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Pages
- Title
- MODELING AND CHARACTERIZATIONS OF NEW NOTIONS IN LIFE TESTING WITH STATISTICAL APPLICATIONS.
- Creator
-
Sepehrifar, Mohammad, Ahmad, Ibrahim, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Knowing the class to which a life distribution belongs gives us an idea about the aging of the device or system the life distribution represents, and enables us to compare the aging properties of different systems. This research intends to establish several new nonparametric classes of life distributions defined by the concept of inactivity time of a unit with a guaranteed minimum life length. These classes play an important role in the study of reliability theory, survival analysis,...
Show moreKnowing the class to which a life distribution belongs gives us an idea about the aging of the device or system the life distribution represents, and enables us to compare the aging properties of different systems. This research intends to establish several new nonparametric classes of life distributions defined by the concept of inactivity time of a unit with a guaranteed minimum life length. These classes play an important role in the study of reliability theory, survival analysis, maintenance policies, economics, actuarial sciences and many other applied areas.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001316, ucf:47030
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001316
- Title
- LIFE EVENT PERCEPTION:A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING APPROACH TO THE ANTECEDENTS OF THE LIFE STRESS RESPONSE.
- Creator
-
Myers, Christopher, Bowers, Clint, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
It has been often argued that life events have an impact on our physical and psychological well-being. In general, research supports this connection between life events and general health, though some argue that simply experiencing life events has a measurable and predictable impact our health, while others contend that this effect is mediated by the appraisal process. Further, research has identified a number of different factors (hypothetically stratified into pre-existing beliefs, external...
Show moreIt has been often argued that life events have an impact on our physical and psychological well-being. In general, research supports this connection between life events and general health, though some argue that simply experiencing life events has a measurable and predictable impact our health, while others contend that this effect is mediated by the appraisal process. Further, research has identified a number of different factors (hypothetically stratified into pre-existing beliefs, external resources and demands, and behavioral activation and coping strategies) that may influence appraisal and general health. The current study attempts to integrate these findings by testing structural models of the relationship between life events, life stress, and general health while considering the appraisal process and other potential moderators of appraisal and general health. University students (N=204) were tested using 17 assessment measures representing 7 latent constructs of Life Events, Life Stress, Appraisal, General Health, Beliefs, External, and Activation. Results of the measurement models required model respecification to combine Appraisal and Beliefs into one construct and External and Activation into another construct, resulting in a five-factor hypothetical structural model. The resulting empirical structural model is a partially-mediated model that suggests that appraisal and pre-existing beliefs influence the relationship between life events and life stress, and that life events significantly impact measured life stress. The empirical model also indicates that general health is significantly impacted by life stress, as well as behavioral activation and external resources and demands. Practical implications of the findings and recommendations for further research were discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000628, ucf:46519
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000628
- Title
- THE ROLE OF CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH CHRONICALLY ILL SIBLINGS.
- Creator
-
Mathis, Jenna, Culp, Anne, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this study was to explore the needs and concerns of siblings of children hospitalized with a chronic illness and to discuss the role that Child Life Specialists play in helping these siblings cope. With there being very few research studies in the fields of child development and child life regarding psychosocial development of siblings of chronically ill children, I felt it pertinent to conduct an exploratory study that would provide relevant and factual information to both...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to explore the needs and concerns of siblings of children hospitalized with a chronic illness and to discuss the role that Child Life Specialists play in helping these siblings cope. With there being very few research studies in the fields of child development and child life regarding psychosocial development of siblings of chronically ill children, I felt it pertinent to conduct an exploratory study that would provide relevant and factual information to both fields that could inspire further research in both fields. I predicted that my results would show many similarities among Child Life Specialists' perceptions related to their experiences with siblings and would solidify the role that they play in meeting the needs of siblings, furthermore validating their worth in the hospital setting and in aiding in the psychosocial development of hospitalized children and their families. Face-to-face and telephone interviews, with 10 Child Life Specialists from three central Florida pediatric hospitals, were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed. Through this study, I have discovered that Child Life Specialists employ a variety of methods in meeting the needs of siblings of children diagnosed with a chronic illness. I have also discovered that Child Life Specialists perceive themselves as being able to make a positive impact in the life of children with chronically ill siblings in regard to their psychosocial development and coping. Further research in this area is needed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFH0004777, ucf:45379
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004777
- Title
- AN INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MOTIVATION, WORKER ROLE CONFLICTS AND WORKER OUTCOMES.
