not guided by actively measuring or encouraging objective progress; (2) validate novelty search by applying it to biped locomotion; (3) demonstrate novelty search's benefits for evolvability (i.e. the abilityof an organism to further evolve) in a variety of domains; (4) introduce an extension of novelty search called minimal criteria novelty search that brings a new abstraction of natural evolution to evolutionary computation (i.e. evolution as a search for many ways of meeting the minimal criteria of life); (5) present a second extension of novelty search called novelty search with local competition that abstracts evolution instead as a process driven towards diversity with competition playing a subservient role; and (6) evolve a diversity of functional virtual creatures in a single run as a culminating application of novelty search with local competition. Overall these contributions establish novelty search as an important new research direction for the field of evolutionary computation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004398, ucf:49390
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004398
- Title
- Life Long Learning in Sparse Learning Environments.
- Creator
-
Reeder, John, Georgiopoulos, Michael, Gonzalez, Avelino, Sukthankar, Gita, Anagnostopoulos, Georgios, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Life long learning is a machine learning technique that deals with learning sequential tasks over time. It seeks to transfer knowledge from previous learning tasks to new learning tasks in order to increase generalization performance and learning speed. Real-time learning environments in which many agents are participating may provide learning opportunities but they are spread out in time and space outside of the geographical scope of a single learning agent. This research seeks to provide an...
Show moreLife long learning is a machine learning technique that deals with learning sequential tasks over time. It seeks to transfer knowledge from previous learning tasks to new learning tasks in order to increase generalization performance and learning speed. Real-time learning environments in which many agents are participating may provide learning opportunities but they are spread out in time and space outside of the geographical scope of a single learning agent. This research seeks to provide an algorithm and framework for life long learning among a network of agents in a sparse real-time learning environment. This work will utilize the robust knowledge representation of neural networks, and make use of both functional and representational knowledge transfer to accomplish this task. A new generative life long learning algorithm utilizing cascade correlation and reverberating pseudo-rehearsal and incorporating a method for merging divergent life long learning paths will be implemented.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0004917, ucf:49601
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004917
- Title
- Finding Sundays: A Collection of Stories.
- Creator
-
Martin, Tamra, Neal, Mary, Hubbard, Susan, Thaxton, Terry, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Finding Sundays: A Collection of Stories is a collection that explores the lives of people in the fictional town of Hickory Springs, Virginia. The title story (")Finding Sundays(") follows the life of Deacon Taylor and connects him to the characters around him in the proceeding pieces. These stories explore the lives of Deacon, his family, and his childhood friend, Sandra. The focus of this collection is not meant to be about spirituality or religion in general, although these exist as themes...
Show moreFinding Sundays: A Collection of Stories is a collection that explores the lives of people in the fictional town of Hickory Springs, Virginia. The title story (")Finding Sundays(") follows the life of Deacon Taylor and connects him to the characters around him in the proceeding pieces. These stories explore the lives of Deacon, his family, and his childhood friend, Sandra. The focus of this collection is not meant to be about spirituality or religion in general, although these exist as themes in the background of the stories. Instead, it is meant to look at how the lives of people connected through a church and a small town setting can affect them and lead them on different paths through the choices they make. Their personal struggles and challenges help them to either discover who they are or lose a piece of themselves in the process, which is especially true for Deacon. He is the character who appears as a child, as an adolescent, and as an adult. Self-discovery is not always peaceful or satisfying for him or any of the characters around him, and their individual journeys show this process and the different events that come from the choices they make. This collection focuses on how religious roots, friendships, and familial connections, or the lack of such bonds, affect the characters' own personal views and decisions as well as how they relate to those around them.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004408, ucf:49386
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004408
- Title
- THE EXPERIENCES OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS PROVIDING COMFORT FOR NURSING HOME PATIENTS AT THE END OF LIFE.
- Creator
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Baker, Herma, Rash, Elizabeth, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Research shows that healthcare providers (HCPs) are not adequately prepared to provide comfort care for patients who are at the end of life. Since the 1990s, numerous legislative, research, and clinical initiatives have addressed concerns about improving care at the end of life. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of HCPs providing comfort for patients in the nursing home who are at the end of life. This study focused on physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and nurses...
