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- Title
- ALIEN TORT STATUTE: A DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF THE HISTORY, EVOLUTION, AND FUTURE.
- Creator
-
Yodlowski, Shane, Naccarato-Fromang, Gina, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The Alien Tort Statute is a short, thirty-two word section of the United States Code enacted in 1789 as part of the Judiciary Act. The Alien Tort Statute, or ATS, has an uncertain and controversial beginning and remains controversial in current jurisprudence. The ATS reads as follows: "The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action by an alien for a tort only, committed in violation of the law of nations or a treaty of the United States." It is my intent for this...
Show moreThe Alien Tort Statute is a short, thirty-two word section of the United States Code enacted in 1789 as part of the Judiciary Act. The Alien Tort Statute, or ATS, has an uncertain and controversial beginning and remains controversial in current jurisprudence. The ATS reads as follows: "The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action by an alien for a tort only, committed in violation of the law of nations or a treaty of the United States." It is my intent for this thesis to be an academic discussion of the mysterious history, intent, and court cases that have evolved the ATS; and the way in which the evolution took place. Having lain dormant for almost two decades, it is important to understand how the ATS was finally utilized and how this affected the statutes' ability to become a tool for human rights persecution abroad; until the decision in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum. Examining the language of two opinions by the District Court of the Second Circuit and the Supreme Court in Kiobel we will be able to understand, but reject, the arguments of both these courts.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFH0004615, ucf:45293
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004615
- Title
- Aliterate College Students: A Neglect of Reading or a New Type of Literacy?.
- Creator
-
Wells, Crystal, Marinara, Martha, Bowdon, Melody, Young, Beth, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study examines the literacy practices of college students in order to determine whether their reading habits are likely to detract from their future professions. Based on reports that many college students and individuals in general do not read regularly, this study examines numerous studies that focus on the reading habits of students and their attitudes toward reading. Findings show that a considerable number of students do not practice what many educators consider to be (")good(")...
Show moreThis study examines the literacy practices of college students in order to determine whether their reading habits are likely to detract from their future professions. Based on reports that many college students and individuals in general do not read regularly, this study examines numerous studies that focus on the reading habits of students and their attitudes toward reading. Findings show that a considerable number of students do not practice what many educators consider to be (")good(") reading habits; that is, they do not read approved print literature and texts regularly. This study also introduces the idea that perhaps students are supplementing traditional reading with engagement in new types of literacy, including digital literacy, which might still yield positive benefits that are commonly associated with reading in its traditional sense. Educators are called to adopt an expanded notion of literacy that would recognize the validity of new literacies in the lives of students. Viewing literacy in this way would promote literacy amongst students, providing them with valuable tools for their futures. Moreover, adopting an expanded definition of literacy would alter how aliteracy reports such as the ones discussed in this study would be assessed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004310, ucf:49485
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004310
- Title
- All of Chinese Literature Condensed: A Sourcebook from the Playwright, Director, and Biggest Fan.
- Creator
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Emerson, Whitney, Routhier, Mark, Tan, Huaixiang, Brotherton, Mark, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Aristotle stated in his Poetics that theatre's dual purpose was to educate and entertain. Centuries later the Roman Horace and Indian Bharata echoed his same sentiments. I intend to realize all three theorist's ideas on the theatre by creating an original educational and entertaining work and bringing it to performance. The audience will retain information without being aware of learning if it is presented in a pleasurable way.The most important geopolitical relationship of this century will...
Show moreAristotle stated in his Poetics that theatre's dual purpose was to educate and entertain. Centuries later the Roman Horace and Indian Bharata echoed his same sentiments. I intend to realize all three theorist's ideas on the theatre by creating an original educational and entertaining work and bringing it to performance. The audience will retain information without being aware of learning if it is presented in a pleasurable way.The most important geopolitical relationship of this century will be between China and America. In order to educate the American public about the culture of The Middle Kingdom, I propose to write and direct my own play, condensing all three thousand years of Chinese literature into a one hundred and ten minute performance. I will benefit from the personal nature of this thesis by experiencing every stage of a play's production: from idea to page to performance. My thesis will be made of three major parts: conceiving and writing the play, a journal of directing the debut production, and a third section made of choices, influences, and reflection on the entire experience. In this manner, the ideas swirling in my head may be made clear to others reading this thesis. The play itself will be a comical distillation of ten selected works of Chinese literature. Four non-gender specific American actors will seem to make up the show as it performs in a tongue-in-cheek way. Taking my stated goal of entertaining and educating the audience to heart, the overarching plot of the play will center on the four actors teaching the audience about the literature and culture of China by acting out scenes and telling stories. The information in the scenes will be targeted to a normal American citizen's educational level with liberal doses of humor added. The four actors will be playing fictionalized versions of themselves and at times breaking character by explaining and setting up the theatricality of the piece to the audience. Part of the fun of the show will be seeing how these actors explain a subject as obtuse as Chinese literature to Americans. Perhaps a cooking metaphor is the best way to think of the play: I will chop up raw Chinese literature, the actors will boil it onstage, the theatregoer will consume the mix, and exit the theatre full of entertaining intellectual nourishment.My experiences directing and producing the finished play will be recorded in a journal as a resource for future directors. I imagine directing the play will be the most challenging aspect of this thesis. How is the play changed when other people interact with it? How will the audience receive it? In addition, Committee Chair Mark Routhier and my thesis Committee Members, Mark Brotherton and Tan Huaixiang, will also give written responses to the play's performances. The play will be performed October 10-13, 2013 in the University of Central Florida's Performing Arts Complex Studio 2 classroom. In the final section I will write a reflection on the entire process. This will serve the dual purpose of giving me a place to collect my thoughts and giving others a special insight to the growth they might experience when producing this play. Foremost among my influences in writing a play with this subject matter are the style and tone of The Reduced Shakespeare Company.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0004993, ucf:49548
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004993
- Title
- ALL THINGS CONSIDERED: CHILD CUSTODY AFTER A SAME-SEX DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE.
