Current Search: health (x)
Pages
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Title
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A CONSTRUCTIONIST ANALYSIS OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
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Creator
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Nead, Sandra, Lynxwiler, John, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Same-sex marriage has been heavily debated in academics and in the public sphere. During the 2004 Presidential election same-sex marriage became an issue that polarized the candidates. It has become a lightning rod for public debate. Due to the increasing attention to the controversy of legalizing same-sex marriage, it is an important topic for research. This paper seeks to contribute to the research of same-sex marriage by providing insight into claims-making efforts to define same-sex...
Show moreSame-sex marriage has been heavily debated in academics and in the public sphere. During the 2004 Presidential election same-sex marriage became an issue that polarized the candidates. It has become a lightning rod for public debate. Due to the increasing attention to the controversy of legalizing same-sex marriage, it is an important topic for research. This paper seeks to contribute to the research of same-sex marriage by providing insight into claims-making efforts to define same-sex marriage as a social problem. My findings shed light on this topic from a social constructionist perspective by examining the use of rhetorical idioms of the claims made by opposing parties in the debate over same-sex marriage as it relates to the court ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.
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Date Issued
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2005
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Identifier
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CFE0000662, ucf:46552
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000662
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Title
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ANTICIPATED TELEHEALTH DEVICE USAGE IN YOUNGER ADULTS.
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Creator
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Bull, Tyler, Szalma, James, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Telehealth and telemedicine have revolutionized the healthcare system in terms of access to information and remote medical treatment. While there is a great deal of literature on current perceptions of telehealth care systems, relatively little is known about perceived user needs and acceptance of future telehealth systems. One way to assess future attitudes is to evaluate anticipated usage of telehealth devices through perceived advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, this study seeks to...
Show moreTelehealth and telemedicine have revolutionized the healthcare system in terms of access to information and remote medical treatment. While there is a great deal of literature on current perceptions of telehealth care systems, relatively little is known about perceived user needs and acceptance of future telehealth systems. One way to assess future attitudes is to evaluate anticipated usage of telehealth devices through perceived advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, this study seeks to assess the reliability of a new measure of technology acceptance that capitalizes on human motivation using self-determination theory. An online survey consisted of an original 40-item measure of motivation to use telehealth technology, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS; Jutai & Day, 1996), questions adapted from Edwards et al. (2014) about perceived advantages and disadvantages of telehealth devices, and open-ended questions about advantages, disadvantages, and concerns of interacting with telehealth devices in the future. The open-ended questions were coded for themes. Results also indicated that there was a high reliability between the MUTT and the PIADS, however the MUTT was slightly more reliable. Significant correlations were found between the overall MUTT and subscales of autonomy, competence, relatedness, and goals, as well as moderate correlations between the subscales of the PIADS (i.e., competence, adaptability, self-esteem) and the MUTT. The results of this research will be discussed further.
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Date Issued
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2015
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Identifier
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CFH0004794, ucf:45338
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004794
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Title
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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONSUMER DEBT AND MENTAL HEALTH.
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Creator
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Simmons, Jennifer, Abel, Eileen, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Consumer debt is a growing phenomenon in the US and throughout the world. The beginning of the 21st century has been defined by such an incredible growth in consumer debt that American families have increased their debt relative to personal income four times faster than in the 1990s. Since the Federal Reserve began measuring the amount of American consumer debt and consumer income in the 1980s, consumer debt never exceeded consumer income until 2004 when it reached 104.8% of income. In the...
Show moreConsumer debt is a growing phenomenon in the US and throughout the world. The beginning of the 21st century has been defined by such an incredible growth in consumer debt that American families have increased their debt relative to personal income four times faster than in the 1990s. Since the Federal Reserve began measuring the amount of American consumer debt and consumer income in the 1980s, consumer debt never exceeded consumer income until 2004 when it reached 104.8% of income. In the last two decades, researchers have observed a significant correlation between debt and mental health. The purpose of this thesis is to examine a comprehensive sample of previous quantitative research conducted on the relationship between debt and mental health. This thesis discusses the research in the following categories: 1) increased debt as a contributor to decreased mental health; 2) decreased mental health as a contributor to increased debt; 3) high correlation between debt and mental health risks.
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Date Issued
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2013
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Identifier
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CFH0004407, ucf:45107
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004407
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Title
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TRAUMA-FOCUSED MODELS FOR CAREGIVERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH.
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Creator
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Paul, Wesley, Lawrence, Shawn, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Child and Adolescent caregivers are rarely the focus of research and/or trauma-focused or informed models when working with traumatized children (Baynard, Englund, & Rozelle, 2001; Chapman, Dube, & Anda, 2007). It has been shown that use of caregivers in the treatment of children who have suffered trauma can have a significant impact on not only the child, but also reduce the trauma symptoms of the caregivers themselves (Cohen, Mannarino, & Staron, 2006). The purpose of this study is to...