- Creator
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Kennedy, Robert, Pritchard, Robert, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study investigated the relationships between several work motivational process variables and work-life-conflict (WLC) and how these variables contribute to job related outcomes such as work performance, job satisfaction and life satisfaction. This survey study identified several correlations which suggest that a more comprehensive model of motivation should include variables such as energy pool and direction toward organizational objectives. Results also suggest that WLC contributes to...
Show moreThis study investigated the relationships between several work motivational process variables and work-life-conflict (WLC) and how these variables contribute to job related outcomes such as work performance, job satisfaction and life satisfaction. This survey study identified several correlations which suggest that a more comprehensive model of motivation should include variables such as energy pool and direction toward organizational objectives. Results also suggest that WLC contributes to the amount of energy pool available to workers and the amount of motivation exhibited by workers. WLC also impacts important job and life attitudes directly and through the above mentioned motivation process variables. The basis for a comprehensive work motivation model will be posited and theoretical and practical implications will be discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003816, ucf:48728
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003816
- Title
- Social insurance.
- Creator
-
Burnham, Grace M.
- Date Issued
- 1932
- Identifier
- 363254, CFDT363254, ucf:5280
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/363254
- Title
- Problems of Jewish culture.
- Creator
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Schappes, Morris U. (Morris Urman)
- Date Issued
- 1950
- Identifier
- 677390, CFDT677390, ucf:5595
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/677390
- Title
- THE SYNCHRONICITY OF HOPE AND ENHANCED QUALITY OF LIFE IN TERMINAL CANCER.
- Creator
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Terry, Brianna M, Chase, Susan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of death worldwide. The rate of mortality is currently approximately 171.2 out of every 100,000 individuals with a terminal cancer diagnosis annually. Individuals with terminal cancer diagnoses facing probable mortality utilize various coping mechanisms or internal resources in an attempt to maintain an internal sense of well-being, commonly referred to as quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this literature...
Show moreCancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of death worldwide. The rate of mortality is currently approximately 171.2 out of every 100,000 individuals with a terminal cancer diagnosis annually. Individuals with terminal cancer diagnoses facing probable mortality utilize various coping mechanisms or internal resources in an attempt to maintain an internal sense of well-being, commonly referred to as quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this literature review was to investigate themes prevalent in the literature pertaining to internal coping mechanisms and analyze any correlation or causation linking these resources to a change in QOL in individuals with a terminal cancer diagnosis. The secondary purpose of this review was to interpret and define the healthcare provider's role in supporting this relationship. A systematic review of the literature was conducted from multiple online databases. Multiple studies related to the overarching themes of internal resources and QOL for individuals with a terminal cancer diagnosis were selected for the review. Results revealed major themes pertaining to correlation between hope and QOL. Studies which analyzed the relationship between hope and QOL found a positive correlation. The literature suggests that healthcare providers are capable of facilitating this relationship between hope and QOL. Healthcare provider facilitation of the relationship between hope and QOL is valuable in the clinical setting, and can aid an individual in achieving a desirable QOL.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFH2000075, ucf:45520
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000075
- Title
- Attitudes Toward Cohabitation: A cross sectional study.
- Creator
-
Shields-Dutton, Kensington, Gay, David, Rivera, Fernando, Huff-Corzine, Lin, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Cohabitation and attitudes toward cohabitation have been of interest to social scientists since the 1970s. Early research on cohabitation concentrated on college aged students enrolled at institutions of higher learning. This trend was due to convenience sampling (Trost, 1978). Later research demonstrated the college population represented less than half of the total number of cohabitating persons. With the growth in numbers of persons who are choosing to cohabitate versus marrying, this...