- Creator
-
Williams, Alissa M, Consalo, Marc, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Following the decision rendered in Obergefell v. Hodges, there have been unabating talk as to how courts may rule on disputed matters involving same-sex marriages. One specific aspect this thesis intends to focus on is what to expect from custody rulings following dissolutions of same-sex marriages. The purpose of this thesis is to interpret just how courts may rule regarding child custody in same-sex divorces, based on the concept of stare decisis. Given the fresh face of marriage equality...
Show moreFollowing the decision rendered in Obergefell v. Hodges, there have been unabating talk as to how courts may rule on disputed matters involving same-sex marriages. One specific aspect this thesis intends to focus on is what to expect from custody rulings following dissolutions of same-sex marriages. The purpose of this thesis is to interpret just how courts may rule regarding child custody in same-sex divorces, based on the concept of stare decisis. Given the fresh face of marriage equality in America, there is a lack of research done in the area. This thesis will serve as a substructure and reference for other studies of its kind. Through a focus on defining factors in same-sex relationships as well as factors often identified in heterosexual relationships, this thesis will be able to compare the two to determine what appropriate outcomes courts may result to in cases of child custody following same-sex dissolutions of marriage. This thesis will compile heterosexual cases involving more role-based relationships such as the caregiver and provider as well as collect cases that reflect the egalitarian lifestyle we know to be present in same-sex couples to get a general idea of how courts may rule when both parents are at an equal standing.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFH2000572, ucf:45654
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000572
- Title
- ALL-OPTICAL REGENERATION FOR PHASE-SHIFT KEYED OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS.
- Creator
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Croussore, Kevin, Li, Guifang, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
All-optical signal processing techniques for phase-shift keyed (PSK) systems were developed theoretically and demonstrated experimentally. Nonlinear optical effects in fibers, in particular four-wave mixing (FWM) that occurs via the ultra-fast Kerr nonlinearity, offer a flexible framework within which numerous signal processing functions can be accomplished. This research has focused on the regenerative capabilities of various FWM configurations in the context of processing PSK signals. Phase...
Show moreAll-optical signal processing techniques for phase-shift keyed (PSK) systems were developed theoretically and demonstrated experimentally. Nonlinear optical effects in fibers, in particular four-wave mixing (FWM) that occurs via the ultra-fast Kerr nonlinearity, offer a flexible framework within which numerous signal processing functions can be accomplished. This research has focused on the regenerative capabilities of various FWM configurations in the context of processing PSK signals. Phase-preserving amplitude regeneration, phase regeneration, and phase-regenerative wavelength conversion are analyzed and demonstrated experimentally. The single-pump phase-conjugation process was used to regenerate RZ-DPSK pulse amplitudes with different input noise distributions, and the impact on output phase characteristics was studied. Experiments revealed a limited range over which amplitude noise could effectively be suppressed without introduction of phase noise, particularly for signals with intensity pattern effects. Phase regeneration requires use of phase-sensitive amplification (PSA), which occurs in nonlinear interferometers when the pump and signal frequencies are degenerate (NI-PSA), or in fiber directly through single-stage (degenerate) or cascaded (non-degenerate) FWM processes. A PSA based on a Sagnac interferometer provided the first experimental demonstration of DPSK phase and amplitude regeneration. The phase-regenerative capabilities of the NI-PSA are limited in practice by intrinsic noise conversion (amplitude to phase noise) and to a lesser extent by the requirement to modulate the pump wave to suppress stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). These limitations are relaxed in novel materials with higher SBS thresholds and nonlinearities. Degenerate FWM provides PSA in a traveling-wave configuration that intrinsically suppresses the noise conversion affecting the NI-PSA, while providing stronger phase-matched gain. Experiments confirmed superior phase-regenerative behavior to the NI-PSA with simultaneous reduction of amplitude noise for NRZ-DPSK signals. Phase-regenerative wavelength conversion (PR-WC) provides the regenerative properties of PSA at a new wavelength, and was proposed and demonstrated for the first time in this research. The parallel implementation of two FWM processes, phase-conjugation and frequency conversion, provides two idlers which exhibit interesting and useful regenerative properties. These were investigated theoretically and experimentally. Ideal phase-regenerative behavior is predicted when the contributing FWM processes are equally phase-matched, which can be maintained over any interaction length or wavelength shift provided the pump powers are properly adjusted. Depleted-pump regime PR-WC provides simultaneous phase and amplitude regeneration. Experiments confirmed regenerative behavior for wavelength shifts of the idlers up to 5 nm. Two techniques for phase regeneration of 4-level PSK signals were developed and evaluated. The first is based on parallel operation of PSAs suitable for processing 2-level PSK signals, where phase projection and regeneration are combined to recover the input data. Analysis of this scheme outlined the conditions required for effective phase regeneration and for practical implementation using known PSAs. A novel process based on FWM (parallel phase-conjugation followed by PSA) was developed and analyzed, and demonstrated using numerical simulations. These studies provide a basis for further work in this area.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001923, ucf:47473
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001923
- Title
- ALL-SEMICONDUCTOR HIGH POWER MODE-LOCKED LASER SYSTEM.
