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Title: Supranational Organizations and Legitimacy: How the 2008 Global Economic Crisis has affected Public Opinion on Membership in the EU.
Creator: Vargas-Gonzalez, Briana, Kim, Myunghee, Kinsey, Barbara, Knuckey, Jonathan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis examines public opinion towards membership in the EU, before and after the 2008 global economic crisis, in the newest member states to join the institution in 2004 (the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) and 2007 (Bulgaria and Romania). Prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989, socialist economies and communism maintained a citizenry that never experienced unemployment and that did not have a political...
Show moreThis thesis examines public opinion towards membership in the EU, before and after the 2008 global economic crisis, in the newest member states to join the institution in 2004 (the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) and 2007 (Bulgaria and Romania). Prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989, socialist economies and communism maintained a citizenry that never experienced unemployment and that did not have a political voice. Because free-market economic policies and democratic values are new to these countries, public opinion regarding membership in a supranational organization that promotes and fosters these ideals is important to study. Data from the Eurobarometer Public Opinion Survey spring waves 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the World Bank, and Eurostat are used to measure multiple indicators of support for membership in the EU. Ordered logistic regression and means comparison analyses are employed to measure the effect of national-level economic prospects, economic winner/loser status, political party power, age, national identity, gender, and individual-level political ideology on public opinion toward membership. The results demonstrate that multiple indicators affect attitudes toward membership and that a negative shift in public opinion is apparent following the 2008 global economic crisis. At the individual-level of analysis, economic winner/loser status and national identity are significant in the predicted direction in all five models. Age is a significant indicator of support only in 2008, 2009, and 2010. At the aggregate-level, means comparison analyses and t-test statistics indicate that GDP annual growth rates have a positive effect on attitudes toward membership in the EU. As GDP annual growth increases, approval of membership in the EU increases. Eurozone membership and unemployment rates indicate varied support for membership in the EU, and the results of means comparison analyses of political party power at the national-level are inconclusive and exploratory in nature. With all findings considered, future studies can further examine the implications and long-term effects of global financial crises on public opinion towards membership in various international economic organizations.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005435, ucf:50414
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005435

Title: TOWARD A THEORY OF PRACTICAL DRIFT IN TEAMS.
Creator: Bisbey, Tiffany, Salas, Eduardo, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Practical drift is defined as the unintentional adaptation of routine behaviors from written procedure. The occurrence of practical drift can result in catastrophic disaster in high-reliability organizations (e.g. the military, emergency medicine, space exploration). Given the lack of empirical research on practical drift, this research sought to develop a better understanding by investigating ways to assess and stop the process in high-reliability organizations. An introductory literature...
Show morePractical drift is defined as the unintentional adaptation of routine behaviors from written procedure. The occurrence of practical drift can result in catastrophic disaster in high-reliability organizations (e.g. the military, emergency medicine, space exploration). Given the lack of empirical research on practical drift, this research sought to develop a better understanding by investigating ways to assess and stop the process in high-reliability organizations. An introductory literature review was conducted to investigate the variables that play a role in the occurrence of practical drift in teams. Research was guided by the input-throughput-output model of team adaptation posed by Burke, Stagl, Salas, Pierce, and Kendall (2006). It demonstrates relationships supported by the results of the literature review and the Burke and colleagues (2006) model denoting potential indicators of practical drift in teams. Research centralized on the core processes and emergent states of the adaptive cycle; namely, shared mental models, team situation awareness, and coordination. The resulting model shows the relationship of procedure—practice coupling demands misfit and maladaptive violations of procedure being mediated by shared mental models, team situation awareness, and coordination. Shared mental models also lead to team situation awareness, and both depict a mutual, positive relationship with coordination. The cycle restarts when an error caused by maladaptive violations of procedure creates a greater misfit between procedural demands and practical demands. This movement toward a theory of practical drift in teams provides a conceptual framework and testable propositions for future research to build from, giving practical avenues to predict and prevent accidents resulting from drift in high-reliability organizations. Suggestions for future research are also discussed, including possible directions to explore. By examining the relationships reflected in the new model, steps can be taken to counteract organizational failures in the process of practical drift in teams.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004636, ucf:45300
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004636

Title: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN CONTEXT-BASED REASONING (CXBR) AND CONTEXTUAL GRAPHS (CXGS).
Creator: Lorins, Peterson, Gonzalez, Avelino, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Context-based Reasoning (CxBR) and Contextual Graphs (CxGs) involve the modeling of human behavior in autonomous and decision-support situations in which optimal human decision-making is of utmost importance. Both formalisms use the notion of contexts to allow the implementation of intelligent agents equipped with a context sensitive knowledge base. However, CxBR uses a set of discrete contexts, implying that models created using CxBR operate within one context at a given time interval. CxGs...
Show moreContext-based Reasoning (CxBR) and Contextual Graphs (CxGs) involve the modeling of human behavior in autonomous and decision-support situations in which optimal human decision-making is of utmost importance. Both formalisms use the notion of contexts to allow the implementation of intelligent agents equipped with a context sensitive knowledge base. However, CxBR uses a set of discrete contexts, implying that models created using CxBR operate within one context at a given time interval. CxGs use a continuous context-based representation for a given problem-solving scenario for decision-support processes. Both formalisms use contexts dynamically by continuously changing between necessary contexts as needed in appropriate instances. This thesis identifies a synergy between these two formalisms by looking into their similarities and differences. It became clear during the research that each paradigm was designed with a very specific family of problems in mind. Thus, CXBR best implements models of autonomous agents in environment, while CxGs is best implemented in a decision support setting that requires the development of decision-making procedures. Cross applications were implemented on each and the results are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000577, ucf:46433
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000577