Show moreChild and Adolescent caregivers are rarely the focus of research and/or trauma-focused or informed models when working with traumatized children (Baynard, Englund, & Rozelle, 2001; Chapman, Dube, & Anda, 2007). It has been shown that use of caregivers in the treatment of children who have suffered trauma can have a significant impact on not only the child, but also reduce the trauma symptoms of the caregivers themselves (Cohen, Mannarino, & Staron, 2006). The purpose of this study is to critically review the empirical research of trauma-focused and trauma-informed trainings and treatment models for children who have suffered some form of trauma and whose caregiver is included in the treatment. The outcomes of trauma-focused models will be examined in terms of its purpose, intervention, facilitation, adaptability and modification. Implications for further research and application are drawn.
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Date Issued
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2013
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Identifier
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CFH0004369, ucf:45026
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004369
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Title
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STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING WITH EMPHASIS ON COMPUTER VISION, DAMAGE INDICES, AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS.
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Creator
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ZAURIN, RICARDO, CATBAS, F. NECATI, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is the sensing and analysis of a structure to detect abnormal behavior, damage and deterioration during regular operations as well as under extreme loadings. SHM is designed to provide objective information for decision-making on safety and serviceability. This research focuses on the SHM of bridges by developing and integrating novel methods and techniques using sensor networks, computer vision, modeling for damage indices and statistical approaches....
Show moreStructural Health Monitoring (SHM) is the sensing and analysis of a structure to detect abnormal behavior, damage and deterioration during regular operations as well as under extreme loadings. SHM is designed to provide objective information for decision-making on safety and serviceability. This research focuses on the SHM of bridges by developing and integrating novel methods and techniques using sensor networks, computer vision, modeling for damage indices and statistical approaches. Effective use of traffic video synchronized with sensor measurements for decision-making is demonstrated. First, some of the computer vision methods and how they can be used for bridge monitoring are presented along with the most common issues and some practical solutions. Second, a conceptual damage index (Unit Influence Line) is formulated using synchronized computer images and sensor data for tracking the structural response under various load conditions. Third, a new index, Nd , is formulated and demonstrated to more effectively identify, localize and quantify damage. Commonly observed damage conditions on real bridges are simulated on a laboratory model for the demonstration of the computer vision method, UIL and the new index. This new method and the index, which are based on outlier detection from the UIL population, can very effectively handle large sets of monitoring data. The methods and techniques are demonstrated on the laboratory model for damage detection and all damage scenarios are identified successfully. Finally, the application of the proposed methods on a real life structure, which has a monitoring system, is presented. It is shown that these methods can be used efficiently for applications such as damage detection and load rating for decision-making. The results from this monitoring project on a movable bridge are demonstrated and presented along with the conclusions and recommendations for future work.
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Date Issued
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2009
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Identifier
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CFE0002890, ucf:48039
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002890
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Title
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The Effect of Registered Nurse Supply on Population Health Outcomes: A Distributed Lag Model Approach.
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Creator
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Sampson, Carla Jackie, Unruh, Lynn, Malvey, Donna, Liu, Albert Xinliang, Neff, Donna, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Registered nurses (RNs) are essential to providing care in the healthcare system. To date, research on the relationship between healthcare provider supply and population health has focused on physician supply. This study explored the effect of RN supply on population health outcomes in the U.S. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study of U.S. counties and county equivalents using national data. Seven population health outcomes (total and disease specific mortalities and low infant birth...
Show moreRegistered nurses (RNs) are essential to providing care in the healthcare system. To date, research on the relationship between healthcare provider supply and population health has focused on physician supply. This study explored the effect of RN supply on population health outcomes in the U.S. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study of U.S. counties and county equivalents using national data. Seven population health outcomes (total and disease specific mortalities and low infant birth weight rate) were the response variables. The predictor variable, RN supply, and some control variables were anticipated to have an asynchronous effect on the seven outcome variables in the hypothesized relationship. Therefore, these variables were examined using three different models: contemporaneous; a three-year lagged; and a distributed lag (both contemporaneous and lagged variables). Quadratic terms for RN and physician supply variables were included. Because the Area Health Resource File (AHRF) outcome variables were skewed toward zero and left censored, Tobit regression analyses were used. Data were obtained from 19 states using historical RN Supply data for 1,472 counties, representing 47% of the total target population of 3,108 U.S. counties and county equivalents. Regions with rural populations(-)the Midwest and Southeast(-)were overrepresented. Higher RN supply is positively related to higher mortality rates from ischemic heart disease, other cardiovascular disease, and chronic lower respiratory disease in the distributed lag models. Higher RN supply is not significantly related to rates of low infant birth weight, infant mortality, or mortality from cerebrovascular disease in any model. Higher RN supply is positively related to total deaths in the contemporaneous and lagged model. The results suggest a counter-intuitive, but non-linear relationship between RN supply and health outcomes. More research is needed to understand these relationships and policies must be devised to reduce the current and growing future RN shortage.
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Date Issued
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2018
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Identifier
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CFE0007091, ucf:51933
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007091
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Title
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An Investigation of College Student-Athletes' Mental Health Stigma, Help-Seeking Attitudes, Depression, Anxiety, and Life Stress Scores Using Structural Equation Modeling.