- Creator
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Kim, Kyungbum, Delfyett, Peter, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The objective of this dissertation is to generate high power ultrashort optical pulses from an all-semiconductor mode-locked laser system. The limitations of semiconductor optical amplifier in high energy, ultrashort pulse amplification are reviewed. A method to overcome the fundamental limit of small stored energy inside semiconductor optical amplifier called "eXtreme Chirped Pulse Amplification (X-CPA)" is proposed and studied theoretically and experimentally. The key benefits of the...
Show moreThe objective of this dissertation is to generate high power ultrashort optical pulses from an all-semiconductor mode-locked laser system. The limitations of semiconductor optical amplifier in high energy, ultrashort pulse amplification are reviewed. A method to overcome the fundamental limit of small stored energy inside semiconductor optical amplifier called "eXtreme Chirped Pulse Amplification (X-CPA)" is proposed and studied theoretically and experimentally. The key benefits of the concept of X-CPA are addressed. Based on theoretical and experimental study, an all-semiconductor mode-locked X-CPA system consisting of a mode-locked master oscillator, an optical pulse pre-stretcher, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) pulse picker, an extreme pulse stretcher/compressor, cascaded optical amplifiers, and a bulk grating compressor is successfully demonstrated and generates >kW record peak power. A potential candidate for generating high average power from an X-CPA system, novel grating coupled surface emitting semiconductor laser (GCSEL) devices, are studied experimentally. The first demonstration of mode-locking with GCSELs and associated amplification characteristics of grating coupled surface emitting SOAs will be presented. In an effort to go beyond the record setting results of the X-CPA system, a passive optical cavity amplification technique in conjunction with the X-CPA system is constructed, and studied experimentally and theoretically.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001069, ucf:46767
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001069
- Title
- Allelic characterization and novel functions of the outer membrane porin U in Vibrio cholerae.
- Creator
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Sakib, Sk Nazmus, Almagro-Moreno, Salvador, Moore, Sean, Roy, Herve, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Vibrio cholerae is the etiological agent of the severe diarrheal disease cholera. The bacterium is a natural inhabitant of brackish and estuarine waters . To date, only a subset of V. cholerae strains, those belonging to the pandemic group (PG), can cause cholera in humans while the rest (environmental group, EG) cannot cause the disease. Recently, we discovered that V. cholerae PG contains allelic variations in core genes that confer preadaptation to virulence, which we termed Virulence...
Show moreVibrio cholerae is the etiological agent of the severe diarrheal disease cholera. The bacterium is a natural inhabitant of brackish and estuarine waters . To date, only a subset of V. cholerae strains, those belonging to the pandemic group (PG), can cause cholera in humans while the rest (environmental group, EG) cannot cause the disease. Recently, we discovered that V. cholerae PG contains allelic variations in core genes that confer preadaptation to virulence, which we termed Virulence Adaptive Polymorphisms (VAPs). We identified nine core genes that encode potential VAPs, one of which encodes the outer membrane porin U (OmpU). OmpU provides tolerance to bile and acidic pH, resistance to antimicrobials and facilitates biofilm formation. In this study, several alleles of ompU were analyzed to determine whether these VAPs encode different functional properties. We performed multiple phenotypic assays and observed increased survival for strains encoding the PG-like alleles in the presence of bile, organic acid, anionic detergents and the antimicrobial peptide P2. On the other hand, EG-like alleles only showed increased biofilm formation. Interestingly, tests for motility and tolerance of inorganic acid, polymyxin B and protamine sulphate showed no differences in survival for strains encoding either alleles indicating that some of the properties conferred by OmpU are allelic independent. We have also discovered that V. cholerae OmpU shows resistance against Rifamycin, EDTA and Trifluoperazine and interestingly, Rifamycin has been found to be PG-allele dependent. Our findings provide further evidence that genetic variations in core genes lead to the emergence of virulence adaptive traits in pathogenic V. cholerae and can be extrapolated to other bacterial pathogens.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007720, ucf:52420
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007720
- Title
- Allen organ in brick church, c. 1986.