Title: THE EFFECTS ADVERTISING PLAYS ON COLLEGE STUDENTS' MORAL INTENTIONS BEYOND PURCHASE BEHAVIOR.
Creator: Crockett, William, Massiah, Carolyn, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Advertisements affect our daily lives and as technology and the practice of marketing has developed over the course of history, we have become exposed to greater amounts of product and service campaigns. The purpose of advertisements is to educate the consumer with the goal of ultimately selling the product, and many companies and organizations would not be able to survive without the use of advertisements. Ultimately, it is a necessity for a business to prosper in a competitive market, but...
Show moreAdvertisements affect our daily lives and as technology and the practice of marketing has developed over the course of history, we have become exposed to greater amounts of product and service campaigns. The purpose of advertisements is to educate the consumer with the goal of ultimately selling the product, and many companies and organizations would not be able to survive without the use of advertisements. Ultimately, it is a necessity for a business to prosper in a competitive market, but there are possible side-effects for the consumer that are beyond the intentions to buy. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the effects advertisements play on the college student in particular. Different static/multi media advertisements have been shown to various college students ranging in gender and background to discover the comprehensive ramifications of specific promotions to study the moral and ethical impact that advertisements play on students' moral intent. An analysis and conclusion will be given, along with ideas for possible future studies. Recommendations will also be stated for marketers to be morally responsible for the advertisements they portray so the audience is not effected in a way that can lead to unwanted consequences. Ultimately, the results did not support the original hypotheses, leading to thought- provoking questions concerning our current marketing practices and the effectiveness of static and multimedia advertisements on college students. Future studies need to take place to reveal the accuracy of the study and to ultimately answer the question, "Are current advertisements influencing the audience at hand?"
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004250, ucf:44899
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004250

Title: A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SECOND-ORDER CHANGE LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS OF PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL GRADES OF FLORIDA TITLE I ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
Creator: La Cava, Gonzalo, Taylor, Rosemarye, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between second-order change leadership behaviors and the grade assigned to schools in large urban districts by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). A total of 101 Title I elementary school principals from large urban school districts with 60+% students on Free and Reduced School Lunch participated in the study. Specifically, this study analyzed 7 of the 21 second-order change factor responsibilities. They include (a)...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between second-order change leadership behaviors and the grade assigned to schools in large urban districts by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). A total of 101 Title I elementary school principals from large urban school districts with 60+% students on Free and Reduced School Lunch participated in the study. Specifically, this study analyzed 7 of the 21 second-order change factor responsibilities. They include (a) knowledge of curriculum, instruction, assessment, (b) optimizer, (c) intellectual stimulation, (d) change agent, (e) monitoring/evaluating, (f) flexibility, and (g) ideals/beliefs. The findings of this study were delineated through an examination of the data as it was related to the following questions: (a) What are the differences, if any, in the Principal Actions Survey scores of Title I elementary principals based on the 2008 school grade, according to the FLDOE? (b) What relationship, if any, exists among professional demographics of the principals (years at the school, years as an educator, years as an administrator prior to becoming a principal, years as a principal, highest degree earned, age, gender) and the second-order change leadership behaviors? (c) What are the differences, if any, in the second-order change leadership behavior subgroup scores based on the 2008 school grade according to the FLDOE? Although Research Question 1 had no statistical significance, principals who had a higher mean on the Principal Actions Survey led A and B-rated schools. Statistical significance was found in Research Question 2 for the second-order change leadership behavior of Change Agent and Ideals/Beliefs. Though statistical significance was not found in Research Question 3, each mean score for each sub-group in each grade group indicated consistent answers between Strongly Agree and Agree, which demonstrated a large degree of agreement. Additionally, comments from telephone interviews with selected principals determined that these leadership behaviors could positively impact elementary schools and the field of education. Recommendations of the study were to: (a) Conduct a follow-up study to gather the perceptions of teachers from the same Title I schools regarding their principals' second-order change leadership behaviors, (b) conduct a similar study with principals in Title I middle and high school settings, (c) conduct a qualitative study on second-order change leadership behaviors of non-Title I elementary, middle, and high school principals, (d) engage in further research to investigate professional development activities that may assist principals in enhancing second-order change leadership behaviors and improve instruction, (e) investigate the relationship between principals' second-order change leadership behaviors and achievement of Adequate Yearly Progress (f) replicate the study in states other than Florida (g) explore the relationship between second-order change leadership behaviors of district administrators and their district's academic success.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002876, ucf:48031
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002876