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Creator
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Tabet, Saundra, Lambie, Glenn, Barden, Sejal, Taylor, Dalena, Wood, Eric, Jahani, Shiva, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the directional relationship between student-athletes' degree of mental health stigma, help-seeking attitudes, depression, anxiety, and life stress scores. This investigation tested the theoretical model that student-athletes' (N = 621) degree of mental health stigma (as measured by the Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination Scale (-) Adapted [PDD-A; Eisenberg et al., 2009]) contributed to their attitudes towards help-seeking (as measured by the...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to investigate the directional relationship between student-athletes' degree of mental health stigma, help-seeking attitudes, depression, anxiety, and life stress scores. This investigation tested the theoretical model that student-athletes' (N = 621) degree of mental health stigma (as measured by the Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination Scale (-) Adapted [PDD-A; Eisenberg et al., 2009]) contributed to their attitudes towards help-seeking (as measured by the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help (-) Short Form [ATSPPH-SF; Fisher (&) Farina, 1995]) and levels of depression (as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (-) 9 [PHQ-9; Kroenke et al., 2001]), anxiety (as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 [GAD-7; Spitzer et al., 2006]), and life stress (as measured by the College Student-Athlete Life Stress Scale [CSALSS; Lu et al., 2012]). Specifically, the researcher tested the hypothesized directional relationship that student-athletes with a greater amount of mental health stigma would have (a) decreased positive help-seeking attitudes and (b) increased levels of depression, anxiety, and life stress. The results of the structural equation model (SEM) analyses identified that student-athletes' amount of mental health stigma contributed to help-seeking attitudes (25.6% of the variance), but not levels of depression (.16% of the variance), anxiety (.09% of the variance), or life stress (.81% of the variance). Specifically, student-athletes' degree of mental health stigma shared a strong negative relationship (-.506) with attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help. Further, the results identified that personal stigma mediates the relationship between public stigma and help-seeking attitudes. Implications of the findings include (a) greater knowledge of the importance student-athletes' mental health stigma and attitudes toward receiving help; (b) increased understanding for counselors of student-athletes mental health needs; and (c) insight into practices for institutions of higher education as they implement mental health initiatives within intercollegiate athletics.
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Date Issued
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2019
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Identifier
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CFE0007538, ucf:52597
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007538
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Title
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The relationship between first generation college students' levels of public and personal stigma, social support, perceived discrimination, and help-seeking attitudes.
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Creator
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Kim, Nayoung, Taylor, Dalena, Lambie, Glenn, Barden, Sejal, Bai, Haiyan, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between first-generation college students' (FGCSs) help-seeking attitudes, as measured by the Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help (-) Short Form (Fischer (&) Farina, 1995); public stigma, as measured by the Perceptions of Stigmatization by Others for Seeking Psychological Help (Vogel, Wade, (&) Ascheman, 2009); personal stigma, as measured by the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale Working (Vogel, Wade, (...
Show moreThe purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between first-generation college students' (FGCSs) help-seeking attitudes, as measured by the Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help (-) Short Form (Fischer (&) Farina, 1995); public stigma, as measured by the Perceptions of Stigmatization by Others for Seeking Psychological Help (Vogel, Wade, (&) Ascheman, 2009); personal stigma, as measured by the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale Working (Vogel, Wade, (&) Haake, 2006); social support, as measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Dahlem, Zimet, (&) Walker, 1991); and perceived discrimination, as measured by the revised Everyday Discrimination Scale (Stucky et al., 2011). The researcher further investigated mediating effects of public and personal stigma in the relationships among the constructs. The researcher found statistically significant relationships among the variables for FGCSs and mediating effects of personal and public stigma. Specifically, public stigma mediated the relationship between perceived discrimination and personal stigma and the indirect effect of perceived discrimination on personal stigma via public stigma was statistically significant ((&)#223; = .070, p = .030). Personal stigma also fully mediated the relationship between public stigma and help-seeking attitudes and the indirect effect of public stigma on help-seeking attitudes via personal stigma was statistically significant ((&)#223; = -.231, p (<) .001). Public stigma partially mediated the relationship between social support and personal stigma and the indirect effect of social support on personal stigma via public stigma ((&)#223; = -.089, p = .010) was statistically significant. In addition, both public and personal stigma partially mediated the relationship between social support and help-seeking attitudes. The indirect effect of social support on help-seeking attitudes via both public and personal stigma was statistically significant ((&)#223; = .062, p = .015). The researcher presented discussion of results, limitations of the study, and implications of the findings.
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Date Issued
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2019
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Identifier
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CFE0007663, ucf:52471
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007663
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Title
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEMALE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF SEXUAL ADDICTION AND THE ROLE OF ADDICTION TREATMENT.