- Creator
-
Unknown
- Date Issued
- 1986, 2012-01-18
- Identifier
- DP0016116, CF00026116, SLC_C075, St. Luke's Lutheran Church and School, DSpace at St. Luke's, St. Luke's Lutheran Church: Brick church 1957-1992, St. Luke's Church Archives, http://hdl.handle.net/10860/741, ucf:44653
- Format
- Image (JPEG)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/DP0016116
- Title
- ALLEVIATING OBESITY BIAS: DOES INFORMATION CONTENT MATTER?.
- Creator
-
Mendoza, Kimberly, Murdoch, Erin, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Obesity bias has become the most acceptable form of prejudice in American society (Latner, O'Brien, Durso, Brinkman, & MacDonald, 2008). Stigmatization of the obese has tremendous social and economic costs both for the stigmatized population and for society as a whole. Few studies have been done to show effective ways to reduce obesity bias. This study looked to expand the research on effective ways to reduce obesity bias. Using a between-participants experimental design, the present study...
Show moreObesity bias has become the most acceptable form of prejudice in American society (Latner, O'Brien, Durso, Brinkman, & MacDonald, 2008). Stigmatization of the obese has tremendous social and economic costs both for the stigmatized population and for society as a whole. Few studies have been done to show effective ways to reduce obesity bias. This study looked to expand the research on effective ways to reduce obesity bias. Using a between-participants experimental design, the present study investigated whether multi-faceted information content about the causes of obesity (including psychological, social, and physiological causes) would be more effective in reducing obesity bias than any one of these causes presented alone. Results showed that participants' evaluations of a target woman who was overweight did not differ between the information content conditions, nor did they differ from a control condition. Implications, as well as limitations in the current study, are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFH0004391, ucf:44995
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004391
- Title
- ALLIANCE PARADOX: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF ALLIANCE PORTFOLIO EFFECTS ON CUSTOMER SERVICE QUALITY IN THE U.S. AIRLINE INDUSTRY.
- Creator
-
zhang, zhe, Barringer, Bruce, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This dissertation studies the potential paradoxical effects of alliance participation. Over the past two decades, alliance participation has become a popular firm strategy to obtain benefits that are difficult for a firm to obtain on its own. Yet, as firms increasingly participate in alliances, boundedly rational managers may not effectively manage all aspects of alliances to achieve intended alliance outcomes. Paradoxically, alliance participation may cause harm to the participating firms....
Show moreThis dissertation studies the potential paradoxical effects of alliance participation. Over the past two decades, alliance participation has become a popular firm strategy to obtain benefits that are difficult for a firm to obtain on its own. Yet, as firms increasingly participate in alliances, boundedly rational managers may not effectively manage all aspects of alliances to achieve intended alliance outcomes. Paradoxically, alliance participation may cause harm to the participating firms. To unveil an alliance paradox, this dissertation first examined the relationships between alliance portfolio attributes (i.e., alliance portfolio size, multilateral alliances, alliance partner country diversity, and alliance type) and customer service quality in the U.S. airline industry. Further, I examined whether alliance experience moderates the relationships between alliance portfolio attributes and customer service quality. Altogether, five hypotheses were tested. This dissertation relied exclusively on the longitudinal quarterly data of nine U.S. major airlines over a 20-year period between 1988 and 2007 that include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, America West, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, United Airlines, and U.S. Airways. Data pertaining to alliance variables were collected from the Securities Data Company (SDC) database. Quarterly service quality data pertaining to customer complaint, mishandled baggage, on-time arrival, and involuntary denied boarding were collected from the Air Travel Consumer Report published by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). To detect the temporal effects of alliance portfolio attributes on service quality, a three-month lag was created between the alliances data and the service quality data. The results show that although the relationship between alliance portfolio attributes and service quality seems to be more complex than initially proposed, the overall finding confirms the existence of an alliance paradox in that increases in alliance portfolio size, partner country diversity and channel-dominated alliances (versus backward competitor-dominated alliances) are associated with decreases in certain key dimensions of service quality. This dissertation seeks to make several important contributions. First, by exploring the alliance paradox, this dissertation attempts to demonstrate that despite the anticipated alliance benefits such as cost reduction or revenue enhancement, managers need to be aware of the cost of alliance participation with respect to customer service quality, which has paramount impact on firm performance. Second, this dissertation also contributes to services marketing literature by investigating alliance portfolio attributes as antecedents of service quality. Third, this dissertation investigates whether firm-level alliance experience moderates the relationship between alliance portfolio attributes and service quality.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002505, ucf:47686
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002505
- Title
- ALLIANCES IN GRAPHS: PARAMETERIZED ALGORITHMS ANDON PARTITIONING SERIES-PARALLEL GRAPHS.
- Creator
-
Enciso, Rosa, Dutton, Ronald, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Alliances are used to denote agreements between members of a group with similar interests. Alliances can occur between nations, biological sequences, business cartels, and other entities. The notion of alliances in graphs was first introduced by Kristiansen, Hedetniemi, and Hedetniemi in . A defensive alliance in a graph G=(V,E) is a non empty set S⊆V S where, for all x ∈S, |N∩S|≥|N-S|. Consequently, every vertex that is a member of a defensive alliance has at least as...