Title: Factors Contributing to Low Adequate Prenatal Care Rates in Orange County, Florida.
Creator: Daniel, Lauren, Donley, Amy, Hinojosa, Melanie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In 2017, only 56% of births in Orange County, Florida, received adequate prenatal care(-)care that has been shown to prevent maternal and infant death. The Florida Department of Health uses the Kotelchuck Index to determine care adequacy. This index rates care adequacy based on when the mother first receives care, and how many recommended appointments she attends. Prenatal care is rated (")inadequate(") if it starts after the fourth month of pregnancy, and/or if less than half of the...
Show moreIn 2017, only 56% of births in Orange County, Florida, received adequate prenatal care(-)care that has been shown to prevent maternal and infant death. The Florida Department of Health uses the Kotelchuck Index to determine care adequacy. This index rates care adequacy based on when the mother first receives care, and how many recommended appointments she attends. Prenatal care is rated (")inadequate(") if it starts after the fourth month of pregnancy, and/or if less than half of the recommended appointments are attended. Receiving earlier and consistent prenatal care has been shown to be an effective way to improve birth outcomes.In Florida, counties that have low adequate prenatal care rates like Orange County's tend to be less populous and rural. However, Orange County stands out with its large population of 1.3 million and more urban environment; other Florida counties similar in population and environment to Orange tend to have rates like that of the state's, at approximately 70%.The objective of this study is to determine which factors contribute most significantly to prenatal care inadequacy in Orange, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, and Pinellas counties; determine the differences between the most significant factors in Orange County and those in the other four counties; and to determine if residing in Orange County in of itself a risk factor for inadequate prenatal care, using logistic regression. By identifying factors that may lead to low adequacy rates, interventions intended to increase care adequacy in Orange County can be better targeted towards populations in need.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007447, ucf:52715
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007447

Title: examining followership role orientation.
Creator: Monsky, Douglas, Burke, Shawn, Shoss, Mindy, Bowers, Clint, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study attempts to make steps toward filling significant gaps in the followership literature. The study of followership has often been seen through the lens of leaders' ability to impart change in follower behavior. In doing so, the literature has primarily focused on leader behavior as the agent of change rather than acknowledging followers as active agents in their own behaviors. However, some recent research has shown the emergence of followers as the primary focus, even looking at how...
Show moreThis study attempts to make steps toward filling significant gaps in the followership literature. The study of followership has often been seen through the lens of leaders' ability to impart change in follower behavior. In doing so, the literature has primarily focused on leader behavior as the agent of change rather than acknowledging followers as active agents in their own behaviors. However, some recent research has shown the emergence of followers as the primary focus, even looking at how their actions can change the way leaders act. This research focuses primarily on followership role orientations as mental models which specify the attributes an individual expects good followers to possess. In particular, follower personality traits, core self-evaluations, and self-construal were investigated as antecedents of followership role orientations (co-production and passive). Additionally, the relationship between these role orientations and enacted follower behavior (voice and upward delegation) were examined with task-specific self-efficacy investigated as a moderating variable. While most of the antecedents proved to be significant predictors, some of the coefficient directions were unexpected. Finally, results indicated that both role orientations were significant predictors of voice behavior and upward delegation.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007346, ucf:52127
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007346

Title: Mechanical Study on Edge-Oxidized Graphene Oxide (EOGO) Reinforced Concrete.
Creator: Khawaji, Mohammad, Nam, Boo Hyun, Chopra, Manoj, Zaurin, Ricardo, Kwok, Kawai, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: It is known that graphene oxide (GO) has superior mechanical properties and can enhance mechanical properties of cement composites. However, Hummer produced conventional GOs have been limited to small-scale specimens (e.g., cement paste and mortar) and applications to concrete have not been implemented due to their high cost and large volume of concrete. Edge-oxidized graphene oxide (EOGO) is a low-cost, carbon-based nanomaterial produced by a mechanochemical process with ball milling and a...
Show moreIt is known that graphene oxide (GO) has superior mechanical properties and can enhance mechanical properties of cement composites. However, Hummer produced conventional GOs have been limited to small-scale specimens (e.g., cement paste and mortar) and applications to concrete have not been implemented due to their high cost and large volume of concrete. Edge-oxidized graphene oxide (EOGO) is a low-cost, carbon-based nanomaterial produced by a mechanochemical process with ball milling and a non-toxic oxidizing agent. The low cost (less than $50/kg) of EOGO enables its use in bulk-scale concrete materials/structures, which is a prerequisite for the field implementation. In this study, EOGO was applied to macroscopic concrete to investigate mechanical and workability performance of EOGO reinforced concrete. Interestingly, it was observed that the addition of EOGO to normal concrete increases concrete slump, which opposes the conventional GO study on cement paste. To maximize the benefits of the improved workability, EOGO was then applied to fiber reinforced concretes (FRCs) to compensate their low workability. Two different types of fibers were used, including basalt and steel fibers. The results indicated that EOGO is not effective in basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC) perhaps due to the high absorption of basalt fibers. However, adding EOGO to steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) exhibited significant enhancement in workability and strength compared with control specimens. Subsequently, the effect of EOGO on flexural fatigue behavior of cement composite mixtures (cement mortar and concrete) was investigated. The flexural fatigue results show that adding EOGO to cement composites enhances flexural fatigue performance. Lastly, the impact of EOGO on pavement structure was investigated based on Mechanistic-Empirical Design Guide (MEPDG). The results show EOGO significantly extends service life and minimizes the required thickness of surface layer.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007826, ucf:52821
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007826