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Creator
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Douglass, Megan, Mishtal, Joanna, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Beginning with the diagnosis of nymphomania in the 19th Century, there has been widespread and continued interest across the mental health and bio-medical realm of what constitutes normality of female sexual behavior, and of the boundary at which sexual desire is deemed to be excessive, and thus abnormal. However, research questions that specifically investigate the subjective female voice and perspective in considerations of so-called hypersexuality or sex addiction remain understudied. This...
Show moreBeginning with the diagnosis of nymphomania in the 19th Century, there has been widespread and continued interest across the mental health and bio-medical realm of what constitutes normality of female sexual behavior, and of the boundary at which sexual desire is deemed to be excessive, and thus abnormal. However, research questions that specifically investigate the subjective female voice and perspective in considerations of so-called hypersexuality or sex addiction remain understudied. This research project proposes to examine the cultural pathways and systemic foundations which have historically in the West problematized female sexuality by investigating womenÃÂ's own perceptions of sexual addiction and their experiences in seeking (or not) addiction treatment. In addition, this research project proposes to investigate the perceptions of therapists (psychologists and psychiatrists) who treat hypersexual female patients, in order to examine their beliefs about the cultural and biological genesis of the disorder, and its appearance in female patients. Theoretically, this project aims to move away from the concept of individualized bodies suffering singularly from (dis)ease and abnormality, and investigate the ways in which Western cultural notions of normal female sexuality shape womenÃÂ's self-perceptions and notions about sexual deviance.
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Date Issued
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2010
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Identifier
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CFE0003138, ucf:48641
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003138
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Title
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Determinants of Health-related Quality of Life of Patients with End-stage Renal Disease.
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Creator
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Varghese, Shabu, Dziegielewski, Sophia, Burg, Mary Ann, Zhang, Ning, Jacinto, George, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) constitutes a serious public health problem in the United States. According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), in 2013, Medicare spending alone accounts for $30.9 billion for the treatment-related expenses for ESRD. The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationship of two important determinants, perceived social support and treatment adherence with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of ESRD patients...
Show moreEnd-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) constitutes a serious public health problem in the United States. According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), in 2013, Medicare spending alone accounts for $30.9 billion for the treatment-related expenses for ESRD. The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationship of two important determinants, perceived social support and treatment adherence with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of ESRD patients. Using the health belief model and Bandura's self-efficacy theory, the study explained the theoretical underpinnings of the causal relationships of the patient's perspectives of perceived social support and treatment adherence in predicting the HRQOL of ESRD patients. The study utilized a non-experimental research design and the statistical tool Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), in evaluating the causal relationships between the variables. With a convenience sample size of 413 ESRD patients from the Central West region of Florida, the findings of the study validated a statistically significant relationship between perceived social support and HRQOL as well as between perceived social support and treatment adherence in ESRD patients. However, the study didn't find any significant relationships between treatment adherence and HRQOL. The results of the study enhanced the body of knowledge relating to HRQOL of ESRD patients, provided foundation for interventions and policy formation in improving the HRQOL of patients with ESRD.
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Date Issued
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2016
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Identifier
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CFE0006512, ucf:51366
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006512
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Title
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A study of Compressive Sensing for application to Structural Health Monitoring.
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Creator
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Ganesan, Vaahini, Das, Tuhin, Kauffman, Jeffrey, Raghavan, Seetha, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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One of the key areas that have attracted attention in the construction industry today is Structural Health Monitoring, more commonly known as SHM. It is a concept developed to monitor the quality and longevity of various engineering structures. The incorporation of such a system would help to continuously track health of the structure, indicate the occurrence/presence of any damage in real time and give us an idea of the number of useful years for the same. Being a recently conceived idea,...
Show moreOne of the key areas that have attracted attention in the construction industry today is Structural Health Monitoring, more commonly known as SHM. It is a concept developed to monitor the quality and longevity of various engineering structures. The incorporation of such a system would help to continuously track health of the structure, indicate the occurrence/presence of any damage in real time and give us an idea of the number of useful years for the same. Being a recently conceived idea, the state of the art technique in the field is straight forward - populating a given structure with sensors and extracting information from them. In this regard, instrumenting with too many sensors may be inefficient as this could lead to superfluous data that is expensive to capture and process.This research aims to explore an alternate SHM technique that optimizes the data acquisition process by eliminating the amount of redundant data that is sensed and uses this sufficient data to detect and locate the fault present in the structure. Efficient data acquisition requires a mechanism that senses just the necessary amount of data for detection and location of fault. For this reason Compressive Sensing (CS) is explored as a plausible idea. CS claims that signals can be reconstructed from what was previously believed to be incomplete information by Shannon's theorem, taking only a small amount of random and linear non - adaptive measurements. As responses of many physical systems contain a finite basis, CS exploits this feature and determines the sparse solution instead of the traditional least - squares type solution. As a first step, CS is demonstrated by successfully recovering the frequency components of a simple sinusoid. Next, the question of how CS compares with the conventional Fourier transform is analyzed. For this, recovery of temporal frequencies and signal reconstruction is performed using the same number of samples for both the approaches and the errors are compared. On the other hand, the FT error is gradually minimized to match that of CS by increasing the number of regularly placed samples. Once the advantages are established, feasibility of using CS to detect damage in a