Show moreAlliances are used to denote agreements between members of a group with similar interests. Alliances can occur between nations, biological sequences, business cartels, and other entities. The notion of alliances in graphs was first introduced by Kristiansen, Hedetniemi, and Hedetniemi in . A defensive alliance in a graph G=(V,E) is a non empty set S⊆V S where, for all x ∈S, |N∩S|≥|N-S|. Consequently, every vertex that is a member of a defensive alliance has at least as many vertices defending it as there are vertices attacking it. Alliances can be used to model a variety of applications such as classification problems, communities in the web distributed protocols, etc . In , Gerber and Kobler introduced the problem of partitioning a graph into strong defensive alliances for the first time as the "Satisfactory Graph Partitioning (SGP)" problem. In his dissertation , Shafique used the problem of partitioning a graph into alliances to model problems in data clustering. Decision problems for several types of alliances and alliance partitions have been shown to be NP-complete. However, because of their applicability, it is of interest to study methods to overcome the complexity of these problems. In this thesis, we will present a variety of algorithms for finding alliances in different families of graphs with a running time that is polynomial in terms of the size of the input, and allowing exponential running time as a function of a chosen parameter. This study is guided by the theory of parameterized complexity introduced by Rod Downey and Michael Fellows in . In addition to parameterized algorithms for alliance related problems, we study the partition of series-parallel graphs into alliances. The class of series-parallel graphs is a special class in graph theory since many problems known to be NP-complete on general graphs have been shown to have polynomial time algorithms on series-parallel graphs. For example, the problem of finding a minimum defensive alliance has been shown to have a linear time algorithm when restricted to series-parallel graphs . Series-parallel graphs have also been to focus of study in a wide range of applications including CMOS layout and scheduling problems [ML86, Oud97]. Our motivation is driven by clustering properties that can be modeled with alliances. We observe that partitioning series-parallel graphs into alliances of roughly the same size can be used to partition task graphs to minimize the communication between processors and balance the workload of each processor. We present a characterization of series-parallel graphs that allow a partition into defensive alliances and a subclass of series-parallel graphs with a satisfactory partitions.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002956, ucf:47945
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002956
- Title
- Almost Mirror Image: Exploring The Similarities And Dissimilarities Of Identical Twins In Theatrical Solo Performance.
- Creator
-
Mignacca, Elizabeth, Boyd, Belinda, Ingram, Kate, McDonald, Holly, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Almost Mirror Image: Exploring the Similarities and Dissimilarities of Identical Twins in Theatrical Solo Performance Is an exploration of the psyche of identical twins within the context of devised solo performance. The author, an identical twin herself, has long been interested in twins' ability to cultivate both highly independent personalities as well as intensely co-dependent tendencies during development. What can twins tell us about the way we create close relationships and how is...
Show moreAlmost Mirror Image: Exploring the Similarities and Dissimilarities of Identical Twins in Theatrical Solo Performance Is an exploration of the psyche of identical twins within the context of devised solo performance. The author, an identical twin herself, has long been interested in twins' ability to cultivate both highly independent personalities as well as intensely co-dependent tendencies during development. What can twins tell us about the way we create close relationships and how is their upbringing radically different from the majority of the world that is born alone? Equally intrigued by society's growing technological dependence, the author would like to delve into how the science and development of twins appears counterintuitive to the intra-personal technological world they grow up in by using personal, autobiographic solo performance as her research platform. The data collected from research sources such as Jo Bonney's Extreme Exposure and Michael Kearns' The Solo Performer's Journey, will provide fodder for the thesis document and the author's devised solo piece, entitled Teach me how to be Lonely. While devising her own solo performance, the author will compare and contrast her process with that of a few select solo performers such as Anna Deavere Smith and Rachel Rosenthal. The author will delve into various styles of solo work creation, including the testimony plays of Smith and the autobiographical style of Rosenthal, in order to view her own work with a self-reflective and identity-driven lens. Overall, the author hopes to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of her own experience as an identical twin through the facilitation of her solo work as well as explore how the creation of solo performance can offer artists in the 21st century more freedom of expression and identity than the performance of a standard play.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005668, ucf:50184
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005668
- Title
- ALMOST REGULAR GRAPHS AND EDGE FACE COLORINGS OF PLANE GRAPHS.
- Creator
-
Macon, Lisa, Zhao, Yue, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Regular graphs are graphs in which all vertices have the same degree. Many properties of these graphs are known. Such graphs play an important role in modeling network configurations where equipment limitations impose a restriction on the maximum number of links emanating from a node. These limitations do not enforce strict regularity, and it becomes interesting to investigate nonregular graphs that are in some sense close to regular. This dissertation explores a particular class of almost...