Title: VIBRATIONAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF 10 MOL % SC2O3-1 MOL % CEO2- ZRO2 ELECTROLYTE CERAMICS FOR SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS.
Creator: Lukich, Svetlana, Orlovskaya, Nina, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are emerging as a potential breakthrough energy conversion technology for clean and efficient production of electricity and heat from hydrogen and hydro-carbon fuels. Sc0.1Ce0.01ZrO2 electrolytes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells are very promising materials because their high ionic conductivity in the intermediate temperature range 700oC-800oC. The vibration response of cubic and rhombohedral (β) 10 mol%Sc2O3 - 1 mol%CeO2 - ZrO2 (Sc0.1Ce0.01ZrO2 ) both at room...
Show moreSolid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are emerging as a potential breakthrough energy conversion technology for clean and efficient production of electricity and heat from hydrogen and hydro-carbon fuels. Sc0.1Ce0.01ZrO2 electrolytes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells are very promising materials because their high ionic conductivity in the intermediate temperature range 700oC-800oC. The vibration response of cubic and rhombohedral (β) 10 mol%Sc2O3 - 1 mol%CeO2 - ZrO2 (Sc0.1Ce0.01ZrO2 ) both at room and high-temperatures is reported. The in-situ heating experiments and ex-situ indentation experiments were performed to characterize the vibrational behavior of these important materials. A temperature and stress-assisted phase transition from cubic to rhombohedral phase was detected during in-situ Raman spectroscopy experiments. While heating and indentation experiments performed separately did not cause the transition of the cubic phase into the rhombohedral structure under the performed experimental conditions and only broadened or strained peaks of the cubic phase could be detected, the heating of the indented (strained) surface leaded to the formation of the rhombohedral Sc0.1Ce0.01ZrO2. Both temperature range and strained zone were estimated by in situ heating and 2D mapping, where a formation of rhombohedral or retention of cubic phase has been promoted. The mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus, Vickers hardness, indentation fracture resistance, room and high temperature four point bending strength and SEVNB fracture toughness along with the stress – strain deformation behavior in compression, of 10 mol% Sc2O3 – 1 mol % CeO2 - ZrO2 (ScCeZrO2) ceramics have been studied. The chosen composition of the ScCeZrO2 has very high ionic conductivity and, therefore, is very promising oxygen ion conducting electrolyte for the intermediate temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. Therefore, its mechanical behavior is of importance and is presented in this study.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002914, ucf:52845
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002914

Title: CONTEXTUALIZING OBSERVATIONAL DATA FOR MODELING HUMAN PERFORMANCE.
Creator: Trinh, Viet, Gonzalez, Avelino, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research focuses on the ability to contextualize observed human behaviors in efforts to automate the process of tactical human performance modeling through learning from observations. This effort to contextualize human behavior is aimed at minimizing the role and involvement of the knowledge engineers required in building intelligent Context-based Reasoning (CxBR) agents. More specifically, the goal is to automatically discover the context in which a human actor is situated when...
Show moreThis research focuses on the ability to contextualize observed human behaviors in efforts to automate the process of tactical human performance modeling through learning from observations. This effort to contextualize human behavior is aimed at minimizing the role and involvement of the knowledge engineers required in building intelligent Context-based Reasoning (CxBR) agents. More specifically, the goal is to automatically discover the context in which a human actor is situated when performing a mission to facilitate the learning of such CxBR models. This research is derived from the contextualization problem left behind in Fernlund's research on using the Genetic Context Learner (GenCL) to model CxBR agents from observed human performance [Fernlund, 2004]. To accomplish the process of context discovery, this research proposes two contextualization algorithms: Contextualized Fuzzy ART (CFA) and Context Partitioning and Clustering (COPAC). The former is a more naive approach utilizing the well known Fuzzy ART strategy while the latter is a robust algorithm developed on the principles of CxBR. Using Fernlund's original five drivers, the CFA and COPAC algorithms were tested and evaluated on their ability to effectively contextualize each driver's individualized set of behaviors into well-formed and meaningful context bases as well as generating high-fidelity agents through the integration with Fernlund's GenCL algorithm. The resultant set of agents was able to capture and generalized each driver's individualized behaviors.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002563, ucf:48253
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002563

Title: Towards Improving Human-Robot Interaction For Social Robots.
Creator: Khan, Saad, Boloni, Ladislau, Behal, Aman, Sukthankar, Gita, Garibay, Ivan, Fiore, Stephen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Autonomous robots interacting with humans in a social setting must consider the social-cultural environment when pursuing their objectives. Thus the social robot must perceive and understand the social cultural environment in order to be able to explain and predict the actions of its human interaction partners. This dissertation contributes to the emerging field of human-robot interaction for social robots in the following ways: 1. We used the social calculus technique based on culture...
Show moreAutonomous robots interacting with humans in a social setting must consider the social-cultural environment when pursuing their objectives. Thus the social robot must perceive and understand the social cultural environment in order to be able to explain and predict the actions of its human interaction partners. This dissertation contributes to the emerging field of human-robot interaction for social robots in the following ways: 1. We used the social calculus technique based on culture sanctioned social metrics (CSSMs) to quantify, analyze and predict the behavior of the robot, human soldiers and the public perception in the Market Patrol peacekeeping scenario. 2. We validated the results of the Market Patrol scenario by comparing the predicted values with the judgment of a large group of human observers cognizant of the modeled culture. 3. We modeled the movement of a socially aware mobile robot in a dense crowds, using the concept of a micro-conflict to represent the challenge of giving or not giving way to pedestrians. 4. We developed an approach for the robot behavior in micro-conflicts based on the psychological observation that human opponents will use a consistent strategy. For this, the mobile robot classifies the opponent strategy reflected by the personality and social status of the person and chooses an appropriate counter-strategy that takes into account the urgency of the robots' mission. 5. We developed an alternative approach for the resolution of micro-conflicts based on the imitation of the behavior of the human agent. This approach aims to make the behavior of an autonomous robot closely resemble that of a remotely operated one.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005965, ucf:50819
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005965