Show moreResearch shows that healthcare providers (HCPs) are not adequately prepared to provide comfort care for patients who are at the end of life. Since the 1990s, numerous legislative, research, and clinical initiatives have addressed concerns about improving care at the end of life. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of HCPs providing comfort for patients in the nursing home who are at the end of life. This study focused on physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and nursesÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ' aides at a central Florida nursing home. A descriptive qualitative design was done utilizing a focus group discussion, individual interviews, and a self-administered questionnaire. The findings indicated that a lack of facility support, inadequate staffing, inadequate end of life care education, family and patient denial of prognosis, as well as decreased primary care physician involvement affect the delivery of comfort care for patients at the end of life in the nursing home. This study supports the need for end of life education to HCPs and the need for adjustments in staffing to meet the complex needs of patients in the nursing home who are at the end of life. A new finding of this study reflects the use of an angel cart to aid in the provision of comfort care for patients at the end of life. Recommendations for future research were made based on study results
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003305, ucf:48505
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003305
- Title
- The Impact of Mobbing and Job-related Stress on Burnout and Health-related Quality of Life: The Case of Turkish Territorial State Representatives.
- Creator
-
Yesilbas, Mehmet, Wan, Thomas, Dziegielewski, Sophia, Steen, Julie, Zhang, Ning, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Job-related stress occurs as one of the most serious issues in modern era in developed nations. It has direct and negative effects on employees' productivity and it may have negative impacts on employees' health. One of the potential results of prolonged stressors at work place is burnout and this response may lead to physical, emotional, and psychological exhaustion that can occur at both individual and organizational levels. Burnout is a job related threat that provokes social stress and...
Show moreJob-related stress occurs as one of the most serious issues in modern era in developed nations. It has direct and negative effects on employees' productivity and it may have negative impacts on employees' health. One of the potential results of prolonged stressors at work place is burnout and this response may lead to physical, emotional, and psychological exhaustion that can occur at both individual and organizational levels. Burnout is a job related threat that provokes social stress and can directly affect an individual's health. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is commonly used to measure an individual's overall/global health and quality of life. Another serious issue, mobbing, usually leads to some individual and organizational complications. It affects the organizational commitment, motivation and efficiency of staff, job satisfaction of employee, and may lead to potential burnout of the employees. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether stress and mobbing are directly related to burnout; and, whether burnout leads to an adverse effect on the HRQoL of Turkish territorial state representatives (TSRs). This study examines four specific research questions: 1) Whether and to what extent do the levels of perceived job related stress and mobbing affect the level of perceived burnout syndrome of TSRs? 2) Whether and to what extent is the level of perceived burnout syndrome associated with HRQoL of TSRs? 3) To what extent does the level of perceived burnout mediate the effects of job-related stress on HRQoL of TSRs? 4) What are the mediating factors between job burnout and HRQoL? This study is expected to offer valuable and insightful information about the role of job burnout factors influencing the variability in TSRs' HRQoL.The study utilized two statistical analyses, which were descriptive analysis and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) which allows for the assessment of the relationships specified in the hypotheses and the SEM was used to validate the theoretically driven model. The findings of the study supported the hypotheses of the study, which asserted that there were correlations between job-related stress and burnout, mobbing and burnout, and burnout and HRQoL. The CFA results established that job-related stress was positively and significantly associated with the burnout of TSRs, while perceived mobbing was positively and significantly related to the burnout of TSRs. Moreover, perceived HRQoL of TSRs was negatively associated with the burnout of TSRs. Further, the findings indicated that the relationship between job-related stress and burnout and the relationship between burnout and HRQoL of TSRs were statistically significant. Thus the variable had a positive effect on burnout and a negative effect on the HRQoL of TSRs. In summary, the findings of the study showed that results and propositions of the theoretical frameworks of the study and literature were consistent with one another.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0006236, ucf:51071
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006236
- Title
- A Macro-Level Sustainability Assessment Framework for Optimal Distribution of Alternative Passenger Vehicles.
- Creator
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Onat, Nuri, Tatari, Omer, Nam, Boo Hyun, Oloufa, Amr, Pazour, Jennifer, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Although there are many studies focusing on the environmental impacts of alternative vehicle options, social and economic dimensions and trade-off relationships among all of these impacts were not investigated sufficiently. Moreover, most economic analyses are limited to life cycle cost analyses and do not consider macro-level economic impacts. Therefore, this thesis aims to advance the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment literature and electric vehicle sustainability research by presenting...