Show moreRegular graphs are graphs in which all vertices have the same degree. Many properties of these graphs are known. Such graphs play an important role in modeling network configurations where equipment limitations impose a restriction on the maximum number of links emanating from a node. These limitations do not enforce strict regularity, and it becomes interesting to investigate nonregular graphs that are in some sense close to regular. This dissertation explores a particular class of almost regular graphs in detail and defines generalizations on this class. A linear-time algorithm for the creation of arbitrarily large graphs of the discussed class is provided, and a polynomial-time algorithm for recognizing graphs in the class is given. Several invariants for the class are discussed. The edge-face chromatic number χef of a plane graph G is the minimum number of colors that must be assigned to the edges and faces of G such that no edge or face of G receives the same color as an edge or face with which it is incident or adjacent. A well-known result for the upper bound of χef exists for graphs with maximum degree Δ ≥ 10. We present a tight upper bound for plane graphs with Δ = 9.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002507, ucf:47684
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002507
- Title
- ALPHA-SYNUCLEIN: INSIGHT INTO THE HALLMARK OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE AS A TARGET FOR QUANTITATIVE MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPEUTICS.
- Creator
-
Evangelista, Baggio A, Kim, Yoon-Seong, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. With 500,000 individuals currently living with Parkinson's and nearly 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year, this disease causes significant financial burden on the healthcare system - amassing to annual expenditures totaling 200 billion dollars; predicted to increase through 2050. The disease phenotype is characterized by a combination of a resting tremor, bradykinesia, muscular rigidity,...
Show moreParkinson's disease (PD) is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. With 500,000 individuals currently living with Parkinson's and nearly 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year, this disease causes significant financial burden on the healthcare system - amassing to annual expenditures totaling 200 billion dollars; predicted to increase through 2050. The disease phenotype is characterized by a combination of a resting tremor, bradykinesia, muscular rigidity, and depression due to dopaminergic neuronal death in the midbrain. The cause of the neurotoxicity has been largely discussed, with strong evidence suggesting that the protein, alpha-Synuclein, is a key factor. Under native conditions, alpha-Synuclein can be found localized at synaptic terminals where it is hypothesized to be involved in vesicle trafficking and recycling. However, its biochemical profile reveals a hydrophobic region that, once subjected to insult, initiates an aggregation cascade. Oligomeric species-products of the aggregation cascade-demonstrate marked neurotoxicity in dopaminergic neurons and illustrate migratory potential to neighboring healthy neurons, thereby contributing to progressive neurodegeneration. The current golden standard for PD diagnostics is a highly qualitative system involving a process-by-elimination with accuracy that is contingent upon physician experience. This, and a lack of standardized clinical testing procedures, lends to a 25% misdiagnosis rate. Even under circumstances of an accurate PD diagnosis, the only treatment options are pharmacologics that have a wide range of adverse side effects and ultimately contribute to systemic metabolic dysfunction. Thus, the research presented in this thesis seeks to overcome these current challenges by providing (1) a quantitative diagnostic platform and (2) a biomolecular therapeutic, towards oligomeric alpha-Synuclein. Aim 1: serves as a proof-of-concept for the use of catalytic nucleic acid moieties, deoxyribozymes and aptamers, to quantify alpha-Synuclein in a novel manner and explore the ability to detect oligomeric cytotoxic species. The cost-effective nature of these sensors allows for continued optimization. Aim 2: serves to establish a potential therapy that can abrogate alpha-synuclein oligomerization and toxicity through use of a modified Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDI) peptide when introduced to live cells treated to simulate pre-parkinsonian pathology.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFH2000188, ucf:46024
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000188
- Title
- Alpha-Tocopherol Reduces VLDL Secretion Through Modulation of the VLDL Transport Vesicle.
- Creator
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Clay, Ryan, Siddiqi, Shadab, Altomare, Deborah, Masternak, Michal, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The liver distributes serum triacylglycerol (TAG) via the very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and an increase in VLDL production may result in hyperlipidemia. VLDL synthesis consists of lipidation of Apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB) as it is co- translationally translocated across the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, and this nascent VLDL particle must undergo subsequent maturation and post-translational modification in the Golgi. The ER-to-Golgi trafficking of VLDL represents the rate...
Show moreThe liver distributes serum triacylglycerol (TAG) via the very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and an increase in VLDL production may result in hyperlipidemia. VLDL synthesis consists of lipidation of Apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB) as it is co- translationally translocated across the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, and this nascent VLDL particle must undergo subsequent maturation and post-translational modification in the Golgi. The ER-to-Golgi trafficking of VLDL represents the rate-limiting step in VLDL secretion and is mediated by the VLDL Transport Vesicle (VTV). Many in vivo studies have indicated that vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) supplementation protects against atherosclerosis and can reduce hepatic steatosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its effects at the molecular level on hepatic lipid metabolism are poorly understood. To investigate the effects of alpha-tocopherol on hepatic VLDL secretion and cellular lipid retention, we performed several experiments in HepG2 (human) and McARH- 7777 (rat) hepatoma cell lines including pulse-chase experiments using 3H-oleic acid (3H- OA), confocal microscopy with BODIPY lipid droplet staining, and an in vitro VTV budding assay. Our results demonstrate a significant reduction of 3H-TAG secretion and ApoB media expression in response to 100 uM alpha-tocopherol, with a corresponding decrease in markers of VTV biogenesis in western blots of whole cell lysates (WCL) and retention of ApoB within the cell, indicating disruption of an early step in VLDL biogenesis. Further evidence indicates an increase in size and lipidation of the VTV and VLDL particle. BODIPY staining as well as 3H-TAG retention in WCLs was also sharply reduced. Overall, these results indicate that alpha-tocopherol reduces VLDL secretion, partially disrupts hepatic VLDL synthesis and VTV biogenesis, increases the lipidation of remaining VLDL particles, and diminishes overall cellular lipid droplet retention.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007617, ucf:52538
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007617
- Title
- ALTERNATIVE EPIGRAPHIC INTERPRETATIONS OF THE MAYA SNAKE EMBLEM GLYPH.