Title: The effectiveness of Child Restraint and Bicycle Helmet Policies to Improve Road Safety.
Creator: Bustamante, Claudia, Abdel-Aty, Mohamed, Eluru, Naveen, Lee, JaeYoung, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Analyzing the effect of legislation in children's safety when they travel as motor-vehicle passengers and bicycle riders can allow us to evaluate the effectiveness in transportation policies. The Child Restraint Laws (CRL) and Bicycle Helmet Laws (BHL) were studied by analyzing the nationwide Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to estimate the fatality reduction as well as drivers' decisions to use Child Restraint Systems (CRS) and bicycle helmets respectively. Differences in...
Show moreAnalyzing the effect of legislation in children's safety when they travel as motor-vehicle passengers and bicycle riders can allow us to evaluate the effectiveness in transportation policies. The Child Restraint Laws (CRL) and Bicycle Helmet Laws (BHL) were studied by analyzing the nationwide Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to estimate the fatality reduction as well as drivers' decisions to use Child Restraint Systems (CRS) and bicycle helmets respectively. Differences in legislation could have different effects on traffic fatalities. Therefore, this study presents multiple methodologies to study these effects. In the evaluation of traffic safety issues, several proven statistical models have shown to be effective at estimating risky factors that might influence crash prevention. These proven models and predictive data analysis guided the process to attempt different models, leading to the development of three specific models used in this study to best estimate the effectiveness of these laws. Then, it was found that legislation in Child Safety Policy has consequences in traffic fatalities. A negative binomial model was created to analyze the CRL influence at the state-level in fatal crashes involving children, and showed that legislating on CRS can reduce the number of fatalities by 29% for children aged 5 to 9. Additionally, at the drivers-level a logistic regression model with random effects was used to determine the significant variables that influence the driver's decision to restrain his/her child. Such variables include: driver's restraint use, road classification, weather condition, number of occupants in the vehicle, traffic violations and driver's and child's age. It was also shown that drivers from communities with deprived socio-economic status are less likely to use CRS. In the same way, a binary logistic regression model was developed to evaluate the effect of BHL in bicycle helmet-use. Findings from this model show that bicyclists from states with the BHL are 236 times more likely to wear a helmet compared to those from states without the BHL. Moreover, the bicyclist's age, gender, education, and income level also influences bicycle helmet use. Both studies suggest that enacting CRL and BHL at the state-level for the studied age groups can be combined with education, safety promotion, enforcement, and program evaluation as proven countermeasures to increase children's traffic safety. This study evidenced that there is a lack of research in this field, especially when policy making requires having enough evidence to support the laws in order to not become an arbitrary legislation procedure affecting child's protection in the transportation system.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006571, ucf:51315
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006571

Title: Investigating The Relationship Between Adverse Events and Infrastructure Development in an Active War Theater Using Soft Computing Techniques.
Creator: Cakit, Erman, Karwowski, Waldemar, Lee, Gene, Thompson, William, Mikusinski, Piotr, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The military recently recognized the importance of taking sociocultural factors into consideration. Therefore, Human Social Culture Behavior (HSCB) modeling has been getting much attention in current and future operational requirements to successfully understand the effects of social and cultural factors on human behavior. There are different kinds of modeling approaches to the data that are being used in this field and so far none of them has been widely accepted. HSCB modeling needs the...
Show moreThe military recently recognized the importance of taking sociocultural factors into consideration. Therefore, Human Social Culture Behavior (HSCB) modeling has been getting much attention in current and future operational requirements to successfully understand the effects of social and cultural factors on human behavior. There are different kinds of modeling approaches to the data that are being used in this field and so far none of them has been widely accepted. HSCB modeling needs the capability to represent complex, ill-defined, and imprecise concepts, and soft computing modeling can deal with these concepts. There is currently no study on the use of any computational methodology for representing the relationship between adverse events and infrastructure development investments in an active war theater. This study investigates the relationship between adverse events and infrastructure development projects in an active war theater using soft computing techniques including fuzzy inference systems (FIS), artificial neural networks (ANNs), and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) that directly benefits from their accuracy in prediction applications. Fourteen developmental and economic improvement project types were selected based on allocated budget values and a number of projects at different time periods, urban and rural population density, and total adverse event numbers at previous month selected as independent variables. A total of four outputs reflecting the adverse events in terms of the number of people killed, wounded, hijacked, and total number of adverse events has been estimated. For each model, the data was grouped for training and testing as follows: years between 2004 and 2009 (for training purpose) and year 2010 (for testing). Ninety-six different models were developed and investigated for Afghanistan and the country was divided into seven regions for analysis purposes. Performance of each model was investigated and compared to all other models with the calculated mean absolute error (MAE) values and the prediction accuracy within (&)#177;1 error range (difference between actual and predicted value). Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects of input values on dependent variables and to rank the top ten input parameters in order of importance.According to the the results obtained, it was concluded that the ANNs, FIS, and ANFIS are useful modeling techniques for predicting the number of adverse events based on historical development or economic projects' data. When the model accuracy was calculated based on the MAE for each of the models, the ANN had better predictive accuracy than FIS and ANFIS models in general as demonstrated by experimental results. The percentages of prediction accuracy with values found within (&)#177;1 error range around 90%. The sensitivity analysis results show that the importance of economic development projects varies based on the regions, population density, and occurrence of adverse events in Afghanistan. For the purpose of allocating resources and development of regions, the results can be summarized by examining the relationship between adverse events and infrastructure development in an active war theater; emphasis was on predicting the occurrence of events and assessing the potential impact of regional infrastructure development efforts on reducing number of such events.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004826, ucf:49757
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004826