Show moreAlthough there are many studies focusing on the environmental impacts of alternative vehicle options, social and economic dimensions and trade-off relationships among all of these impacts were not investigated sufficiently. Moreover, most economic analyses are limited to life cycle cost analyses and do not consider macro-level economic impacts. Therefore, this thesis aims to advance the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment literature and electric vehicle sustainability research by presenting a novel combined application of Multi Criteria Decision Making techniques with Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment for decision analysis. With this motivation in mind, this research will construct a compromise-programming model (multi-objective optimization method) in order to calculate the optimum vehicle distribution in the U.S. passenger car fleet while considering the trade-offs between environmental, economic, and social dimensions of the sustainability. The findings of this research provide important insights for policy makers when developing strategies to estimate optimum vehicle distribution strategies based on various environmental and socio-economic priorities. For instance, compromise programming results can present practical policy conclusions for different states which might have different priorities for environmental impact mitigation and socio-economic development. Therefore, the conceptual framework presented in this work can be applicable for different regions in U.S. and decision makers can generate balanced policy conclusions and recommendations based on their environmental, economic and social constraints. The compromise programming results provide vital guidance for policy makers when optimizing the use of alternative vehicle technologies based on different environmental and socio-economic priorities. This research also effort aims to increase awareness of the inherent benefits of Input-Output based a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment and multi-criteria optimization.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005858, ucf:50901
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005858
- Title
- Vicarious Trauma, Emotional Intelligence, and The Impact On Job Satisfaction In Residence Life Staff.
- Creator
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Hodge, Lynell, Owens, J. Thomas, Cintron Delgado, Rosa, Allen, Kay, Preston, Michael, Winton, Mark, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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(")There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.(") ? Laurell K. Hamilton,Due to the proximity of working with and engaging students, residence life staff members, have a unique work experience. This functional area of student affairs is responding to myriad student needs. Staff are responding to varying levels of campus emergencies, student illness, and assault (physical or sexual) on a given workday or workweek (Ojo (&) Thomas, 2012...
Show more(")There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.(") ? Laurell K. Hamilton,Due to the proximity of working with and engaging students, residence life staff members, have a unique work experience. This functional area of student affairs is responding to myriad student needs. Staff are responding to varying levels of campus emergencies, student illness, and assault (physical or sexual) on a given workday or workweek (Ojo (&) Thomas, 2012). One study found college students' on-campus lifestyle and routine activities can create opportunities for victimization (Fisher, Sloan, Cullen, Lu, (&) 1998). What cumulative impact does responding to these victimizations have on residence life staff members? This study will investigate the relationship between the exposures to vicarious trauma, considering emotional intelligence as a mitigating factor to explain job satisfaction of residence life staff members. Taking a closer look at how the continued exposure to victimization of others (in this case students), the individual's job satisfaction provides context to burnout and attrition, specifically in residence life professionals. Understanding how secondary exposure can impact a professional is a concern that has been studied in other professions such as nursing, social work, and mental health counseling. The findings have provided invaluable insight to the professional's experience. This study will attempt to do the same by exploring how these three variables interact with each other, through the use of three scales, Vicarious Trauma Scale (VTS), Genos-Emotional Intelligence Inventory (Genos-I), and Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS). ?
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFE0006325, ucf:51549
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006325
- Title
- A Flexible Physics-Based Lifing Method for Metals Under Creep and Thermomechanical Fatigue.
- Creator
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Irmak, Firat, Gordon, Ali, Catbas, Necati, Raghavan, Seetha, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This thesis focuses on the development of a flexible, physics-based life prediction approach for steels under complex conditions. Low alloy steels continue to be the materials of choice for large turbomachinery structures experiencing high temperatures for long durations. There has been significant advancement in the research of modern alloys; furthermore, these materials are continue to be utilized in boilers, heat exchanger tubes, and throttle valve bodies in both turbomachinery and...
Show moreThis thesis focuses on the development of a flexible, physics-based life prediction approach for steels under complex conditions. Low alloy steels continue to be the materials of choice for large turbomachinery structures experiencing high temperatures for long durations. There has been significant advancement in the research of modern alloys; furthermore, these materials are continue to be utilized in boilers, heat exchanger tubes, and throttle valve bodies in both turbomachinery and pressure-vessel/piping applications. The material 2.25Cr-1Mo is studied in the present work. The resistance of this alloy to deformation and damage under creep and/or fatigue at elevated temperatures make it appropriate for structures required to endure decades of service. Also, this material displays an excellent balance of ductility, corrosion resistance, and creep strength under aggressive operating conditions. Both creep-fatigue (CF) and thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) have been the limiting factor for most turbine components fabricated from various alloys; therefore, a life prediction approach is constructed for simulating fatigue life for cases where the material is experiencing mechanical loading with thermal cycling. Flexibility is imparted to the model through its ability to emphasize the dominant damage mechanism which may vary among alloys. A material database is developed to improve and compare the model with experimental data. This database contains low cycle fatigue (LCF), creep fatigue (CF), and thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) experiments. Parameters for the model are obtained with regression fits with the support of a broad experimental database. Additionally, the cumulative damage approach, better known as Miner's rule, is used in this study as the fundamental method to combine damage mechanisms. Life predictions are obtained by the usage of a non-interacting creep-plasticity constitutive model capable of simulating not only the temperature- and rate-dependence.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006885, ucf:51731
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006885
- Title
- INVESTIGATING THE MODERATING EFFECTS OF OPTIMISM, HOPE, AND GRATITUDE ON THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG NEGATIVE LIFE EVENTS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND LIFE SATISFACTION.