Show moreCohabitation and attitudes toward cohabitation have been of interest to social scientists since the 1970s. Early research on cohabitation concentrated on college aged students enrolled at institutions of higher learning. This trend was due to convenience sampling (Trost, 1978). Later research demonstrated the college population represented less than half of the total number of cohabitating persons. With the growth in numbers of persons who are choosing to cohabitate versus marrying, this study examines current attitudes towards cohabitation. This research augments the existing literature on attitudes toward cohabitation in the following ways: (1) it updates the current research on the attitudes toward cohabitation by using the 2012 General Social Survey, (2) it examines cohort differences in attitudes toward cohabitation among the four major birth cohorts in our society today (i.e., the Silent Generation, the Baby Boomer cohort, Generation X, and the Millennial cohort), and (3) it controls for other factors that affect attitudes toward cohabitation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFE0006181, ucf:51149
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006181
- Title
- THE EFFECT OF APHASIA ON QUALITY OF LIFE, COPING STYLE, AND RESILIENCE.
- Creator
-
Hernandez, Nelson J, Whiteside, Janet D., University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Approximately one million people in the United States suffer from aphasia. There are multiple types of aphasia, however they are usually placed into two categories: non-fluent or fluent. The psychosocial factors that are impacted due to the type of aphasia has not been systematically investigated. The purpose of this study is to examine how non-fluent and fluent Individuals With Aphasia (IWA) compare or contrast across three psychosocial factors, Quality of Life (QoL), coping style, and...
Show moreApproximately one million people in the United States suffer from aphasia. There are multiple types of aphasia, however they are usually placed into two categories: non-fluent or fluent. The psychosocial factors that are impacted due to the type of aphasia has not been systematically investigated. The purpose of this study is to examine how non-fluent and fluent Individuals With Aphasia (IWA) compare or contrast across three psychosocial factors, Quality of Life (QoL), coping style, and resilience. The World Health Quality of Life- BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), Assimilative-Accommodative Coping Scale (AACS), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 item version (CD-RISC-10), were administered once to 24 subjects with a diagnosis of aphasia. Four of the subjects were excluded after administration, due to incompletion of questionnaire or not meeting inclusion criteria. A cross sectional multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) study design was utilized with a separate one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) utilized to analyze each domain and scale individually. Results from the MANOVA analysis showed no statistically significant difference between non-fluent and fluent IWA when considered jointly among the three Likert scales. However, a separate ANOVA was conducted for each scale individually and showed a statistically significant difference between fluent and non-fluent IWA in the domains of Social Relationships and Environment for the WHOQOL-BREF scale. There was no statistically significant difference discovered among the other domains and scales. In conclusion, the significant difference found between fluent and non-fluent IWA in the domains of Social Relationships and Environment, may be due to the majority of the fluent IWA being categorized as anomic, a higher functioning form of aphasia. Whereas the majority of non-fluent IWA were categorized as having Broca's aphasia, which greatly affects speech output and, in six out of nine participants, hemiplegia was noted. Future research may want to take into account the severity of aphasia when comparing and contrasting non-fluent and fluent IWA.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFH2000147, ucf:46038
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000147
- Title
- IS GAY REALLY GAY?: A HETEROSEXUAL/HOMOSEXUAL QUALITY OF LIFE COMPARISON.
- Creator
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Dzara, Kristina, Gay, David, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study examines differences in quality of life measures between heterosexual and homosexual respondents using General Social Survey data from 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2002. Analyses of quality of life are performed in an effort to compare the heterosexual and homosexual population of the United States. The three main areas which are explored in the analysis are physical health, general happiness, and life excitement. Few differences were found in subjective life satisfaction between...