Title: Biomechanics of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip - An engineering study of closed reduction utilizing the Pavlik harness for a range of subtle to severe dislocations in infants.
Creator: Huayamave, Victor, Divo, Eduardo, Kassab, Alain, Reddi, Lakshmi, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is an abnormal condition where hip joint dislocation, misalignment, or instability is present in infants. Rates of incidence of DDH in newborn infants have been reported to vary between 1 and 20 per 1000 births, making it the most common congenital malformation of the musculoskeletal system. DDH early detection and treatment is critical to avoid the use of surgical treatment in infants and to prevent future complications such as osteoarthritis in adult...
Show moreDevelopmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is an abnormal condition where hip joint dislocation, misalignment, or instability is present in infants. Rates of incidence of DDH in newborn infants have been reported to vary between 1 and 20 per 1000 births, making it the most common congenital malformation of the musculoskeletal system. DDH early detection and treatment is critical to avoid the use of surgical treatment in infants and to prevent future complications such as osteoarthritis in adult life. To this day several non-surgical treatments involving the use of harnesses and braces have been proposed to treat DDH in infants, with the Pavlik harness being the current non-surgical standard used to treat DDH at early stages. Although the Pavlik harness has been proven to be successful treating subtle dislocations, severe dislocations do not always reduce. Until now the use of the harness remains an empirical method, and its effectiveness often depends on physician expertise or trial-error procedures; thus a clear guideline has not been established to determine the best optimal harness configuration to treat both subtle and severe dislocations. The goal of this dissertation is to understand the connection between reductions for subtle and severe dislocations and passive muscle forces and moments generated while the harness is used during treatment. While the understanding of DDH biomechanics will provide a valuable clinically applicable approach to optimize and increase harness success rate, it is not without its difficulties. This research has created and developed a three-dimensional based on patient-specific geometry of an infant lower limb. The kinematics and dynamics of the lower limb were defined by modeling the hip, femur, tibia, fibula, ankle, foot, and toe bones. The lines of action of five (5) adductor muscles, namely, the Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Adductor Magnus, Pectineus, and Gracilis were identified as mediators of reduction and its mechanical behavior was characterized using a passive response. Four grades (1-4) of dislocation as specified by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) were considered, and the computer model was computationally manipulated to represent physiological dislocations. To account for proper harness modeling, the femur was restrained to move in an envelope consistent with its constraints. The model of the infant lower limb has been used to analyze subtle and severe dislocations. Results are consistent with previous studies based on a simplified anatomically-consistent synthetic model and clinical reports of very low success of the Pavlik harness for severe dislocations. Furthermore the findings on this work suggest that for severe dislocations, the use of the harness could be optimized to achieve hyperflexion of the lower limb leading to successful reduction for cases where the harness fails.This approach provides three main advantages and innovations: 1) the used of patient-specific geometry to elucidate the biomechanics of DDH; 2) the ability to computationally dislocate the model to represent dislocation severity; and 3) the quantification of external forces needed to accomplish reduction for severe dislocations. This study aims to offer a practical solution to effective treatment that draws from engineering expertise and modeling capabilities and also draws upon medical input. The findings of this work will lay the foundation for future optimization of non-surgical methods critical for the treatment of DDH.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005631, ucf:50216
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005631

Title: Constructing and Validating an Integrative Economic Model of Health Care Systems and Health Care Markets: A Comparative Analysis of OECD Countries.
Creator: Helligso, Jesse, Wan, Thomas, Liu, Albert Xinliang, King, Christian, Hamann, Kerstin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation argues that there are three basic types of health care systems used in industrial nations: free market (private insurance and provision), universal (public insurance and private provision), and socialized (public insurance and provision). It examines the role of market forces (supply and demand) within the health care systems and their effects on health outcomes by constructing an integrative model of health care markets and policies that is lacking within the scientific and...
Show moreThis dissertation argues that there are three basic types of health care systems used in industrial nations: free market (private insurance and provision), universal (public insurance and private provision), and socialized (public insurance and provision). It examines the role of market forces (supply and demand) within the health care systems and their effects on health outcomes by constructing an integrative model of health care markets and policies that is lacking within the scientific and academic literature. The results show that, free market systems have decreased access to care, good quality of care, and are economically inefficient resulting in 2.7 years of life expectancy lost and wasted expenditures (expenditures that do not increase life expectancy) of $3474 per capita ($1.12 trillion per year in the U.S.). Socialized systems are the most economically efficient systems but have decreased access to care compared to universal systems, increased access to care compared to free market systems and have the lowest quality of care of all three systems resulting in 3 months of life expectancy lost per capita and a saving of $335 per capita. Universal systems perform better than either of the other 2 systems based on quality and access to care. The models show that health insurance is a Giffen Good; a good that defies the law of demand. This study is the first fully demonstrated case of a Giffen good. This investigation shows how the theoretically informed integrative model behaves as predicted and influences health outcomes contingent upon the system type. To test and substantiate this integrative model, regression analysis, Time-Series-Cross-Section analysis, and structural equation modeling were performed using longitudinal data provided and standardized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The results demonstrate that universal health care systems are superior to the other two systems.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007335, ucf:52114
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007335