single degree of freedom system is tested under unforced and forced conditions. In the former scenario, damage is indicated when there is a change in natural frequency of vibration of the system after an impact. In the latter, the system is excited harmonically and damage is detected by a change in amplitude of the system's vibration. As systems in real world applications are predominantly multi-DOF, CS is tested on a 2-DOF system excited with a harmonic forcing. Here again, damage detection is achieved by observing the change in the amplitude of vibration of the system. In order to employ CS for detecting either a change in frequency or amplitude of vibration of a structure subjected to realistic forcing conditions, it would be prudent to explore the reconstruction of a signal which contains multiple frequencies. This is accomplished using CS on a chirp signal.Damage detection is clearly a spatio-temporal problem. Hence it is important to additionally explore the extension of CS to spatial reconstruction. For this reason, mode shape reconstruction of a beam with standard boundary conditions is performed and validated with standard/analytical results from literature. As the final step, the operation deflection shapes (ODS) are reconstructed for a simply supported beam using CS to establish that it is indeed a plausible approach for a less expensive SHM. While experimenting with the idea of spatio-temporal domain, the mode shape as well as the ODS of the given beam are examined under two conditions - undamaged and damaged. Damage in the beam is simulated as a decrease in the stiffness coefficient over a certain number of elements. Although the range of modes to be examined heavily depends on the structure in question, literature suggests that for most practical applications, lower modes are more dominant in indicating damage. For ODS on the other hand, damage is indicated by observing the shift in the recovered spatial frequencies and it is confirmed by the reconstructed response.
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Date Issued
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2014
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Identifier
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CFE0005334, ucf:50520
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005334
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Title
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STRUCTURAL CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE TRANSIT GUIDEWAYS.
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Creator
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Shmerling, Robert, Catbas, F. Necati, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Objective condition assessment is essential to make better decisions for safety and serviceability of existing civil infrastructure systems. This study explores the condition of an existing transit guideway system that has been in service for thirty-five years. The structural system is composed of six-span continuous prestressed concrete bridge segments. The overall transit system incorporates a number of continuous bridges which share common design details, geometries, and loading conditions...
Show moreObjective condition assessment is essential to make better decisions for safety and serviceability of existing civil infrastructure systems. This study explores the condition of an existing transit guideway system that has been in service for thirty-five years. The structural system is composed of six-span continuous prestressed concrete bridge segments. The overall transit system incorporates a number of continuous bridges which share common design details, geometries, and loading conditions. The original analysis is based on certain simplifying assumptions such as rigid behavior over supports and simplified tendon/concrete/steel plate interaction. The current objective is to conduct a representative study for a more accurate understanding of the structural system and its behavior. The scope of the study is to generate finite element models (FEMs) to be used in static and dynamic parameter sensitivity studies, as well load rating and reliability analysis of the structure. The FEMs are used for eigenvalue analysis and simulations. Parameter sensitivity studies consider the effect of changing critical parameters, including material properties, prestress loss, and boundary and continuity conditions, on the static and dynamic structural response. Load ratings are developed using an American Association for State Highway Transportation Officials Load and Resistance Factor Rating (AASHTO LRFR) approach. The reliability of the structural system is evaluated based on the data obtained from various finite element models. Recommendations for experimental validation of the FEM are presented. This study is expected to provide information to make better decisions for operations, maintenance and safety requirements; to be a benchmark for future studies, to establish a procedure and methodology for structural condition assessment, and to contribute to the general research body of knowledge in condition assessment and structural health monitoring.
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Date Issued
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2005
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Identifier
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CFE0000658, ucf:46520
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000658
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Title
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DEMAND STUDY FOR DENTAL HYGIENE BACHELOR DEGREE PROGRAM.
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Creator
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Driscoll, Annelise, Liberman, Aaron, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The following is a study to determine if sufficient demand exists to start a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree program in dental hygiene through a joint agreement for completion degrees between Valencia Community College and the University of Central Florida. To accomplish this objective two survey instruments were administered to randomly selected licensed dentists and dental hygienists in the state of Florida. Dental hygienists represented the potential student base for the...
Show moreThe following is a study to determine if sufficient demand exists to start a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree program in dental hygiene through a joint agreement for completion degrees between Valencia Community College and the University of Central Florida. To accomplish this objective two survey instruments were administered to randomly selected licensed dentists and dental hygienists in the state of Florida. Dental hygienists represented the potential student base for the proposed programs, and dentists represented the potential and prospective employers of graduated students of the proposed programs. To determine demand and demand characteristics, one survey instrument was mailed to 1,000 dental hygienists who were randomly selected using SAS software from a population of N=12,066 dental hygienists actively licensed to practice in the state of Florida. This sample of hygienists was approximately 8.3% of the total population. Of the 1,000 samples, 134 (or 13.4%) were returned. Of the 134 surveys returned, 123 (n=123) were included in this study. Eleven surveys were not included because of a majority of missing data or because the respondent indicated he or she already possessed a Bachelor or Master degree. A Likert-scale questionnaire was sent to each group of actively licensed dentists and actively licensed dental hygienists from the state of Florida. Responses from dental hygienists were overwhelmingly positive towards the addition of the Bachelor of Science degree program with an online distance-learning component. Those in favor of the Bachelor of Science degree program also provided a favorable response towards adding a Master of Science degree program in dental hygiene. The dentists, as potential future employers, also showed strong support in their responses for the additional degree programs with an additional management track component and believed it would elevate the professional standards of the dental hygiene field.