- Creator
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Savage, Christopher, Chase, Arlen, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This thesis seeks to demonstrate that the Maya snake emblem glyph is associated with religious specialists, instead of geographic locations, as emblem glyphs are typically understood to be. The inscriptions and the media on which the snake emblem glyph occurs will be analyzed to determine the role or function of the "Lord of the Snake." Temporal and spatial data has also been collected to aid in understanding the enigmatic glyph. The snake emblem glyph has recently been identified as...
Show moreThis thesis seeks to demonstrate that the Maya snake emblem glyph is associated with religious specialists, instead of geographic locations, as emblem glyphs are typically understood to be. The inscriptions and the media on which the snake emblem glyph occurs will be analyzed to determine the role or function of the "Lord of the Snake." Temporal and spatial data has also been collected to aid in understanding the enigmatic glyph. The snake emblem glyph has recently been identified as originating from a broad area containing the sites of El Perú and La Corona in Guatemala, and Dzibanche, Mexico, a departure from the longstanding choice of Calakmul, Mexico. Unprovenanced snake emblem glyph texts have been cataloged under a "Site Q" designation („Q‟ for the Spanish word Que, meaning "which") by Peter Mathews. Site Q is thus not securely identified geographically, which confounds efforts to designate a particular site as the snake emblem glyph site. Other problems with the snake emblem glyph, such as its geographically wide dispersal, hint that it is not a title of a particular city or region. Yet another problem is "a proper fit" between the individuals listed on unprovenanced material and individuals named at sites associated with the snake emblem glyph. It is argued that the interpretation of the snake emblem glyph differs from how emblem glyphs are presently understood. Rather than representing a physical location, the snake emblem glyph represents a mythological place or "state," containing members who legitimize their lineage (association) through ritual events such as communication with supernaturals via the vision serpent. The specialists perform rituals, scatterings, are ballplayers, and witness events. They are rarely associated with accession, which by current interpretation is implicitly tied to emblem glyphs.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001842, ucf:47368
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001842
- Title
- ALTERNATIVE FOAM TREATMENTS FOR THE SPACE SHUTTLE'S EXTERNAL TANK.
- Creator
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Dreggors, Kirsten, Nayfeh, Jamal, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The Space Shuttle Columbia accident and the recent excitement surrounding Discovery's return to space brought excessive media attention to the foam products used on the External Tank (ET). In both cases, videos showed chunks of foam or ablative material falling away from the ET during lift off. This led to several years of investigation and research into the exact cause of the accident and potential solutions to avoid the problem in the future. Several design changes were made prior to the...
Show moreThe Space Shuttle Columbia accident and the recent excitement surrounding Discovery's return to space brought excessive media attention to the foam products used on the External Tank (ET). In both cases, videos showed chunks of foam or ablative material falling away from the ET during lift off. This led to several years of investigation and research into the exact cause of the accident and potential solutions to avoid the problem in the future. Several design changes were made prior to the return to flight this year, but the ET still shed foam during lift off. Since the Columbia accident, the loss of foam on ETs has been a significant area of interest for NASA, United Space Alliance, and Lockheed Martin. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board did not evaluate alternative materials but certainly highlighted the need for change. The majority of the research previously concentrated on improving the design and/or the application process of the current materials. Within recent years, some research and testing has been done to determine if a glass microsphere composite foam would be an acceptable alternative, but this work was overcome by the need for immediate change to return the shuttle to flight in time to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. Through a better understanding of the foam products currently used on the ET, other products can be evaluated for future space shuttle flights and potential applications on new space vehicles. The material properties and the required functionality of alternative materials can be compared to the current materials to determine if suitable replacement products exist. This research also lends itself to the development of future space flight and unmanned launch vehicles. In this paper, the feasibility of alternative material for the space shuttle's external tank will be investigated. Research on what products are used on the ET and a set of functional requirements driving the selection of those materials will be presented. The material properties of the current ET foam products will be collected and an evaluation of how those materials' properties meet the functional requirements will be accomplished. Then significant research on polymeric foams and ablative materials will be completed to learn how these various products can be applied in this industry. With this research and analysis, the knowledge gained will be used to select and evaluate the effectiveness of an alternate product and to determine feasibility of a product change with the current ET and the importance of maintaining the shuttle launch schedule. This research will also be used to evaluate the potential application of the alternative product on future platforms. There are several possible outcomes to this research. This research could result in a recommended change to the ET foam material or a perfectly acceptable alternative material that could result in a cost or schedule impact if implemented. It is also possible that there exists no suitable alternative material given the existing functional requirements. In any case, the alternative material could have future applications on new space vehicles. A set of results from the research and analysis will be provided along with a recommendation on a future material for use on space vehicles.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000787, ucf:46566
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000787
- Title
- ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF ELICITING INDIVIDUAL WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR TRAVEL TIME SAVINGS: A PILOT STUDY.