Title: HOW BEHAVIORAL FACTORS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED INTO TODAY'S FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Creator: Perez, Esperanza, Gilkeson, Jim, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research examined 50 financial education programs within the state of Florida. The purpose of the research was to survey financial education program providers to see how they are evolving to meet the sociological, psychological and behavioral factors that affect individual's financial decision making. In constructing the survey I referenced articles, journals and publications regarding how certain factors can affect an individual and their ability to apply financial education to their...
Show moreThis research examined 50 financial education programs within the state of Florida. The purpose of the research was to survey financial education program providers to see how they are evolving to meet the sociological, psychological and behavioral factors that affect individual's financial decision making. In constructing the survey I referenced articles, journals and publications regarding how certain factors can affect an individual and their ability to apply financial education to their daily life. This review of previous research showed that tailored education, to determine a participant's means, ability and goals, is the best way to help participants achieve financial independence. In this literature review no specific details were found on how programs are evolving or how existing program offerings are filling the need for tailored financial education. This topic is important because financial decisions that people make will not only affect current generations but also future generations. I contacted 50 agencies with a 27 question survey regarding their basic organizational structure, funding, program details, success determinants, primary program goals and focus, and marketing strategies. 36% of those contacted, or 18 organizations, responded. All responses were compiled and compared to determine relationships among program structures, offerings, and goals. The primary findings were that most organizations opened after 2000, have budgets under $100,000 funded primarily by two main sources, and their main goals are to provide basic knowledge and education to help participants improve financial decisions. In addition, most programs conduct a pre-post survey or get participant feedback to evaluate programs and use the number of participants at meetings as their main success factor. The majority of programs do not collect financial information, however they provide one-on-one counseling to focus on tailoring education to 501+ participants per year. Recommendations for future research are to increase the number of respondents, look deeper into funding requirements, the program lifecycle, marketing strategies employed and their effectiveness, and what specific financial education topics programs are addressing. This will add to existing research by providing a broader view of the financial education landscape and help programs to evolve to meet the need for tailored education.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFH0004729, ucf:45374
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004729

Title: TOWARD BUILDING A SOCIAL ROBOT WITH AN EMOTION-BASED INTERNAL CONTROL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION TO ENHANCE HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION.
Creator: Marpaung, Andreas, Lisetti, Christine, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In this thesis, we aim at modeling some aspects of the functional role of emotions on an autonomous embodied agent. We begin by describing our robotic prototype, Cherry--a robot with the task of being a tour guide and an office assistant for the Computer Science Department at the University of Central Florida. Cherry did not have a formal emotion representation of internal states, but did have the ability to express emotions through her multimodal interface. The thesis presents the results of...
Show moreIn this thesis, we aim at modeling some aspects of the functional role of emotions on an autonomous embodied agent. We begin by describing our robotic prototype, Cherry--a robot with the task of being a tour guide and an office assistant for the Computer Science Department at the University of Central Florida. Cherry did not have a formal emotion representation of internal states, but did have the ability to express emotions through her multimodal interface. The thesis presents the results of a survey we performed via our social informatics approach where we found that: (1) the idea of having emotions in a robot was warmly accepted by Cherry's users, and (2) the intended users were pleased with our initial interface design and functionalities. Guided by these results, we transferred our previous code to a human-height and more robust robot--Petra, the PeopleBot™--where we began to build a formal emotion mechanism and representation for internal states to correspond to the external expressions of Cherry's interface. We describe our overall three-layered architecture, and propose the design of the sensory motor level (the first layer of the three-layered architecture) inspired by the Multilevel Process Theory of Emotion on one hand, and hybrid robotic architecture on the other hand. The sensory-motor level receives and processes incoming stimuli with fuzzy logic and produces emotion-like states without any further willful planning or learning. We will discuss how Petra has been equipped with sonar and vision for obstacle avoidance as well as vision for face recognition, which are used when she roams around the hallway to engage in social interactions with humans. We hope that the sensory motor level in Petra could serve as a foundation for further works in modeling the three-layered architecture of the Emotion State Generator.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000286, ucf:46228
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000286

Title: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
Creator: Ernst, Michael, Murray, Barbara, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Citizenship – commitment to and participation in a political community - is the heart of constitutional democracy and a free society. Knowledge of the rights, responsibilities, and privileges are the electrical impulses that keep a steady beat. Without the participation of educated citizens, a democratic republic can not and does not function. This study analyzed the relationship between adolescent behavior and civic engagement. This task was accomplished by examining the amount of civic...
Show moreCitizenship – commitment to and participation in a political community - is the heart of constitutional democracy and a free society. Knowledge of the rights, responsibilities, and privileges are the electrical impulses that keep a steady beat. Without the participation of educated citizens, a democratic republic can not and does not function. This study analyzed the relationship between adolescent behavior and civic engagement. This task was accomplished by examining the amount of civic knowledge possessed by two groups within a population. The population examined, a high school in Flagler County, was composed of "at risk" students (those who had an Individualized Education Plan) and "regular" students (those that did not). The study uncovered the message that the amount of civic knowledge possessed by American youth was not as important as it was for them to be engaged in extracurricular activities. During the course of time, educators appear to have restricted their own ability to plan for and provide learning experiences that take in to consideration the physical characteristics; physical needs; patterns of growth and maturation; physiological changes; intellectual development; intellectual characteristics; learning preferences and styles; emotional development; personality development; and social development of each and every young adolescent attending school. When interesting, affordable activities are not made available, students become bored and get in to trouble during after school hours. Adolescent behaviors such as moral judgment and risk taking (or lack thereof) affect their decision to become civically involved.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000764, ucf:46585
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000764