Show moreThis study examines differences in quality of life measures between heterosexual and homosexual respondents using General Social Survey data from 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2002. Analyses of quality of life are performed in an effort to compare the heterosexual and homosexual population of the United States. The three main areas which are explored in the analysis are physical health, general happiness, and life excitement. Few differences were found in subjective life satisfaction between heterosexuals and homosexuals; however, some control variables differed. Directions for future research regarding homosexuality and quality of life are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000419, ucf:46408
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000419
- Title
- STILL LIFE: A DRAMATURGICAL STUDY OF A VIETNAM WAR PLAY.
- Creator
-
Fajerski, Lauren, Boyd, Belinda, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Emily Mann's play Still Life is a story of a Vietnam War veteran who returns home to a less than enthusiastic welcome. Like most veterans from this war, he struggles to come to terms with the atrocities he witnessed and even carried out himself. The play consists of three characters: Mark, a Vietnam veteran, Cheryl, his wife, and Nadine, his lover. Both women believe they intrinsically understand Mark, but neither truly can. Mark has returned from the war violent, irrevocably broken, and...
Show moreEmily Mann's play Still Life is a story of a Vietnam War veteran who returns home to a less than enthusiastic welcome. Like most veterans from this war, he struggles to come to terms with the atrocities he witnessed and even carried out himself. The play consists of three characters: Mark, a Vietnam veteran, Cheryl, his wife, and Nadine, his lover. Both women believe they intrinsically understand Mark, but neither truly can. Mark has returned from the war violent, irrevocably broken, and feeling that he has been abandoned by society. Emily Mann interviewed real people and transcribed their words into theatre of fact to provide a fresh outlook into a tumultuous period of American history. This thesis will explore the historical and artistic significance of Emily Mann's Still Life and its depiction of the political and cultural atmosphere of post-war America. Specifically, I will discuss the reception of the Vietnam soldiers and how they were affected by the war socially, psychologically and economically. I will explore interviews detailing what these young men experienced while at war, how it affected them then and now, and discuss how these issues are reflected in Emily Mann's Still Life. In addition to interviews, my methodology will consist of scriptural analysis and quantitative research.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002004, ucf:47622
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002004
- Title
- A Sense of Place: Ethnographic Reflection on Two Palestinian Life Histories.
- Creator
-
Barrett, Patrick, Howard, Rosalyn, Matejowsky, Ty, Janz, Bruce, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
There is a labyrinth of complex social connections between people and places that deserves careful anthropological reflection. People do not simply occupy places; they experience them, infusing them with life and social meaning. Basso (1996:53) argues that ethnography has reported little about the complex ways in which people are (")alive to the world around them.(") Anthropology is currently experiencing a resurging emphasis on place that seeks to account for its remarkably social features....
Show moreThere is a labyrinth of complex social connections between people and places that deserves careful anthropological reflection. People do not simply occupy places; they experience them, infusing them with life and social meaning. Basso (1996:53) argues that ethnography has reported little about the complex ways in which people are (")alive to the world around them.(") Anthropology is currently experiencing a resurging emphasis on place that seeks to account for its remarkably social features. Rather than primarily thinking about place when determining a location for fieldwork, emerging anthropological reflection shows the discipline is repositioning itself to explore the complex and often fantastic ways people experience, conceptualize, and confer meaning to their natural surroundings. In anthropology, the phrase (")sense of place(") captures these ideas. The phenomenological approach has emerged as the theoretical centerpiece for this effort, promising to open extraordinary new pathways for qualitative exploration.This thesis uses the life history methodology to explore how two female Palestinian immigrants to Central Florida experience and confer meaning to their ancestral homeland and place of birth. Data collected through a series of life history interviews highlight the texture of Palestinian senses of place, including the presence of what I describe as an eschatological sense of place.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0004469, ucf:49312
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004469
- Title
- ACCELERATED LIFE TESTING OF SUBSEA EQUIPMENT UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE.