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Date Issued
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2009
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Identifier
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CFE0002842, ucf:48048
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002842
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Title
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Factors Contributing to Low Adequate Prenatal Care Rates in Orange County, Florida.
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Creator
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Daniel, Lauren, Donley, Amy, Hinojosa, Melanie, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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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
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2019
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Identifier
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CFE0007447, ucf:52715
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007447
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Title
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Spatial and Temporal Compressive Sensing for Vibration-based Monitoring: Fundamental Studies with Beam Vibrations.
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Creator
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Ganesan, Vaahini, Das, Tuhin, Kauffman, Jeffrey L., Raghavan, Seetha, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Vibration data from mechanical systems carry important information that is useful for characterization and diagnosis. Standard approaches rely on continually streaming data at a fixed sampling frequency. For applications involving continuous monitoring, such as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), such approaches result in high data volume and require powering sensors for prolonged duration. Furthermore, adequate spatial resolution, typically involves instrumenting structures with a large...
Show moreVibration data from mechanical systems carry important information that is useful for characterization and diagnosis. Standard approaches rely on continually streaming data at a fixed sampling frequency. For applications involving continuous monitoring, such as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), such approaches result in high data volume and require powering sensors for prolonged duration. Furthermore, adequate spatial resolution, typically involves instrumenting structures with a large array of sensors. This research shows that applying Compressive Sensing (CS) can significantly reduce both the volume of data and number of sensors in vibration monitoring applications. Random sampling and the inherent sparsity of vibration signals in the frequency domain enables this reduction. Additionally, by exploiting the sparsity of mode shapes, CS can also enable efficient spatial reconstruction using fewer spatially distributed sensors than a traditional approach. CS can thereby reduce the cost and power requirement of sensing as well as streamline data storage and processing in monitoring applications. In well-instrumented structures, CS can enable continuous monitoring in case of sensor or computational failures. The scope of this research was to establish CS as a viable method for SHM with application to beam vibrations. Finite element based simulations demonstrated CS-based frequency recovery from free vibration response of simply supported, fixed-fixed and cantilever beams. Specifically, CS was used to detect shift in natural frequencies of vibration due to structural change using considerably less data than required by traditional sampling. Experimental results using a cantilever beam provided further insight into this approach. In the experimental study, impulse response of the beam was used to recover natural frequencies of vibration with CS. It was shown that CS could discern changes in natural frequencies under modified beam parameters. When the basis functions were modified to accommodate the effect of damping, the performance of CS-based recovery further improved. Effect of noise in CS-based frequency recovery was also studied. In addition to incorporating damping, formulating noise-handling as a part of the CS algorithm for beam vibrations facilitated detecting shift in frequencies from even fewer samples. In the spatial domain, CS was primarily developed to focus on image processing applications, where the signals and basis functions are very different from those required for mechanical beam vibrations. Therefore, it mandated reformulation of the CS problem that would handle related challenges and enable the reconstruction of spatial beam response using very few sensor data. Specifically, this research addresses CS-based reconstruction of deflection shape of beams with fixed boundary conditions. Presence of a fixed end makes hyperbolic terms indispensable in the basis, which in turn causes numerical inconsistencies. Two approaches are discussed to mitigate this problem. The first approach is to restrict the hyperbolic terms in the basis to lower frequencies to ensure well conditioning. The second, a more systematic approach, is to generate an augmented basis function that will combine harmonic and hyperbolic terms. At higher frequencies, the combined hyperbolic terms will limit each other's magnitude, thus ensuring boundedness. This research thus lays the foundation for formulating the CS problem for the field of mechanical vibrations. It presents fundamental studies and discusses open-ended challenges while implementing CS to this field that will pave way for further research.
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Date Issued
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2017
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Identifier
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CFE0007120, ucf:51954
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007120
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Title
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Designing Calorie Counter Smartphone Applications for Effective Weight Loss.
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Creator
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Milliard, Sharlin, Fanfarelli, Joseph, Bockelman, Patricia, Hartshorne, Richard, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Poor dietary choices and lack of physical activity are two main contributing factors for the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States. Overweight and obese individuals are at risk for developing major life-threatening diseases. Weight loss is an effective means for reversing these adverse health effects, and smartphone applications (apps) may be an effective means for supporting weight loss outside of formal clinical settings. This study involved identifying...