Title: PERCEIVED SERVICE QUALITY'S IMPACT ON BEHAVIORAL INTENTIONS IN THE TIMESHARE INDUSTRY.
Creator: Pollard, Leonard, Malone, Linda, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study created a model using factor analysis and structural equation modeling to investigate the relationship of service quality, word-of-mouth recommendation and price sensitivity of individuals who experienced a timeshare mini vacation at a branded timeshare resort. The constructs of service quality were developed by creating a survey tool. A total of 4,797 surveys were electronically sent resulting in a total of 1,275 of the individuals surveyed who met the criteria of staying at a...
Show moreThis study created a model using factor analysis and structural equation modeling to investigate the relationship of service quality, word-of-mouth recommendation and price sensitivity of individuals who experienced a timeshare mini vacation at a branded timeshare resort. The constructs of service quality were developed by creating a survey tool. A total of 4,797 surveys were electronically sent resulting in a total of 1,275 of the individuals surveyed who met the criteria of staying at a branded hotel or resort during their mini vacation. Six different variables were created from the ordinal level questions on the survey: Resort Accommodations, Sales Gallery, Sales Presentation, Resort Activities, Resort Staff and Brand Value. These were then used in an exploratory factor analysis to identify latent factors after which structural equation modeling was used to define the relationship between the factors and the independent variables. A total of 44 models were explored and evaluated based on goodness-of-fit metrics. The model that had the best level of fit was a first-order two-factor model. This model was created with an 80% subset and confirmed with a 20% subset of the sample. The factors found represent the Vacation Experience Promise (VEP) and the Vacation Experience Delivery (VED). There was a positive correlation for both VEP and VED with word-of-mouth recommendation and price sensitivity. The research also posited 24 hypotheses of the relationship between the service quality constructs, word-of-mouth recommendation and price sensitivity with the demographic characteristics of guest type, gender, stay type, age, marital status, gross income, timeshare ownership and the number of presentations attended. There was not enough information to support a relationship between the service quality constructs, word-of-mouth recommendation and price sensitivity with regards to gender, gross income and marital status. There was a difference in the scores for the service quality constructs and the varying categories within the age, stay type, and timeshare ownership demographic variables. There was a difference only in the VED scores and the varying categories within the guest type and presentations attended demographic variables. There was also a difference in the scores for the word-of-mouth recommendation construct and the varying categories within the age, guest type, timeshare ownership and number of presentations attended demographic variables. Lastly, there was also a difference in the scores for the price sensitivity construct and the varying categories within the guest type, timeshare ownership and presentation attended demographic variables. The research discusses the business implications associated with these findings and proposes next steps for future research.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003475, ucf:48942
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003475

Title: Beauty and the Beast: The Attractiveness Bias in an Online Peer Mentoring Program.
Creator: Garcia, Carollaine, Jentsch, Kimberly, Jentsch, Florian, Fritzsche, Barbara, Burke, Shawn, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The bias against attractiveness is fairly implicit and furthermore, powerfully impacts people's subsequent impressions of and behaviors toward others (Cash, Gillen, (&) Burns, 1977; Dion et al., 1972). Pallet, Link and Lee (2010) examined the effect of various facial spatial configurations on attractiveness and found that raters rated faces as most attractive when the eye-to-mouth ratio approximated 36% of the face length (the "golden ratio"), which coincides with the measurements of an...
Show moreThe bias against attractiveness is fairly implicit and furthermore, powerfully impacts people's subsequent impressions of and behaviors toward others (Cash, Gillen, (&) Burns, 1977; Dion et al., 1972). Pallet, Link and Lee (2010) examined the effect of various facial spatial configurations on attractiveness and found that raters rated faces as most attractive when the eye-to-mouth ratio approximated 36% of the face length (the "golden ratio"), which coincides with the measurements of an average and thus more attractive face. The present study examined the extent to which the distance of these objectively measured facial features affected mentors' perceptions of their prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s, the subsequent mentoring given to them, and the prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s' own behavior (e.g. seek feedback, request specific information).The gender composition of the mentor-prot(&)#233;g(&)#233; dyad was expected to moderate these relationships. I also examined whether, given the expected effects of facial measurements, withholding access to visual cues would affect mentor perceptions and behavior. Participants were 118 mentor/prot(&)#233;g(&)#233; dyads from a large Southeastern university who volunteered to participate in a formal online peer mentoring program. After seeing their prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s' profiles (and for those in the experimental condition, a picture), mentors chatted with their prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s once a week for 30 minutes for a total of 4 weeks. Results indicated that prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s with facial features moderately distant from the golden ratio were perceived as more similar by mentors in same-gender dyads and received greater mentoring than did prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s closest and farthest from the golden ratio. In opposite-gender dyads, however, mentors reported greater similarity toward those that were farthest from the golden ratio but provided the greatest mentoring to those closest to the golden ratio. The relationship between facial measurements and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233; proactivity was moderated by whether or not their mentor had access to their picture. While prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s closest to the ratio were more proactive in the picture condition, those that were farthest from it were more proactive in the non-picture condition. Proactivity was as expected associated with greater levels of mentoring, which was ultimately related to a more fulfilled and beneficial relationship for prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s (i.e. less stress, greater self-efficacy and satisfaction). The results of this study indicate that facial measurements are associated with both differences in mentor and in prot(&)#233;g(&)#233; behavior and that the specific nature of these relationships differs as a function of gender composition. Implications for practice and theory will be discussed.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004504, ucf:49275
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004504

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