- Creator
-
Thiraviam, Amar Raja, Malone, Linda, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Accelerated Life Testing (ALT) is an effective method of demonstrating and improving product reliability in applications where the products are expected to perform for a long period of time. ALT accelerates a given failure mode by testing at amplified stress level(s) in excess of operational limits. Statistical analysis (parameter estimation) is then performed on the data, based on an acceleration model to make life predictions at use level. The acceleration model thus forms the basis of...
Show moreAccelerated Life Testing (ALT) is an effective method of demonstrating and improving product reliability in applications where the products are expected to perform for a long period of time. ALT accelerates a given failure mode by testing at amplified stress level(s) in excess of operational limits. Statistical analysis (parameter estimation) is then performed on the data, based on an acceleration model to make life predictions at use level. The acceleration model thus forms the basis of accelerated life testing methodology. Well established accelerated models such as the Arrhenius model and the Inverse Power Law (IPL) model exist for key stresses such as temperature and voltage. But there are other stresses like subsea pressure, where there is no clear model of choice. This research proposes a pressure-life (acceleration) model for the first time for life prediction under subsea pressure for key mechanical/physical failure mechanisms. Three independent accelerated tests were conducted and their results analyzed to identify the best model for the pressure-life relationship. The testing included material tests in standard coupons to investigate the effect of subsea pressure on key physical, mechanical, and electrical properties. Tests were also conducted at the component level on critical components that function as a pressure barrier. By comparing the likelihood values of multiple reasonable candidate models for the individual tests, the exponential model was identified as a good model for the pressure-life relationship. In addition to consistently providing good fit among the three tests, the exponential model was also consistent with field data (validation with over 10 years of field data) and demonstrated several characteristics that enable robust life predictions in a variety of scenarios. In addition the research also used the process of Bayesian analysis to incorporate prior information from field and test data to bolster the results and increase the confidence in the predictions from the proposed model.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003411, ucf:48422
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003411
- Title
- EXPLORING WOMEN'S LIFE COURSE EXPERIENCES WITH WEIGHT USING STORY THEORY.
- Creator
-
Edmonds Poff, Allison, Bushy, Angeline, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This qualitative study included women who had gone through the menopausal transition and had experienced obesity, and it focused on their weight histories and experiences across the life course. The goal of this research was to add to the body of knowledge concerning weight gain by applying a novel middle range theory (story theory). Story theory was used to collect and interpret from women's life course stories the critical themes and patterns of their weight gain. Oral accounts were...
Show moreThis qualitative study included women who had gone through the menopausal transition and had experienced obesity, and it focused on their weight histories and experiences across the life course. The goal of this research was to add to the body of knowledge concerning weight gain by applying a novel middle range theory (story theory). Story theory was used to collect and interpret from women's life course stories the critical themes and patterns of their weight gain. Oral accounts were elicited during personal interviews from a convenience sample of ten women recruited from a weight loss and exercise program in Central Florida. Literature focusing on the prevalence of obesity, contributing factors and associated complications, as well as treatment approaches is extensive. A variety of approaches have been proposed to identify factors that contribute to the development of obesity across the lifespan. Ultimately, the goal of these studies is to understand risk factors for weight gain along with corresponding prevention and management strategies. A particular life course approach focuses on critical periods across the life span that may be associated with risk for the development of obesity. For women, puberty, pregnancy and menopause are noted to be critical for weight change in the life course as they are associated with hormonal changes and changes in body composition including fat mass. Story theory was chosen to conceptualize and guide participants through a personal interview in order to share their weight experiences along their life course. Content analysis procedures were used to analyze the data in order to identify themes and corresponding verbatim exemplars. A re-constructed composite story was developed that included excerpts from the participants' stories in order to reveal contextualized results. Themes that were identified relative to participants' experiences with their weight included: changes associated with emotional and physical health; eating patterns associated with multiple and/or changing roles/relationships; and, changes in the environment. An interpretation of the predominant pattern of weight gain included: changes in eating and physical activity that occur during multiple and simultaneous transitional life experiences, primarily in adulthood. The findings suggest that transitional experiences in women's lives - physiological, developmental, relational or environmental - were critical in that they presented risk for behavior changes related to eating and physical activity. The results of this study and the use of story theory have implications for providing individualized, patient-centered lifestyle recommendations for the prevention of unhealthy weight gain.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003974, ucf:48663
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003974
- Title
- From Sisters to CEO's: Defining Organizational Rhetoric in a Case Study of Social Sorority Bylaws.