Show morePoor dietary choices and lack of physical activity are two main contributing factors for the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States. Overweight and obese individuals are at risk for developing major life-threatening diseases. Weight loss is an effective means for reversing these adverse health effects, and smartphone applications (apps) may be an effective means for supporting weight loss outside of formal clinical settings. This study involved identifying factors that contribute to effective weight loss to compare with functionality commonly found in a sample of calorie counter apps. A content analysis was performed using a design framework that included a conceptual model describing the interaction of behaviors for effective weight loss and functional design requirements based upon behavior change and motivation to achieve weight loss. The requirements were used to analyze the presence of features in a sample of popular calorie counting apps, to infer their capability in supporting users' motivation to achieve weight loss. Results indicated that app features might not provide sufficient support to facilitate effective weight loss. Lack of supportive features affects perceived autonomy, relatedness, and competence, reducing motivation. This study provided guidelines to improve the design of calorie counter apps to include more features that support users as they engage in weight loss behaviors. The guidelines may become practical for use in mHealth apps used as part of formal and informal weight management strategies. Implications for future research involving wearable technologies and the use of gamified design strategies are discussed.
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Date Issued
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2019
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Identifier
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CFE0007838, ucf:52824
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007838
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Title
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Structural Identification through Monitoring, Modeling and Predictive Analysis under Uncertainty.
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Creator
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Gokce, Hasan, Catbas, Fikret, Chopra, Manoj, Mackie, Kevin, Yun, Hae-Bum, DeMara, Ronald, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Bridges are critical components of highway networks, which provide mobility and economical vitality to a nation. Ensuring the safety and regular operation as well as accurate structural assessment of bridges is essential. Structural Identification (St-Id) can be utilized for better assessment of structures by integrating experimental and analytical technologies in support of decision-making. St-Id is defined as creating parametric or nonparametric models to characterize structural behavior...
Show moreBridges are critical components of highway networks, which provide mobility and economical vitality to a nation. Ensuring the safety and regular operation as well as accurate structural assessment of bridges is essential. Structural Identification (St-Id) can be utilized for better assessment of structures by integrating experimental and analytical technologies in support of decision-making. St-Id is defined as creating parametric or nonparametric models to characterize structural behavior based on structural health monitoring (SHM) data. In a recent study by the ASCE St-Id Committee, St-Id framework is given in six steps, including modeling, experimentation and ultimately decision making for estimating the performance and vulnerability of structural systems reliably through the improved simulations using monitoring data. In some St-Id applications, there can be challenges and considerations related to this six-step framework. For instance not all of the steps can be employed; thereby a subset of the six steps can be adapted for some cases based on the various limitations. In addition, each step has its own characteristics, challenges, and uncertainties due to the considerations such as time varying nature of civil structures, modeling and measurements. It is often discussed that even a calibrated model has limitations in fully representing an existing structure; therefore, a family of models may be well suited to represent the structure's response and performance in a probabilistic manner.The principle objective of this dissertation is to investigate nonparametric and parametric St-Id approaches by considering uncertainties coming from different sources to better assess the structural condition for decision making. In the first part of the dissertation, a nonparametric St-Id approach is employed without the use of an analytical model. The new methodology, which is successfully demonstrated on both lab and real-life structures, can identify and locate the damage by tracking correlation coefficients between strain time histories and can locate the damage from the generated correlation matrices of different strain time histories. This methodology is found to be load independent, computationally efficient, easy to use, especially for handling large amounts of monitoring data, and capable of identifying the effectiveness of the maintenance. In the second part, a parametric St-Id approach is introduced by developing a family of models using Monte Carlo simulations and finite element analyses to explore the uncertainty effects on performance predictions in terms of load rating and structural reliability. The family of models is developed from a parent model, which is calibrated using monitoring data. In this dissertation, the calibration is carried out using artificial neural networks (ANNs) and the approach and results are demonstrated on a laboratory structure and a real-life movable bridge, where predictive analyses are carried out for performance decrease due to deterioration, damage, and traffic increase over time. In addition, a long-span bridge is investigated using the same approach when the bridge is retrofitted. The family of models for these structures is employed to determine the component and system reliability, as well as the load rating, with a distribution that incorporates various uncertainties that were defined and characterized. It is observed that the uncertainties play a considerable role even when compared to calibrated model-based predictions for reliability and load rating, especially when the structure is complex, deteriorated and aged, and subjected to variable environmental and operational conditions. It is recommended that a family-of-models approach is suitable for structures that have less redundancy, high operational importance, are deteriorated, and are performing under close capacity and demand levels.
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Date Issued
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2012
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Identifier
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CFE0004232, ucf:48997
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004232
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Title
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DESIGN AND OPERATION OF STATIONARY DISTRIBUTED BATTERY MICRO-STORAGE SYSTEMS.
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Creator
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Al-Haj Hussein, Ala, Batarseh, Issa, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Due to some technical and environmental constraints, expanding the current electric power generation and transmission system is being challenged by even increasing the deployment of distributed renewable generation and storage systems. Energy storage can be used to store energy from utility during low-demand (off-peak) hours and deliver this energy back to the utility during high-demand (on-peak) hours. Furthermore, energy storage can be used with renewable sources to overcome some of their...