- Creator
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LASCELLES, ASHLEY, Harrison, Glenn, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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How does one estimate the value of an individual's time? One possible way is to estimate how much a person is willing to pay for time savings. The majority of transportation studies have used stated preference surveys to estimate an individual's willingness to pay (WTP) for travel time savings. However, stated preferences approaches are subject to hypothetical bias since they elicit WTP for hypothetical outcomes instead of real outcomes. One study used a revealed preference approach...
Show moreHow does one estimate the value of an individual's time? One possible way is to estimate how much a person is willing to pay for time savings. The majority of transportation studies have used stated preference surveys to estimate an individual's willingness to pay (WTP) for travel time savings. However, stated preferences approaches are subject to hypothetical bias since they elicit WTP for hypothetical outcomes instead of real outcomes. One study used a revealed preference approach in a natural experiment to elicit WTP for travel time savings but the data was for a non-recurring event, which was not replicable. The purpose of this pilot study is to explore new methods, using procedures from a replicable field experiment, to elicit individual WTP for travel time savings. By using a revealed preference approach in an experimental setting, we address the legitimate concern over hypothetical bias while allowing the experimental methods and resulting data set to be replicated in other settings. The results show that the proposed field experiment is feasible, and that a sample of college students places a value of $22.43 on an hour of time. This estimated value is significantly greater than zero. We also find that individual WTP for travel time savings is significantly larger than the average wage rate, and that this WTP varies significantly across certain demographics. We conclude by reviewing the simplifying assumptions made within the study and offer extensions of how our data set can be replicated in the future for more complete analysis.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002184, ucf:47911
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002184
- Title
- ALTERNATIVE TEACHER CERTIFICATION:AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATIVE TEACHER CERTIFICATION IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ACCORDING TO PRINCIPALS' PERSPECTIVE.
- Creator
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Torres, Nelson, Murray, Kenneth, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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ABSTRACT Alternative Certification Programs (ACPs) have been established in 47 states across the country, including Florida, to help alleviate the teacher shortage many public school districts have been experiencing during the last two decades. This teacher shortage has been reported to be more prevalent in areas where fully qualified and committed teachers are most needed. Current literature has identified areas such as inner-city schools, at-risk and minority students, bilingual education,...
Show moreABSTRACT Alternative Certification Programs (ACPs) have been established in 47 states across the country, including Florida, to help alleviate the teacher shortage many public school districts have been experiencing during the last two decades. This teacher shortage has been reported to be more prevalent in areas where fully qualified and committed teachers are most needed. Current literature has identified areas such as inner-city schools, at-risk and minority students, bilingual education, math and physical sciences, and the special education field as the educational areas where the shortage is most significant. Faced with this dilemma, states have instituted ACPs as unconventional ways to attract and recruit potential teacher candidates from professional fields outside the profession of education and assist them in becoming fully certified and highly qualified teachers. The objective of any ACP is to provide an alternate way for an interested professional to become a teacher without going back to a college or university. Therefore, any ACP functions as a supplement to traditional college education programs in preparing prospective teacher candidates. The focus of this study is the Alternative Certification Programs established by the public school districts in the state of Florida as required by state statutes. It was designed to assess the effectiveness of such programs based on the perspectives, attitudes, and perceptions that selected public school principals have on these programs and on alternatively certified teachers. These principals were identified and selected by their respective school districts. A questionnaire, created in part by the researcher, was used to identify the perspectives, attitudes, and perceptions public school principals have on ACPs and alternatively certified teachers. Data on the different ACPs were collected directly from the different public school districts and from Internet Web sites established by the districts. The researcher contacted 67 Florida public school districts requesting information on their respective ACPs and asked them to select and identify three school principals who had experience with alternatively certified teachers to participate in a survey concerning their attitudes, perceptions, and perspectives about alternatively certified teachers and the alternative certification programs. The researcher asked that the three principals be selected one each from the grade levels of elementary, middle, and high school. Findings indicated that the alternative certification programs throughout the State of Florida are producing highly qualified teachers whose overall performance has been rated as equal to or better than that of newly hired traditionally certified teacher. These findings are based on the responses provided by the principals who completed and returned the 20-item questionnaire and on other existing literature and data on the state's alternative certification program. The overall impression from the principals' responses is that they are satisfied with the quality work and performance of their alternatively certified teachers.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001420, ucf:47060
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001420
- Title
- An alternative to war.
- Creator
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Zahn, Gordon C. (Gordon Charles), Council on Religion and International Affairs
- Date Issued
- 1963
- Identifier
- 2683398, CFDT2683398, ucf:5076
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/2683398