- Creator
-
Rood, Paige, Roozen, Kevin, Holic, Nathan, Jones, Natasha, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Organizational Rhetoric is typically used in the fields of Communication and Mass Communication to examine the communicative strategies that animate businesses and corporate organizations. This study aims to give a more rhetorically focused definition of organizational rhetoric by emphasizing how communicative acts structure action and shape the construction of identity in settings beyond formal workplaces. Based on an analysis of the social sorority bylaws of Kappa Alpha Theta and the...
Show moreOrganizational Rhetoric is typically used in the fields of Communication and Mass Communication to examine the communicative strategies that animate businesses and corporate organizations. This study aims to give a more rhetorically focused definition of organizational rhetoric by emphasizing how communicative acts structure action and shape the construction of identity in settings beyond formal workplaces. Based on an analysis of the social sorority bylaws of Kappa Alpha Theta and the rhetorical situations those bylaws address, this study suggests that social sororities employ organizational rhetoric as an effective means of persuading their members to be active participants within the organization. Ultimately, the analysis argues that the rhetoric employed by social sororities mimics the typified, effective rhetorical moves of an organization to shape the agency and identities of their members.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005993, ucf:50784
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005993
- Title
- Accelerated Life Model with Various Types of Censored Data.
- Creator
-
Pridemore, Kathryn, Pensky, Marianna, Mikusinski, Piotr, Swanson, Jason, Nickerson, David, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The Accelerated Life Model is one of the most commonly used tools in the analysis of survival data which are frequently encountered in medical research and reliability studies. In these types of studies we often deal with complicated data sets for which we cannot observe the complete data set in practical situations due to censoring. Such difficulties are particularly apparent by the fact that there is little work in statistical literature on the Accelerated Life Model for complicated types...
Show moreThe Accelerated Life Model is one of the most commonly used tools in the analysis of survival data which are frequently encountered in medical research and reliability studies. In these types of studies we often deal with complicated data sets for which we cannot observe the complete data set in practical situations due to censoring. Such difficulties are particularly apparent by the fact that there is little work in statistical literature on the Accelerated Life Model for complicated types of censored data sets, such as doubly censored data, interval censored data, and partly interval censored data.In this work, we use the Weighted Empirical Likelihood approach (Ren, 2001) to construct tests, confidence intervals, and goodness-of-fit tests for the Accelerated Life Model in a unified way for various types of censored data. We also provide algorithms for implementation and present relevant simulation results.I began working on this problem with Dr. Jian-Jian Ren. Upon Dr. Ren's departure from the University of Central Florida I completed this dissertation under the supervision of Dr. Marianna Pensky.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0004913, ucf:49613
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004913
- Title
- Sustainable Material Solution for Flexible Pavements; Performance Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Utilizing Multiple Recycled Materials in HMA.
- Creator
-
Golestani, Behnam, Nam, Boo Hyun, Chopra, Manoj, Tatari, Omer, Bai, Yuanli, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The demand for pollution-free and recyclable engineering materials has been increased as the cost of energy and environmental concerns have risen. Green material design can lead to better environmental quality and sustainability of civil infrastructure. Road construction is one of the largest consumers of natural resources. Beneficial utilization of recycled materials can result in an important opportunity to save the mining and use of virgin materials, to preserve energy, and to save...