- Creator
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Gungor, Abdi, Young, Mark, Sivo, Stephen, Barden, Sejal, Munyon, Matthew, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The literature has documented that negative life events such as divorce, financial issues, or relationship changes lead to various psychological concerns including depression, anxiety, or suicidal behaviors. However, several variables affect how people cope with negative life events. Among those variables, optimism, hope, and gratitude have been emphasized in the literature, and their relationships with several psychological outcomes have been studied. However, little is known about the...
Show moreThe literature has documented that negative life events such as divorce, financial issues, or relationship changes lead to various psychological concerns including depression, anxiety, or suicidal behaviors. However, several variables affect how people cope with negative life events. Among those variables, optimism, hope, and gratitude have been emphasized in the literature, and their relationships with several psychological outcomes have been studied. However, little is known about the effects of these variables on negative life events and their relationship to psychological distress and life satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between negative life events and psychological distress and life satisfaction. This study also examined the moderating effects of optimism, hope, and gratitude on negative life events' prediction of psychological distress and life satisfaction. This investigation tested the theoretical model that negative life events predicted psychological distress and life satisfaction in undergraduate students (N = 738). In addition, this investigation tested three theoretical interaction models that optimism, hope and gratitude moderated the relationships between negative life events and psychological distress and life satisfaction. The results revealed that negative life events predicted psychological distress and life satisfaction. Regarding moderating effects, optimism hope, and gratitude moderated negative life events' prediction of psychological distress, but not life satisfaction. These results are consistent with the existing literature on negative life events. The results and limitations are discussed along with suggestions for future research. Implications are presented for college counselors and counselor educators.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFE0006313, ucf:51611
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006313
- Title
- Population dynamics and environmental factors influencing herbs in intact and degraded Florida Rosemary scrub.
- Creator
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Stephens, Elizabeth, Quintana-Ascencio, Pedro, VonHolle, Mary, Fauth, John, Levey, Douglas, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Species have complex and contextual relationships with their environment; both the relative contributions of life-history stages to population growth and the effect of environmental factors on each stage can be different among co-existing species. Timing and extent of reproduction, survival, and mortality determine population growth, species distributions, and assemblage patterns. I evaluate the role of habitat (intact, degraded) and microsite (shrub, leaf litter, bare sand) on population...
Show moreSpecies have complex and contextual relationships with their environment; both the relative contributions of life-history stages to population growth and the effect of environmental factors on each stage can be different among co-existing species. Timing and extent of reproduction, survival, and mortality determine population growth, species distributions, and assemblage patterns. I evaluate the role of habitat (intact, degraded) and microsite (shrub, leaf litter, bare sand) on population dynamics of Florida scrub herbs. Isolated overgrown shrubs and extensive bare sand areas in degraded scrub were expected to decrease seed predation, reduce competition of herbs with shrubs, and provide larger habitat for recruitment. I provide evidence that habitat and microsite variation influenced demography of five endemic and two common native species through effects on seed removal, emergence, and establishment. Habitat and species affected seed removal: endemic species with large seeds were removed in higher frequency in degraded habitat, likely by vertebrates, while species with small seeds were removed in higher frequency in intact habitat, by invertebrates. There was no evidence of differences in individual seed production between habitats for the two common species, C. fasciculata and B. angustifolia. Invertebrates were primarily responsible for seed removal of both species, although peak season of removal and microsite varied with species. Removal of seeds, emergence, and establishment increased with seed density. Matrix modeling indicated that population growth of C. fasciculata was greater in degraded habitat and greatest in litter microsites, and population growth of B. angustifolia was similar between habitats and greatest in bare sand. Contrasting responses among species to environmental factors in intact and degraded scrub indicated that natural disturbances are not ecologically equivalent to anthropogenic disturbances. Idiosyncratic species dynamics in common environments suggest that understanding relationships between life-history traits and environmental conditions will be required to facilitate restoration.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0004754, ucf:49791
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004754