Show moreDue to some technical and environmental constraints, expanding the current electric power generation and transmission system is being challenged by even increasing the deployment of distributed renewable generation and storage systems. Energy storage can be used to store energy from utility during low-demand (off-peak) hours and deliver this energy back to the utility during high-demand (on-peak) hours. Furthermore, energy storage can be used with renewable sources to overcome some of their limitations such as their strong dependence on the weather conditions, which cannot be perfectly predicted, and their unmatched or out-of-synchronization generation peaks with the demand peaks. Generally, energy storage enhances the performance of distributed renewable sources and increases the efficiency of the entire power system. Moreover, energy storage allows for leveling the load, shaving peak demands, and furthermore, transacting power with the utility grid. This research proposes an energy management system (EMS) to manage the operation of distributed grid-tied battery micro-storage systems for stationary applications when operated with and without renewable sources. The term "micro" refers to the capacity of the energy storage compared to the grid capacity. The proposed management system employs four dynamic models; economic model, battery model, and load and weather forecasting models. These models, which are the main contribution of this research, are used in order to optimally control the operation of the micro-storage system (MSS) to maximize the economic return for the end-user when operated in an electricity spot market system.
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Date Issued
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2011
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Identifier
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CFE0003964, ucf:48712
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003964
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Title
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Emotional Labor and Identity Management Among HIV Counselors and Testers.
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Creator
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Caldwell, James, Anthony, Amanda, Donley, Amy, Gay, David, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Emotional labor, an idea first developed by Arlie Hochschild, became a main component of work developing the field of sociology of emotions. Emotion labor provides a conceptual framework for understanding the outward and inward emotional experiences that are deemed either appropriate or inappropriate during interactions with others, specifically in the workplace. A product and derivation of this emotional labor is carefully outlined display rules. These rules vary from position to position,...
Show moreEmotional labor, an idea first developed by Arlie Hochschild, became a main component of work developing the field of sociology of emotions. Emotion labor provides a conceptual framework for understanding the outward and inward emotional experiences that are deemed either appropriate or inappropriate during interactions with others, specifically in the workplace. A product and derivation of this emotional labor is carefully outlined display rules. These rules vary from position to position, but are often part and parcel of work in the human services sector. This labor can be understood as resulting from the employee's adherence to display rules, which may or may not match the employees' organically felt or perceived emotions at the time. The current study draws from these conceptual frameworks and emotion work typologies introduced by Arlie Hochschild to analyze in-depth, the emotional labor performed by HIV Testers; this study does so through the analytical categories of Bodily Emotion Work, Expressive Emotion Work, and Cognitive Emotion Work. While the current study upholds many conclusions of prior research related to human services, and high rates of emotional labor, this study contributes through introducing the term Emotional Tuning. As based in the dynamic of emotional labor existing between HIV Testers and the patients that they serve, this study puts forth the term Emotional Tuning as the process of one individual scanning or reviewing the emotional state of another. The individual then acts accordingly, based on their interpretation of the other's emotional state, to help influence that emotional state, typically by matching or contrasting with that emotional state. This research contributes by expanding on prior research of emotion work and emotion labor through the specific field of client-based counseling, as there is no known prior research that has delved specifically into the work performed by HIV Testers and the rich experiences had by those delivering HIV results and sexual education, particularly as the emotional labor being studied is not commodified. Such topics as HIV status and sexual health education have been, even recently, overshadowed by stigma. Many Testers in the current study found HIV work to be both the hardest and most rewarding experience of their life. The current study looked closely at the effect that this emotional work had on both the testers interviewed, and the patients they serve and has broad implications for both tester training and client support initiatives.
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Date Issued
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2016
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Identifier
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CFE0006274, ucf:51036
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006274
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Title
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Catholic Healing Masses: Intersections of Health and Healing in Yucat(&)#225;n.
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Creator
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Draper, Suzanne, Reyes-Foster, Beatriz, Mishtal, Joanna, Matejowsky, Ty, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The conception of illness and healing in contemporary Mexican Catholic discourse highlights both particular and ubiquitous instances of a health experience perceived locally and widespread. Catholic healing masses are utilized as supplemental methods of individual health restoration coupled with Western medicinal techniques in Catholic dramas. Aside from the spiritual and religious significance of this practice, the use of healing masses as an additional means to achieving an optimal health...
Show moreThe conception of illness and healing in contemporary Mexican Catholic discourse highlights both particular and ubiquitous instances of a health experience perceived locally and widespread. Catholic healing masses are utilized as supplemental methods of individual health restoration coupled with Western medicinal techniques in Catholic dramas. Aside from the spiritual and religious significance of this practice, the use of healing masses as an additional means to achieving an optimal health status implies that something is lacking in current biomedical models. The purpose of my research is to explore the humanistic terms under which healing masses operate and translate these terms into a biomedical conversation towards enhanced secular medical care
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Date Issued
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2014
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Identifier
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CFE0005484, ucf:50332
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005484
Pages