Show moreThe demand for pollution-free and recyclable engineering materials has been increased as the cost of energy and environmental concerns have risen. Green material design can lead to better environmental quality and sustainability of civil infrastructure. Road construction is one of the largest consumers of natural resources. Beneficial utilization of recycled materials can result in an important opportunity to save the mining and use of virgin materials, to preserve energy, and to save landfill space. Two main research questions addressed in this study are: (1) How much pollution, energy, natural resources, time and money can be salvaged by applying recycling materials to Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA)?, (2) What are the optimum mix designs for those recycled materials in HMA?, and (3) Can multiple recycled materials be used at the same time to compensate each other's drawbacks? This study evaluates the structural performance and environmental-economical cost and benefit by substituting one or a combination of three recycled materials in HMA. The three recycled materials are Recycled Asphalt Shingle (RAS), Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) Bottom Ash, and Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA). Performance evaluation of the HMA including those recycled materials has been performed by a series of laboratory experimental tests while the environmental impact was investigated by the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In addition, Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) method has been employed to evaluate the benefit of the aforementioned recycled materials.In 2008, the Florida Legislature established a new statewide recycling goal of 75% to be achieved by the year 2020. The impact of this research aligns with this policy as it introduces a sustainable HMA that reduces the necessity of virgin aggregate and asphalt binder to 50% and 20%, respectively. In terms of environmental and economic impacts, in comparison with the regular HMA, it generates 25% less greenhouse gas emission, and for a period of 20 years, the cost of construction and maintenance would be 65% less.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005798, ucf:50038
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005798
- Title
- MEASURING QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS: THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PARENTAL DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS, AND CONCORDANCE AMONG RATERS.
- Creator
-
Roddenberry, Angela, Renk, Kimberly, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Advancements made in the treatment of the physiological aspects of childhood cancer have resulted in a greater need to conceptualize the disease psychologically as a chronic illness that causes significant stress and requires ongoing adjustment. This study investigates the relationships among parental characteristics, child characteristics, and the quality of life of children diagnosed with cancer. Forty-seven mothers and sixteen fathers, as well as nineteen children diagnosed with cancer,...
Show moreAdvancements made in the treatment of the physiological aspects of childhood cancer have resulted in a greater need to conceptualize the disease psychologically as a chronic illness that causes significant stress and requires ongoing adjustment. This study investigates the relationships among parental characteristics, child characteristics, and the quality of life of children diagnosed with cancer. Forty-seven mothers and sixteen fathers, as well as nineteen children diagnosed with cancer, completed measures of their own psychological functioning. Measures of the diagnosed children's quality of life also were completed. Mothers' ratings of their children's quality of life were found to be correlated positively with both fathers' and children's ratings. In addition, a significant relationship was found between mothers' depression and parenting stress and children's quality of life, as well as mothers' and fathers' anxiety and children's quality of life. Finally, mothers', fathers', and children's ratings of their own characteristics predicted significantly their ratings of children's quality of life. Overall, these results suggested the importance of examining the psychological characteristics of family members when assessing the quality of life of children with cancer.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000415, ucf:46380
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000415
- Title
- QUALITY OF LIFE IN OLDER BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS.
- Creator
-
Loerzel, Victoria, Meneses, Karen, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Quality of life (QoL) in cancer survivors is an important area of research. While data are available about QoL and breast cancer, there is a paucity of research regarding older breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this research was to examine QoL in older women with early stage breast cancer, within the first year of post-treatment survivorship. The specific aims of this study were to: 1) Describe the changes in overall QoL and the four QoL domains of Physical, Psychological, Social, and...
Show moreQuality of life (QoL) in cancer survivors is an important area of research. While data are available about QoL and breast cancer, there is a paucity of research regarding older breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this research was to examine QoL in older women with early stage breast cancer, within the first year of post-treatment survivorship. The specific aims of this study were to: 1) Describe the changes in overall QoL and the four QoL domains of Physical, Psychological, Social, and Spiritual well-being; 2) Examine the effects of a psychoeducational support intervention on QoL outcomes in older women; and 3) Describe nurses' perceptions of their interactions with older breast cancer survivors. A descriptive, longitudinal design was used to answer the research questions. Data for this study were drawn from the Breast Cancer Education Intervention (BCEI), a longitudinal psychoeducational support intervention for women with early stage breast cancer. Fifty women from the BCEI who were 65 years of age and older were included in this sample, of whom 24 were assigned to the Experimental (EX) Group and 26 were assigned to the Wait Control (WC) Group. Data were collected at three time points: baseline, three months, and six months after study entry. Measurement tools included the BCEI Demographics Form, the Quality of Life-Breast Cancer Survey (QoL-BC), and field notes of the BCEI Research Nurses. The QoL-BC survey is a 50-item scale that measures QoL in women with breast cancer. Descriptive statistics, Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) methods and t-tests were used to answer research questions #1 and #2. Content analysis was used to answer research question #3. Subjects reported good overall QoL at baseline, but QoL declined over six months. Physical and Psychological well-being declined from baseline to six months later. Social well-being initially improved from baseline to three months but declined at six months. Spiritual well-being initially declined at three months and improved at six months. There was insufficient power to detect a difference in the effects of the BCEI Intervention between the two groups. However, the decline in overall QoL was less in the EX Group. Field notes focusing on nurses' perception of their interactions with older women revealed four themes. These themes include: continuing breast-related health, personal health issues, family health issues, and potential stressors. Results from this study suggest that: 1) changes in overall QoL and within the four QoL domains occur over time; 2) decline in overall QoL was lessened by the BCEI Intervention; and 3) concerns after treatment are both breast cancer and non-breast cancer related. Study findings can direct future research in the following areas: 1) identification of specific concerns within each QoL domain that could lead to an increase or decrease in well-being in older breast cancer survivors; 2) interventions tailored to the needs of older breast cancer survivors to maintain, improve, or lessen decline in QoL after treatment; and 3) reconceptualizing QoL in older breast cancer survivors to include non-cancer related factors.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001720, ucf:47298
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001720
- Title
- BLACK CAREGIVER RESPONSES TO AND PERCEPTIONS OF SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENTS AT THE END OF LIFE.
- Creator
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Sermarini, Samantha M, Connor, Norma E., University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Individuals in the final stages of life are often cared for by informal caregivers whose interpretation of the patient�s signs, symptoms and treatment needs and options may be incongruent with that of healthcare providers (Docherty et al., 2008). Nurses need to fully understand the scope of this disparity. The purpose of this study was to determine how Black caregivers interpreted signs, symptoms, and treatments for symptom relief during the last months of their loved one�s life. The effect...
Show moreIndividuals in the final stages of life are often cared for by informal caregivers whose interpretation of the patient�s signs, symptoms and treatment needs and options may be incongruent with that of healthcare providers (Docherty et al., 2008). Nurses need to fully understand the scope of this disparity. The purpose of this study was to determine how Black caregivers interpreted signs, symptoms, and treatments for symptom relief during the last months of their loved one�s life. The effect on caregiver decision making was explored. This project is a secondary analysis of preexisting qualitative data. Transcripts from 5 focus groups encompassed 53 participants. All participants were Black and informal caregivers or decision makers for a loved one at their loved one�s end of life. Eighty-seven percent of caregivers were female, and a majority had a high school education. The mean age was 66. Transcripts were coded for themes independently by two researchers. To allow for the most open interpretation, no a priori set of codes was utilized. 3 main categories of signs, 4 main categories of symptoms, 4 themes of the interpretation of signs and symptoms, 4 main categories of treatments and interventions, 5 themes of the interpretation of treatments, and 3 themes describing the effect of signs, symptoms, and treatments on decision making were identified. Case examples of the caregiver interpretation process are included. Health care providers need to provide time, clear and simplified language, and additional explanation in communication. Further research combining health literacy measures and qualitative data on interpretations should be conducted.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFH2000017, ucf:45584
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000017
